Memories Cycle 2 - WINNER ANNOUNCED
http://i.imgur.com/ebrUXkK.png After being asked and feeling a bit nostalgic, I've decided to bring back a second cycle of this fabulously fun couples modeling competition! This competition is a...
Forum Discussion
Ok I got home last night, and have to go back out tomorrow...so I hurried up and got this done today. :)
It isn’t possible to tell you about the special place Kaire and I share without first telling you about the night I introduced her to my father. My father is a powerful man. He’s a smart, no nonsense man, who is quick to tell you what he wants, and what he doesn’t like. His shrewd personality has helped him acquire many things, including his multiple business holdings. For those that know him, it is a powerful asset, a part of who he is, and something that should always be taken with a grain of salt. I’ve spent my whole life trying to impress him in one way or another. It’s a goal that I still haven’t reached. It’s also the reason I didn’t want to introduce him to my new girlfriend. Telling my father no is never a true option, and as always, I had no choice but to bow down to his demands.
Kaire is a passionate girl. My inability to impress her was actually the reason I fell for her in the first place. She is hard as a rock, and nearly impossible to tear down. She’s also fiercely protective of the things she loves, and easily roused when provoked. I knew that the two of them in the same room would lead to disaster. I knew it, and there was nothing I could do to stop it, but that wasn’t going to stop me from trying.
My father is famous for his charity events. One such event he hosts on his yacht near the lighthouse on Suma Beach. It’s one of his favorite parties, and I thought the combination of mood, and distraction would make it an ideal time to bite the bullet and introduce the two. I wasted no expense in making sure Kaire was prepared to play the part he expected her to play. I hired the best hairstylist, makeup artist, and fashion designer in the country. I saw to it that she was schooled in etiquette, and refinement. I quizzed her on subjects I knew the attendees would want to talk about. Kaire was a real sport about the whole ordeal. She worked hard to learn everything I tried to teach her. She took my criticism with a smile, and tried harder. I was so proud of her hard work. I was certain she was ready by the night of the event.
Kaire looked beautiful. She walked on my arm with her head held high. I walked her passed the city elite one by one, watching them nod and smile as we passed. By the time we approached my father, I was certain the night would end in success.
“It is an honor to finally meet you.” Kaire said. She bowed her head in respect. My father stared at her, openly rejecting her gesture.
“So you’re the girl that has been causing my son to reject his studies.” He scowled.
“What? No!” Kaire cried. She snapped her head up to meet his eyes. “I…”
“Where did you go to school?”
“I attend the same school as Rayne.” Kaire replied.
“High school”
“Oh Local 12…”
“Public.” My father interrupted
“Yes.”
“Any achievements besides possessing my son?”
“What? Yes I’m…”
“Common.” My father finished. “I honestly cannot believe how low your standards have sunk.” He added turning his attention to me. “Did you truly think you could put a dress on this girl and impress me? “ He turned his attention back to Kaire. “You are far from impressive…”
“Don’t say that about me!” Kaire yelled, this time she was the one interrupting. “Why does Rayne have to impress you with his dates anyway? What’s the big deal? Why can’t he date who he wants?”
“I’m not concerned with what he wants.” My father replied. “I’m more interested in what it is you want.”
“You don’t think?” Kaire gasped. “No, it’s not like that at all.”
“He should be ashamed for putting you in front of me, and calling you his girlfriend. No man of his stature should ever be seen with such a common tramp as you.”
I saw it. I saw the moment he crushed her. It showed up like a lightning strike in her eyes and spread across her face like pouring water. She staggered back, and ran in the opposite direction. I wanted to curse at him, I wanted to tell him he was a monster, but the truth was I was the monster in the room that night. I was the one that put her in front of him. I knew who he was. I knew what he expected. Instead of protecting her from his expectations, I tried to change her, to create the person he wanted her to be. It was foolish. My father was right I was ashamed. I was ashamed of what I did to Kaire.
I turned around and ran after her, chasing her footprints across the sandy moonlit beach. I called to her shadow as I raced along behind her, catching her loose heels along the way. By the time I caught up to her, she had climbed to the top of the Suma beach lighthouse. She was cowering against the wall behind the light, crying. I walked towards her she spoke without ever turning around. “I’m sorry I embarrassed you.” She sobbed.
“Kaire you didn’t…”
“I did.” She insisted. “I did. I know I did. I tried to do things like you said. I tried to stay calm. I…I…” I walked up and pulled her back up against me, hugging her tightly around the middle.
“Kaire you didn’t embarrassed me. I embarrassed myself. I knew what he was going to do. I knew he was going to do it no matter how you looked, or how you acted. I never should have asked you to pretend to be something you weren’t just to make him happy. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think I’m strong enough to be your girlfriend.” She sighed leaning back against me. “I don’t think I can take being pushed back like that all the time.” I pulled her back closer to me, lifting her arm up in the air, wrapping it behind my neck. The wind blew her hair wildly out of the tight knots wrapped about her head.
“You feel that?” I asked her. “Do you feel the way the wind howls, and pushes against you? It’s pulling your hair loose. It’s pushing your dress back against your body. It’s pushing, and screaming, and trying it’s hardest to push you back. Maybe you even want to step back in defense. But you can’t be pushed back Kaire. I’m behind you, and I won’t let you be pushed. I’ll stand here, I’ll stand here forever if you let me. I swear so long as I’m here, no one nor anything will ever push around again. I’ll protect you…I promise.”
“Rayne.” Kaire sighed softly. She leaned back hard against me, relaxing into my grasp. I held her against me for a long time, grateful to with her in that moment.
We returned to the lighthouse the next night, and many nights thereafter. That spot at the top of the lighthouse soon came to be known as our special place. It served as a reminder of the promise I made to her that night…the promise I made to myself. When we climb to the top of the tower, and feel the wind pushing against us, it reminds us always what it means to be in love with someone, and what we will do to protect that feeling.
