It was no longer drizzling but there was still an overcast of gray skies and rain that wasn’t unusual for a spring afternoon in Kansas. But as a result, my drive was easy because the streets were essentially empty. As I pulled up through the center's rounded and paved driveway, a tall lean muscled figure approached my car.
Bardhyl Donahue. A goddamn mouthful that I had shortened to Bard. I didn’t like wasting time with complicated ass names, but that was just me. If I’d had it my way, I would have named myself something far simpler than Ophelia.
Bard’s chocolate brown hair was damp, and he ran his fingers through the long thick waves at the top of his head while shaking off the rain like a freakin’ dog. The sides of his hair were cut short and it highlighted his structured cheekbones and violet eyes, surrounded by thick lashes. Lashes that no man should have. His golden face was covered in slightly brown scruff, and he ran a hand over it, while bending his 5’10 frame into the car. How he was eighteen like myself, I had no fucking idea, but there was no denying it, his birthday had been at the start of March.
His warm, dark, jacket had a fleece lining and I could see the singular tattoo he had on the side of the neck, a symbol he’d never fully explained to me. He pulled the seatbelt across his chest and I inhaled his familiar sandalwood scent. His stunning eyes lit up once he met my gaze despite his expression not changing at all. Bard was terrible at expressing emotions, but his eyes showed far more.
I would never tell him that, though, because it was my only insight into how he was feeling most of the time.
With that said, I felt like I knew Bard like the back of my hand. I knew his moods. I knew when something had happened with his father because this cold chill rolls over his gaze as he shuts down. Yet, Bard wasn’t really my friend. We were close but not friends. I couldn’t consider him my friend because during the school day he never talked to me unless we were of course at the Equestrian Center where no one would see us.
Maybe he didn’t like me because I saw and brought up to him how shitty his dad was. I mean, I’m not about to sit around when the handsome bastard came to school earlier this year with a massive bruise on his jaw that he claimed was from boxing. I knew how good of a boxer he was, and that was some bullshit. I had to assume my knowledge of his problems at home was why he was detached from me…and why he called me when he was in situations like this. It was a confusing as hell dynamic that was not helped by the fact that I wanted him to kiss the shit out of me nearly every time I was around him.
So yeah, we didn’t spend time together in school, and when he was around others our age, he kept extremely neutral and out of any drama that occurred. It made him very popular with the guys, and his looks made him popular with the girls. But they didn’t know him as I did. And they never would, because despite his quiet manner, he told me more about his life than I ever heard him express to his ‘friends.’ I couldn’t deny that it hurt like hell that he ignored me in school. But that wasn’t a new story.
“Thanks, beautiful.” He mumbled as I pulled away from the curb, his soft intense energy crawling over my skin. I felt like there was something I wasn’t understanding about him.
It wasn’t any of your business, Ophelia.
Another thing my stepmother always accused me of, sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. I was naturally curious, though, and I didn’t think that was going to go away anytime soon if we were being honest. It didn’t help that I was bored most of the time, so if something interests me, I usually pay attention to it, or them. I wasn’t going to change that. I was perfectly content with my quirks despite the obvious social distance it caused.
“No problem,” I turned up the heat further as we came to a stop sign, “how was Price today?”
“Seemed pretty good to me,” he noted, leaning back in the seat and cracking his neck, “I gave him a walk around to get out of the stable.”
“Thanks,” I offered him a smile, and his eyes warmed on my face, making me feel appeased for a moment. I know. I was totally pathetic. But lonely does what lonely does…
“How was brunch?”
I offered him a knowing look. “You can probably assume,” I muttered. Often on the way to school, I complained to him about my stepmother, and he confessed to thinking she was a horrible bitch. My words, but his agreement.
He shook his head and offered a small sigh, his emotion shuttering a bit, “I can’t wait to get out of here, beautiful. This place is draining.” Did that mean he planned on going to college also? I’d been scared to ask that…I didn’t want to know the truth about the future regarding his plans.
His fingers strumming his long, jean-clad legs that were stretched out fully. I could tell he had something he wanted to say, but my mind was distracted, so I didn’t push him.
I felt off today, obviously with reason. I felt as though my mind and body were in disagreement. My foot still tickled with the phantom touch of Oliver’s…magic? Was that what we were going to call it? I had no idea considering I was half convinced the man was conceived of notions that weren’t real. As in he was imaginary and I was losing my mind.
Children had imaginary friends, didn’t they? Maybe I was just channeling my super inner creative side? My stepmother had always said I spent too much time in my own head. Maybe, she’d been worried about this clear mental break I was having.
“You seem distracted today,” he commented softly, I jumped as he spoke and turned my head towards him, the car vibrating as it went over a bridge.
“I suppose I am,” I mumbled with a sigh, “I’ve just had a weird afternoon.” My usual demeanor was upbeat. Sure, on the inside I was a bit beaten down and tired but I would rather make someone else smile before bringing them down. It wasn’t their fault that I was lonely. Considering I was the consistent factor, I could only assume it was me.
I was hoping that when I got the fuck out of here, I could find a few people that did want to spend time with me. I thought I was pretty cool but what the hell did I know. Hmm. Maybe it was something in the water? Everyone in Kansas City seemed to be a fan of me, especially…well, I wouldn’t go there. Not right now.
“Want to share with the class?” he offered, looking amused and arching a dark brow.
As I said, Bard wasn’t one to show a ton of emotion, but the emotion he did show, always had me feeling almost hyper at his attention. It was ridiculous how worked up I got around him. My body was always super on edge, and I worried if he ever touched me in any way that wasn’t friendly; like if he kissed me or some shit? I would combust.
I searched his face and offered him a small smile, “It wasn’t anything important, Bard. Just the usual long-winded speech about my responsibilities. So my normal bullshit.” We had pulled up to his large dark home a few blocks from mine. Instead of getting out, he continued to stare at me with concern inhaling before his pupils seemed to darken.
“Are you wearing a new perfume?” he asked, tilting his head.
“No perfume,” I shook my head, and then he literally fucked with my head.
“You smell good, you smell like lemon,” he stated, looking confessed and speculative, “Interesting. But really, beautiful, I like your bullshit. You know you can tell me anything.”