I’m starting to see the appeal of a place like this.
I broke some more random shit, swinging the bat as Dream did the same, until I was sweating from overexertion. I leaned against the wall and pulled the protective hood down as Iwiped my forehead. “Damn,” I huffed. I looked at the bat in my hands, observing layers of colorful paint. My head raised as I glanced around the room, noticing more and more stains. “Are we supposed to have paint, too?” I asked. Dream stood, panting. She tipped her head and pointed to the wall adjacent to me where a small table with a row of paint cans sat. Next to it was a large open tote filled with what looked like colorful water balloons. I walked closer. “And what’re we supposed to do with?—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Dream ran over and grabbed two of the balloons, throwing them at me. They exploded upon impact, splattering vibrant green and red paint all over the chest of my protective coverall.
I stood there, blinking at what she’d done as I wiped the paint from my face.
Dream watched me closely, her hand pressed tightly against her mouth as if waiting to see how I would respond.
Oh…it’s on.
Without a single word, I slowly turned and grabbed one of the paint cans filled with electric flamingo-colored paint.
“Easy now,” she said, slowly stepping back while smiling.
“What’s wrong? I thought you liked pink?” I teased, inching closer.
Dream stopped and raised a brow. “I do like pink. But I guess it’s no surprise my stalker knows that.” She cocked her head and within the blink of an eye, I swung the paint can, spraying her entire body with it. “Fuck, that’s cold!” she shouted through laughter, wiping the paint from her protective lenses. I let myself laugh, something I hadn’t done in such a long time.
“You know—” I reached down and grabbed a paint-filled water balloon, then turned back to face her. “You don’t have to call me your stalker. I have a name. One I’d very much like tohear you say.” I stepped closer, stopping maybe an inch away from her.
“So?” Dream crossed her arms and looked at me, covered in paint. “Maybe I like calling you my stalker.”
I smiled. “Just because you like something doesn’t always mean you should do it.”
Her irises sparkled. “Says who?”
Fuck…not again.
I tried to control myself and move the conversation back on track. “You really don’t want to know what it is?” The tips of my boots hit her platforms as I closed the gap between us, breathing in nothing but her sweet scent. “You’re not even curiouswhothe man is that’s been stalking you all these months?” I carefully picked a small bead of paint from one of her stained hairs. “Or why?”
Her eyes raised to mine and I could hear her breathing pick up, matching my own. “Name or no name, you’re still my stalker.”
A low growl rippled through my chest as she continued to speak.
“And as forwhy, well…” She reached out and booped the tip of my nose, leaving a small dab of electric blue paint behind on my skin. “I’ll just call it fate.”
“I still don’t like being called a stalker. Makes me feel…dirty.”
Dream laughed. “You should’ve thought about thatbeforeyou decided to stalk me. As for feeling dirty…” She rubbed both her hands along her torso and through the blue paint before clasping them gently on either side of my face, leaving behind two perfect little handprints. “Ha!”
“I see how it is.” I grinned, raising the water balloon I held high enough for her to see. She squealed and tried to run, knocking some junk over as I chased her. I threw the balloon and it busted right on her ass, painting it a deep blue color.“Ha!” I repeated her words back to her then clapped my hands in pride. Dream gasped, turning to face me with a sinister smile and her own water balloon. “Wait…how did you—” The balloon hit me straight in the chest, orange paint exploding all along the coverall.
“Yes!” She pointed, proud of herself. “Need to learn to pay closer attention to things, stalker boy.” Her eyebrow twitched as she taunted me, shaking her hips and bobbing her head.
My smile branched higher and I brushed my hair from my eyes. “I’m going to make you say my name, one way or another.” I pushed off my feet and sprinted toward her.
“Only if you can catch me first!” Dream shot off in the opposite direction, the two of us running in circles around the small, crowded room.
After minutes of chasing her around, I tackled Dream, knocking her down onto the floor as my knees pinned her flat. She laughed hysterically, smearing more paint across my face as I, too, lost myself and laughed alongside her. I carefully grabbed her arms and forced them above her head as my face hovered over hers, our rapid breathing mixing as I looked into her eyes. “Felix,” I huffed. She blinked, looking confused. “My name…is Felix.”
Her face softened. “Nice to meet you, Felix. My name's Danika. Danika Dream. Though most people call me Dream.” She paused. “I’d shake your hand, but, um…” Her eyes raised, her torso arching slightly against me as she looked at her arms.
“Dream.”
She looked at me with those wide eyes. “Stalker.”
My jaw clenched as I looked deep into her honey-colored gaze, the pain-stained tips of my hair brushing along her face. “Felix,” I growled softly. “Say it. Say my name.”
