there she goes - jschlatt

tangled roads

the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the horizon as we drove through the quiet streets. the cool morning air poured in through the open windows, carrying with it a sense of freedom that felt intoxicating. schlatt was behind the wheel, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel while the other drummed against the dashboard, the music filling the space between us.

"where are we headed?" I asked, glancing over at him. the way his jaw tightened as he focused on the road made my heart race. it felt like we were in our own little world, the tension from the previous night still lingering but shifting into something electric.

"just a little spot I know," he replied, a hint of mystery in his voice. "trust me."

"trust you? after the whole sierra situation?" I teased, trying to keep the mood light. I could see a flash of annoyance in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a smirk.

"hey, that wasn't my fault," he shot back, but I could tell he was trying to deflect. I didn't want to dwell on the past, especially not now. I was more interested in where we were headed, both physically and emotionally.

the car hummed softly as we left the city behind, the landscape opening up to rolling hills and stretches of greenery. I could feel the weight of the previous night lifting, replaced by a sense of possibility. we talked and laughed, the banter flowing easily, and I found myself leaning closer to him, caught up in the moment.

as we turned down a narrow road lined with trees, I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach. "where are we going, really?" I pressed, curiosity getting the better of me.

"just wait and see," he replied, his eyes glinting with mischief.

after a few more minutes of winding roads, we pulled up to a secluded spot by the lake. the water shimmered in the early light, and I could see a few ducks gliding across the surface. it was beautiful, and I couldn't help but smile as I looked around.

"this is amazing," I said, stepping out of the car and taking a deep breath of the fresh air. it felt like we had escaped from everything for a moment.

"thought you might like it," schlatt said, joining me by the water. he stood close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him, and for a moment, I just wanted to lean into him.

"how did you find this place?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"a friend showed it to me ages ago. it's a good spot to think," he replied, his gaze fixed on the water. there was something contemplative in his expression that intrigued me.

"what do you think about?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"a lot of things," he said, glancing at me. "mostly just life stuff. you know, the usual."

I nodded, feeling the weight of those words. he was always so guarded about what he let people see, and I wanted to know more. "and what about you? what do you think about?" he asked, turning the tables on me.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I guess... I think about what I want," I said finally, my heart racing. "where I want to go, who I want to be with."

"and who's that?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. the moment hung in the air, charged with unspoken words. "I think... I think I want to be with someone who makes me feel alive," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

schlatt stepped closer, the space between us shrinking. "alive, huh?" he repeated, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I might know a guy who fits that description."

"oh really? do tell," I teased, feeling emboldened by the way he was looking at me.

"well, he's got this tough persona, but a soft side for one girl, and he's definitely not afraid to take risks," he said, his eyes locking onto mine.

"sounds intriguing," I replied, my heart racing as he took another step closer. I could feel the tension crackling between us, thick and undeniable.

"he might even be a good kisser," he added, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper. I couldn't help but smile, my cheeks flushing at his boldness.

"is that so?" I challenged, tilting my head slightly, my heart racing. "and how would you know?"

"maybe I've had a taste of that," he said, his smirk widening. "or maybe I just have really high standards."

"you know, for someone who claims to be a bad boy, you're awfully full of yourself," I shot back, but I was grinning, feeling playful.

"it's part of the charm," he replied, leaning in just enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him. the world around us faded, and it felt like it was just the two of us, suspended in time.

"do you always flirt like this?" I asked, my voice softening as I met his gaze.

"only when the mood strikes," he said, his voice low. "and right now, the mood is definitely striking."

before I knew it, I was leaning in, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. his breath caught for a moment, and I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes before he closed the distance between us. his lips brushed against mine, tentative at first, before deepening into something electric.

the kiss was soft yet charged, filled with a longing that had been building between us for weeks. it felt right, and I couldn't help but melt against him, my hands finding their way to his shoulders.

as we pulled away, both breathless and slightly dazed, I couldn't help but smile up at him. "well, that was... unexpected," I said, my heart racing.

"unexpected, but not unwelcome," he replied, his expression serious. "we've been dancing around this for too long."

"maybe we have," I agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "but what does this mean for us?"

"it means we take it slow," he said, his tone steady. "no rushing into anything. just... whatever this is, we figure it out together."

I nodded, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. "together sounds good," I replied, the weight of our previous encounters lifting slightly.

we stood by the lake for a while longer, the sun climbing higher in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything. I felt a sense of peace wash over me, and for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things were finally shifting in the right direction.

"ready to head back?" schlatt asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"yeah, let's go," I said, feeling invigorated and hopeful. as we made our way back to the car, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something new for us, a journey that would take us to places neither of us expected.