A World Beyond the Waterfalls

A Secret for a Secret

I fall into stride beside him and a look of relief washes over his face.

"Why do you keep bugging me?" I ask him, looking him in the eye.

Dylan blushes and looks at the ground. "Because I can talk to you without you falling in love with me. I can just...be myself around you."

I nod and say sarcastically, "Ah, so when you're with me, you can be a total jerk, but when you're around....other people, you have to be a sweet, sensitive guy. I get why you like me."

He smirks at me. "You're a moron."

"Touché."

We both laugh and Dylan turns his focus to me. "Come with me." He says, gesturing down the beach.

I shake my head. "I'm, no thanks. I think I'm gonna go find my brother."

"Oh so that's who he is. I thought he was your boyfriend."

I gag. "What?!"

Dylan laughs. "Just kidding. I could tell you're related, you look like twins."

I laugh. "We are."

"Well that explains it." He nods his head down the beach. "Come on, please?"

I look around and huff. "I don't know...."

"Come on! It'll be fun."

"I barely know you!"

His smile fades. "You an trust me, Kota. Please, I need some friends and I have to be here for another month. I'm shooting on Wednesday."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Shooting?"

His face tenses. "I mean, I um, I'm working on Wednesday. I'll be here for a month and I need someone to keep me company."

I think for a second. This kid seems desperate. Whatever. I roll my eyes. "Okay, take me to this quiet place."

His face lights up and he starts to run.

*****

"Where are we?" I ask, looking up and down the forest, getting a little nervous.

"Just follow me." Dylan says, pushing branches and leaves out of our way. He steps over a log and squeezes through two trees. He walks across a rope bridge and jumps over a small creek. I follow his every move not wanting to get lost or fall in the water.

"Okay, I'm not even gonna ask how you found this place."

Dylan smiles. "Okay."

We walk for a while, until we reach a clearing. He steps out from behind a bush and grabs my arm, pulling me through.

I stumble forward, into a beautiful sight. A huge lake spreads across acres and acres of land. A flowing waterfall spills into the reservoir, off to the right. To the left, a pile of thirty foot rocks to dive off of. Straight in front is a dock, where a canoe sits beside it, ropes to the edge of it. And all the way in the back of the lake is a massive rock structure, about a hundred and fifty feet high. It connects at the side with the edge of the waterfall. Footholds and ledges spread across it, making it a massive game of a dare to climb it. I take in a breath of air and can't break my gaze from the sight in front of me.

"What....IS this place?!" I ask, amazed at the beauty of such a place.

"My secret hideout. I've never taken anybody else here. Ever."

I look over at him and when we lock eyes, heat rushes to my cheeks and I avert my eyes. "Well...." I don't know what to say. "Thank you." Is all I can manage.

He snorts. "Come on." He runs into the dock and hurtles his body over the edge. He splashes into the water, screaming all the way. His body submerges completely, and doesn't come back up. I start to panic until his grade merges from the lake's depths. I feel a rush of relief. Wait what?

"Come on loser! Jump in." He grins evilly. "I dare you."

I look down at my bikini. I rethink going in. Ummm......

"Please Kota I need some fun in my life."

His voice breaks me out of
my thoughts. It's deep and gentle. And it reassures me. I smile as I sprint towards the big pile of rocks off to the left.

I climb the man made steps to the tippy top and stand on the edge of the highest rock.

"Yes! Do it Kota!" Closing my eyes, one thought goes through my head:

I must really like this kid to be doing this. Dakota, you're crazy.

And then I launch myself over the edge.

*****

SPLASH! I sink into the cool water, engulfing my body in freezing coldness. The icy feeling courses through my body and I come up gasping for air. Sputtering, I gulp air into my lungs.

"Holy crap that's freezing!" I scream, my body trembling.

Dylan laughs hysterically at my expense. "You *laugh* get*laugh* used *laugh* to it."

I make a face at him. Then my expression softens and I say, "Can I ask you something?"

His smile fades. "Yea...anything."

"Why were you such a jerk before?"

He shakes his head, water spraying around him. "I'm sorry."

Now it's my turn to shake my head. "No. I don't want an apology. I want an answer, Dylan."

He looks me in the eye and mutters, "I thought you were gonna turn out to be just another annoying fan."

I cringe. "But you said you have to be sweet to all your fans..." I question.

"Yea. Well to be honest, I'm actually sweeter then you think. I actually have a side where I'm compassionate and soft and loving. But my fans sometimes get to me sometimes and I....I just snapped when you rammed into me."

I nod slowly. "Oh."

He looks at me expectantly. "Your turn."

"My turn for what?" I ask, confused.

He shrugs. "I told you a secret. I don't like crazy fans. Now you."

"Hmm..." I think for a minute. "Okay." I splash him. "I don't hate you as much as it seems." I say, diving under the water. His smile follows me down to the bottom and he grabs my arm and drags me to the surface.

"Uh uh. That doesn't count. A real secret. I know you don't hate me. I can see it in your eyes."

I blush furiously. "Okay, well." And then it hits me. "I don't have parents."

He raises his eyebrows. "Huh? Isn't that...impossible?" He asks seriously.

I laugh and laugh. I can't stop. He's so innocent. Soon he's laughing too and we just stand there, treading water, laughing together.

When our laughter subsides, I realize I barely know this kid. But he makes me feel like I can tell him anything and he wouldn't dare tell a soul. I feel...safe with him. And that thought becomes lodged in the front of my brain as I pour out all my emotion.

"They died a few years ago. My brother and I take care of each other. No one has ever tried to help us. No one tries to take us in. No one cares that we've been left to our own devices. No one realizes we fend for ourselves." A tear slips down my cheek. "Because no one cares."

Dylan wipes away a tear on my cheek with his thumb. "I care." He whispers.

I sniff. "I try to go to school, but you need a parent or guardian and that's not happening any time soon. So Liam and I take online school. It sucks. I want a normal life. I wanna be a normal teenage girl with normal friends at a normal school. But no. Instead, I get this." I pause. "Liam and I....we're alone."

Dylan doesn't interrupt me once. He listens intently, his wet cheeks glistening in the sunlight. He looks at me and then does something I do not expect. He pulls me into his chest, hugging me tightly. "Not anymore." He whispers into my hair.