Something New (A Chris Evans Story)

Chapter Three

In retrospect, my decision to leave the party with Chris could be thought of as either the best or worst decision I've made. Depending on who you'd ask in my life, you'd get varying answers.

We made our way away from the hustle-bustle of the party, walking along a small dirt road that led out of the Evans backyard towards a big forest area that lingered in the back of the Sudbury neighborhood.

When I had first visited Shanna, I had loved strolling down this path. Now, walking the same way with Chris, I was recalling all those times we both had spent together recovering from all the times we used to get so caught up with our college life with our papers, exams, and other such things.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Chris asked me, throwing off my rumination over the past.

"Whaa...? Oh yeah, I was just thinking about the first time Shanna showed me around Sudbury. And how she had shown me some of the trails in the area. It never failed to remind me of how I had pictured the Shire in the Lord of the Rings trilogy that I had loved reading as a young child. Well, at least how I pictured it when I had just picked up the book, way before the visionary Peter Jackson ended up filming those movies. Anyway, we would come here sometimes to just get away from the real world for a while, that held all those stupid responsibilities and obligations, to just appreciate the beauty and simplicity of nature. I'm sorry, I'm rambling, I'll shut up..."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but I ignored him and kept going on, saying, "No, actually though, I think the reason I do it is because I'm such an anxious perfectionist that I always feel like I have to explain everything perfectly, which then makes me over-explain." I sighed, "Concision isn't one of my strengths."

"Honestly, you're fine," he said in a reassuring voice. "Actually it's-"

"It's what?" urging him to continue, trying not to sound too overexcited about what he was going to say next.

He looked like he was going to say something, but he then shook his head, and continued, "Never mind that, anyway, Shanna used to love coming out here with Dad and I when we would go hiking." Chris told me as we reach a small clearing, which required a relatively small jump to make it to the bottom.

Chris reluctantly, or maybe I was just how I was imagining things after the alcohol I had consumed at the party, let go of my hand and jumped down. He then turned to look at me, waiting for me to join him. I peered down over the ledge, and looked down at him.

Gosh, I really hate heights and jumping down from things. To avoid that, I try to employ my usual tactic of sliding down from heights instead of jumping. Yes, I thought, that should work here too.

I think I ended up pausing for a bit too long, because Chris said, worriedly, "Hey, you okay?"

I took a deep breath and keep staring at the big gap, and Chris started chuckling, "Oh right, Shanna did mention something about how you don't like heights..."

I retort, trying to put on a tough face, "No, I just really, really hate jumping from heights... and other such tall places..." fear punctuating every syllable that I uttered.

Chris reassured me, saying, in a comforting yet commanding voice, "Here I got you, just sit your cute little butt down on the ledge, and I'll help you down."

I shrugged, and tentatively nodded. That sounded like an alright plan, and I then followed his instructions. Like Shanna, he'd be a great teacher, with his ability to help people conquer their fears. Great, now all I was thinking about him was him instructing me in other more explicit activities. Gosh, Naina, get a hold of yourself!