Fallen

Chapter 13

Read chapter 12 before beginning this chapter.

Martin POV

After that last jump, I knew I had won the competition. Which means I would be competing this Saturday and could win the bet money. I had to find a way to hide the money from my father. My mother needed it.

I got off my bike and pulled my helmet over my head for some fresh air. The cheers filled my ears. I looked for Ryder. He and I had connected at the beginning of the summer. Unlike the other guys, he has material to him. I met his eyes and gave him a friendly smile. I saw his arm around someone and assumed it was this new girl he had been talking about nonstop the past week. I couldn't complain though. He listened to every word uttered about Hannah all summer. My eyes roamed to the girl on his arm and I noticed it was Nicola. If Nicola was here, was...my eyes stopped when I met her eyes. She looked absolutely beautiful with the wind blowing her hair back. Her hazel eyes scrutinized me.

"Hannah," I whispered. In that same moment she turned on her heal and left. I knew I had to talk to her, but my feet wouldn't move.

"Martin!" Ryder's voice called. I regained my motion and moved to the fence.

"Martin," Nicola whispered.

"Nicola, I can explain." I spoke quickly.

"You don't need to explain to me. Hannah is the one running away right now."

"Right." I moved quickly through the crowd and managed to spot Hannah as she dove into the trees. How could I have been so stupid. I should have told her. I knew her trust was hard to come by, and I felt I had almost grasped it. Now she will never trust me. I know what I feel for her has grown too fast, but it's real. She's someone who has known me, the real me. Jeremy and I have always been best friends. Hannah was something different. Hannah had a spark to her. She challenged me. I needed her. My pace quickened with the thought of losing her. My heartbeat had picked up and I caught up to her just as she emerged from the hidden path onto the trail made by the park.

"Nicola, can we just go-" She spoke as she turned around, but stopped as soon as our eyes connected.

"Not quite," I tried to smile to lighten the mood. Her obvious glare did not engage in the enlightenment. I dipped my head in order to see her fully. She is so beautiful. Even when she is angry, she has a sparkle to her hazel eyes. She dropped her eyes and continued to move away from me.

"Hannah." I reached for her hand, hoping that the touch would calm her enough for us to talk like it has before. Instead she flung her arm forward to dodge my attempt.

"Don't touch me," she snapped.

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I started to explain.

"You didn't just not tell me. You lied to me. You said that stopped years ago! You lied to my face!" I flinched and took a small step back. I had not expected her to raise her voice at me. I knew by her deep breaths that she was barely holding onto the tears.

"You have to understand-"

"Understand what, Martin? What could there possibly be to understand?!" She interrupted me. Her volume was slowly increasing with each word she spoke.

"I-," I began. I can't do it. I can't reveal my life to her. Not yet. Once she knows, she will think differently of me. She will see me as I am; broken. "I just need to! I need to race!" I took a step closer to her.

"Why?"

"I can't tell you. I shouldn't have to tell you!" My emotions began to speak for me. My sadness showed up as anger.