Alistair's POV

I pushed the brakes of my bike so that Evelyn's hand rested on my body. As soon as I felt a hand around my shoulder, I slowed down. I wanted to take her away, away from this city. Someplace in this world where everyone ceased to exist, where it was just me and her.

On finally reaching the destination I stopped my bike. I signaled Evelyn to get down first, I later followed her. Brushing my hair I let the cool air hit my face. It felt refreshing and rejuvenating.

I cornered my eyes to look at Evelyn, she looked beautiful as usual. She wrapped her hands around her arms in correspondence with the cold climate. I'd have definitely offered her my jacket but I didn't wear one, unfortunately. 

"So ?", she arched her brows towards me as she interrogated.

"So?",  I mimicked her with the same facial expressions "Wait for it ", I winked.

"Tell me ", she sounded curious.

"Time heals '', okay fine, I know it was a really bad joke at this moment "Just kidding, you'll know it in some time ".

We were close to the landward side of a wave-cut platform, precisely a cliff. I brought her here to have the best day of her life, I knew it would be because when I did it for the first time it proved out to be mine too.  I gazed at her and moved my eyeballs away the moment she caught me gawking at her.

"Say yes to paragliding ?", I bent down on my right knee waiting for an answer. I liked the attention, I was certainly not the kind to be trifled with though my actions were a bit dramatic. I have been really disappointed with my flirtatious tricks ever since I met her.

"Oh my Lord, no way Arnold ", a tickle trespassed my heart as she said my name aloud. Okay, it wasn't my real name but I couldn't deny my emotions. Arnold sounds nice though, I can change my name to that permanently. Maybe ?.

"Yes way leaf ", a mischievous smile escaped my lips.

"Oh no no, Heights are scary ", she looked beneath towards the river like she was measuring the height.

"Come on now or I'll complain to Humpty Dumpty ", I grinned to which she pouted "I mean your mom, Sorry "

"Wouldn't change my answer ", she instinctively replied.

I made a puppy dog face pushing the strands back into the spike, the weather was a bit airy. I took a step closer towards her through my knees "Please, I'll accompany you ", I assured her.

She pulled me up through my arms, I stood up at once. "Fine ", she answered as she half-smiled. Her expressions reflected a sense of disquietude. I knew that it was going to be fun, it always was.

I once brought Sarah here, she couldn't stop thanking me for such an experience throughout the week. Now the question that pops is: who was Sarah? She was the only girl I was serious with my entire life. I left her 4 years back because it didn't work out well between us due to some complications.

My father accepted her as his future daughter-in-law the moment I introduced her to him as she was the only daughter of a very famous businessman. He was very dissatisfied with our break-up. I tried to patch up with her a month later after our break up because my father had his own selfish motive behind this and he forced me to make things right.

"So, are you excited ?", I questioned Evelyn whilst pushing away the thoughts of Sarah which were dominating my mind.

I grasped her hand softly, "Come on ", I stated whilst taking her to the person in charge of this sport.

"Hey buddy ", I hugged Neil when I saw him getting outside his small cabinet. The place was quite open and the only thing which was built here was Neil's small cabin connected with a uni-sex washroom.

"Hey Al-", I kept my hands on his mouth so as to prevent him from saying my real name. I should definitely inscribe 'My name is Arnold' with a marker on my forehead.

"Call me Arnold ", I winked as I murmured in his ears. He smiled and nodded agreeing to it. I took a glimpse of Evelyn who watched us weirdly.

He got inside the cabinet and came back with a pen and paper. I knew it was the contract papers we had to sign before we were on board. No, this sport wasn't dangerous but the people who conducted it felt a need to state the consent of the person performing it is written.

I handed the papers to Evelyn and guided her to sign at the respected places. She signed on them without questioning to my surprise.  I didn't sign at first as I had to mention the contact details on it which obviously had to be of Alistair's as Neil was quite familiar with me.

I quickly signed on the vacant spaces which were suffixed by three following lines

¤Understanding and accepting the risks of tandem paragliding.¤Understanding the acts of launching, flying, and landing.
¤Understanding the mechanics of brakes and risers.

"So Arnold, are you going to be her partner or should I assign you'll different professional partners ?", he took a view of the papers making sure they were properly signed.

"I'll accompany her ", Evelyn's face wasn't satisfied with my answer, I knew exactly why "I am a trained professional, don't worry ", I assured her to which she sighed.

She definitely didn't believe me but I was just stating the truth. I took a year's course on this sport, I completely was an expert in it.

I properly looked after the layout of the canopy and harness pre-flight. I assured myself that whether the ability to launch the canopy was under control. I double-checked the harness and made sure it remain connected to the canopy while remaining clear of lines and risers

After launching, I made sure that my inflation run was smooth enough, I exhibited confidence and caught her by her waist as she shivered. "Hey -hey it's okay. I am right here holding you ", I tried to solace her.

