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Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 2
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2.6k words

(y/n)'s POV
The hellish ride was finally over and I couldn't wait to get off of this thing, "That was horrifying." I took off the helmet and handed it to Anakin who held an amused grin.

"It wasn't that bad, you're just not used to it," He placed the helmet on top of his handles before bringing his gaze back on me, "You could really use a little more adventure in your life."

I hummed with a head shake, "No, I think I'm good with my quiet, boring life." I work, I eat, I sleep, sometimes read if I have the chance and repeat. I know I'm young and shouldn't have a life like this but it's only temporary until I go off to college. But for the time being, I need to afford college.

He used his legs to keep his motorcycle standing, while he fidgeted with the gloves on his hands, "Let me guess, you like to stay in, read, and occasionally watch a romance movie that you've already seen over dozen times?" He raised a brow.

I smiled, he was partially correct, "Wrong about the romance, but right about the repetition, it's Peter Pan," I revealed my little secret pleasure. I don't know why, but that movie draws me in and I find myself watching it anytime I need an escape from reality. I watched it last night while I cried and drowned myself in a bowl of ice cream. I consider it my comfort film.

(Fact: Peter Pan came out in 1953)

He chuckled and I shot him a glare, assuming he was about to make fun of me for adoring a movie meant for children, "It's a romance if you look at it from a certain point of view," He moved the helmet out of his way, and leaned forward on the handles of his bike, keeping his gaze locked with mine, "Boy takes away a girl that he likes in attempt to give her a better, more interesting life filled with a spontaneous adventure." He smirked while he eyed me up and down, a look of fondness in his starry eyes.

I see what he's doing.

"I guess you're right," I smiled, digging into my pocket for my house key, "Thanks for bringing me home by the way, I appreciate it." I thanked him, while switching pockets to check that one for my key.

He nodded shifting his attention behind me towards my house, his brows furrowing, "Is no one home?" He asked.

I turned to look at my pitch black home to see that not a single light was on. It gave off a slight eerie feeling, but I was used to it, "No, my father works graveyard most of the time."

"What about siblings, or your mother?" He questioned, curious.

I silently cursed to myself as I pulled my hand away from my pocket, giving up on searching for the house key that I now realized I forgot to bring. I tend to be forgetful, it's a major flaw, "Mother left when I was a baby and I am an only child." I informed him quickly, while turning around to face my house, thinking about what window might be unlocked.

"Is something wrong?" He asked and I heard him kicking the stand for his bike down, before stepping away from it and coming closer to me.

"I forgot my house key." I sighed, meeting his ocean eyes, and I'd be lying if I said they weren't the prettiest eyes I had ever seen. The blue sparkled even in the night, and highlighted all of his other features, making him almost captivating. I feel like I've gushed over his eyes too many times tonight to count.

It's not an attraction, I don't like him, I just happen to like his eyes.

He hummed in understanding, "Been there," He looked at my house, his eyes scanning the terrain, "Any windows unlocked?" He asked like he was already inside of my mind.

"Yes, but there's one problem," I added, "It's my bedroom window on the second floor, and as you can see," I gestured to myself, indicating I was far from tall enough to reach a second floor window, "I'm definitely not tall enough to reach."

He eyed me up and down slowly for a moment, then he smiled as he nudged his head towards the house, "Lead the way, I have an idea."

💛

"This idea is stupid."

"Well do you have a better one? Or would you like to stay out here all night?" He folded his arms over his chest and cocked a brow at my negative attitude.

I looked up at the high window that was still cracked open from earlier. I really didn't have any other ideas that didn't involve breaking something, and I didn't want to listen to my dad give me yet another lecture about the importance of remembering to grab my house key.

I sighed in defeat, "Fine, but if you get hurt, it's not my fault."

He rolled his eyes and unfolded his arms to get in the proper stance to lift me up, "This is nothing, I've done much worse and came out fine. Just don't lose your balance."

"Interesting," I commented as I stepped my foot into his locked, gloved palms and barely put my weight on it, "Like what?" I questioned curiously, placing my hands on his shoulders for support.

He smirked. His face was inches from mine, and I could feel his cold minty breath fanning my face, "Go out with me and maybe I'll tell you."

"I'd much rather watch Peter Pan," I glanced up to the window and prepared for him to toss me; yes, toss me, "Wait what if I fall?" I asked, looking back down at him with panicked eyes.

He shrugged, "Don't you worry your pretty little head, I'll catch you if you do."

I swallowed nervously with a nod and traveled my gaze back up to the window, "Thanks for helping me by the way, you really didn't have to do any of this."

"What kind of man would I be if I left you out here alone?"

My mind went to the multiple times that Clovis would drop me off, and do just that. I always found my way in, but I always had to figure it out alone since he never stayed long enough to make sure I got inside. I always resorted to blaming myself for being forgetful when it came to my key and hardly gave Clovis a second thought about it.

But having Anakin here, helping me, well it certainly changed my perspective on the situation. As my boyfriend, he should have waited to make sure I got inside the house okay. It's the bare minimum.

"A shitty one, I suppose." I mumbled low to myself, although I'm sure Anakin heard it.

"Alright gorgeous, you ready?" He asked, and I could feel him shifting his other foot so he had better momentum.

I nodded, breathing out a nervous sigh, "Only if you are pretty boy."

"Oh, so you think I'm pretty?" He questioned with a hint of arrogance to his tone.

I chuckled, shaking my head, "Just throw me."

After successfully gripping the windowsill—on our second try, the first didn't go as planned, and Anakin has a small bruise to show for it—I pulled myself up, and lifted open my window. I crawled inside and dropped down on the hard floor with a loud thud, "Shit." I complained at the mild pain from the impact.

"Are you okay?" I heard Anakin from outside shouting up.

