Chapter Five Why would she change her Mind?

It’s the weekend as Joshua prepares for this party as he grooms himself in the mirror. Tall green eyes and hair grew a bit longer brushing his hair to the back he can’t help to think he is blessed with looks as he straightens his collar of his shirt in the mirror.

“Hey Tiffany are you done?”

No answer from the bathroom since she is blow drying her black hair, blue eyes slender body tall tanned skin about Tiffany her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her pain was evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the down-curve of her full lips.

But her eyes, her eyes showed her soul. They were a deep pool of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless grief while she briskly walks up the block in her low-cut evening dress with her brother Joshua.

Reaching the house Joshua lays eyes on Winter and thinks, beautiful in a classical way, no flowing golden curls or ivory skin; no piercing eyes of green. She was shorter than average and certainly larger than a catwalk model, but in her ordinariness she was stunning. Something radiated from within that rendered her irresistible to both genders.

Desmond is wearing a casual white t-shirt gold chain and army pants with a set of new sneakers, introducing himself to Tiffany’s as Tiffany glances him up and down making him feel belittled, she says to her brother lets get a beer as she confidently walks to the fridge to grab a beer for herself and her brother.

Winter then approaches Tiffany hugging her as she glances over to Joshua.

Hey, Joshua good seeing you, likewise says Joshua as Tiffany notices the awkwardness between the two she takes Winter’s hand let’s go, and sit on the bark of that cutoff tree as the two go over and laughs as Joshua can’t take his eyes off Winter.

As the evening progresses the music becomes louder and Joshua finds himself dancing with Monisha as he feels Winter staring at him.

Winter then storms off inside calling Monisha a few minutes later Monisha comes out and says I have to go as she hugs Tiffany. It’s been great guys as Winter looks furiously away. She puts on a smile pretending to be ok.

Joshua stares over at her moving closer as he then takes her hands in his, she pulls her hand away. “What are you doing?”

“Comforting you. I can tell something made you angry.”

“I’m fine.” she says as she smiles faintly “thanks though for caring.”

He stares at her and she somehow can not resist but want to kiss him.

Something is holding her back he can tell she is frightened. Suddenly she maintains distance pulling away as if she is frightened. “Hey looking good.” Says Desmond to Joshua glancing over to Winter.

Joshua turns to face him as he sees Winter standing up and walking away.

“Hey Winter are you ok?”

“Yes she is fine. She must just know her place!”Say Desmond

“What do you mean know her place.”Sounding Agitated?

“Nothing.” Says Desmond as he glances over to Tiffany.

Tiffany notices this charismatic guy with dark eyes short hair dragon tattoo on the neck piercings wearing a blueish jean cut by the knees with a black t-shirt in the crowd people laughing with him. Approaching closer she stands next to the fire to hear what he is saying.

He has a deep voice and sounds confident as she glances at him he does not notice her.

He is focused on those in front of him,

“Hey Tiffany.” Says Joshua drawing the guys attention. He looks over at her and knowingly greets ger, she smiles at him.

Tiffany walks over to Winter, staring at the guy who has charmed the crowd of people around him.

“Who is that?”

Winter smiles at her,

“It’s Alex his a friend of Desmond since school they grew up together he lost his mom and dad in a car accident at the age of twelve.”

Oh my Gosh says Tiffany “that’s awful who was looking after him?”

“He was in foster care and my family decided to take him so he’s now like my half-brother.”

“Does he still stay with you.”

No says winter,

“Girl you killing me with the questions his a business owner he owns a few jewelry stores as he was working from the Dark web and had a few connections who hooked him up with the right person to start an independent business.”

Glancing over at Alex.

She smiles knowing this party was meant to be as she stands listening to him entertaining the crowd. It is midnight, Joshua notices Winter sitting on the bark of the tree arms folded as he walks over to her.

“You must be freezing?”

He removes his jacket and put it it over Winters shoulders.

Winter smiles, “Thank you you’re such a gentleman.”

She zips up Jacket, looking over at the party and looks over at him.

“So Joshua why did you come from Cape Town to this crappy place I mean the last time I heard Cape Town is the place to be..”

“Well sit’s my father’s business that brought us here she smiles.”

“Well, your dad is well known.” Winter Replies to Joshua.

He adds “also my brother.”

“Your brother?” Replies Winter

“I thought it is only you and your sister..”

Joshua stares up and sighs, “his physically disabled and seven years old.”

“I’m sorry to hear.

She goes silent searching for words.

