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Everything has changed between Marnie and me. At first, I thought she enrolled at this school purely to show off her wealth and title, that she was just a stuck-up brat everyone presumes she is. How wrong was everyone, especially me.

We judged this girl unfairly and I could tell how much it was breaking her. The guilt overwhelmed me and when she broke down in my arms after Harrison started harassing her again, a little part of my heart pained for her. I hated seeing her like this.

So I wrapped her in my arms, my heart raced with her so close. I knew I was a goner for this girl. I wanted her, in any way I possibly could. I needed to protect her, talk to her about anything and everything, and be around her.

Whatever she could give me, I'll take.

I don't know what's going on with me, all I know is I have this pull towards her. No matter how many times I distance myself, I always end up wanting to be close to her again.

So I told her the truth about my feelings. She watched me with those dazzling blue eyes of hers. I thought she was going to run a mile after I confessed. To my shock, she admitted the same feelings toward me.

I felt like the luckiest guy in the world.

Yes, I know my reputation and yes, maybe my head might turn or I end up pushing this girl away, but then I think to myself -- could I push her away?

Seriously, this girl drives me mad. I've never felt these sorts of feelings before, with any girl.

It scares the shit out of me.

With Marnie's cheek resting against my chest and my arms locked securely around her body, I could smell the sweet scent of her hair -- strawberries and vanilla.

God, she is so pure. So good. I want to taste her, to take everything I could from this innocent, sweet girl but I also care too much to mess her up. My world is dark, angry and full of destruction. I don't want to put her through that. She deserves so much more than me.

With the never-ending battle raging inside my head, I confessed how I wanted to take things slow. That way, I wouldn't hurt her. It will give us time to see if there is something between us.

So after my last class ends, I pick up my phone and ask her out. I tell my bandmates I'm meeting my distant relatives tonight, that way I don't have to worry about them bugging me. When Marnie agreed to go out with me, I felt giddy as hell.

By the time I pick Marnie up at her place, however, I was a hot mess. What is going on with me?

I'm never like this around a girl.

My heart speeds up as I wait for Marnie outside her house and when she emerges from the front door, she knocks the breath out of me.

Her white-blonde hair falls in loose curls, she's wearing skin-tight blue jeans, a cream crop top and beige faux boots. Her face looks stunning, with minimal make-up.

How did I not notice her before? Well, I did, but I didn't see her.

Her ivory skin shines in the evening sun, and her full, pink lips are open, showing a beautiful row of white teeth.

She looks beautiful.

By the time she stands in front of me, she peers down. Her hands entwined in front of her, looking nervous. I feel nervous too.

"Hey," I say with a tight voice.

"Hey," she replies timidly.

"Are you okay?" does she regret agreeing to this date?

She eyes my bike curiously and then she looks at me. "I've never been on a bike before." she whispers, her cheeks turning an alluring pink.

I grin, handing her an extra helmet. "It's okay, just hold on to me and when I turn you turn with me, got it?"

She nods her head and gets on the bike hesitantly, her soft hands resting on my chest.

I speed away and I can feel her arms wrapped tightly around my torso when I fly through traffic. Each time I hear her gasp, it makes me smirk, my ego loving every moment.

When we reach our destination, Marnie jumps off the bike with shaky legs. I watch her every move, making sure she is okay. She smiles. "That was... a rush." I chuckle when I see her flushed cheeks.

Everything with Marnie just felt right. I found myself needing to touch her, just a simple touch that made my heart pump wildly. These feelings are new to me and completely unexpected. I'd never felt such a need to feel someone and to have them close to me.

"Where are we?" she looks up at the tall building curiously.

I mentally scold myself when I realise she might not have been here before. "Oh shit! I forgot to ask, can you skate?"

Her head snaps to me. "Do you mean ice skate?"

I nod my head. Everyone has been to this ice rink before but I completely forgot Marnie was homeschooled. Great job idiot. I'm so bad at this dating thing.

Marnie smirks. "I'm okay." I take her hand in mine, loving the feel of her soft skin.

