Unattainable

Chapter 5 Rooftops

The sun was dipping into the west side of town by the time we reached a house with an empty driveway, covered in leaves.

"His parents have been out of town all week." Shawn explained the leaves filling the space for two cars.

"Who's?" I asked as I stopped beside shawn as he looked up at the roof.

"Kyles, one of Daemons minions," he continued to scan the roof as he moved towards the side if the house in the shadows.

"Well shouldn't we go inside?" I asked stepping over an abandoned a rake strewn on the ground.

He shook his head as we neared a small shed. "People won't be showing for another hour, it's still early, hey give me a boost?"

I watched as he pulled his hands up onto the slanted part of the shed roof.

"Why..?"

"We are going up, come on!" He grunted as he tried to swing himself up and failed falling at my feet.

I laughed as he dusted the leaves off his coat.

"I don't do roofs there buddy." I extended my hand and helped him to his feet.

"It's a party ritual," he put his hands in place again, lifted one foot off the ground and motioned for me to boost it, "come on I'll help you up!"

I sighed. I was already here, might as well. I groaned and pushed my hands up under his foot, sending him up into the shed roof. He stood slowly and turned back to face me. He reached his hand down to me.

"Your turn."

I raised my hand and reluctantly pushed my feet off the wall for support. He pulled gently on my arm and reached his other hand around my waist that was now beside him. We stood like that for a split second too long before we started swaying.

"AHH!" I cried trying not to laugh as shawn reached and grabbed the houses gutter to keep us from tumbling into the pile of garbage between the shed and the house.

"Hold onto me." He instructed as we inched slowly up the shed roof and shimmied onto the main roof.

I let go slowly and steadied myself. There was a cool breeze kissing my cheeks as the height rose with me as I stood. I could see the neighborhood street lights flickering on as the sun turned off.

"Do you do this often?" I breathed quietly.

I looked to see shawn sat at the front of the roof with his legs dangling over the edge. He sat facing the houses across the street. His eyes were closed and a satisfied smiled dawned his lips.

He inhaled deeply and I could hear the smile.

"Every party I come here early and I climb the roof and I watch the people arrive. I watch them become people they least expect to interact with. I watch them become free when they go inside," I sat down slowly beside him and dangled my legs beside his, "others become prisoners of fears of loading themselves but others embrace the freedom of the night whole heartedly."

I sat in awe of this new person I had just met. I would never have expected this from the boy who hung around Daemon and his crew, the boy who was rumored to have gotten wasted every chance he had. No, there was more to him as I had always suspected and now, I knew.

"Do you ever go inside?" I shivered as the wind bit at our ears.

Shawn must've heard because he shifted closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

I stiffened.

"Only when I'm certain I'm not going to be one of the afraid."

I relaxed at those words. I felt safe around Shawn and it was happening suddenly but sometimes the best things come to us when we least expect them to.

"Are you afraid tonight?"

He looked down at me and smiled. "Are you?"

I shrugged. "Do we ever stop fearing?"

He thought a moment before responding. "Only when we have to realize fear only cripples you if you allow it to. It doesn't control you, you control it."

I chuckled quietly.

"What?" He insisted.

"You're one deep soul, Mendes." I grinned up at him

I felt him pull me closer. "And you're a great listener."

"That's all I ever do." I shifted slightly.

He pulled me right back. "Well why not you talk?"

"No one listens."

"I will," Shawn smiled, "tell me about yourself Ms. Livingstone."