My Perfect Idiot Stranger

MY PERFECT IDIOT STRANGER.

It's been four years since I last saw this place. It's still the very same. I don't think even a leaf has fallen since.

But it's not for the scenery or for the secluded quite time out or for a fun outing with friends or for hunting that I'm out here on this camping trip. It's for him. The unknown perfect boy I'd met the last time I was here.

I was thirteen when I last came here. It was supposed to be an educational trip. Well it did turn out to be educational. At least in some non-academic stuff. It taught me a thing or two about stupid boys and perverts.

My friends and I had escaped our teacher's eye, escaped her sleep shut eyes is more like it. Our little group of six girls straight away jumped into the river. A group of jerks from our class stood not very far away from the river and started whistling and calling names. Stupid teenage boys! Don't they have anything better to do than stare at swimming wear clad teenage girls?

And then they did something that deserved a kick in their too precious boy parts. They took our clothes and ran off. And we were in big trouble. If our teacher had gotten up and seen us in our swimming costumes she would've killed us. Or more likely she would've given us an assignment that would’ve made us want to commit suicide. So before she could have gotten up we got out and hunted those idiots down.

But like the real smart asses they were, they took each a single girls clothing and ran off in different directions. I left my friends when I spotted the brown haired guy with my clothing. It was embarrassing as hell. I was running in a bikini! And I was running out of breath. Before I could realise where I was I heard actual wolf noises. Both the stupid guy and I were deep in the woods. We had been running for quite a long while.

"Ali, I think we have come too far."

"Oh you think smart ass. Its news that you've got brains to think. Now think about how we can get out of here smarty pants."

And as if the wolf had been hearing us and had full plans to make us his meal, he roared loudly this time.

Carl dropped my clothing and started to run. I picked them up and shouted at him.

"Wait Carl. Where are you going? That is not the way we came from. Wait you idiot!"

I started running behind him. But he was lost in the woods. And so was I. Now I too didn't know in which direction I had run. Huh stupid guys. Did they have to steal girl clothes? Where have those gentle men like guys I hear about in stories gone?

"You know these woods are no place for a girl like you." a voice said from behind me making me jump.

There on a tree nearby a guy was sitting leisurely. He jumped to the ground with ease and grace. He was quite tall. At least taller than my four point six feet. With his baby blue eyes and blond hair, he made the simple white shirt and beige pants he was wearing look good. What annoyed me was this simpleton was checking me out. And I was wearing a beautiful pink bikini and my hair was still dripping wet. I wish I had stopped to put on my clothes.

"Who are you?" I asked sharply.

Finally his eyes reached mine after checking out the rest of me and said, "I'm from nearby. I've got a house ten minutes from here. I'm Sam. And you?"

"Allison. I'm here on a camping trip with my class. But apparently I'm lost. Wait a sec. Did you say you live ten minutes from here? You mean you stay in these woods?"

"Yeah. Aren't these woods beautiful?"

"How could you stay here? Have you not heard the wolf?"

Now I was scared. Not only was I lost in a forest that had wolves and God knows what other creatures. There was also a slightly creepy pervy guy who lived in a jungle that had wolves. I'm so gonna die today.

"I've lived in these woods for fourteen years now. I'm quite used to these noises. These wolves are quite harmless. Don't you know that? In fact I can recount only three cases of animal attack out here in my fourteen years. And most of the times it’s the humans who are at fault."

I swallowed loudly. Sam suppressed the urge to laugh. I hope he is just messing with me.

"So that means you know the way out from here, right?"

"Yes of course I know. But to where exactly do you wanna go?"

"Umm I don't know. I was chasing this guy who ran with my clothes and well we got lost. I'm here on a school trip. We have booked the Red Woods cabins. So do you know the way?" I hated taking help from this stranger.

"I do. Although if you do not mind, can I ask you why a guy ran with your clothes?"

I heaved a dramatic sigh. Didn't this guy realise there were wolves in these forests. Even harmless, they were still wolves. Huge, carnivorous wolves!

"Look we'll talk on the way can we start moving?"

"Umm don't you want to put on some clothing?" he said smiling slyly at me. That perv!

"Turn around please, will you?"

He shrugged and turned around and mumbled something that sounded like, “What difference is it gonna make now anyways?" I wish I could kill him. I hurriedly put on my clothes and tugged his arm to run. But he leisurely walked while I kept giving him annoying looks. What the hell was his problem?

"So, the guy ran with your clothes?"

"Yes. He was being a complete idiot like his other friends and they all just felt like taking our clothes and running off for fun. Happy?"

"Must've been fun watching beautiful girls run around in bikinis." he snorted.

"You know you are a pervert. I'm just thirteen. How can you even think about girls so young in that way? I can press charges against you."

"Well I wasn't thinking anything like that until you came along in that pink swim suit of yours."

"Oh so now all this is my fault.? All you guys are the same. Idiots and perverts!"

"Well whatever. You can't blame a guy for doing guy like things."

"Is being an idiot programmed into your Y chromosome or something?"

