The Rock In The Forest [Harry Styles]

Chapter Six

I just stand there staring at the anonymous text. My eyes stay wide and my thoughts scattered. I know I need to get out of the forest. My senses are right, there is someone watching me... but where?

I turn my head slowly to see a deserted trail. I begin to walk again thinking maybe it was just a prank from a new neighbor or something. Maybe someone got a phone number wrong somewhere. There are endless possibilities, I shouldn't get all worked up over nothing.

Feeling more relaxed, I continue making my way out of the forest. I check my phone again- 7:52 p.m.

Mum will be worried sick if I don't get back before 8:00. I speed up my walking in high hopes that I don't trip over anything.

It feels like the forest won't end but maybe that is just because I am in a rush. I squint my eyes looking past the tall trees. A spark of relief washes over me, I can see the house from here. It looks like it's only a few more yards away.

I speed up to a jog anxious to leave. I hear my phone going off signaling that I got a text. I don't want to look at it yet, I need to get out of this forest first. I push past a few more trees and burst out on the freshly cut grass. I didn't realize how fast I had been running and I start to loose my balance. My head is spinning and I fall forwards; long arms catch my falling body.

I look up confused and still a bit dizzy to see Harry with an equally confused face. "Are you ok? You ran out of there like you saw a ghost or something."

"I'm fine, I'm fine." I scramble up to my feet pushing away from him. I don't know why I pushed him away but I guess I'm just not used to being in his arms. I put a lock of hair behind my ear and look up at him. "Thanks for catching me. Will we be off now?" I smile in hopes to lighten the awkward mood.

He smiles back. "Course. Let's go, then. Mum is waiting in the car and sent me to go find you." He takes my hand and we start walking to the front of the house. We swing our arms back and forth while laughing and talking about pretty much nothing.

I see mum and dad waiting in the car. Mum is sitting up straight with a smile on her face acknowledging our connected return. Dad is leaning back in his seat and looks like he is ready to take a nap.

Harry and I part hands to get into the opposite sides of the car. We sit down and buckle our seat belts. Mum starts talking and we all join in the conversation. Eventually, Harry joked about my freaked out look running from the forest. I remembered that I never read the text I received and took my phone out of the small pouch I was holding.

From: 732-666-7766

When you're back. Meet me at the rock in the forest.

What? There have to be hundreds of rocks in that forest? And who is this?

I start getting nervous and chew on my nail. Someone anonymous wants to meet me at an unknown location. I want to tell Harry, I remember how I used to tell him everything. I just can't risk anything happening to the already fragile relationship. I decide to keep it a secret and pick my phone back up to respond.

To: 732-666-7766

What rock? There are tons of rocks..?

I can't believe I'm actually considering meeting this person. These over-the-top feelings surprise me more than I thought they would.

I heard my phone ring and scramble to shut it off in hopes that no one heard Moments by One Direction coming from my phone. I'm too late and Harry looks at me like I have three heads. He opens his mouth to say something but instead closes his eyes and shakes it off. Clearly he doesn't want to ruin our building relationship either. I open the text message and put my phone on vibrate.