“I am so sorry, it was forward of me to ask this question I mean it’s personal.”

He let’s it a gentle smile and leans over hugging her.

Her face was so close to his that he could smell the sweet ropy fragrance of the sherry she had been drinking,

There was overwhelming feeling in the way his fingers curled around hers. Joshua kept his eyes half-open, sneaking a guilty peek at her every time he came back for air, just to make sure this wasn’t a product of his imagination.

He wasn’t sure if nature rooted for this moment or if his mind tricked him into a perfect present, but every breath he took smelled like Sherry, and for the first time since he’d known himself, he didn’t feel shy. If anything, the warm feeling of her breath, although destabilizing, was inviting.

This time around he draped both arms around Winter’s small frame and met her lips again halfway. Staring deeply into her eyes touching her lips he feels his heart racing as Winter whispers this is better than I imagined.

She then pulls away placing her fingers in his, bringing his hand up to her lips she kisses it and staring up at him whispering.”

“I love your eyes they dark and deep if angels could be described in person you the perfect definition to what an angel should look like.”

She moves in and pushes her chest tight against his holding him as she puts her lips on hers and breathes deeply.

She then takes his hand and stands up giving his jacket back.

“I should go.”

He stands up and walks her to the house and sees Tiffany sitting cozy with Alex walking up to Tiffany.

“Hi, I am Joshua, you are? As he reaches out to shake his hand.”

“My name is Alex” as he reaches his hand and shakes it.

“Hey, Tiffany, it’s time we go Mom must be really worried.”

Tiffany gently squeezes Alex’s hand.

“Will I see you around?”

“Yes,” Alex nods “lunch tomorrow?”

“Can I come to pick you up at about twelve tomorrow?”

“Sure,” she looked ts out a faint smile and follows her brother. Joshua then leans in and Holds Winter tightly. Greeting the brothers they exit the gate and laugh at the wonderful evening they both had.

Tiffany smiles and nods.

Entering the house he texts Winter “I hope you can be my only sunshine for the rest of my life tonight was amazing and I can not stop thinking of you.”

Placing the phone down hoping she will reply tomorrow he noticed his phone flickering. It’s. Text from Winter,

“Thank you for the amazing time we had talking but I can not do this please do not ask me why or approach me in public again I am so so sorry you deserve happiness someone you can be with freely I wish it was me but I am not the one for you please don’t text me again.”

ConfusesJoshua stares at his phone reading the text over and over hoping it’s a misunderstanding.

“What have I do wrong “

“Maybe I went overboard kissing her? Did I say something? I should have not gone to the party.

He reaches the draw holding the gun,

Suddenly it occurred to him, “what if it is not her texting“ He places the gun back into the drawer, removing the cocaine, it’s wrapped in foil as her throws some out on a broken mirror,cutting it up, and draws 3cm four straight line and. starts sniffing the cocaine.

“I don’t need this drama in my life.” He puts on his headset and lays back and closes his eyes.

Seeing her face in front of him, he reaches for his phone, dials her number wanting to call her pushes the red buttom, and places his phone back down on the table.

“I am not sucking up to anyone.”

The snow was falling, the soft flakes cascaded all around, catching on his eyelashes while he stared up at the tall man before me. Demon in a sleek, red suit, he was as stark against the snow as a drop of blood on white parchment with murky, bloodshot eyes as he shuddered, glad for his mother’s firm grip on his hand.

“Don’t let go,” she said and pulled him closer to her side.

“Why,” he asked, only to realize that no sound when he spoke. There would be nowhere to run anyway.

Nothing but snow-covered terrain surrounded them for miles. A sudden touch, something colder than the snow, made him jump.

As he opens his eyes he saw a dark shadow fading into the corner. It was all just a dream.

Standing up and seeing a bright light in front of the gate at one in the morning as five guys climb out of a Mercedes Black SUV who are these people as he bends behind the wall below the window thinking they can’t get in as the gate was securely locked?

Joshua notices another guy climbing out with a hat and a cloak cigar in the mouth starting at the house.

Preparing for the worst he puts on his vest and gets his two 9mm pistols.

There are blue lights coming down the road as Joshua stands up and see the van pull over, two cops climbing out and approaching them l, Joshua walks to the door opening it as he notices the guy putting a stack of cash in the cop’s hands as the cops then drive off he stares over at Joshua the shadow of his hat darkening his eyes as he smokes his cigar. Joshua stares back the guy now gets in the car and drives off.