The Asshole is my Kryptonite

Surprise Singer

Chapter 11 - Unedited

There's always this one spot that serenades you, it brings you peace and it brings you happiness. It calms your dancing heart and steadies your breathing. For me it was on the large oak tree at the back of my house. It had been up for a couple years but it still held its composure. There was this one firm, steady branch at the top that was strong enough to hold my weight with the starry night illuminating the rest of the town.

"Ma, why do we need to put water on it? Is it thirsty?" I questioned, as mum poured the watering can over the small patch.

"That's actually exactly right darling. Like you, this plant needs to grow. It needs water so it can grow big and strong." I looked up at her smiling figure and took the watering can from her hand and splashed the rest of the water on the moist soil covering the acorn seeds.

"We don't want to put too much water Tiff, or else we'll drown it." she giggled taking the can from my hands. I simply smiled innocently at her and crawled into her lap.

"Baby, you see this tree? It will grow great and healthy overtime just like you. When I was little, around your age, I had an oak tree that my grandfather helped me plant. I watched it grow over time, it got bigger and bigger," she motioned with her hands as I stared at her in awe, "I then tried climbing it one day, I fell but didn't tell anyone cause I didn't want to get into trouble. So I got back up and tried again. Finally one day I managed to get all the way up to the branch I wanted. I was so proud of myself and every day I would climb it and watch as the sun went down and the stars and moon came up." I looked up at her in delight and wonder, but she continued.

"Sweetie do you know what an oak tree symbolizes?"

"Symbolizes?" I questioned not knowing what such a big word meant.

She smiled saying, "Do you know what an oak tree means?" I shook my head as she looked down at me,

"It is a symbol of courage and power. It stays strong through everything, no matter what happens it stays up and doesn't let anyone or anything take it down." I nodded understanding what she meant, "Baby, I need you to promise that you'll be like that. Your still little but I don't want anything or anyone to bring you down no matter what. You have to stay strong. Whenever you feel like giving up I want you to look back at this and remember that you need to keep going okay?"

I nodded eagerly as if she had just told me a secret and I was the only one who knew.

"Promise?"

"I promise Ma." I replied as we wrapped our pinky fingers together.

I strummed a couple strings on the guitar and the melodious sound was carried with the wind as it echoed in the air. I played the familiar strings I play every night in the tune of 'Give me Love' by Ed Sheeran. The strings bounced to the music and I closed my eyes, relishing in the peace of silence and the tranqility of the world at night.

I have never been a singer, mum was but I took after dad in the instrument department. So you can guess why when someone started singing next to me I nearly fell off the branch. I strong hand quickly grabbed onto my flailing arms.

A low chuckle escaped the messy haired, amused but idiotic guy who caught me.

"Geez princess, I was just getting into the song."

Miles.

"I nearly died! Did you want me to have a heart attack?! You dumb dog!" I shouted as I punched his arm.

Asshole.

"I think the heart attack just came as a bonus. And dumb dog? Really I thought your insults were better princess." He shook his head smiling to himself.