Without You

Chapter 41

"Nice to see you little Allie." Jason approaches me as I'm sitting in front of Leah's stall. When I don't say anything he does. "American Lacy Leah." He reads her name. "So this is the derby hopeful? She lives right here in Greenwich?"

"Yeah." I stretch out the 'a' and look at my feet.

"So are you coming or not?" He extends a hand for my to pull myself up on but I get up without his help. We silently walk to his car and I get in the passengers seat. I'm wearing leggings, a Steelers jacket, and sneakers. I asked him what to wear and he said to dress comfortable. Jason starts up the car and starts driving away from the barn. I glance over and see he's wearing jeans, a Harbor High Lighthouses sweatshirt and sneakers.

"So where are we going?" I ask.

"You will see." He smirks but keeps his eyes on the road. I don't want to be like every girl in every book going on a date but I hated surprises. One time my grandma got me a 'surprise'. I opened the box to find a puppy, dead. My parents brought him to the vet and they told me that he died of old age. No way in heck was that of old age. It was a puppy for gods sake. Later my grandma told me he had some parasite eating him from the inside out. Gross. But long story short I hate surprises. Jase continues driving out of the town and into the country in his old Ford pick-up truck.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" He asks me.

"Life." I smile softly.

"Hey I don't think I have gotten the chance to tell you but I'm sorry about Autumn." He says with his voice wavering a little.

"No problem? I mean sorry- oh uh thanks. I meant thanks." I stutter.

He laughs softly and continues driving. About an hour into the trip I start to question if he was kidnapping me. We had made some small talk but not much.

"Jason? Where are we going? We have been going for an hour already." I state and look at him.

"3 more left."

"What? Three hours?"

"Yup."

"Are you kidnapping me? Where are you talking me? Jason let me out." I start to panic.

Suddenly he bursts out laughing. "You should have seen your face." He breathes between laughs.

I glare at him. "Not funny. Where are we going..?"

"Only another 5 minutes. Don't worry."

"5 minutes from here? We are in the middle of no where."

"Are you afraid of heights?" He asks.

I gulp. "Nope." Lies. I'm scared, really scared of heights.

"Good." He comments knowing I'm lying but not pushing it. We finally come to a stop in a field.

"Jason? Please don't tell me this is where you murder me." I mumble and he chuckles. He jumps out of the truck and grabs 2 backpacks from behind his seat. I jump out of the car and go around to his side. "Jason?"

"Come on Little Allie. It's going to be too dark soon."

"Too dark for what?" I ask and run after him to catch up. He doesn't respond so we walk for a couple minutes until I see a cliff and a river below. "What are we doing here?" I nervously gulp, me and heights don't mix.

"So here's the plan, we jump in then rock climb back up and then eat dinner up here."

"No way. That's at least 20 yards down." I state and cross my arms.