Learning To Love

‘Where are we going?’

‘Wait and see, it’s going to be a fun day.’ I said as I led Tanya along the pavement.

After our first kiss a few days ago, I felt like she was a lot more confident than she had been before. I also noticed that her eyes had become a little brighter, the life was starting to appear once again… If it was ever there in the first place.

She didn’t have a clue where we were going, but she trusted me enough now to come with me.

We arrived at the rink and she just saw the words ‘ice skating’ on the front of the building. She looked at me confused.

‘What’s ice skating?’

‘Ever heard of roller blading?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Well it’s basically that, but instead of wheels you have a blade on the bottom of the boots and you skate on ice.’

‘What if I fall? Will it hurt?’

‘I’m not gonna lie, it might hurt a little. Depends on how you fall. But I can skate so I will look after you. I promise, it’s fun, you will love it.’

‘Alright then, but if I break a bone then you’ll have to care for me till it’s healed.’

‘Is that suppose to be a horrible job?’ I grinned.

‘I could make it horrible for you.’ She said cheekily.

I laughed and pulled her close to me for a hug and then led her inside the building.

‘So I’m supposed to walk in these?’

Yep, come here, take my hand.’

I took her hand and helped her get used to walking in the skating boots. We reached the rink and I went on and watched as Tanya gripped the wall at the side and tried to find her balance.

She stopped and looked at me watching.

‘Help.’ She yelped.

I laughed and skated over to her like a professional. She snorted and shook her head.

‘Show off.’

‘I’m a master of ice skating.’

‘Help me then if you’re so good.’

I laughed and went behind her and took both her hands in mine and pushed her along a little until she got her balance.

As we went around the rink she started to get her balance more, we then held hands most of the time as we skated around the rink.

Tanya seemed to really enjoy it, she was smiling and laughing the whole time. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing it was me putting that smile on her face.

Once we put our boots back Tanya reminded me of an excited little kid, she rambled on about the skating and how much she enjoyed it. She was incredibly adorable.

‘The fun isn’t over yet, now we’re going to the cinema.’

‘What to see?’

‘The Lion King in 3D. It’s an all time classic, almost every child watched it when they were young. It’s re-released in 3D, so I’m taking you to see it. You will love it.’

‘I’ve never heard of it, is that a bad thing?’

‘Nah, you might recognize it when you see it though, you are bound to have seen adverts for it or something. Now let’s go, it starts in twenty minutes.’

I dragged her along to the cinema, I thought since most people will have experienced this film as a child that Tanya should get to see it now. Besides, what’s better than an all time classic in 3D?

We got to our seats and put on our 3D glasses, Tanya ended up laughing in hysterics at me with them on. According to her I looked like some sort of professor.

The film was just as good as I remembered it, Tanya cried during the sad part, I think every girl in the screening did. We also shared a moment, during the song ‘can you feel the love tonight’ our eyes connected and we linked hands and lay them between us for the rest of the film.

‘That film was amazing, when I seen it was a cartoon I have to admit I was unsure, but it was great.’

‘It’s a Disney film, an old classic. They are always the best.’

‘Is there a second one?’

‘Yep.’

Her face filled with excitement, it made me chuckle.

‘Oh I will have to buy it then, can we go in past Tesco on the way home?’

‘No need, I have it on DVD in my attic somewhere, I will find it and bring it round tomorrow night if you like?’

‘Yes please.’

I smiled and then took her hand and we went down the road to a pub for dinner.

***

We sat down and ordered our food, I had such a great day today with Adam. It had been fun.

‘Adam, tomorrow, instead of you coming round to mine. Could, I come round to yours?’

He looked up at me and looked a little surprised but happy.

‘Of course, if that’s what you want to do?’

‘It is. I really trust you.’

‘Though if you want to leave at any time just let me know, alright?’

‘I will.’

The waiter came over and we ordered our food, we talked away as usual, then after Adam wanted to play some pool. I had never played before so I was clueless.

‘Come here, I’ll show you. It’s easy when you get the hang of it.’

He passed me the cue and then went behind me and leaned over me, gently his hands lay on mine and guided me on what to do.

It reminded me of the other night when he was showing me how to play the guitar, his hands soft, and gently guiding mine to where they needed to be.

I felt his breath gently tickling my cheek, his body was pressed against mine behind me. It was like he was protecting me, as though he was my shield.

Adam helped me with my first few shots until I got the hang of it, then we both became quite competitive.

‘I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have taught you as well as I did.’ Adam laughed as I potted another ball.

‘You’ve met your match now.’

I was away to take another shot when Adam moved suspiciously closer to me. I looked at him wearily, he just grinned cheekily.

‘Take your shot then.’

‘I don’t trust you standing there…’

He didn’t move though, he just stood there watching me.

I tried to block him out and concentrate on my next shot but just as I was away to hit one of the balls with the cue he grabbed my sides with both hands and tickled me.

I burst out laughing and tried to move away, I accidentally hit the ball but it went in the opposite direction I had hoped for.

I had never been tickled before, it felt weird, like I couldn’t control my body. I’d heard of it of course but never experienced it. That was also the first time Adam had touched me in my sides, I liked that part.

He stopped and put his face close to mine and whispered. ‘Nice shot.’

I elbowed him playfully and moved away from him a little.

‘That was evil and cheating.’

‘You still hit the ball, so now it’s my shot.’

He said as he took his shot and potted a ball. I just glared at him while he smirked away.

Adam ended up winning the game, because he cheated of course.

‘If you hadn’t cheated I so would have won that game.’ I said as we walked hand in hand down the road back to mine.

