Never Too Late

Chapter Twenty Five

"It's a nice day, don't you think we should go out?" Liz asked as he traced her fingers across Johan's chest. "It's the weekend, so you don't have to worry about getting in trouble, right?"

Johan looked over at her and sighed. He had no problem with spending time with her, but he didn't like disappearing for hours without his parents knowing where he was.

"Sure, where would you like me to take you?" Johan asked despite his reservations. He would find something to tell his parents later; after all, he was still an adult and could make his own choices.

"I don't know, you pick," Liz remarked as she slipped out of bed and put on her bathrobe.

Johan watched her intently, her rosy complexion, warm smile, and gentle eyes pulling him in.

"So have you decided yet?" She asked as she used a scrunchie to put her hair in a bun.

He shook his head and held her by the waist before pulling her onto his lap. "I will, we don't need to rush."

He loved feeling her in his arms; she was heavier in her hips than her chest, but he found he figure attractive. That attraction, along with her alluring nature, had brought him back to her apartment over and over again.

"Alright, who is she?" Liz asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What are you talking about?" Johan said releasing her.

"You've been acting strangely recently. Come on, you think I wouldn't know?" She said with her hands on her hips.

Taken back by her intuitiveness, he knew it was pointless to hide his feelings so he spoke up.

"I like this girl from school, but she doesn't like me," He confessed as he lowered his gaze in embarrassment.

"How do you know she doesn't like you?" Liz questioned as she took a seat on the bed beside him.

"She doesn't, she likes someone else," he sighed in acceptance. "I'm sorry but I didn't intentionally come here to hide my feelings."

"It's okay and I 'm sure you'll find the right girl for yourself soon," Liz reassured him with a hug.

It was such a bittersweet moment for him, though; he knew she only saw him as a friend, and he felt the same; he did care about her. However, each time they were together, he felt like he was abusing her kindness, but she would pull him in over and over again. Hugging her back, he secretly wished it didn't have to be this way, that he could save her but she had proven before that she didn't want to be saved.

"It's a nice day, let's just relax for a little while," Johan told her.

***

"Oh wow, this tastes amazing!" Liz's voice bubbled happily as she held her blue and pink swirled ice cream. "What flavor are you getting?"

"I don't know, maybe chocolate," Johan shrugged before smiling at her.

When he got his ice cream they went strolling together, aimlessly chatting about things they could do before the day was over and things they liked. No one knew or understood him as Liz did, so it was calming to talk to her without pretending or worrying he would say the wrong thing or make a fool of himself. This drew him closer to her than anyone else.

"I know what we could do, let's go to the park!" Liz suggested, and after pondering over it for a moment, Johan agreed. The park was only a fifteen-minute walk away from where they were, so they slowly ambled up the road together; however, upon arriving, they realized it was a bit more crowded than they expected.

"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me!?" Johan groaned in frustration. "We walked all this way for nothing!"

"Well, it's the end of spring now, so a lot of people are going to come here; just look at those blossoming trees!" Liz said trying to cheer him up.

Behind her was a row of blooming trees lining the walkway along the park. They were a mix of yellow blossoming trees and blue ones and many people were picnicking under them. Johan had to admit the scenery was really nice, though he wished a few less people were there.

"Can you take a picture of me? I want to remember this moment," Liz asked while handing him her phone and taking a few steps back. Nodding, he obliged her request and held up her phone to take a picture of her.

"Alright, smile," he said snapping a few photos of her.

"Let me see, let me see!" She beamed as she ran back over to him.

"Here they are," he said, handing the phone back over to her, but as he examined the pictures he had taken, he froze when he realized that his brother and Ericka were in the background, off to the left in the distance. Looking up, he saw them sitting together happily, laughing, smiling, and having a good time.

"Let's go," he said taking Liz's hand and walking out of the park.

"Really? We just got here!" She pouted but followed along.

Once far enough away they sat on a bench together, and Liz folded her arms in protest.

"What was the hurry for?" She questioned.

"Nothing, I'm just tired." He lied.

"Well if that's the case, let's get something to eat and call it a day. It's my treat!" She offered as she began going through her bag.

"No, it's fine," he said stopping her before something in her purse caught his attention. "Are you seriously still taking those!?" He said before snatching the bottle of pills she was trying to conceal.

"Come on give them back! I only take them at night because they're the only thing that helps me fall asleep, I promise!" she begged as she reached for the bottle, which he hesitantly gave back. "I was prescribed these so they're not illegal."

Johan stared at her, unable to tell if she was lying or not before giving a big sigh. "I understand but I just don't want to see you get hurt, alright?"

"I know, and I'm being serious," she said solemnly which was out of character with her usual bubbly tone. "I need these."

"Alright, I got it," He said, choosing not to argue with her about it for now. "Let's get something to eat."