The Summer He Saved Me

Chapter 3 - Keeping Secrets

I stayed away from the boardwalk for a couple days. Not wanting to see Ricky or Tyler, or any of them. I just wanted to forget them, make them forget about me. I was afraid of what they would say if they saw me again. Would they think what Ricky had said was true? I bet Tyler doesn't even care, I thought. 

I went back to the beach, missing the summer air. As I walked along the water, letting it splash against my ankles ever so lightly, I thought about what Ricky had said. Not being able to get it out of my head, ever since I left Tyler standing there on the boardwalk that day. I angrily kicked at the sand, wishing Ricky wasn't right about me. Wishing I had never met Tyler, but most of all, wishing that Tyler had never talked to me. As I angrily kicked at the beach splashing wet sand on my white skirt I heard a familiar soft voice say, "Hey, watch it. You're getting dirt all over that pretty little skirt." I looked up, right into Tyler's face. He was just inches away from me. Looking down with a shy but knowing smile on his face. As I turned on my heel to leave he grabbed my arm, "Wait." I stopped not having a choice, he was strong. 

"Look at me." He said, not unkindly.

I turned to face him, his beautiful eyes glistening down, looking into mine.

"I never got your name."

I just looked at him, dumbfounded. I couldn't believe that he was still trying to get my name. Why on earth would he want to talk to me? A girl that had run from him, crying. 

"Please? Just tell me your name, I need to know." He whispered. His voice was so quiet, I almost didn't hear him. I looked down at the sand, then back up into his face. 

"Why do you care so much?" I whispered back.

He looked at me, for a long time, then replied, "I care because...because I want to know you. I want to know why you're so gaurded, why you don't trust me. Most of all, I want to know what I can do to help."

I looked at him, wondering what he knew about me. How he knew so much about me without even having a real conversation with me. I was afraid, afraid if I did tell him my name, he would want to know more. He would figure out who I really am. 

"Don't be scared." He whispered. "I won't tell anyone, I can keep a secret. Trust me."

He looked at me, pleadingly, wishing I would just give in. 

My lip quivered a little, then I looked down at my sandals in my hand. He was still holding my arm. With his other hand he lifted my chin up until my eyes met his. 

"You want to tell me, don't you?" He said softly. 

That's when a single tear ran down my cheek. 

"Don't cry. I won't harm you. Whatever it is that's tearing you apart, I'll stop it. I'll do whatever it takes." He said as me pulled me in close. 

After a long pause, he let go and looked at me. 

"Please, please, tell me who you are. I don't want your story, I just want your name."

I looked up at him and said, "My name's....."

As I trailed off he looked at me, I looked away wiping a tear from my face.

"It's okay, you can trust me." He said softly.

"Olivia." I whispered. "My name's Olivia."