Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Eleven

(Riley's POV)

"What is it with you and parks?" I ask Hunter, a smile on my face.

He shrugs, and takes my hand again, leading me to the playground. "I don't know. I just like them. They make me feel like a kid again." His tone is serious, but I can't help but smile at him.

We sit on a bench, and watch the little kids play on the playground. They chase after each other and shout back and forth. Laughter rings all around them. Hunter drops my hand just to slip his arm around my shoulders. He rests his head on top of mine. "I feel out of place," I mutter.

He pulls back to look at me. "What do you mean?"

"It's all laughter and smiles and happiness." A dry laugh leaves my throat. "And my mom died yesterday. I shouldn't be here where everyone's so happy."

"That's ridiculous." Hunter stands up. "Get up." He's trying not to smile. "You have every right to be happy. Now get up."

"Riley Ann," he starts, "you are going to be a child again. You're going to sit on this swing and giggle and smile and be the adorable, fun, happy girl that I fell in love with."

I sit on the one empty swing, and tilt my head back to look up at Hunter. He draws the swing back, then releases me, pushing me forward. I laugh at how ridiculous this is, but then I look back at the boy that I love; the smile on his face and the sparkle in his eyes fills me with warmth, and I feel myself smiling that same smile back at him.

After a few minutes Hunter picks me up off the swing, and throws me over his shoulder. I laugh at him as he brings me somewhere.

He stops so suddenly that I almost fall, but he's holding onto me tightly enough. He puts me down, and I find myself looking down at a little girl with light blonde hair in pigtails and big brown eyes.

"You okay, sweetie?" Hunter asks her, suddenly serious. He's crouched in front of her, and the little girl looks from him to me.

"Why were you carrying her around? Is she hurt?" she asks.

Hunter smiles a little. "No, she's not hurt, we're just playing a game," he says, laughing a little.

"Can I play? The other kids won't let me play with them," she says quietly, looking down at her feet.

"Well, why not?" he asks. She shakes her head and shrugs. "Of course you can play." Hunter stands and holds his hand out to the girl. She takes it and starts to skip.

I lean forward and whisper in Hunter's ear, "If you skip with her, I'll love you forever."

"What, you don't already?" He winks and laughs. Then, he skips along with the little girl, and I find myself questioning his sexuality.

"So, what's you're name?" Hunter asks, slowing to a walk.

"Skylar. What's yours?"

"Well, I'm Hunter, and that," he turns to me, "is Riley."

"Is she your girlfriend?" Skylar asks.

Hunter smiles a little. "Yeah," he says, slipping his free hand into mine.

"Are you guys gonna live happily ever after? Like Cinderella and Prince Charming?"

Hunter smiles at me. "That's always the plan isn't it? Happily ever after?" He says it like a question and I feel like I have to give an answer.

"It always is. Happily ever after."

"What are we playing, Skylar?" Hunter asks, looking down at the little girl.