I quickly got back on my feet and lifted the window more to stick my head out, "Yes I'm fine," I smiled down at him, "Thank you again, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you."

He nodded as he took a few steps back, but kept his gaze on me, a smile spreading across his lips, "So about that date."

I leaned against the windowsill and raised a brow, "I thought it wasn't a date?"

He shrugged, "I changed my mind," He glanced down and shyly kicked the grass underneath his feet before looking back up, "And I'm sorry for acting like a jerk the other day. It wasn't cool, I'm not really that kind of person. I thought you were pretty and liked teasing you, but I shouldn't have given you a hard time."

"Apology accepted," This man isn't at all how I expected someone like him to be, he seemed so, cordial, "But you do understand why I'm not dating right now, it's too soon."

"He didn't think it was too soon." He pointed out which hurt, but it was true.

I sighed and bit my lip in thought. He was pretty and decently kind, which was tempting, but I just couldn't, "You have a point, but I'm better than him."

He nodded in understanding, "No doubt about that. So I'll see you around then?" He asked, hopefulness in his tone.

I shrugged, "It's a small town, I'm sure you'll see me somewhere," I gestured to the outside world. "You also happen to know where I work."

He hummed in delight, "Suddenly I'm craving a danish." He teased as he bit his bottom lip with a grin that I'm sure could melt a thousand hearts.

I laughed with a head shake, "Goodnight blondie."

He dug his hands into his leather jacket pockets, "Goodnight gorgeous."

He turned away to leave my backyard.

I pulled my head back into my window, and closed it before showering and changing into my pajamas. I laid down in my bed and my mind was being overrun by thoughts of this entire night. It didn't go the slightest bit how I expected it to, but I didn't exactly hate the outcome either. I had fun, even that unnerving motorcycle ride was a bit thrilling, but I wasn't going to tell Anakin that and add to his already obviously inflated ego.

Also, the way I laughed, really laughed when I fell the first time Anakin threw me was my first time laughing since Clovis left me. It felt good to do something normal again. I smiled at the memory and turned over on my side, before closing my eyes. This was the first night in three days that I didn't cry myself to sleep.

🤍💛
2 days later

Yawning, I placed the last clean dish into the sink and glanced at the clock in front of me, "Shit." I mumbled after realizing that it was later than I expected and I missed the final bus ten minutes ago.

I also happen to be closing alone tonight, thanks to Kelly calling out yet again.

Clovis was the one who usually drove me home when I worked late since I didn't have a car of my own or even my drivers license. I know I should have gotten it when I turned sixteen, but my mind was always distracted with other things that I completely forgot about it. My Dad is also constantly busy with work so I hardly had a teacher.

I took of my apron off and hung it on a hook that held most of our aprons which Rick would wash in the mornings. Then I flipped the light switches off and left the bakery, closing and locking the doors behind me.

I turned around and faced the darkened streets that looked discouraging, especially to a seventeen year old girl who happens to be alone. The warm nightly summer air whisked around me, and I breathed out a heavy sigh before beginning my walk to my house. Thankfully I didn't live too far, so if I walk quick I can get there in about fifteen to twenty minutes.

"What are you doing?" A voice broke the silence of the night, startling me.

I let out a high-pitched scream and quickly spun around with my heart beating against my chest. My eyes landed on a familiar figure, leaning against his bike with folded arms, "I was about to walk home," I spoke breathlessly, my body still trying to recover from my near heart attack, "Until you scared me half to death."

I didn't even see him when I walked out and he had his motorcycle parked right across from the exit I just came out of.

He chuckled as he pushed himself off of his bike and walked towards, "Sorry gorgeous, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine," I exhaled heavily, then furrowing my brows, confused by his presence, "What are you doing here Anakin?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I wanted to see you."

I looked up at the night sky before looking back down to him, "You had a sudden urge to see me at midnight?"

He shook his head; breathing out a soft laugh, "You're not the only one with a job love. I just got off mine and thought I'd try my luck and come here." He walked even closer to me, "Good thing I did too, because it looked like you were about to walk home, alone, in a town that isn't as safe as you might think it is."

"I took longer than I was supposed to, and missed the last bus." I admitted with a sigh.

"Do you work in the morning?"

"No I have the next few days off, why?" I questioned with a head tilt.

He smiled, holding a hand out towards me, "You have two options; one, I can take you home, and you can sulk in your bed while watching a movie you've seen a hundred times, or two, let me take you somewhere I know you're going to love."

I looked down and eyed my messy appearance for a moment, "I look atrocious, and I haven't agreed to a date." I thought he was a sweet guy, nothing how I expected him to be. Not to mention he was beyond attractive, but I was scared. My broken heart was still healing, and I wanted to protect it.

He shrugged, eyeing me up and down, clearly checking me it and not even trying to hide it, "Who says it's a date? And you look as beautiful as the first time I saw you," His charming and appealing manner was slowly convincing me to say yes.

Realizing I had nothing better to do and my curiosity of where he wants to go was getting the better of me, I gave in, "As long as you know that this isn't a date, and it better be worth my time Anakin if I'm giving up my movies and books," I placed my hand in his.

As soon as my hand touched his, it had felt like a fire had ignited where our skin touched. My breath immediately hitched in my throat as I gazed into his crystal eyes. And strangely enough, it appears he had the same reaction; his eyes filled with wonder as his breathing halted. We've touched before, but it has never been skin to skin contact, and it was the most unusual feeling that I have ever experienced.

He was as quiet as me, his eyes scanning my features with a look I couldn't quite place, then he smiled. He tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me with him towards his bike where he grabbed the helmet, and placed it on for me, "Trust me," He tightened the strap, and gently poked my nose, "You're going to love this."

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