Edge of the Ravine

13

Chapter Thirteen

      I don't think Alec knew how to broach the subject anymore than I did. Despite his usual self-assurance and direct personality, that was the one conversation in which words failed us both. And the one I was most careful not to read upon.

      To say that I was careful to never mention what I was sure Alec never meant me to hear was an understatement. In fact, I was so careful not to mention it that I barely talked for the next week. Something that quickly grated in Alec's nerves, but also something he wouldn't prod after when he knew very well its reasoning.

      Of course, after Amelia learned what happened on the lake, there wasn't very much talking I was able to do with Alec. The only moments we were able to steal together were the walks from the train tracks to school and back again. Alec was not permitted to step foot into the bowl and I was not permitted to step past the forest line. And though Alec had sparked in me a wild streak of disobedience in some cases, there was still a rational enough part of me that insisted it was best to do as my guardian requested for the time being.

      My prudence paid off and I was gladly admitted back into the Baldwin house a week following the incident. I was just in time, it seemed, for Alec's own nothing-less-than-fearless personality to make a comeback. In more ways than one.

     "I love when it's this warm in the autumn," Alec sighed languorously.

      A smile formed on my lips as I raised my face to the sun without comment. It truly was an Indian summer that year. The heat was steadily trekking through September without any sign of letting loose its claim as we drew closer to October.

     "Me too." My eyes refused to open and I watched as explosions of yellow and orange flashed across my eyelids.

     "Hey, do you want a drink? I'm gonna run inside," Alec said as he got to his feet beside me. Lazily, I shook my head and heard his quick steps as he strode to the front porch.

      Of course, only a few more minutes passed before I had the urge to use the bathroom. Pushing myself off the ground, I entered the house and quickly headed for the half-bath. Once I had finished, I headed for the kitchen, knowing that I might as well grab a snack while I was inside rather than get comfortable again and find out I was hungry. Just as I was about to enter the kitchen, I heard Alec's voice and stopped short when his dad answered.

     "Hey dad, can I use the car tomorrow? I wanted to take Oliver to the mall with me."

     "Mall? What for?"

     "Homecoming is next weekend."

      My breath caught in my throat and my ears strained to hear his reply. "I thought you already had a homecoming tuxedo?"

      I could just imagine Alec's exasperated eye-roll as he said, "I do. But Oliver doesn't have a tuxedo."

      Biting my lip, I barely peeked into the kitchen to see Mr. Baldwin throw up his hands in a surrender motion. "Alright. You can go right after school."

     "Thanks Dad." I smiled with him when his permission was given.

       Just as I was about to walk into the room, Mr. Baldwin suddenly asked, "So who are you going to homecoming with?"