Blake led them deeper through the woods; it was completely dark, a blanket of oppressive blackness that always made Emma's skin prickle with unease. She was never a fan of total darkness, the way it swallowed every familiar shape. Despite her apprehension, she continued to follow close behind Blake, whose silhouette moved with a quiet confidence, as if he could see every root and stone.
She shone her small pink flashlight forward, a narrow beam cutting through the inky path. He would glance back every so often, his eyes glinting in the faint light, a silent check to make sure she was still right there, a comforting presence behind her. With a wide, almost childlike grin on his pink lips, he whispered, "Stick close now, we're almost there," his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the quiet night as he faced forward, pushing a low-hanging branch out of his way.
She looked around, chewing lightly on her lip. "Where exactly are we going?" she couldn't help but ask, tilting her head back to gaze at the pinpricks of stars beginning to pepper the sky above the dense canopy.
"Can't tell you," he said simply, his tone laced with a playful mischief that made her smile despite herself. She scoffed slightly. "And why not?" She despised surprises; she liked order, a nice, structured plan was always her go-to, a way to keep the chaos of life at bay.
He turned, walking backward now, his steps light and sure. "Would ruin the surprise... now keep up, don't want to lose you to a bear," he joked, a playful glint in his eyes before he turned to face forward again. She held up the flashlight, tempted to playfully bop him on the head with it for his smart comments.
"Don't even try it, Em," he said, holding up a finger, shaking it side to side without even looking back. She was sure this man had eyes in the back of his head; he could always tell what she was up to without even looking. Pouting slightly, she pointed the flashlight back forward, illuminating his retreating figure.
"Okay, here we go, this is right this way!" With a bright smile, he moved past a final cluster of dense trees. She followed, stepping through the curtain of leaves. "Oh my goodness," was her first, breathless response as they emerged into a breathtaking clearing.
The grass, a vibrant emerald even under the dim moonlight, stretched out to a huge, crystal-blue lake that mirrored the vast, star-studded sky.
The wooded area across the water looked like a dark, intricate painting. Looking up, the moon shone high and full, casting a soft, ethereal glow, surrounded by shimmering stars that seemed to multiply in the pristine night sky. This area felt completely hidden, a secret sanctuary nestled away from the rest of the campsite. She doubted anyone else would be able to find it unless they really searched.
She stood at the very edge of the lake, her breath catching in her throat, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Wow, Blake, this place is magical! How did you find it?" he lay back onto the cool grass, sighing contentedly, his arms folded underneath his head. She followed his lead, settling beside him, placing her flashlight beside her. "As you know... I'm a loner, a lone wolf, really," he started, looking over at her with a self-deprecating grin, pointing a finger at himself.
She let out a small laugh; at least he knew who he was and had no problem saying so. "On my first family camping trip, I wandered off and found this place. My family seems to understand I need my 'me time.' Of course, they freaked out when I went missing without letting them know where I went. But after they saw I was fine, they didn't press for information about my secret little spot. I come here sometimes when I want to be alone." She nodded slowly, her heart warmed by the thought that out of everyone, he brought her here with him.
She was suddenly curious if he had ever brought anyone else here before.
"So I'm the only one that knows about this place other than you?"
He shook his head, a playful roll of his eyes. "Nah, one time I came here, Chris followed me and found out about it, but promised he would keep it a secret and leave me in 'loner land.' To be honest, the name kind of stuck, so I kind of just call this place loner land now." She couldn't help but laugh; of course, Chris would be the nosy person to find this place.
He let out a full laugh, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "I kind of hate it, though." His statement made them both laugh harder. Emma knew even though he may say he hates the name, he probably liked the dorkiness of it, a reflection of their easy, comfortable friendship. He had his special place, and she had hers, and now they both trusted each other enough to share them.
"And you really can't beat this view at night," he pointed up at the sky. She followed his finger, looking up. She gasped, a soft, involuntary sound, while looking at the thousands of stars overhead, a celestial tapestry spread across the inky canvas. "Wow, it's beautiful!" As she looked up, admiring the breathtaking view, he wasn't looking at the stars.
He was watching her, his gaze soft and intense. The twinkling starlight reflected like tiny galaxies in her dark eyes, and the gentle breeze pushed her bangs to the side, framing her face.
"Yeah, it's pretty beautiful," he whispered, his voice a low, warm murmur, finally pulling his eyes from her to look up at the sky. He sat up, looking over at the lake, its surface shimmering faintly. "Wanna go for a late-night swim?"
She sat up quickly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears. "I don't know how." She looked down, picking at blades of grass, as he stood fully. He reached out a hand to her, his fingers strong and inviting. "I can teach you." She reached out, her fingers brushing his, then interlocking, and he effortlessly pulled her up. He didn't let go of her hand, still holding it gently as he led her closer to the lake's edge. A flicker of debate crossed her mind: was this a good idea? She was scared, a nervous flutter in her stomach.
"I don't have any swimming clothes," she said, clutching at a flimsy excuse to avoid the cold, unknown water.
He looked down at her clothes, finally noticing she was still wearing his oversized Green Day shirt, the fabric soft against her skin, and her tiny night shorts hidden beneath its length. A small smile, almost a smirk, played on his lips.
He tilted his head to the side. "You could swim in that, but I really don't wanna swim in my night shorts." He looked down at his shorts, her eyes following his. He was playing with the elastic waistband around the top, a casual, almost unconscious gesture that made her bite her lip, a sudden dryness in her mouth.
"So if you don't want a free show, I would suggest looking away." His voice was low, teasing, a challenge. She felt a deep blush creep up her neck and flood her cheeks. She knew she should probably look away, but the honest truth was, a part of her deeply, intensely wanted to see him undress. The thought sent a fresh wave of heat through her.
He chuckled softly, a warm sound in the quiet night, before smoothly pulling his shorts down slowly over his hips, revealing the dark, solid line of his black boxers beneath. Her eyes lingered, a slow, fascinated lick of her lips. He put the shorts to the side before slowly, gracefully wading into the cool water.
"You gonna get in with me, Em? The water is great!" He wiggled a finger at her, a wide, inviting grin on his face. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly tight. It seemed unfairly intimate that he had undressed so casually in front of her, and she hadn't. Letting out a slow, steady breath, she reached under her shirt, grabbing the sides of her night shorts, slowly sliding them off.
She placed them carefully over by his, a silent mirroring of his action.
Walking closer to the edge of the water, she looked down at him, his figure half-submerged. He slowly reached out, his hands finding her waist, a gentle, firm touch. "One step at a time, Em. I got you." His voice was a calm anchor. She stepped one leg into the water, feeling the unexpected chill, but more strikingly, feeling nothing beneath it.
The depth surprised her. She instinctively held onto his shoulders, her fingers gripping the smooth, strong skin, to balance herself while sticking her other leg into the cold water. Blake slowly lowered himself deeper into the water, still holding her waist, his thumbs tracing slow circles on her skin.
"How are you feeling?... Scared?" he asked, his voice soft, almost a whisper, assuming the worst.
Honestly, she was expecting herself to be afraid right now, a trembling fear, but she wasn't. Not with his hands on her, his presence surrounding her. She knew he would never let her fall. She felt utterly safe in his arms. "I'm okay. I'm not scared," she said, her voice barely a whisper, unconsciously playing with the soft hair at the back of his neck, her gaze fixed on the shimmering water below them.
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
