Life One Summer [On Hold]

Chapter 14

When I reached the house I felt exhausted from everything. I thought not choosing to be with Travis was supposed to stop the drama? But I slowed down, composing myself before I walked in through the door.

Once I was inside I saw Lily in the kitchen busy giving Riley her breakfast. The clock on the wall told me it was six-thirty, way too early for excuses. As I rushed past I saw Lily spin around looking after me, "Aria? Is that you? Where have you been?"

Running up the stairs and into my room shutting the door, swearing when I realised there wasn't a lock. I walked over to my phone and picked it up pressing my mom's caller ID, perhaps I could get her to let me come home. As I let it ring, the hope in me drained away. No. Of course she wouldn't pick up. Trying Kelsey this time I got the same response. In a throw of frustration I flung my phone across the room letting it hit the floor.

Not wanting to be home when Travis decided to return I threw off my clothes from yesterday and put on a sleeveless tee and the first shorts I came across. I ran out of my room and back outside, I needed to do something, anything that would take my mind off of what a stupid idiot it was.

Heading towards the stables I half-ran up to the now familiar white horse who was stood there happily mooching around. I brought a hand up to his neck and stroked it softly. Leaning my head into him I whispered, "Hey bud, do you want to escape for a while?"

I grabbed the thing you put over his head and started putting it on him, like Travis had shown me on my first day. A cough from behind me made me jump, and I turned around to see a bearded man in his fifties. "You need some help there miss?"

Nodding, because what did I know, I'd only been here a week. I let the man walk in and prepare him for riding. "Thanks." I said watching carefully as he slid the saddle on the horses back and fastened the straps.

"S'nothing." He replied smiling at me, "I'm Bernie by the way."

"Right." I said, holding out my hand, remembering the name being flung around at the dinner table, "Nice to meet you."

He shook it, "Aria I presume. You've managed to make quite the name for yourself."

I groaned, "Unfortunately."

Tipping his hat he began to walk away, "All good things on my end I promise. You take care of yourself now."

Giving him as much of a smile I could muster, I watched as he disappeared out of view. I lead Shadow out of the stables and jumped up on top of him. It seemed the more I tried that the easier it got. Taking the reins in my hands I started off west, the way I'd first ridden with Travis. The rolling mountains and trees seemed like a much needed escape from everything. Plus I'd wanted to look further into the woods ever since I'd got here.

*

After riding for an hour or two Shadow began to slow and I jumped off wobbling a little and tying him to a tree. He needed a rest.

We'd been ascending up a hill for a while now and when I looked left off the path the ground seemed to fall away down to a small river, which I thought might lead back to that incredible lake.

Looking up to my right I saw a huge rock face which curved up and shadowed the few trees scattered near it. There was a grassy meadow right by the stone and I saw a small ledge a few meters up which peeked up over a clearing in the trees. I walked over to it looking at the pretty blue flowers which were hidden in amongst the grass. The ledge didn't seem so high up and I was curious about what I might be able to see from it.

Glancing back over towards Shadow I could faintly see the white of his coat grazing happily on a patch of grass.

I started to climb up towards the ledge. There were rocks sticking rigidly out of the face which worked well as holds. Some were a little crumbly but I was careful and step by step I made my way up to the ledge. Pushing myself up onto it, I lay out flat looking up at the sky. It was only a couple meters wide but as I sat up and looked out over the top of the forest I suddenly felt relief from everything. Nothing like this I had ever seen back in L.A. there was always some sign of human existence. But here, everything was untouched.

I still hadn't figured out the solution to everything that had happened. I knew that I needed to talk to Travis, to apologise. What for I wasn't quite clear on, me being so confusing, me lying to him about having a boyfriend and the fact I like him? Whatever it was, I needed to say something to him. I couldn't bare it if he hated me. But thinking about doing it and doing it were two different things. At least for now I could sit up here and be happy-ish.

A few minutes later, when I finally felt like I should return to Shadow and start making my way back I decided to get one last good look at the view. Standing up and taking in the vast landscape I sighed, making a mental note to come back here at least once more before the summer ended. That is if I could find it again.

I began to lower myself to the grass, reaching out my foot toward an outward stuck stone I lowered my body weight from my arms onto it. Suddenly it gave way, and I felt myself drop downwards. Folding forwards my head hit something solid and I collided with the ground, landing against a cold, rough surface. For a moment a surge of pain flew through my head and then everything went dark.

I'm really sorry i havent posted in sooo looonnggg!!! A-levels are draining the life out of my soul at the moment. I'm gonna post a second chapter today which i already had written out but writing will really pick up late June when i have no more school. YEAY :))

Photo: Tis a forest!

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