"Hey... You okay?" Chrissy can't remember the last time anyone asked that, let alone noticed something was off. She spent her life bending to the whims of others. Following the plan with a fake smile plastered on her face. Even when it spirals downw...
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Chrissy says under her breath as she steps onto the empty football field. The sun starting to set, casting shadows across the large building and school grounds. She can see it peeking out between the tall trees. Almost beckoning her to keep going.
The day went by so fast. There wasn't enough time to mentally prepare for this, but backing out isn't an option at this point. It wouldn't be right. After all, she sought him out. Not the other way around. Stopping at the edge of the field, she observes the forest warily. What a spot to pick. The creepiest place to meet someone all alone. Oh well. This is what he chose and she agreed without a second thought at the time.
No one's around. Whoever didn't head straight home is hanging out by the parking lot or in the school, preparing for the upcoming game. That leaves this side of the building empty and hopefully, no prying eyes witness where she's going.
The cheer captain hesitantly walks past the first row of trees. It's been so long since the last time she's wandered through here. Maybe eighth grade? When a group of them met up after one girl stole a cigarette from her parents. They all thought it was so cool and snuck out to try smoking it. Be a little rebellious for once. That didn't go well. It only took a few strange noises to scare them off, swearing the place was haunted. It was probably a critter moving around. Still, that was enough to make them promise never to return. Yet here she is, heading deeper into the place that terrified her as a middle schooler.
'I hoped we would've run into each other already.'
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Blue eyes dart back and forth, almost desperate to see that denim vest and leather jacket combo. He is coming, right? Regardless of how she normally feels about Eddie, the growing anxiety from walking alone out here supersedes any of that. Some company would be more than welcome right now.
A sigh of relief slips out at finally seeing the clearing up ahead. She steps over a root sticking up from the ground, continuing across the endless amounts of dead leaves and twigs. There's no clear path so treading through this is unavoidable. Hopefully her white sneakers won't be too messed up, since there's a game right after this.
Chrissy grabs one of her bookbag straps and grips it as she heads toward the lone picnic table. It's right in the center of the open area, littered with some old beer cans and bottles. No one's been here in a while from the looks of it.
"Hello?" Her ears perk up hearing something in the distance. A strange sound. Different from the kind birds and insects make. She squeezes the strap tighter and looks around, trying to figure out what it is and where it's coming from. "Hello?"
Nothing. No small animals nearby. Not a soul in sight. Everything is still, even the leaves hanging off branches. This is creepy. Bouncing on the back of her heels, she silently prays that no one is playing a prank. Eddie wouldn't do something like that, right?
"Chrissy."
The blood drains from her face at hearing that voice. It sounds distant, coming from multiple directions. Like a whisper from afar. Impossible. There's no way. She must be so tired that things aren't making sense anymore.
