The Summer I Spent With You {L.H} ~ Book 2

Chapter Sixteen

"Luke, where even the fuck are we?" I asked as his fathers pick up truck battled over the bumpy road and I clutched nervously onto the door handle. All around me, trees leaned over us; branches like grabbing arms and casting haunting shadows onto the car. When he said we should go away, this wasn't exactly what I thought he meant.

"Just a two more minutes." He replied as he shushed me and concentrated on driving. His cheeks where still tear stained and when we arrived at his parents house; his mother was the one to comfort him as I stood apologizing over and over again. She was a very understanding woman, but I mean it was kinda awkward when his brother was cussing out my dad, even though I felt the same. He announced he was taking the pick up truck and told me to go back to my apartment and grab some over night things. An hour later he arrived and told me to hop in; not letting on as to where we were going.

The vehicle pulled off of the uneven path and through some trees until we pulled out at a clearing. Miles of overgrown grass filled the edge of the forest and then fell off the side of the Earth as for miles all I could see was hills and the burning horizon. It was truly breathtaking and I couldn't find the words to describe how the view in front of me made my stomach have butterflies and a gleaming smile take over my face.

"Cal, Michael, Ash and I used to come camping here all the time when we were teenagers. And sometimes we'd bring our dogs too." Luke told me as we climbed out the car. Reaching over the back of the truck, Luke pulled the cover off to reveal a man-made bed complete with a mattress, plump pillows and a basket filled with snacks and shit. "As I said, somewhere where no one can find us."

"Are we sleeping out here tonight?" I asked, smiling at his romantic attempts and being pretty impressed. He nodded and opened up the back of the truck so he could climb in and grab the picnic basket.

"I've got all the food you can eat and a case of beer; what more could you want whilst sleeping under the stars?"

"I'm like one hundred percent sure, the last time I traipsed into some forest like scenery with you, I got bitten by a snake and ended up in hospital." I laughed as he opened two bottles of beer and handed one to me.

"Hence the truck; I'm not risking another snake slithering into our sleeping bag." Luke replied as he took a swig from the icy bottle that was dripping in condensation.

"Another snake? -Oh." The realization of his joke kicked in and I felt a little dumb for not understanding it sooner. "You need to stop with the dirty jokes, Hemmings."

I climbed up and took a seat beside Luke as he produced more goodies from the basket. There was cakes, and sweets, and plenty of chocolate to share around, so I quickly dug in. All of a sudden, Luke jumped up from where he was sitting and disappeared round the other side of the car. I twisted to see what he was doing but all I could see was blonde tufts of his hair sticking up from the front seat. I felt the car engine start and for a moment I thought he was going to drive away but then I heard the low buzz of familiar music grow louder and louder until it was at a perfect volume for us to hear. Squashing beside me, he pushed the picnic basket to the side and wrapped an arm round my shoulders. The air was growing colder as the sun set over the mountains and a cool breeze caused me to shiver. Noticing me shake; Luke grabbed a blanket from behind him and pulled it round both our bodies until I was engulfed in his embrace and I could feel the beat of his heart pulse against my skin.

The tranquility of the wilderness amazed me. I was aware of the frequent movements around me as the trees danced in the wind and animals scurried about their home, but yet everything still seemed so quiet and peaceful. Every now and again I would hear the gentle rustle of the leaves or an owl hooting in the distance, as the sweet, rustic voice of Paolo Nutini drifted out into the open air from the car speakers.