Even if she can't skate, at least I'll be here to help her out.

We enter the building and make our way to the front desk to pay and grab our skates. I also hand her my jacket to keep her warm when she's on the ice.

"If you're not confident, I'll be here to help you. Are you sure you're okay to do this?"

Marnie looks up at me with those sparkling blue eyes and smiles. "I'm good but thank you."

I head out on the ice rink first. Luckily, I can skate as I used to come here a lot with my older brother growing up and I learned quite easily.

I don't date, but I know this is the type of girly stuff that's perfect for a first date.

I turn around ready to help Marnie out on the ice when she flies past me. I blink, unable to comprehend what just happened.

When I recover, I look over and find Marnie all over the rink. Skating so smooth and precise, like she's been doing this for years.

A moment later, she spins -- her body in perfect form and her blonde hair spiralling around her.

She looks like an angel on the ice.

My jaw hangs open in shock and astonishment when I look at Marnie. What the fuck?

She giggles when she sees my bewildered expression.

So she's a talented musician and an ice princess. Damn.

I watch Marnie in fascination and then she pulls my hand and we skate together for a while. I grin like a mad idiot, watching this perfect girl next to me.

About an hour later we leave the rink and I look down at Marnie in awe. Her cheeks are stained pink after being on the ice for so long. "How did you learn to skate like that?"

She giggles, placing a blonde piece of hair behind her ear. "I was homeschooled all my life. It felt dull being stuck indoors all the time so I begged my mom if I could find a new hobby. I searched online and saw an advertisement for ice skating lessons. So my mom took me on the weekends for a few years, I loved it."

I smile down at her and take her hand in mine as we walk to a restaurant not far from the rink.

This place brings back delightful memories of my childhood. A good childhood.

We find a booth near the corner, Marnie slides herself to one side and I sit opposite her. I don't grasp how my hand is still connected to her small one. It feels natural to hold her.

"This place is lovely." she says, glancing around her.

"Yeah, I used to come here every weekend with my big brother Hayden." I freeze. I don't know why I'm talking so much, I don't usually talk this much, even around my friends.

I catch a glint in Marnie's eye, she probably likes the fact I'm opening up to her. Weirdly, I like it too. I want to know everything about Marnie, what she likes, and dislikes. Her ambitions. Everything.

"Reese Black?"

I turn at the soft sound and see an elderly lady, with silver hair and a warm smile. "Well, well. I haven't seen you here for a few months." she looks at Marnie and her smile widens. "And you're here with a beautiful girl I see."

I chuckle. "Hey, Diana."

Diana's hazel eyes soften. "What can I get you both?" she has a small notepad and pen with her.

We place our order and Marnie and I chat while we wait for our food to arrive. I learn a lot about her and while we sit and discuss ourselves, I feel more intrigued about her.

"I have a question," I take a long drink of water before I continue. "What made you want to sing at that party?"

Marnie blinks and the apples of her cheeks heat up. "W-What do you mean?"

I lick my lips, watching her closely. "When you got up on that stage, you looked determined to sing your heart out but I could also see the vulnerability in you. You've never let anyone see that side of you, you've never performed in front of a crowd. What was it that changed?"

She looks me straight in the eye, biting the edge of her lip. I could see her emotions quite clearly.

"I've always loved music since I was very little. My mother discouraged me to sing -- telling me to do something worth my while. For years, I've seen my idols sing in concert and when I saw you up on that stage, I could tell how much singing meant to you, how much you loved being up there. I wanted that same feeling. I craved it."

My lips pull up into a bright smile. This is what I wanted to see, the real Marnie.

"Although, I wasn't thinking about how I looked to everyone else. They probably think I'm an attention seeker or something. To be honest, I just wanted to sing... for me."

I nod my head, placing my hand on top of hers. "I get that. Look... if people don't like your voice, fuck them. You do you and if you want to sing, sing." I shrug.

She giggles, her angelic voice like music to my ears. For the first time in a long time, I'm enjoying myself. I don't want this heavenly moment to end, not now at least.

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