The Quiet Ones

9. Secret Between Our Lips

"Okay, tonight we're going our separate ways to cover more area. Move out in groups and meet back here in an hour," the leader, well, Finn, announced before we left through the front door of the house, fully emerged in our disguises.

"Hey, want to vandalize the park?" Levi asked while leaning in a bit closer to me. I felt my heart race as his voice rung deep.

"Yeah, sure."

He took off and I chased after him as we ran though the streets with cans of spray paint in our backpacks. My eyes watered as I moved against the wind, and my legs burned from each step I took. Levi was a few feet ahead of me and appeared to be going strong and not looking tired at all.

We ran past rows of trees and treaded across the cold dirt path of a shortcut until we arrived at the plastic structure of the elementary school playground. The colors were no longer bright and vibrant, and looked rather bland and a bit eerie underneath the light of the full moon.

Levi ran up a ramp of the beginning of the structure and skipped through the maze of metal bars until he made it to the center. I tried to keep up with him, but my throat burned and my skin sweat from running so far and so fast.

"You look sick," he said while grabbing a blue can of paint out of his bag.

"No, I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired. Levi, you're fast as hell! How are you not dying?"

"I workout and do this every other night. Don't worry, you'll build up the muscle and your lungs will grow stronger each night. Why don't you sit out this one? I won't tell-"

"No Levi I'm fine," I insisted. I had so much anger built up from Nathan that I just wanted to express it through paint.

"Okay, but go easy. And we're taking a break in a few minutes because I'm a bit worried about you."

I nodded just so he would stop talking and acting as if I need his help. I don't need anyone, I'm independent and perfectly capable of knowing when I need to 'sit one out'.

I pulled out at can of red spray paint and shook it while I listened to the metal dispenser inside hit against the sides of the can. I pressed down on the nozzle and began hovering my hand over one of the walls of the structure.

I drew what appeared to be a devil crying tears of purple. I don't know where the inspiration came from, because this is a design I never thought I'd make, but apparently that's how I felt while I drew.

"Wow, what's that?" Levi asked while placing his can back in his bag and staring at my design.

"A devil crying tears of purple," I whispered while I studied the shading and dimension I added to it. Although it's not something I'd typically design, it is certainly creative and cool to look at.

"Nice job Parker. Can we take a break now?"

"No I'm fine let's-"

"Parker, no. We need a break. I need a break. We'll just sit for a few minutes."

"I don't care, I'm fine I can keep going! I just-"

Levi picked me up by my waist and threw me into his shoulder, grabbing my bag from the ground and clutching onto the strap with his other hand. I pounded my fists against his back and insisted he let me down, but he didn't even flinch as he kept walking until we got the the middle of the soccer field.

He placed me on the grass like a child and I folded my arms and him. He just laughed and sat next to me while he placed his hands onto the cold grass beneath our bodies.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"About what?"

"About anything. What's going through your mind."

"I'm just a bit tired," I whispered while laying back onto the ground and placing my hands on my stomach. Levi moved closer and rested his head next to mine.

"Tell me about all of your problems."

"Why do you want to know them?"

"Because I care about you and want to help you."

My eyes teared up as he grabbed my hand in support. I've never had someone say they wanted to help me get better. I was never the one to show that I felt sad, but at times when I felt at my lowest, I just pushed people away and told them that I was busy when I was really crying and tearing myself apart.

"Well, where do you want me to start?" I asked.

"With whatever's bothering you the most."

"Okay, well Nathan likes me and I feel bad because I've been avoiding him and fighting with him about quitting the taggers even though he's just trying to help me and protect me. And one of my best friends is concerned about me, and the fact that I don't tell her everything anymore."

"Wow," Levi breathed out with a small laugh.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you all of that."

"No, it's okay. I was the one who asked."

We sat in silence for a second and watched a plane move across the sky with its blinking signals and lights displaying a show that we found interesting in our rambling minds.

"Well," he finally began to speak.

"How do you feel about your friend?"

"Which one?"

"The one who likes you?"

I groaned and rubbed the palms of my hands over my eyes. I've been afraid to ask myself this question just because I'm scared that I actually like Nathan, and I'll convince myself that I want to be with him.

"I don't know how I feel."

"On a scale from one to ten, ten being in love and zero being that you absolutely hate him, what number would you give him?"

"Probably an eight," I said.

"Hmmm."

"What?"

"Eight's good, but it's not a ten."

"What does that mean?" I asked while I stared up at the twinkling stars above our heads.

Levi didn't answer, instead I felt his warm breath as he pressed him lips to my cheek. I stayed frozen as I felt him move against my skin and embrace my face with his mouth. He pulled away after a few seconds and proceeded to stand back up and next to me.

"Well that was long enough for a break, don't you think?" He asked while he reached down and pulled me up by my hand.

"Yeah, perfect."

"As perfect as that kiss?" He asked.

"Perfect ten," I smiled.

He smiled back and grabbed my hand while we walked back towards the woods to find the next place to tag. But when we came towards the entrance, a dark figure began walking towards the two of us.

"Who's that?" Levi asked while squinting his eyes and staring straight ahead.

I gulped and shrugged as we moved closer. I don't want Levi to panic at the fact that I know good and well who's walking towards us. His tall body and long hair didn't make me think twice when his face came into full view.

"Nathan," I whispered under my breathed while I intertwined my fingers tighter into Levi's.