Thursday

I checked all the set traps to make sure everything was perfect for the millionth time while I waited at the bench.

I looked around at the beautiful colours of different flowers that were perfectly arranged in a sequence that screamed perfection. The birds' constant chirping on the few trees, the red and pink roses that stood out gloriously under the sun and the small waterfall that stood at the centre of the maze of flowers with small petals floating on it.

Some things haven't changed. Exactly the same way I saw it couple of years ago and memories of those days when I came here during break charged in a million waves. The speed at which they flashed in my head was fast enough to knock me off my emotional balance again.

My eyes immediately drifted to the other spot beside the rose garden and I could still see myself eating, laughing as we enjoyed lunch together. It was too good to be true.

A heavy lump clogged my throat as a wave of nausea hit me at the thought. I hugged my arms, trying to comfort myself as I felt hot tears well up in my eyes. It felt like yesterday. I wanted to scream out loud, loud enough to let out my frustrations, my anger, my pain but I couldn't. I thought I was over it but maybe I wasn't. Who would?

I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a tap on my shoulder and held my palpitating heart as I turned to a concerned looking Alan.

"Are you ok? I've been calling you for a while now" the look on his face and tone of his voice showed sincerity of his concern.

Nodding, I quickly wiped away the few fallen tears on my face but he never took his eyes off me. His gaze moved to the place I kept staring at beside the roses before they roamed my face again. He knew something was wrong and the look he gave me made me know he knew I was lying but didn't question it.

I averted my gaze from him, I couldn't bear watching the expression on his face as a mixture of concern and something else I couldn't quite place were evident in his eyes but it was so minute, almost unrecognizable.

"Okay .." he drawled out, giving me one more concerned look before his face contorted to his emotionless one.

"So uh.. what am I supposed to do?"

"I er.. made a few traps to get the lizards and hopefully it works" I replied with a barely there smile while pointing at my creative works.

I explained how the traps are supposed to work with the baits I set in them.

**
An hour later ...

"I still think we should go to a pet store or something" Alan suggested after our fifth close attempt in getting the lizard.

"And I still think this will prevent us from being $75 poorer" I replied.

I smiled a little when I saw another lizard eating the bait and sneakily tried closing the box on it and groaned out loud when it ran away quickly.

That's it.

I let all my frustrations out on the traps as I kicked the cardboard boxes over and over making them fly in different directions. Once satisfied, I slumped on the grass sitting cross-legged.

"Yunno, the pet store's still open" I could hear the slight amusement in his tone at my tantrums.

"Why skip plan B when we haven't tried it out?" I smirked at the confused look he gave me and mentally patted my back for planning and getting enough options in case. I trutted to my bag lying on the small bench and began ransacking it. I brought put a spray bottle and smiled at my plan B.

My original plan; plan A was the traps which turned unavailing and plan B was to use water on the lizards to slow them down and plan C is the last option and it involves spending $75 unnecessarily.

I turned to Alan who was now leaning on a tree and found him raising a questioning eyebrow at me and the bottle in my hand.

"Whatever this plan B of yours is, count me out" I rolled my eyes at his remark. Like he was of any help.

I managed to lay out some bugs and worms on the giant rock where most of them usually gathered without either touching the worms or bugs. I waited a few minutes as I sat on the grass before 2 lizards came. I set my target on the male one, picked up my bottle and began spraying continuously on its retreating form while jogging behind its retarding speed. When I finally had it in the place I wanted, I turned the plastic box upside down, with it inside.

Phee! One down, two to go.

I mentally applauded myself for my achievement and slowly opened the box to grab it.

I walked up to Alan who was busy typing away on his phone, making me roll my eyes with the lizard carefully held between my palms.

"See, I told you it would work........ eventually" he lifted his eyes to the lizard in my hands and gave me a look I couldn't quite decipher. Irritation maybe?

"Mmmhm" he hummed in response before returning his eyes to his phone and making me roll my eyes again.

