Silence In The Trees

Chapter 9

   [Song: Echotape - We've been dreaming]

   People can apologize millions of times in a life. There's nothing special about saying the word sorry. It's tossed around like it's puddle, the reality is words are tsunamis.

   Tsunamis waiting for a shore to completely wipe away.

   I stumbled into school, my hair limply cascading down my shoulders. I pulled the sleeves of my red sweatshirt down a bit more so I could wrap my hands inside it. I stared down at my boots and pale blue jeans that had a few multicolored paint splatters on the thigh.

   My mind was in a whirl just like my morning had been.

   My alarm clock didn't go off and Caden came to wake me up and I was left with only a ten minute time period to be ready for school. I panicked, just grabbing whatever I could to wear.

   I looked like walking shit to blunt about it. Not to mention the fact I couldn't seem to keep my mind in one place for more than thirty seconds. I knew I had to meet Alex, but after Wills weird reaction I was a little uneasy about meeting him on my own.

   Will was supposed to come with me and I hadn't seen him since I got here, and Alex had already sent me a text asking where I was. I had sent Will a text telling him I was going to have to go meet with him, whether he came with me or not.

   I took my time shoving my stuff in my locker then walked nimbly to the front of the school. I could clearly see Alex standing by the big oak tree outside the building. He was talking animatedly with a blonde girl which I quickly recognized as Diamond. I didn't know she went here.

   I slowly opened the door, mentally preparing myself for anything that could possibly go wrong.

   I walked over to where he was standing and stared at him expectantly. He looked at me, an emotion I couldn't quite read flashing over his face for a second.

   "Come." He grabbed my hand and literally drug me.

   I hadn't exactly planned on moving from that spot and I didn't like the idea of it either. I wanted to stay out in the open. I wanted to stay in a place that Will would be able to easily find me to be truthful.

   I kept my mouth shut as he led me behind the building to the track. There wasn't another soul in this part of the school. No one used the track because it was torn up pretty bad and if you happened to fall you could pretty much kiss whatever you landed on goodbye for a couple weeks.

   I gazed at him expectantly, once again. He had some explaining to do. And I was not going to start the conversation. Needless to say, I wasn't in the best of moods.

   "Rin, I'm so sorry about the other night. I took a chance, got a response, then I took advantage of it. I hope you can please forgive me." He rested a hand under my chin and rubbed my cheek with his thumb before moving it away.

I thought momentarily about his words. He seemed sincere, his dark eyes pleading into my own. I'd hadn't been in the right mindset that night, myself. I'd led him on to believe I was interested simply to fill my own rage. He was not the only one at wrong, and because of that I knew I could only forgive him.

"Of course I can forgive you, Alex."

He smiled a smile that seemed to completely light up his eyes.