The Girl From the Gang

I Go on a Date?

I pedal slowly, taking the extra time I have to look at the scenery. This town that I'm stuck in is actually a really beautiful place, and would be even more beautiful if I wasn't here against my own will. I guess that's the thing about being stuck somewhere beautiful. You can only really appreciate the beauty if you are free to be there.

When I get to the place Jack said to meet, I don't see anyone there. I lock my bike and go to sit on a bench to wait for him. He shows up soon after and I get up to meet him. "Sorry I'm late. My mom kept asking me a bunch of questions about where I was going and who with, and she made me late. I'm glad you showed up." He looked at me and smiled.

"I'm happy you showed up too, I was beginning to think I was going to have to hang out with myself." I say with a smirk.

"Ha Ha, very funny Emma." He says back to me as we begin walking toward a shopping center that was across the street. "So," he says with his hands in his pockets. " What did you do today? I just kind of hung out at home and took care of my horses."

"My mom was home for today so she picked me up and we went shopping." I said, hoping that my lie wasn't very obvious. Its crazy how the first time I ever make friends, our entire friendship is fabricated on lies.

"That sounds really fun." He says.

"Are you just saying that to be nice, or do you really think it sounds fun?" I tease him. He looks at me and grins.

"Though shopping isn't my most favorite past-time, I do enjoy it every once in awhile. Especially on days like today where the weather isn't too agreeable until around this time of day. Besides, in the mall they have sports stores."

"Is that the only thing that they have in the mall that you like?"

"Maybe." He says with a smirk. I laugh and we continue walking.

The day went out pretty smoothly. The town of Williston doesn't have too much in the way of shopping, but we did find a fun Italian restarant and a couple of fun game stores to go in. I end up buying a couple of games to put in my house, telling Jack that my mom told me to pick up some new board games since ours got ruined in the move. We laugh and get to know each other. I find out that Jack loves to be outdoors and enjoys the same movies that I do. Overall it was a really fun time. Througout it, I felt that I was constantly looking over my shoulder. I know that I need to keep a low profile, but I doubt that someone will find me here.

The day ends with Jack walking me back to my bike. He waves goodbye as I pedal away. I don't look back until I know he's gone, and when I do I break into a smile. I actually had a fun time, and I now had friends in this place that I was stuck in. It was a pretty great feeling to have.

The house was dark and quiet when I walked in. I turn on the lights and walk into the kitchen to get a glass of juice. The crickets outside are loud, filling the night with the sound of the symphony they create. I never really heard the crickets back in New York, even though I was out all of the time at night. The sounds of the cars and buses always filled the nights with their horns and creaking along the rails. I walk out the backdoor onto the porch and sit there. "I can't believe I'm here." I whisper to myself. In the distance I hear cows mooing and the grass rustling in the cool breeze that is moving in from the mountains. I wonder how much longer I'll be here, and whether I will ever come back once I'm done. Will I go back to my old life, or will I stay with my new identity forever?

I get up and walk back into the kitchen and put my glass into the sink. My bed is calling me after a long day. I had the most fun I have ever had in my life today, and I don't really want it to end. In the end, I give in to sleep. As I crawl into bed, I smile knowing that for right now everything is okay.

                                                                                Jack's POV

I watch as Emma pedals away, and I turn back towards my house. The sun is going down behind the mountains, and I walk slowly to be able to better savor the moment. I just went on a date with one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met, and we had fun together. Her sense of humor lights up the room. It does seem to me that she is hiding something. She wears those gloves all the time, and she tugs on them self- consciously when she thinks that no one is looking.

My home is about a twenty minute walk away from where Emma and I hung out. Its a one story house that has a bunch of property surrounding it. My parents moved up here from Colorado about five years ago with me. We all decided that we wanted to move and live in a smaller town. My dad also loves raising horses, something we couldn't do in our house in Denver. My mom also wanted to live somewhere where she wouldn't have to worry about traffic. My parents both work as salesmen for a mutual fund company. They like it because they can stay home all of the time with me. I walk in the door and my mom calls out from the kitchen.

"Jack is that you?" she calls.

"Yeah Mom, its me." I walk into the kitchen and hug my mom.

"How was your date?" I blush as she asks me in a teasing manner.

"It was fine mom. I think she had a fun time."

"That's good. What is her name again?"

"Emma."

"That sounds like a really pretty name. I would love to meet this girl some time."

"I really think you would like her mom. She's really smart and she's super funny."

"How did you meet this girl. Did you meet her at school?" she asks. She puts what she was cooking in the oven and then motions me over to the couch.

"I ran into her on the way out of school. I asked her to hang out with me when I saw her being made fun of during lunch. She's a really great girl." I tell my mom.

"Well, I hope this turns out okay." She gives me a hug, then stands up. "Now, go wash your hands. I made cookies."