Gracelynn Paige is an 18 -year- girl who just moved from her small hometown of Charleston to the mysterious town of Shadow Creek, Vermont. As a life-long orphan her only wish is to find somewhere where she felt as if she belonged, to no longer feel...
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***Carlton Baker***
Grace's P.O.V
There was a small park out back behind the gas station in town where we had wondered too. The sun began to set, but it was still lit by the streetlights that surrounded it. He walked with his hands in his pockets while I fiddled with my hands.
I went over to the deserted area, taking place on an empty swing, careful to place the skirt of my dress firmly in place as I dangled my legs.
I wasn't quite sure how long I was looking down at my feet. I felt like I had backtracked into an awkward teenager. When I finally looked up I was once again met with Ronnie's intense stare. The lump in my throat nearly jumped out from the swirling mystery that lingered in his eyes.
"You look so beautiful." He said, coming closer. It wasn't long before he found himself leaning on the bars of the swing set, looking down at me. He was so close, even more so than in the diner. I could smell his musky cologne as he leaned down further. It was overpowering, in a calming sort of way. I kept my head down, unused to all this attention.
"Look, I know that I might come on a little strong, I'm sorry." It looked as if there was more that he wanted to say, but he stopped himself. "It's ok." I said, looking back down at my feet. "Hey." He put his finger under my chin to lift my head up, a thousand tiny jolts of electricity shot up. I momentarily glanced at his lips, but quickly adverted my eyes. I wasn't going to kiss someone that I barely knew, I told myself. It was wrong. Wasn't it? "If I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you'll tell me right?" In the short time that I had known him I had never heard him talk so softly. I nodded my head; my face was on fire.
Painstakingly slowly he begun leaning closer towards me. I should have been backing away. At least that's what the logical side of my brain had been screaming. Never before had I been caught in such a jumble of raw, intense emotions. I was frozen. My eyes fixated on his parted, plump lips, the hint of mint and tobacco cascaded down from his warmth breath, the scent of his musky cologne filling my senses, overpowering will.
I wouldn't have moved away; my will was hindered by his overpowering presence. If we hadn't heard the sound of multiple footsteps crunching on the gravel, or at least if I hadn't, we would have more than likely been found compromised in a position that crossed all boundaries, all of the invisible lines. I wanted that. Well, at least a part of me did. A part of me craved the sensation.
Ronnie brought his attention to the noise only when mine left his, otherwise he seemed utterly unphased. A look of annoyance crossed his face, tinged with a hint of anger, but that look was gone just as fast as it had come once he looked back to me.
"Hey, Ronnie is that you?" A male voice said, coming from beyond the shadows of the dimly lit street. I looked up to see a sandy blonde-haired man emerging from the darkness, a handful of others accompanying behind him. He sounded harmless, the tone of his voice almost playful as he approached, a smirk taped to his face. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something dark emanating from him, his blue eyes seemed cold, only shining due to their menacing gleam.
