The connection - New beginnings

Chapter six - Goodbye

Alex

I'd been driving for almost an hour just going around in circles when I pulled up amongst the trees. I cut the engine and sat frozen behind the wheel letting the silence engulf me. I had driven here on autopilot and part of me wasn't surprised that I'd ended up here after the night I'd had. I know I should start the engine back up and drive home but something stopped me and instead I found myself opening the door and heading up the all too familiar path.

The trees swayed as I made my way through the secluded forest before reaching the opening to the creek. I looked out onto the still water, the moon reflected on it offering me some comfort from the darkness. All I could hear was the sound of the soft breeze and the trees, it was so peaceful. So comforting. I kicked off my heels and stepped forward into the water feeling a shiver run through me. It was summer but there was a chill to the air tonight and my dress wasn't offering much warmth. Still I stepped further into the water until I felt it reach the hem on my dress. I closed my eyes remembering the first time I felt the coolness of the water on my skin. As the memory washed over me I felt myself warm up as if the water had suddenly gotten warmer just like before. I walked further not wanting to lose the memory and found myself floating further out into the creek. I closed my eyes and let the memories wash over me.

I looked into his green eyes with my wide eyed expression. The shy girl had suddenly disappeared and a new boldness took over me. He reached up and took down my hair tie letting my hair fall down over my shoulders. The way he looked at me made my insides squirm. His hand brushed against my cheek and I turned to place a soft kiss on his palm. God I wanted that hand to touch me. I reached out and wrapped my hands around his neck playing with the wet tendrils of hair and searched his eyes for permission. My gaze moved to his lips and I wanted him to kiss me, in that moment my body was consumed by him and I wanted nothing more than for him to have me.

A sudden tingle flitted through my body startling me from my daydream as I snapped my eyes open and took in my surroundings. I looked towards the shore but couldn't make anything out in the darkness but I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone. Slowly I swam back  to shore cursing myself for my idiocy. What was I thinking going for a midnight swim without a change of clothes or even a towel. My body suddenly felt ice cold and I began to shiver. I wrapped my arms around my chest as I retrieved my shoes and hobbled back to the car. As I approached the car I spotted something dark hung on the wing mirror. As I got closer I could see if was a black jacket, I stood frozen as I picked up the item of clothing and unconsciously brought it to my face and breathed in the familiar sandalwood scent. This was Chase's jacket. He was here, or at least he had been.

******

I got home and warmed up with a quick shower before getting into my fluffy pjs. I picked up Chase's jacket which was draped on the end of my bed and held it to my chest. I can't believe he'd actually been at the creek and I hadn't seen him. My heart ached thinking of him and it was something I hadn't let myself do for a very long time. I was snapped back to reality by the buzz of my phone on the nightstand. It was a number I didn't recognise, maybe it was Natalie calling from someone else's phone to check up on me. I snatched up the phone and answered 

" hello"

I was met with silence on the other end

"Hello....is someone there"

Silence again, who would call me and not say anything? Maybe the same person who would watch me swim and leave before I saw them I suddenly thought to myself.

"Chase is that you?" I whispered into the phone

Still silence...and then it went dead. How weird I thought to myself. Maybe it wasn't Chase I suppose it could have just been a wrong number. Something about it just felt a bit strange.