I'm Dating A Rockstar

10 Nathan: My Secret Place...

Ten

Nathan: My Secret Place...

Whitney was up and ready within ten minutes. She had on a dark blue sweatshirt with jeans; we had gone to the doctor yesterday to get her cast taken off. Her hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail. In my honest opinion I liked her looking like this better than when she looks normal, and that's saying a lot.

She dragged herself down the stairs, her eyes squinting while they got used to the light that was on above the kitchen table.

"What are we doing up so early?" she mumbled.

"I told you. I want to show you something."

"Why couldn't you have showed me later?"

"Because." I said, "It'll be worth it, I promise."

"Fine." She gave in. "What's with the flashlight?"

"It's dark outside."

"We're going outside?"

"Yeah, come on." I said, turning off the light and walking out the back door.

We had been walking for about an hour and a half in the woods behind my house, in Dallas, Texas. Whitney was getting suspicious.

"Where are we going? We've been walking forever?" She asked.

"We're almost there, just a little further."

About fifteen minutes later we reached it. My secret place. It's a big tree house. With three platforms, two in the shape of an octagon, with rope bridges connecting them all. It literally looks like something you would find out of the "Swiss Family Robinson" movie.

"Whoa!" Whitney exclaimed.

"You like it?" I asked.

"Oh my gosh, Yeah! What is this place?"

"It's my secret place. I found it when I was eight. This is where I come with all my thoughts, feelings, problems... It's where I've written most of my songs." I told her.

"And you just found it one day?"

"Yeah, I tried running away from home one time, for reasons I don't remember, and I just stumbled across it. I actually stayed out here for about two days, but then I got hungry." I chuckled at the memory.

"This is incredible!" Whitney gushed.

"Thanks." I said, "Now, hurry up, or we'll miss it." I ran to the bottom of the tree in the middle, and pulled down the wooden ladder with a string.

"Miss what?" Whitney asked, running after me.

"You'll see." I said, smiling like a little kid.

I started up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I ran across a rope bridge to the second platform, this one smaller than the first. I walked across a second rope bridge, and then a third. Soon I had reached a rope ladder; I started to climb, all the way to the top of the tree. Finally I reached my destination, a third platform. Although this one wasn't octagonal, it was square, without a roof. It was the smallest of the three, and also the highest. It was my favorite.

I pulled out a blanket from the backpack I had brought with me. I laid it down, right as Whitney climbed onto the third platform. I sat on the blanket and she joined me. Next, I pulled out two apples, serving as our breakfast, I handed one to Whitney. It was now about five fifty eight.

"Thanks." She said, smiling, "Now, what are we going to miss?"

"We're not going to miss it now." Right as I said that, the sun began to rise slowly above the horizon. Whitney stood up and walked over to the bamboo railing.

"This is what you wanted to show me?" She asked, in awe.

"Yes." I said, smiling as I stood and joined her at the rail. I knew I had done well.

She hugged me, "It's beautiful."

I laughed, "I'm glad you like it."

We stood and watched the sun until it had risen completely over the horizon.

"Do you come out here a lot?" Whitney asked.

"I used to come out here almost every day. Then it turned into twice a week. Then we left to go on tour. This is the first time I've been out here in about three months." I said.

"I just can't get over how amazing it is."

I smiled, "I figured we could spend all day out here, if that's alright?"

"That's more than alright. I could spend the rest of my life out here." She laughed.

"Just so you know ahead of time, this is the first time I've ever brought anyone out here. Not even my brothers know about it, and I'd sorta like to keep it just between us." I told her.

"That's perfectly fine. I just have two questions."

"Shoot."

"Do you parents know we left the house? I don't want them waking up, and us be gone, and them worry..."

"I wrote them a note saying we would be gone all day hiking and exploring."

"Ok. Good. Second... why did you choose to share this place with me?"

"Honestly?" I asked, Whitney nodded, "I don't know."