We were now in between the clouds, Evelyn was silent throughout. I was very sure that she had her eyes closed so I decided to make this experience of hers humorous as well.

I moved my fingers through her stomach, the costumes and the harnesses completely surrounded it so I tried to find the naked skin.

"You're not doing this Arnold ", I could sense her smiling. No, she was out of sight for me as her back faced me.

"I am definitely doing this ", I moved my fingers through her stomach as I continued tickling her. She chortled as she pushed my hands away from her body, she failed at this attempt.

"Come on now, open your eyes ", I ordered like an instructor.

"Oh my! We're s-so", she stammered after opening her eyes.

"Up above the world so high, you're the diamond in my sky ", I chuckled. Well, flirting was easier this way when her back faced me. She neglected my last line as I expected.

"Evelyn ?", I questioned when I didn't hear her.

"Yes ?", she questioned back.

"Shout, shout as loud as you can ", I said in a bit louder tone as the air didn't allow me to speak softly.

"What ", I knew she'd ask for a reason.

"When you're way full of things which include stress, emotions or relations, this helps. Just let it out. Come on ", I instructed. I knew I was very straight forward but maybe this would help her to reduce her pains to some extent. I had no idea of her stress, suffering, or pains but I knew that she was suffering from all three. It could be made out of her behavior.

"Come on ", I instigated her again.

"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh ", I shouted, "Now, your turn "

"Aaaaahhhhhhh ", she shouted.

"Not very bad for a start ", I judged "now shout with me "

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh ", we shouted together in sync. She laughed out aloud the moment we stopped. I wasn't this lucky to watch her laughing face as I had strings attached but the audio of her laugh felt like music to my ears. I wanted it to go on again and again.

"feels good ?", I inquired.

"very ", her voice wasn't the same. It was filled with happiness and fun. I grinned as I finally succeeded in making her smile at the end of the day.

Before hitting the trail, I launched smoothly on the land and hiked back down on the ground. It was fun, it always was. I took a deep breath whilst turning around facing Evelyn. I giggled a bit on encountering her facial expressions. She looked happy and scared both, how was it even possible?

"So, how was the experience ", I grasped her hand and rested it on my shoulder while I drove the bike.

"Different, thank you ", she replied slowly.

"You don't have to use sorry's and thankyou's when you're with me. I find them quite formal ", I hissed "But you can bless me with a peck though ", I chuckled.

I didn't get an answer "Just kidding ", I tried faking it out. The truth was; my skin desired her "Let's grab some dinner before I drop you at your place ", I made an offer to which saying no was irresistible for girls as per my experience.

"fine, thanks. Please drop me first and then you can continue with your dinner plans ", Hey Evelyn please follow the script written by my head.

"Okay then ", I sighed in rejection.

I pushed the brakes against her expectations yanking her body closer to mine. "Sorry, didn't mean to ", I faked out again because I did mean it more than anything I'd ever meant.

"Thanks ", she turned around one last time before entering the building. I furrowed my brows "Oh, sorry ", she reacted instinctively. I deepened the furrow "Fine, I take those generous words back "

"Wait, let me escort you ", she stopped on hearing my voice. I quickly parked my bike in the corner and made my way in along with her. Humpty Dumpty wasn't seated in her place yet so I decided to wait for her as she had my watch.

"Hey love, can you please call Mr, I mean Mrs. Rosaline (Humpty Dumpty) ? ", I inquired about her to the lady who stood nearby. She nodded and left.

Mrs. Rosaline blessed us with her existence the moment I was about to start a conversation with Evelyn, my leaf. She stumped as she walked, eyeing me unpleasantly she marched towards me.

"As I mentioned, I brought her safe and sound ", I smiled.

"Let me get your watch then", she turned towards the desk. She unlocked it with her neck-chain which was specifically a key . "here's your belonging ", she handled my watch to me.

"Took you too long ", she arched her brows towards Evelyn as she caught her tightly by her arms. She was purposely causing her pain, I couldn't see it.

I cleared my throat "Ma'am it's my fault, she did warn me ", I tried grasping her by her waist slowly, but I failed. She had a tight grip over her.

"Go ", Evelyn mouthed me silently when Rosaline didn't focus on either of us.

I turned my head from left to right and then left again which clearly meant no. How could I let her cause pain to Evelyn when it wasn't even her fault.

"Ma'am ---", she cut my sentence.

"Good night Mr. Arnold ", she was clearly telling me to leave indirectly.

"Please go ", Evelyn mouthed me silently again.

"fine ", I stumped my foot, loud enough for her to feel my anger. I left the place with mixed thoughts. Maybe I shouldn't have asked her out. What if she hits her? She can, she didn't look any less than a dictator. I peeped before exiting one last time, she strangled her wrist tightly. I couldn't help but leave.

I never felt this helpless before.

**********************

Vote, comment, share.

Instagram: Aafrynn