"All guys are not insensitive idiot jerks you know."

"Well name one!"

And again the wolf howled. The crickets were singing their song. The crows were cawing. And I was walking with a stranger in unknown woods. What if he took me to some god forsaken place and...and raped me? Or worst sold me! What if the wolf killed us both?

"Me."

"Ya right! You have soo not given me the impression of a jack ass pervert."

"Well sorry about that."

I just shrugged. He caught me by my elbow and halted me. We looked eye to eye and he said, “I really am sorry. I'm not really that bad and neither am I a jerk. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."

"Umm well get me out of here and then I'll see if I can forgive you or not."

I was really scared of this guy. He was hot one minute and cold the next. Weirdo. I just want to get out of here and beat the hell out of Carl first thing. That is if he is still alive and has found his way back.

He increased his speed and said nothing more. We silently walked. Finally after another twenty minutes I could see our camp.

"Umm I guess I owe you a thanks. So well thank you." I extended my hand.

"You know something? You were right. I'm a stupid jerk. A thanks is not enough payment to help a damsel in distress like you." he said smiling a mischievous smile at me.

"What do you want then?" I said turning to him.

"I think you know what I take as payment."

"What? Money? Well then come along. It's in my bag."

God please no. Please no. Please let his payment not be what I'm thinking. I don't want my first kiss to be with this jerk. Please God no.

And just then he bent down, our noses touching and our lips just a breath away. I closed my eyes still praying.

"Open your eyes." he whispered sweetly and softly.

And for some reason I obeyed. I opened my eyes and the next moment he kissed my forehead and turned around to leave. It all happened so quickly. I didn't know what to do or what to say.

"Umm thanks again, I guess." I shouted at him.

"You are welcome Allison." he shouted back. He left me feeling confused and relieved and sad at the same moment. I kept staring at his back until he vanished out of sight.

Now four years later I stand in the very same woods. Lost again. And shamelessly hoping to see him again. I'm not technically lost. I've got a GPS enabled cell phone and a compass. And I've also got a few friends not very far off. I dragged my best friend along with me. If I didn't find him then I knew I wouldn't wanna be alone. I would need someone in case there were gonna be any water works.

All these years I kept denying the fact that I had developed a stupid little crush on him. But the moment my friends suggested this place for a camping trip I wasted no time to say yes. I instantly thought of seeing him again and paying him properly for the services he had provided me the last time. I had to see him again to know what to make of my confused feelings. And if I didn't see him at least I'll have the satisfaction that I tried looking for that idiot.

"Where are you going Ali? There are wolves in this place. Get back here! Ali!" I heard each and every word from my best friend Rachel's mouth, but I chose to ignore them like a good girl.

I travelled deeper and deeper into the woods.

"You are mad Ali!" Rachel hadn't still let go off the shouting.

"I knew you were mad enough to lose yourself once in here but didn't know you were a fool enough to do it again. Is getting lost programmed into your X chromosome or something?" I jumped once again when I heard that voice.

There he was sitting on a low branch of a tree nearby, in a white shirt again but with black pants this time. His blonde hair had grown and now fell in waves in front of his blue eyes. How had I denied all these years that I had liked this guy? How had I managed to tell myself all this time that this guy was not cute? How had I been in such denial? I guess I finally know why things didn't work out with my ex. Because he couldn't make my heart go da dum, da dum like this stranger called Sam could.

"Maybe. After all am I not the damsel in distress?"

"Let me tell you miss in these troubled times I have increased my fees."

I shrugged and said, "I guess I can still afford you."

He jumped from the branch gracefully onto the floor. My heart beat increased by leaps and bounds.

"Didn't you spend all these past years denying the fact that you started liking me?"

His question took me by surprise. I had told no one about him. Not even Rachel.

"How is it that you know me so well when we must've met for like forty minutes and thirty eight of those were spent in fighting?"

"I know because I did the same thing too." he said looking down and blushing. I felt my cheeks burning up to as he walked towards me.

“I thought you wouldn’t come. I thought I had left a bad impression on you.”

“I had to come. This is clearly below my standards and against my principles, but I think I like stupid perverts like you.”

“Thank you.” He said taking his hand in mine an kissing it. Aww. That was such a sweet gesture.

"Are you sure you can still afford me miss? I like to take some advance pay-"

I stopped him mid way and kissed him finally on the lips. His lips moved in a perfect rhythm with mine. His hand fit perfectly around my waist and the other found its way in my hair. My hands perfectly cupped his face. And it was heavens. I don't have a lot of experience in this department but I know it can't get any better than this.

And I've got a bunch of brainless boys and a harmless wolf to thank for making me come across this perfect stranger called Sam.

And then a wolf howled.

We fell apart and looked at each other. And then we burst out laughing. I wasn't scared of the wolf any longer. Sam was with me now. I had nothing to be scared of.

"Well I guess, you'll have to pay me double now." he whispered sweetly.

"I don't mind paying you triple also." I whispered slyly in his ears and winked at him.

This time he took my hand and raced out of the woods.

THE END.