‘You’re not going to forget that easily are you? You done good for your first game.’

‘Nope I’m not, I will think on a way to get you back for it.’

‘Oh yeah? Well now I know you are ticklish, so I will always have an advantage over you.’ He said as he poked my side which made me squeal a little.

‘I will find out your weakness one way or another.’

‘Good luck with that.’ He grinned at me wickedly.

I would ask Theo next time I seen him.

Adam walked me back home, he kissed me gently on the lips before watching me walk up the path inside.

I was going around to his tomorrow night, he was going to order in chinese and buy some nibbles for us while we watched the film. I wasn’t feeling nervous about it, I knew he wouldn’t push me into anything. But the dream I had kept creeping into my mind.

I had to push it aside, I would not let it take over me and ruin what I had with Adam. He was too special to loose.

‘Are you sure you’re ready for this?’ Adam asked me once again as we got nearer his house.

He had came to pick me up, to take me to his place for the evening. He kept asking me almost every ten steps. It was cute how worried and caring he was.

‘Yeah I’m sure. If I don’t do it now I never will.’ I smiled up at him and he gave my hand a gentle reassuring squeeze.

‘I just don’t want you to take a step to soon if you’re not ready.’

‘I know. But I am ready.’

We finally reached Adams, it felt like the walk took a lifetime. We reached the front door and he looked at me and smiled.

I felt fine, unlike the last time when I freaked out.

As he opened the door and motioned me to step inside, I did. My stomach was churning, with a little nerves but also excitement. This was another step in our relationship that I was taking.

As I got inside, I looked around to see him shut the door. Flashbacks to the dream came across my face where he had locked it and put the key up high.

But he didn’t.

He just closed it and turned back to face me. It was still unlocked, I could leave at any time if I needed to. I knew he wouldn’t ever trap me anywhere.

He took me in his arms and kissed my head before pulling me closer to his body for a hug. I leant my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist holding him close.

‘Thankyou.’

‘For what?’

‘For being patient with me.’

‘No, I should be thanking you.’

‘Why?’ I asked as I looked up at him.

‘Because you are putting trust in me.’ He smiled down at me adoringly.

He leaned down and our lips connected for a few seconds. Each time we kissed I felt like I was on cloud nine. I felt Adam run his hand down my back soothingly.

I started to tremble as he hardened our kiss even more.

When he pulled away he grinned, but had to catch me as my legs had went a little weak. He chuckled.

‘You alright?’

‘Um, yeah.’ I felt my cheeks go bright red.

He smoothed his finger over my cheek slowly. ‘If you’re alright to walk, let’s go and get that Chinese eaten, it’s not going to eat itself.’

He grinned and took my hand carefully and led me through to the living room. He had a nice home, it was cosy.

‘Sit down, make yourself at home.’ Adam spoke as he went through to the kitchen to get food.

I sat down on the sofa and relaxed, this was so much better than I had even imagined. I felt so calm and relaxed aswell, which I had not expected.

***

I went through and grabbed the food and brought it through to the living room. Tanya was sat on the sofa, I was really pleased with how relaxed she was. I sat down next to her and we ate our dinner.

Then we decided to watch the film, she was dying to see the 2nd one. I opened the hatch to the tiny attic, I just threw some boxes up there years ago, I haven’t been up since.

I climbed up the ladder, but for some reason the hatch was a lot smaller than I remembered. The box I was after was right at the back, I hadn’t thought about that when I just chucked them up. There was no way I would be able to climb in to get it. I was too big.

‘I’m too big to get in there. It’s right at the back.’

‘Want me to try?’ I looked down at her from the top of the ladder.

She had a fine figure, smaller than me obviously. I’m sure she would fit.

‘Yeah you can give it a try, but be careful.’

I got of the ladder and then Tanya started to climb it, I placed my hand on her legs to help her get up it, as the ladder was a bit wobbly. She climbed in with ease. Then there was silence…

‘Are you ok?’

Nothing.

‘Tanya?’ My voice was a little panicky.

Her head then reappeared with a grin on her face.

‘Found it.’

I sighed with relief and then as she climbed back down, I put my hand on her ass to help her down without thinking.

I then realized what I’d done and wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t say anything or do anything, but her cheeks went a bit redder than they were.

We went through to the living room again, she put the DVD in the player as I sat down. 

When she came over to sit next to me I grabbed her and pulled her down onto my lap. She giggled as I wrapped my arms around her and held her close.

She sat on my lap during the film, her head against my chest and our fingers entwined together. She seemed to love this film as much as the first one. 

After the film we just watched some cheesy comedy that was on. I sensed her getting more and more lifeless as the evening went on. Her head fell heavy on my chest and she started heavy breathing as she fell asleep. 

I carefully lifted her up and carried her through to the bedroom, it would be a lot more comfy there. I placed her down on the bed and pulled the blankets up over her to keep her warm. 

I sat on the edge of the bed gently stroking her hair to make sure I didn’t wake her.

I loved watching her sleep, as creepy as it may have sounded. She was so cute, so vulnerable. What fascinated me when other people were asleep was that to them, time was flying by. Or perhaps she was away in a dream, a whole new world of her own. 

I placed a kiss on her forehead as I then went round to the other side of the bed and climbed in carefully next to her and pulled the blanket back over us. 

I lay close to her and put my arms around her. I’m not sure whether she was conscious or not but she shuffled closer to me and lay her head on my chest. 

Then I closed my eyes and fell asleep too. Hopefully we would meet in our dreams tonight.