Letting Go (A Before You Exit Fanfic)

Somewhere Only We Know

Now Riley could be in just as much danger as me. He stormed into Luke’s house to save me. Not only did he barge in, he pushed Luke over a table and onto the ground. If he finds the two of us here, we are both screwed. I was honestly more worried about Riley than me. I’ve dealt with this before. Riley hasn’t. After drenching Riley’s red plaid shirt in tears for about 10 minutes or so I pulled away hesitantly.

“I’m sorry about that.” I whispered to him.

“Don’t be. I just want you to be okay. You need to tell someone about all of this.” He wiped the tears that were falling down my cheek.

“I know you are looking out for me and all but no one else can know besides you. It would be way too dangerous. It’s already bad enough that you know.”

“McKenzie, please listen to me. You deserve much better than this.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Why wouldn’t I say that? Just look at you.” He smiled while moving my hair out of my face.

His smile seemed to be contagious. For the first time in I don’t even know how long, I caught myself smiling. It wasn’t that fake smile that I’m used to giving off. For once, it was 100% completely real. It felt nice. But it scared me to think I was starting to develop feelings for him. We began to lean in closer to each other but when we got to the point where we were about to kiss I pulled away.

“I’m sorry…I should go. I need to find a place to crash for the night. The first place Luke will check is my house so I can’t stay there.”

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. And what about your friend Dyanna? Didn’t you stay over her house last night?”

“Yeah, my parents would tell him that I’m over there. I’m just going to stay in the woods a little while from here. I’ve done it before.”

“Woah…the woods? Why?”

“It’s the one place Luke has never found me. I’m actually safe there.”

“Let me get this straight…you sleep on the ground…in the woods?”

“Well I have a tent…but it’s at my house. So I guess tonight I will be sleeping on the ground…”

“You seem like you have done this multiple times.”

“I lost track after thirteen times. But I’m used to it. My parents think I’m over Luke’s house. He would never tell my parents that I wasn’t there because then they would know something is up and they could find out about everything. I should probably get going though.”

“I have a tent if you want to use it tonight…”

“No it’s fine. You have already done enough for me.”

“I insist, please let me do this for you.”

“Fine. But please, stop being so nice to me. I really don’t deserve it.”

“You deserve it more than anyone I have ever met and I have met a lot of people.” He stood up and reached his hand down to me.

I grabbed his hand and carefully stood up. We walked to his house together but I waited outside to make sure no one would see me. A few minutes later Riley came out with a huge backpack and a tent.

“I don’t need all of that you know.” I said chuckling some.

“I know you don’t. Come on.”

I led him to the woods and walked to my usual spot in the middle of the forest. Riley threw the stuff to the ground and looked around in amazement.

“This is where you stay?” He asked while spinning in circles.

“Yep. Thanks for walking me here. I’ll make sure I get this stuff back to you tomorrow.”

“What? You think I’m leaving you here alone after what happened today? Hell no. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re staying with me?” I asked with a confused look spreading across my face.

“Well I told my parents that I was crashing with a friend which is why I have the backpack. They didn’t see me grab the tent. But I am crashing with a friend so it wasn’t really a lie.”

A friend…that’s what he thought of me as. Thoughts crossed my mind to the point where I was practically yelling at myself. ‘Kenzie, no! You cannot like him! You just met him! He’s already in too much danger because of you. Liking him is the worst thing you could do!’ I zoned out of my thoughts to Riley already setting up the tent. Once everything was set up it was getting dark. I had a long enough day as it was so I decided to just go get some sleep. I got inside of the tent and noticed Riley getting ready to lie on the ground outside of the tent.

“You’re not really going to sleep in the dirt are you?” I asked peaking my head out of the tent.

“I want you to have the tent to yourself.” He insisted.

“Don’t be crazy, get in here with me.” I smiled and tapped the spot next to me urging him to join me. He was reluctant at first but then hesitated before crawling in beside me slowly.

“I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. This tent isn’t really meant for two. It’s not that big so I figured I would let you use it.”

“That’s sweet and all, but I rather be squished in a tent with you. I want you in here with me. You’ve already done so much for me. Please don’t sleep on the ground for me too.”

“Fine. If you insist.”

“I do.”

Even though the tent wasn’t very big I noticed he was trying to keep his distance. It was sweet how he was being a gentleman about it all. Then he handed me all of the blankets and pillows.

“I don’t need all of this. Here.” I handed him my pillows and a blanket.

“How about this, come here.” He waved his hand for me to inch over to him.

He lied down on the pillows and pulled me into him. I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist while one of his arms were around me and the other holding a blanket to cover us up.

“Goodnight Riley.” I said mumbling into his chest.

“Sweet dreams McKenzie.”

I lifted my head and smiled. “Call me Kenzie.”

“I thought you only let certain people call you that, like really close friends.”

“Exactly.”

A smile crossed his face. “Okay, sweet dreams Kenzie.” I placed my head back into his chest as I felt his lips touch the top of my head. I was definitely beginning to like him.

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night. I’m not sure exactly what time though. Riley still had his arm wrapped around my shoulder while mine were still around his waist and my head on his chest. I was sleeping with a guy that I had just met in one of the sweetest ways.

Outside of the tent I heard noises. It didn’t sound like any animals moving around either. It kind of sounded like footsteps breaking the silence on the leaves. My heart began to beat faster as my breathing deepened. The steps were getting louder and louder and closer to the tent.

Author's note: I really do love getting comments and votes for this fanfic. I never get them for my Allstar Weekend ones. But this is definitely my favorite fanfiction that I have written. So I do appreciate feedback. It gives me motivation to keep writing (: And on a random note my birthday passed this past weekend and Riley wished me a happy birthday. It made my birthday amazing so if you helped get him to notice me thank you once again! But back to this chapter, please vote and comment! If you have any ideas as to who Kenzie heard outside the tent feel free to guess. (:  ~Cassandra