Is This Seat Taken?

Chapter 11

After the fiasco in the restaurant I went out to the trails. On this mountain, they had woodland trails set up so that people could just cruise along and enjoy the scenery. That's what I decided to do for the rest of the day because I had no energy to race down the slopes infested with hundreds of other people. I was on the trails for a good hour until I saw someone up in the distance looking out at the view. I continued to ski until I came closer to realize it was Dillon.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend, I'm sorry if I crossed any boundaries," Dillon said as I stopped right next to him.

I sighed and admired the view with him. What could I say? I'm not taken; I'm just a single girl dating a fake boyfriend. And I'd probably sound like a slut if I tried to explain it to him. "It's complicated, Dillon, he's not technically my boyfriend," I whispered.

"Then what is going on between you two?...What is going on between us?" Dillon turned his head to look at me but I refused to look back at him. "I-I don't know..." I managed to get out.

"Date who you want to, Kylie. It's your decision who you date. No one can mandate that. If this 'boyfriend' of yours is hurting you, we can go find help. I'll be here for you no matter what. Those two hours this morning are going to be the highlight of my trip. I just met you Kylie and I don't want to already loose you," Dillon confessed.

I realized how vague my whole situation with Austin was to an outsider. Did he really think Austin could be an abusive ex-boyfriend? Could Austin be an abusive boyfriend? Could Dillon be an abusive boyfriend? Truth be told, it's one of my greatest fears, to be in an abusive relationship. Ever since I saw the movie in 10th grade Health class, I've been terrified of getting trapped into one. I guess that's just an example of the many trust issues I have. Ever since the night when Matt broke a promise that cost him his life.

"Dillon, you should know that Austin isn't abusive. And that our relationship isn't real," I wish I didn't have to explain the situation so many times to so many people, "I'm helping him get over his ex-girlfriend."

"I wish I would've known that before I yelled at you," he chuckled lightly as he shifted his gaze back at the mountains.

We stood there as the sun began to set. "We should get going, it's a twenty minute trail to get back," I finally said.

"I'm honored to have the trail expert accompanying me on the journey home," I could hear the sarcasm in his voice as we started to head back.