Forbidden

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

During the bus ride home I manage to finish what little homework I have. When it's my stop, I get off and go to my room. I set my book bag on my bed and sigh. I have no homework and nothing really to do.

Normally I wouldn't be going to the woods for another hour and a half due to homework, but I'm antsy to get into the serenity of the forest. Knowing Kieran probably won't be there yet, I grab my sketchbook and pencil for something to do in the woods to pass the time until he does get there.

I walk to my spot and sit on the tree. I draw my surroundings for about a half hour. Finally I hear footsteps and lift my head to see Kieran.

He smiles as he approaches nearer. I return the smile. "Hey Kieran," I say.

"What's that?" he asks looking at my sketchbook.

"Oh," I say, "It's just my sketchbook." Self consciously I close the book. No one has ever seen my drawings.

I'm not very subtle and he seems to notice. "You don't want me to see them?" he asks.

"It's not that," I say, "it's just..." I find myself at a loss for words.

"They can't be that bad," he says getting slightly closer. His hand reaches for the sketchbook but stops short, not wanting to upset me.

I bite my lip still unsure, but hand him my sketchbook eventually.

He gives me an encouraging look and begins flipping slowly through the pages of my notebook.

After a few seconds he say, "These are really good." His voice sounds impressed and he continues to look through it. He takes a seat next to me on the fallen tree and I watch his face as he examines my drawings.

Finally he comes to my latest drawings. Drawings of the trees, the creek, the wolf.

He stops at the wolf drawing and a smile creeps on his lips. "What's this?" he asks.

"A wolf," I answer innocently.

He laughs. "Obviously," he says. "I meant what inspired you to draw it?"

I laugh along with him, but shrug. "I had a dream about it. Two actually," I answer.

His eyebrows raise and he looks at me. "You had a dream about this wolf?" he asks quizzically.

I frown and answer, "Yes, why?"

"No reason," he says shrugging. But I can see he's hiding a smile.

"What? Why are you smiling like that?" I ask.

"Me? I'm not smiling," he says innocently, fighting back a laugh.

"Yes you are!" I accuse, playfully hitting him on the shoulder.

He laughs and I can't help but laugh along. I steal the sketchbook away from him and set it to the side. He reaches for it, but I put it out of reach.

I raise it high in the air and he lunges for it playfully. I hug it tightly around my chest and turn away from him laughing. He reaches around to my right for it and I turn further to the left.

Somehow I end up rolling off the log, still managing to keep the sketchbook away from Kieran. He plops down next to me, still in pursuit of it.

I can't remember ever laughing so much. I roll over on the ground away from him. I continue rolling left and right as he tries to get the book.

But finally I give up, out of breath, lying on my back on the soft grass. Kieran's above me, his hands on the ground by either side of my head, supporting him.