Trust Me

Chapter 13

As my feet hit the pavement of our driveway, I let the world fade out of my mind. I concentrate on my rhythmic footsteps, working in time with my heartbeat. The houses around me turn to trees as I run, ignoring the burning in my lungs, and the teary waterfalls flowing down my face. Time passes; I don't know if it has been minutes or hours.

I finally stop running, and sit down on a the trunk of a fallen tree. Why is it that when I try to do the right thing, and give someone a second chance, my family thinks I'm wrong. Am I wrong? Maybe it was naive of me to think he could change. What if this is his final prank on me? I just don't know anymore.

I bury my face in my hands, and start to wait until my crying subsides. Then I'll go home. I don't know if I should apologize to my family, or stick by what I said. I want to give Caleb a chance, but I don't want to lose Josh and Tiff.

I finally contain myself when a voice behind me makes me jump.

"Lottie, you okay?" A concerned Caleb asks.

"Just go away," I mumble, turning my face away. He ignores me, and comes to sit down on the log beside me.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not, so you can leave now," I say, unconvincingly. He wraps his arm around me and I almost lean into him to cry. But I don't. I focus on keeping my tears contained, and holding myself together.

"I'm fine now," I say, smiling up at him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks. A part of me wanted to open up and tell him. But a larger part of me won out in the end.

"No I'm fine," I say.

"Well then, we should probably head home," he says.

"Not yet. I want to stay out a little longer." I stand up and start walking farther away from the trail. Caleb joins me, but we don't talk.

I hear a twig snap, and stop abruptly. I turn my head slowly to the right, and see a doe and her fawn grazing peacefully.

"Caleb look," I whisper, pointing in their direction.

"They're so beautiful," he murmurs under his breath.

I look over at him, a sly smile spreading across my face. "You don't really go hunting, do you?" I teasingly whisper.

He doesn't say anything, but I can tell the answer already.

We continue walking, and somewhere along the way we start holding hands. I think...I think I might be falling for him.