One Moment In Time

Stranger (Unedited)

Stranger

When I was younger, my parents would say that no one was a stranger to me. I didn't have that thing in my body that told someone beware of danger.

But if I did, I would say that this guy lit up my stranger danger alarm.

"Hey, you're the guy from yesterday." I said, wary that this guy might be a stalker or something. "Are you stalking me?" I voiced my thoughts, maybe not the wisest decision.

If the guy was truly stalking me, he wouldn't just admit it to me. 'Ya, of course I'm stalking you, no such thing as coincidence.' I probably just tipped him off to be more careful about stalking me.

For the longest time he just stared at me, saying nothing. At some point I decided that he wasn't going to say anything, and the silence was becoming uncomfortable. And so was the stare down that was apparently happening.

"If you do anything I'm going to scream?" It came out as a question, like I wasn't actually sure that I would. Or if he even would do anything. He seemed content just staring at me, he hadn't moved any, it didn't even seem like he was breathing.

Maybe I was watching one too many vampire shows.

Because vampires aren't real.

I mean, they aren't. Right?

"You're the one trespassing." I blinked at the guy. "Maybe I should be the one to scream."

"I'm trespassing? I grew up here, I think I would know if anyone owned this forest." I smiled triumphantly at the guy waiting for him to fess up that he really was stalking me.

"But you haven't been around for years." Alarms went off inside my head, how could he possibly know that? Maybe I should run, get away as fast as I can before I regret talking to a stranger.

Stranger danger! It's what every kid was told growing up.

So why wasn't I running for my life yet?

"How would you know that?" I asked instead of running. Come on Adylan, run!

"I saw you get off of that bus yesterday, the one from the north. And my family has owned this land for years, you don't seem to know that. It was an educated guess." He shrugged like any innocent guy would.

So what did I do?

I believed him.

He was right, I hadn't been around for years, his family could very possibly own this land and I wouldn't know. A lot can change in seven years.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know the land had been bought. My aunt and uncle didn't say anything to me when I said I was coming out here." I apologized backing up to leave but the guy shook his head stopping me.

"Don't leave." I froze mid step, my brows drawn together. "I mean, you aren't harming anything by being here. Right?"

I didn't reply at first, all I could do was stare at him. He cocked an eyebrow daring me to say I planned to set the forest on fire.

Instead, I shook my head the motion causing me to stumble and quickly regain my balance against a tree.

Was that a hint of a smile I saw?

"Then I don't see why my family would care if you are out here. Take your time, enjoy the fresh air." He gestured around the forest, his eyes not meeting mine.

Why wouldn't he look at me?

I stooped down to pick up a twig breaking it into pieces, a habit I learned as a kid when in an awkward situation I didn't know how to get out of.

"What's your name?" I asked filling the silence. His back was to me now, the plain light blue button up shirt he wore didn't show any wrinkle in sight. He wore nice clothes for being in a forest, while I was in jean shorts and an old concert t-shirt.

"Mason." He answered not turning around to face me.

"Nice to meet you Mason." I paused biting my lip. "I'm Adylan." I stepped to the side of him and held my hand out. He didn't even look at me and after a few silent moments I put my hand down scratching the back of my head.

"Who was Dandelion?" I blurted out blushing at the abrupt personal question I threw at him.

Wait to go Adylan, scare the guy away.

But he didn't run, his shoulders visibly tensed and his eyes closed shut.

"Someone dead." He whispered. "She left many years ago and died."