Trust

✍ Song

"Can I take it off now?"

"No."

I shifted in my seat. "How 'bout now?"

"Pops, no."

I grumbled under my breath. I heard Chase laugh.

"Just a little while more," he promised.

I felt the car accelerate a little, then brake, and then we rolled to a stop. "We're here."

"Finally." I undid the knot around the back of my head. The makeshift blindfold fell away from my eyes and I handed the striped tie back to Chase. "Where are we?"

"We're going for a picnic."

"There isn't a Funky Bones kind of thing around here, is there?" I opened the car door and slid out. Chase laughed again. The sound made my insides melt and made me feel all warm and fuzzy, which confused me. I wasn't used to feeling this way.

"What exactly is this place?" I watched Chase as he walked around the front of the car and jogged a little way ahead.

"It's the place my parents had their first date," he said. I didn't know what to respond so my lips kind of just shaped into an 'O'.

We had driven to the ocean side, except that we weren't quite by the ocean, but above it. We were near the top of a hill that overlooked the ocean on one side and our town on the other. It was cold; the wind carried a painfully chilly edge to it, and it made me glad that I was still wearing the same oversized jumper I'd worn to sleep.

"Shall we?" Chase offered me his hand. I took it without hesitation.

It was a little way to the top and the slope was steep, but when we got there, my breath was taken away.

"Oh. My. Goodness." The view from the top was perfect. I could see for miles around. I could see the lighthouse in the distance and watch as the waves crashed onto the yellow beach. If I could choose a place where I could die, I would have chosen that spot.

"Beautiful."

I turned around. Chase was looking at me with a crooked smile, grey eyes gentle and bright.

"Yeah." I nodded. Chase opened his mouth, but he didn't say anything. He shook his head and walked towards the only tree within walking distance. It was a huge, towering tree with branches that stretched far and wide.

Chase picked up something next to its roots and opened it up. I hurried closer to see what was inside.

"You're playing your guitar for me?" I was surprised.

"I promised, didn't I?" Chase was smiling, but he was nervous. He swallowed and plucked the strings, messing around with the tuning. I almost didn't see it, but his fingers were shaking a little.

"I wrote this song for the project. I was hoping we could perform it together for the class." He wouldn't look at me. I wanted to ask him a question, but he'd already launched into the first chords.

It's just another night

And I'm staring at the moon

I saw a shooting star

And thought of you

I sang a lullaby

By the waterside and knew

If you were here,

I'd sing to you

You're on the other side

As the skyline splits in two

I'm miles away from seeing you

I can see the stars

From America

I wonder, do you see them, too?

He smiled self-consciously, but he still wouldn't make eye contact. His voice floated through the air, sweet and probing.

So open your eyes and see

The way our horizons meet

And all of the lights will lead

Into the night with me

And I know these scars will bleed

But both of our hearts believe

All of these stars will guide us home

This time, his eyes met mine, and I couldn't look away. I was trapped- by those pools of grey, by that voice, by this song.

I can hear your heart

On the radio beat

They're playing 'Chasing Cars'

And I thought of us

Back to the time,

You were lying next to me

I looked across and fell in love

So I took your hand

Back through lands and streets I knew

Everything led back to you

So can you see the stars?

Over Amsterdam

You're the song my heart is

Beating to

So open your eyes and see

The way our horizons meet

And all of the lights will lead

Into the night with me

And I know these scars will bleed

But both of our hearts believe

All of these stars will guide us home

And, oh, I know

And oh, I know, oh

I can see the stars

From America

His fingers were still shaking when he finished. Somewhere in the song, he'd broken eye contact, and when he finally brought his eyes up to meet mine, I could see the apprehension in them. He was scared, and I realized that I was the one who was frightening him.

I willed my heart to calm down. "That was…" My voice faltered. Chase's grey eyes faded and I panicked a little, launched forward to grab his hands and whispered, "perfect," and hugged him.

I could feel his surprise and I pulled away, eyes wide. My cheeks felt really hot, and I was sure Chase could hear my heart thumping against my ribs.

"I-I." I stared at anywhere but Chase.

"Remember when I said 'beautiful' earlier?"

"Uh-huh."

"I wasn't referring to the view."

My eyes flickered to Chase. He felt steady and strong as he wrapped his arms around me.

 "I was talking about you."

A/N I know this chapter is short, and not super exciting, but I wanted to update one more time before exams start up again. It's going to be 2 weeks of horror :P

The lyrics above are from Ed Sheeran's song for The Fault In Our Stars movie and it's called 'All Of The Stars'. I've posted a link of it on the side if you guys want to listen :) It is insanely good. 

Whew! Sorry for the long author's note. Hope the rest of the week is fabulous for you guys!

Percy