Blind Love by Bianca Gray (the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT) 📖

/> I heard someone stepping on leaves in the yard. I smiled.
“Back again?” I teased. She plopped down next to me.
“How’d you know it was me?” she asked.
“Well, for one, I really didn’t. But you’re the only one who visits me anyway, so I figured I would take an educated guess,” I smirked. She was silent.
“Hey you still there?” I joked.
“Yeah, just thinking,” she said.
“About?” I pressed.
“Annie,” she said. My heart sort of dropped. Right, Annie. Why did I ever go out with her? I mean, she broke up with me because I lost my eyesight. I regretted my whole relationship with Annie.
“What about her?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
“Well, she broke up with you. I heard her talk about it in class today,” she said.
“Yeah…”
“Well, I sort of… snapped at her because of it. And now she’s going to make my life a living hell… I mean heck,” Rose said catching herself. She sounded frustrated and her voice was cracking like she was about to cry.
“You snapped at her because of me?” I asked.
“Well, she was being a witch about it,” she replied.
“Yeah, Annie’s sort of a bitch,” I said. I opened my arms.
“C’mere,” I said. She hesitated but eventually she let me wrap my arms around her. She rested her head on my shoulder. It felt good this way. Comfortable. But also electric.
“Don’t be afraid of Annie. She really can’t do anything. She’s actually very insecure. What did you say?” I laughed.
“Um…” she said. Her heart was fluttering. I couldn’t help but smile. Wow, her feelings really were like an open book.
“Uh… I called her a fake blonde,” she finally said. I whistled.
“Low blow,” I smiled.
“Well, she is. I’ve known her since I was in kindergarten. And apparently everyone has forgotten that she had jet black hair when she was younger,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“That would make so much sense. I bet she fakes being dumb too,” I said slowly.
“Yeah. We actually used to be friends. But, she just really doesn’t want to lose her popularity. Which is why she doesn’t want anyone to know anything. It’s the most dumb reason I’ve ever heard,” she said.
“Sounds like it,” I replied. I felt her head pop up.
“She said she texted you. How did you get it?”
“Uh, well, I got a new phone that reads out the text messages. Sort of embarrassing because it was during breakfast with my mom and all of a sudden my phone goes ‘hey AY-den. IM breaking up dub woo slash mark you. I just cant date you any-m-row. Especially since er blind. Sa-ree. Dash. Annie’,” I said sounding like how the machine said.
“How did you figure it out?”
“Well, the ‘breaking up’ and the ‘I just can’t date you’ really gave it away,” I replied smirking. She popped her head up again.
“Aiden, I want to help you,” she said.
“Help me?” I asked.
“I want to help you get used to being blind,” she replied. I felt my pride getting hurt. I didn’t need help from her. I was a man. I took my arms off of her.
“I don’t need help,” I replied coldly.
“Aiden, I just want to-“
“I don’t need it,” I said. I heard her sigh.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” she said. I felt her get up. I didn’t ask if she was leaving. Part of me wanted her to, another wanted to grab her and hold on to her forever.
I heard her shoes hitting the porch steps and she sat down next to me again.
“Here,” she said. She handed me something that felt crispy but delicate.
“A leaf,” I said.
“Yes, a leaf. That’s what you’re like right now. You’re colorful on the outside. But you’re also fragile, ready to be crushed,” she said softly, her voice sliding over her words like butter. She put her hands over mine, crushing the leaf.
“I want to help you. So you can’t be crushed,” she said. She placed a smooth object in my hand.
“A rock, can’t be crushed,” she said. I flashed a smile, hiding my how uncomfortable I was feeling.
“Yeah, but it’s not colorful,” I joked.
“You’re right. It’s not,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I don’t… I can’t…” I stumbled on my words.
“You just have too much pride. I understand,” she said truthfully. Pride?
“Well, actually, you can help me,” I said slowly. I heard her laugh.
“Yeah, okay. We’ll start tomorrow, kay? Do you drive?” she asked without thinking.
“Umm, no,” I said.
“Oh my gosh! I’m sorry! I keep slipping up… No, it’s okay. I’ll get us a ride,” she said her voice changing a bit.
“…You’re not going to get like, a fake license and steal a car right?” I asked slowly. She playfully hit my arm.
“Who do you think I am? Sheesh,” she laughed.
“Where are we going to go?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” she replied. Then she got up and left without saying goodbye. Why say goodbye anyway, when she was going to see me tomorrow? I’ll hear your voice again real soon…

