Architect of paradise (PART I: Out of the Ruins)

13. Meetings at the forest

The sky is still blue. There are some white clouds on it. It is cold but bearable. I am walking in the direction of the end of the town slowly. I breathe and my breath is steaming. I feel nervousness and fear. My heart is racing. I know that I am going to someone dangerous but I told him that I will meet him. If I don't who knows what he will do. I said to Alice that I am taking a walk but she was looking at me with sparkling eyes. I don't want to know what she thinks.

At the end of the road, I can see the small forest. It has tall trees with broad leaves. They are sparse. I walk for a couple of minutes when I see him standing next to a tree. He looks at the ground with his hand in the pockets of his jacket but when he hears my steps, he lifts up his head and our gazes are meeting. He smiles cunningly like always. He is so confident and arrogant. I stop in front of him with some panic in my heart.

-"You are here." He says.

-"You told me to come otherwise..." I can't continue my phrase and he laughs.

-"Walk with me." He says again and I follow him.

-"Your name is Addie, right? I am Daniel." I don't speak.

-"Where is "Addie" coming from?"

-"Adelaide." I answer.

-"Pretty and rare."

We are walking for a while between the trees. We don't speak. We just walk. He is silent but he is walking next to me. After a while, we arrive to a small shallow river. It is only two to three meters wide. It is calm and clear. We can see small fishes swimming in it. We walk near the bank of the river.

-"Are you dating the teacher?" He asks me suddenly.

-"No. We are just friends."

-"He doesn't want to be just friends with you." He says with a serious tone.

-"I guess not."

-"Then, what about you?"

-"Why do you care?"

-"Just answer me." He says with a hard voice.

-"No. Not yet."

-"Not yet. Then later?"

-"I don't know."

-"You don't know. Then who knows?" I can hear his angry tone. I am starting to be afraid again. He notices it and he calm himself down.

-"Don't be afraid."

-"Then, don't scare me." He smiles. It is better than his angry gaze.

-"Go out with me." He says suddenly and my heart is starting to race again. I shallow dry.

-"No." I say timidly. He furrows his eyebrows.

-"Why not?"

-"Because I am not ready."

-"Ready for what?"

-"For a relationship." I see him surprised. I don't understand his behavior. He is ready to say something but he doesn't.

-"When are you going to be ready?" he asks seriously. I can't answer. He doesn't speak either.

He suddenly holds my hand.

-"You are cold." He notices but I don't know if it is from the cold weather or my nervousness.

     On the other hand, his hand is warm. It is big and warm. My whole hand is fitting in his. I feel my heart dancing in my chest just for him holding my hand. He looks at it for a moment and then his gaze goes at the river. We can only hear the sound of water.