"Wanna hold?" The speed which his head jolted upward made me wonder how he didn't break a bone. He looked wearily between the lizard and I "no thank you"

I smirked as I still brought the lizard closer to him playfully.

"Barbie....... stop" my heart fluttered at the nickname-even though I totally hate it- and ignored the warning in his voice.

And leave it to me to not stop.

"Is Alan afraid of a teeny tiny lizard?" I teased and chuckled at the glare he shot me.

He scoffed "of course not"

"Then hold it" I pushed, putting it closer to him while he moved as far away from me as the tree behind him will allow him to.

"You're such a sissy" I badgered.

"I'm not"

I stared him right in the eye and raised a daring eyebrow "prove it"

Why I said that? I don't even know, probably for the the fun of it but I didn't expect the sudden silence that fell right after as he raised an eyebrow at me while we maintained eye contact. A thousand goosebumps erupted all over my arms at the intensity held behind those brown orbs.

My breath hitched in my throat when he switched positions with my back now against the tree. In this position, with one of his hands on the tree beside my neck and the other on my waist pinning me to the tree.

He was so close I actually smelt his minty breath when he spoke.

"You know, I can show you how much of a man I am" his grip on my waist tightened with his words, his eyes moving from mine to my lips and back before not so subtly licking his lips in the most seductive way.

I was dumbfounded for a second, keyword there is a second before I raised an eyebrow at him, an idea popping up in my mind.

I made a show of looking around then staring at his lips before speaking "I suggest we go somewhere more private" my voice equally just above a whisper as I bit my lip, staring him dead in the eye.

I really do hope my act was as seductive as it was in my head even as I dared return the intensity of his stare. The pin drop silence that ensued again, made the air hot maybe? As we just stared, trying to gauge the other's reaction-at least that is what I'm trying to do but failing miserably.

Damn his stoicism!

I guess the ice finally cracked when he raised an eyebrow surprised at my comeback and smirked before leaning in to whisper in my ear, his breath fanning my neck, doubling the number of goosebumps "I like your confidence but....." He paused, probably testing my patience and I felt his hands over mine which still had the lizard between them.

Guess he isn't herpetophobic then.

"My advice for next time, don't judge a book by its cover" my eyebrows knitted in confusion by his statement but realization dawned on me when he threw the lizard away, letting it go free.

No! My hardwork!

I felt like punching the stupid smirk off his face even when backed away slowly.

"Well Shakespeare, why the fuck did you do that?!!!" I don't care now, I was screaming my lungs out, my blood boiled in rage. Well, if you had spent more than an hour trying to get a stupid lizard for a more stupid biology project with the stupidest boy ever, you'll relate. But no, no one can relate cos I'm the only one stuck here with this jerk!

Dear God, take my life already!

"Aw... You look cute when mad especially with those squeezable cheeks of yours"

I slapped his hand from my face before walking away to grab my bag. Christ knows if I stay here for another minute, I'll be stuck here all night trying to hide his body.

"Is Barbie mad?" His voice taunted as I packed my stuff in a frenzy before I swerved to face him, my eyes narrowed angrily.

"You know, I wouldn't really blame you though. How would I? You literally have everyone kissing your ass and don't know what it feels like to work really hard even if nobody sees it that way" I took a deep breath and looked away from him before continuing. "Sometimes I wonder why bother trying when the world is just an ugly place for some people and people like you just make it uglier...." The taunt look on his face remaining unwavered but I still tried to read even if a minute evidence of emotion in those honey brown eyes but only had my eyebrows drawing together in confusion when his motioned his head behind my back.

I turned around slowly and noticed that my previously forgotten bait now had 5 lizards crowding it.

Accurate!

Hey muffins! What do y'all think bout Alan and Raven's Convo 👀?

Was it intense as it is in my head? I really do hope cos I put so much time making it as intense as possible. I really do hope y'all see it the way I did.... Hehe

Feel free to comment your thoughts ❤️

Xoxo Ruth