CHAPTER 7
Rose

I looked over at him, sitting in the passenger seat. I was driving. I have driven before; I just didn’t have my license. But it was all right because so far, we hadn’t been pulled over.
“Where are we going that takes three hours to get there?” he asked, impatiently. I tsked.
”Impatient, impatient. Relax, Aiden. We’ll get there,” I said smiling to myself.
“You didn’t steal this car right?” he asked.
“Well, it’s my brother’s, so sort of…”
“And you didn’t get a fake license right?” he asked.
“Nope. I’m driving without one.” I heard him take an intake of air.
“O…kay…” he said slowly. I saw him grip the side of the car. He was scared. I mean, considering he had lost his eyesight in a car, it made sense.
Finally we were here. I parked the car.
“WE’RE HEREE!!” I sang. I got out of the car and then helped him out of the car. His green eyes stared at nothing.
“Where are we?”
“I don’t know. You tell me,” I said. He stood there, looking around but not seeing what I was seeing.
“I smell salt water… And I hear waves crashing… Are we at the beach?” he asked.
“Yes sir,” I said.
“But, it’s fall…”
“We’re not going to go SWIMMING silly,” I said. I grabbed his wrist.
“C’mon!” I lead him to the sand.
“Okay, now take off your socks and your shoes.”

CHAPTER 8
Aiden

I did what she told me to. I even rolled up my pants just a little bit. She held my hand instead of my wrist this time. Her hands felt soft in my rough ones. Small and soft.
I took a step into the warm sand. My feet felt the warmness and it felt grainy. It felt familiar. I could imagine how the beach looked, empty but beautiful. But, I couldn’t see it. And I didn’t think I would ever see it again.
By the time Rose told me to sit down, a tear was falling down my cheek.
“Aiden…” she whispered. I felt her hand brush away my tear. I didn’t know if I was looking at her or not. I stood up.
“I’m never going to see this again. Ever…” I said slowly. She breathed slowly and steadily. I felt her closer to me.
“No, but you see things in a totally different way,” she whispered. I looked in the direction of her voice. I could feel the heat coming off of her body. She was standing real close to me. Then suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck and shoulders. And she pressed her hot lips against mine. I put my arm around her back and tangled my hand into her hair.
This kiss felt different from other kisses. I didn’t know whether my eyes were open or not, but I didn’t really care. I could feel, so clearly, her soft pink lips on mine. Her hands tangled in my dark hair. I could feel her body pressed up against mine. Then I took her hands off from around me and fit my fingers in between the spaces between her fingers. I kissed her again as I dropped the hands to our sides. And then I pulled away.
“And you feel things differently,” she whispered breathless. I just smiled.
It was true. I did feel things and see things differently.
And my heart saw her.

That's when I noticed something different.
"Aiden?" she asked.
"Shh," I told her. It wasn't exactly important for her to be quiet but I was amazed. I was seeing...shadows. I blinked, a lot. I wanted to see. It was the one thing I wanted more than anything.

Wasn't it?

But, maybe Rose was more important to me. I felt her tiny hands touch both sides of my face.
"Aiden? You're shaking and hyperventilating..." she said. I put my hands over her hands.
"I'm starting to see..." I heard her gasp.
"Is that possible?" she whispered. I felt her move closer to me. I closed my eyes. I think it was happening. I think the surgery worked. I think...

I opened my eyes and I saw bright blue eyes outlined by long dark eyelashes. Her pink lips were twisted in concern.
"Rose?" I asked. Her lips curled into a smile. She was just as pretty as I imagined her to be. Not that it mattered. She could look like a pig and I would still be in love with her.
"Guess helping me be used to being blind isn't necessary anymore, huh?" I smirked. She laughed and looked at me in a way no one has ever looked at me before. I saw the sun setting in the corner of my eye. It was beautiful, being able to see all the colors that I had taken advantage of before. Then suddenly, she looked away. I tucked my hand under her chin and turned her towards me.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Aiden... I'm not... I'm not the girl for you," she said getting up. I got up quickly and grabbed her wrist.
"What do you mean you're not the girl for me?" I asked. She sighed and tucked a caramel-colored lock of hair behind her ear.
"Listen. I'm not popular. I'm not pretty. I'm average. Completely and totally average. I'm a dork. I get made fun of. I CARE too much about everything. About you," she looked at me, her blue eyes staring into my soul, "And, I just don't want to get hurt. Aiden, I'm just not the-"
I grabbed her and pressed my lips against her. It was a sweet kiss. She kissed me back. I pulled away, breathless.
"Aiden, I-"
"Shut up," I murmured and then I leaned in to kiss her again.

I could see. And I will always only see her.