{Chapter 11}

The shop that I needed next was across the square, meaning that Daryan would be following me the whole way, or he would wait outside his shop for me to come back and get the bike. Unfortuanatley, the only place I could safely put the bike was outside the florist, and even if there was another I could hardly push it over and hold on to the bouquet at the same time. Maybe if I just pretended he wasn't there, both on the way to the shop and on the way back, he would go back inside, and I could go home.



I adjusted the bouquet on my arm, and picked up my speed slightly. "Karina, wait!" No chance of pretending he wasn't there then, was he ever going to leave me alone? "Karina!"

I spun round, not realising how close he actually was, and stood on his feet. I smiled, I hoped it hurt. "I really have to go home soon, just because I'm here getting flowers doesn't mean I have nothing important to do, so what do you want?"

"Uh..." He just looked at me after that, not even attempting to add anything as to why he was following me. What was wrong with this boy?

Shaking my head I continued towards the shop. If he had nothing meaningful to say then I wasn't going to waste my time with him. As I passed the fountain, I once again trailed my fingers in the water, welcoming the cold that made me shiver. I could feel him watching me as I walked away. I was getting uncomfortable. I had only just met him that morning and he was already obsessed.

I had to adjust the bouquet again to open the door, this time a shrill bell reached my ears. I couldn't understand why the people here were so safety concious, there were only around twenty households that either lived in and around the village, it was unlikely they would have opportunity to steal anything. Grabbing the nearest box of whiskas pouches, and putting the bouquet on the counter, I checked outside the window, to find Daryan still standing where I had left him. I laughed, it really was like I had cast a spell on him.

"Hey, good-looking. What'cha finding funny?"

I knew that voice, the deep, strained voice from that morning. My hands instinctivly rolled into fists as they had done before, and I stared right into the face of my tormentor. He was smirking at me again, standing behind the counter holding a packet of cigarettes he was either about to take, or was about to put on the shelf. I tilted my chin up in defiance, and slammed a fiver on the counter. Sure, it was £3 over priced, but I wasn't standing there any longer than I had to. I grabbed the pouches, a polly bag and stormed outside, straight past Daryan and pulled my bike away. I shoved the pouches into the bag, got on my bike and made my way back home, as the ass left his shop announcing "She's a good'un" to Daryan.