Who Knew...

Chapter 3 'Who are you?'

"Follow me" He said walking past me away from the tracks but I just stood there, frozen. 

What was he going to do? School always told us never to trust strangers, and here I was about to follow one to who knows where. 

 Needless to say I was scared, confused, lost.  I was so cold, but it was a warm day, I felt dissy and nothing made sense to me anymore.

He turned around and looked at me with worried eyes when he realised I wasn't following. "Please, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to talk."

Once again, I don't know what made me want to trust him, it was just so stupid, I was just so stupid.  

I shook with angst as I took a step towards him, soon relaxing into every step after that. 

He led me to the big willow tree, the branches draped to the ground with only one entrance to the trunk, one that faced away from the tracks to the rest of the meadow. This tree was so beautiful I couldn't help but marvel at it stopping in my tracks to get a proper look, at it taking it all in. 

"Come on" He said in that calm voice again, automatically making me look to his eyes. I nodded in agreement before turning my gaze back to the tree, whilst slowly following the boy.

As he lead me into the hut like tree I stepped on a twig causing a rustle in the ranches above I looked at Zeke as he held up his finger signaling me to 'hush' not in a mean way but as if to show me more. He pointed to the top of the tree as the rustling continued he make a quiet tweeting sound and the rustling stopped followed by many small birds escaping their hiding spots and effortlessly gliding out of our sights. I only wish it was that easy for us that we could just fly away when we desire, never looking back for one second, how easy would it be then? to just start over when we please, and not care about the consequences. I would love to be a bird, to be able to fly through the sky with nothing holding you down. 

An awkward cough shook me out of my thoughts as I looked to Zeke who had a cheeky smirk planted on his face I tried to figure out why, but I felt I was smiling from looking at the birds I looked down shyly while trying to shake the smile off my face, it was so stupid of me. 

I heard him chuckle as he turned to lead me further into the tree, when he got to the trunk he stood against it with his back  and slowly lowered himself down looking back at me, with sparkling eyes as if asking me to join him. He patted the ground next to him and I followed his order taking the patch of dirt next to him my back also against the trunk.

"So..." He started, the  awkwardness clear in his voice...

"...how old are you?" he continued.

I stared at him, why did he want to know my age, sure he could have just wanted to make conversation but I didn't want to open up to this stranger, how could I?

"You know, I'm not going it stalk you or anything, I just would like you to open up a little, I want to know a little about you, and why such a beautiful girl would do what you were about to."

Why did he just say that? I understood the first part, but that last part wasn't needed, not at all, the last thing I wanted was flattery,  because in the end I know he only said that because he felt sorry for me and he wanted to make me feel better. If I wanted someone to be nice to me it would be because they are being honest, they like me for me or they know me well enough to say it not because they wanted to be nice to me and not tick me off.  

"14" I said slowly and quietly making sure to ignore his stupid attempt to make me feel better.

"Im 15, turning 16. I understand you don't want to talk much,that's fine, but I just want you to know I'm here for you ok, I come to this place everyday after school I get changed at home first but then I come here and just, relax, get away from it all. You can come to this place too it would be nice to have someone to talk to. "

I looked at him, the only thing going through my mind that maybe just maybe if I ever needed to talk to someone he would be there for me, this stranger, is and will be there for me. 

"Thank you." I whispered and he nodded.

We sat there for a while in a comfortable silence, not talking, but our feelings and thoughts clear as a summer day as we watched the sun go down.

I got caught up in the moment, with everything going so fast I lost track of time. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time, it was late I needed to get home, poor Lottie, she would be there, alone with Mum...

I jumped to my feet tears in my eyes and my phone in my hand. I ran out of the gap in the draping branches not before turning around to his shocked and confused face and saying: 

"Thank you, Zeke, but I need to get home, I lost track of time."  Before I could hear his answer I sprinted away, not looking back for a second. The only thing running through my mind: Lottie