Mountain Butterfly

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Monday morning we get to school an hour and a half early because Connor and Sam had to be there for the seniors practice graduation in the assembly hall. I decide to wait outside because the weather was amazing. It was the first week in June, all the snow had melted and the sun was shinning. I take one of the benches outside the front of the school. I take my notebook out and begin a new sketch. This time I decide to draw the school surrounded by all the trees. The trees were beautiful they were standing tall and proud with all their fresh green leaves. As I finished the outline of the the sketch when I was startled by someone behind me. It was Peter looking over my shoulder. He was staring down at my outline, “You know you really are an amazing artist.”

“Thanks.”

“I always see you drawing in here. Can I see the rest of your drawings. Please?”

“I guess.” I hand Peter, who was now sitting next to me on the bench, my notebook. I lean over a bit to see his expression when he viewed my drawings. He closes the notebook and hands it back to me.

“Those were amazing You are really talented.”

Embarrassed by the high praise I start to blush as I say, “Thanks.”

“You know your not getting out of explaining things to me right?”

“Yeah I know.” I fixate my eyes on my shoes to avoid looking into his deep dark blue eyes.

“All I want to know is why you always have a worried look in your eye. You are constantly scanning the halls like your looking for something or someone. Then everyday you all of a sudden say you have to go. I want to know what’s wrong so I can help.”

“That’s really nice of you but I don’t think you can help.”

“Of course I can’t if you won’t tell me.”

“Ok I’ll tell you. I am constantly worried. I am always scanning the halls. Its all because my sister can’t know that we are friends. I would be in huge trouble if she ever found out. I’m trying to protect you from my family. Like I’ve said before there is a risk becoming involved with my family’s life. I just want to keep you away from that as long as possible.”

“Why would you get in trouble for just being friends with me?”

“Because!" I yell exasperated that I can't just tell him eveything. "Its just to dangerous for my family, me included, to have friends.”

“Ok, I think its time you tell me what some of these ‘dangers’ are.”

“Maybe you’re right. I just don’t want to scare you off.”

“You won’t scare me off. I promise.”

“Well, lets see I can’t tell you everything.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t. I can tell you this, one of the reasons its dangerous for us to have friends is that if we were to ever lose our tempers you could be caught in the middle and be seriously hurt.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you think so, but my family is different we are a lot stronger than you.” Even though only Sam has the crazy strength, we all have more than average strength.

“You? Your a lot stronger than me? Are we talking physically stonger? Or what? Because no offense, but I’m like 10 inches taller than you and have a least 3 times the muscle than you.”

“Just because you look stronger doesn’t mean you are. We work out a lot together. Don’t underestimate me”

“Ok, ok.” Students are starting to arrive by this time so I stand up finishing the conversation. I take couple steps before I look over my shoulder to call to Peter, “Come on lets go to class.” He stands up and walks with me to my first period English class before he heads down the hall to his class.