Fields of Iris

To The Rescue

Iris's P.O.V

I felt so afraid of the memories in my head. Even the memory of how Chase and I first met here on this very Ridge. He saved my life that day and from that moment on, I was in love with him. I never told Ray about this place. I left it a secret that only Chase and I knew about. It was that small memory of him finding me here, broken and with my last bit of will to live left, that I stepped back from the edge and took a breath with tears running down my eyes.

I felt so alone at this moment, regretting leaving Ray at home. He must have been so worried about me. I couldn't get out of my own head all day, and here I was in the dark at the place where no one would find me.

"I hope I won't have to tackle you again," I suddenly heard behind me, making me turn to see Chase standing there looking towards me as I stared back in confusion.

"Wh... What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Ray called me. He was worried about you, and he asked if I had any idea where you could be," he explained as I huffed. Why would Ray go off and call the one guy I didn't want to see me like this? "Are you okay, Iris?" He asked. It was impossible to hide the fact that I had been crying, yet I still did my best to straighten my posture and nod.

"Yeah, of course. It's just... it's been a long day, and I thought I could use some fresh air," I responded, seeing his face unchanging as he stared straight at me, sending chills through my body.

"I don't believe you," he said simply as I huffed feeling odd having him question me like this. He never cared so much before and I was never caught off guard like this.

"Do you remember the first time we met up here on the Ridge," I said softly as he nodded his head.

"That's how I knew to come here tonight. Iris, I know I never asked before, but did something happen that night? I mean, you were always so good at changing the conversation away from yourself back in the day, but things change. You can talk to me," he spoke as my heart began to melt at the sight of the kind boy I always knew. He was always pretending to be someone he wasn't but I knew he was kind and cared. In my broken state I nodded and rubbed my arms. Now that my adrenaline had slowed down I realized how cold I was.

"Here," he said, taking off his jacket and putting it on my shoulders as we began to walk back to his car. "You know the Hayward's were all horrible people. I mean Martha was just a submissive woman..." I began, telling the inside story that only Ray and I knew. "She wasn't horrible to us, but we weren't her kids so it was just useful to have the city check for us. Mickey was a year younger than us so he wasn't too bad. I mean he had to do what he had to in order not be targeted by the twins," I spoke, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"Do my parents know any of this?" He asked as I shook my head slowly, not able to look him in the eyes as we got to the car and we both got in, glad to be in the warmth finally.

"I had my reasons for keeping things to myself. Besides, your parents' farm saved me and that was enough," I finally admitted out loud. I didn't know why I was sharing these admissions with him, but now that the words were flowing out, I just wanted to continue to tell him. "Anyway, the twins were god awful. You know yourself," I said as he nodded his head.

"Yeah, I remember when they would pull up to the farm and insist on dragging you home until my dad caught them vandalizing red-handed and took photos. They stopped after that," he said as I smiled, remembering the day they got in trouble for getting the cops called. Of course, I still paid in my own way.

"They used to lock me in closets all night. And push me down steps. They would call Ray names and take his things," I said hearing Chase turn in his seat.