Running With The Gang Leader

Nineteen

It had been 3 days since Zamon asked to make my birthday up to me and he still hadn't talked to me since then. Apparently he was deciding what he wanted to do.

But I finally got the all clear from the doctor, so I didn't need the wheelchair anymore. It stung my legs to walk, and I could only go about half the pace of everyone else, but I was glad I didn't have to go through an arm workout just to take a piss.

I sat in my room, placing things into boxes getting ready for the move. I stopped every few minutes to marvel at something I found. I called out as someone knocked on my door that it was open. Zamon entered and looked around my bare room. I guess it had changed so much since the first time I stayed here.

"Are you busy?" He asked, leaning against the door frame. I looked around at the stuff on my floor and shrugged. "Not really, I can finish this stuff later. What's up?"

"I wanna take you somewhere, as a late birthday present." My eyebrows raised. I checked the time on my phone, 6:34 pm. The sun was gone, but it was still quite light outside.

"Now? It's nearly dinner time? Or are we going out to dinner?" Zamon walked around and helped me stand. He threw my sweater at me.

"It's a surprise. Text Hunter, we don't want him thinking you've disappeared." His face blanked, and he scowled slightly. I did as he said as we left my room.

***
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't for Zamon to take me to the middle of nowhere. Nowhere, as in there was no sign of life around. I stared up at the tree filled incline, then turned to look at Zamon.

"Where are we?" I asked as we began our slow ascent up the hill, dodging trees as we went.

"We're nowhere. Literally. Where the other two towns neighbor Fairview, they all have specific borders into the next town, but this spot isn't in any of them. We're in the very center of all three places, and this is a little pocket of unmarked territory." He slowed down to help me as my legs began to burn.

"I thought No Man's land was the only unmarked place?" I reached for his hand as he pulled me up.

"Actually No man's land is part of Fairview. Everyone just says it's unmarked because no one ever bought it. Well, until now." We both stayed quiet for a few minutes.

"So I'm assuming you're not taking me to some cliche place like a waterfall or a cliff?" I asked sarcastically. He turned and smirked.

"Oh, it's definitely cliche, but not like any of the things your thinking of." He kept walking, leaving me smiling after him.

***

I stared up at the decrepit structure. I sure as hell wasn't thinking he'd take me to a tree house. I turned to him, and frowned.

"Is this the part where you telle you built this with your childhood best friend, and you come here to clear your head?" he laughed, and I found myself staring. He didn't laugh like that very often, his head tilted back and his eyes crinkling.

"No, but I did find it one day. It's been here for years apparently. And this is the first time I've been here in about five years. Anyway, I didn't bring you here to marvel at the wooden boards. Let's go up." he went up first being the chivalrous bastard that he is, then helped pull me up. I crawled into the small space, then looked around in awe.

Candles lit the room, which was a serious fire hazard, but ah well. A picnic blanket took up most of the floor space, with cushions arranged around the edges. A basket sat in the center. I smiled at Zamon as I sat across from him.

"This is so pretty. Thank you." He smiled and nodded as he began pulling plates out of the basket. An assortment of sandwiches and finger foods surrounded us.

"I'm sorry that I forgot about your birthday. I can't even describe what I felt walking into the clubhouse and seeing everyone there, celebrating with you, and where was I? Off with my ex fiancee. And the way you looked at me... I'm sorry." It was quite evident that he meant what he said. I sighed and smiled at him.

"It's okay, I forgive you." he smiled, and shuffled the food around to create space. He piled a few pillows next to me, then laid down. I frowned.
"Lay down." Was all he said. I rolled my eyes, but did as he said.

I stared at the fabric on the ceiling, and watched out of the corner of my eye as Zamon yanked on a piece of rope. My eyes widened and my mouth fell open as the piece of fabric on the ceiling parted like curtains, to reveal a sheet of clear plastic that obviously acted as the roof. But because the plastic was clear, we could see the sky.
The sight took my breath away. The stars scattered across the night sky with the full moon.

"It's so pretty." I whispered, unable to look away. Out the corner of eye I could see Zamon looking at me me.

"Yeah, it is." He murmured. I turned to him, and smiled slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but my phone blaring cut him off. I grimaced at him, and pulled the phone from my pocket. Hunter's name flashed along the top.

I answered, but it wasn't Hunter. Keenan's worried voice caused me to frown.

"Becky? Sorry to interrupt, but um, when was the last time you spoke to Holland?" Zamon glanced at me.

"Um, like yesterday. Why? Is something wrong?"

"Well, her dad just rang me. She was supposed to come see me yesterday, but she texted me saying she felt sick. Her dad said she left at around lunch time yesterday, and she hasn't been back since, I think...somethings happened."