Imperfectly Beautiful (Jordan Knight Fanfic, Liadan #3)

Parks and Pictures

-NATALIE-

The cold Boston air whipped my hair around my head as I sat huddled underneath the playset in the elementary school park. The curve of the backside of the climbing wall provided a slight shelter from the worst effects of the wind, but still a shiver traveled up my spine and my chest felt heavy as my heart ached with every beat. My cheeks were raw from salty tears and my nose was so cold I thought it might fall off any second. The little girl inside of me wanted to go home and curl up in my bed, but logic told me that would mean dealing with my parents and I didn't want to see either one of them anytime soon—nor did I want them coming to find me.

Every time I replayed our "conversation" about Heath in my head, I only got more and more upset. The exact reason that I'd told DJ I didn't want to mention him was because I knew it'd only turn into a long, torturous interrogation and I wasn't up for it. In their eyes, I was still nine year old with pigtails and not quite old enough to enjoy all the leisures that the twins had, but I'd done a lot of growing up since then.

I knew right from wrong and that the feelings I had for Heath were real. Sure, he was older and more experienced and he came with his mysteries, but that was part of what drew me to him—he was different from other guys. While I'd tried for years to get just one smile from the boys around my neighborhood, I hadn't had to do a single thing to catch Heath's eye. He liked me and I liked him and that's what mattered to me—I didn't feel like I had to justify or scrutinize those feelings and I certainly didn't want to have to rehash all my misreads of guys in the past.

All I wanted to do, was live in the moment and finally have my time to have someone who looked at me like I was the center of the universe and I had that with Heath. All his affection and attention went to me and only me, to the point that he wanted a little more of me than I'd ever thought to give.

Following our conversation the night before about my Christmas "gift" of the pictures he wanted, he'd texted me over and over pleading with me to come see him so we could talk in person. At first, I'd told him no because I had family obligations, but after leaving my parents' house and coming to the park, I'd finally given in and texted him. He'd quickly replied that he'd come get me, yet now, nearly two hours had passed and I didn't see any signs of Heath amongst the cars that occasionally rolled up and down the street. I also hadn't gotten a response to my calls. Instead, I was stuck watching my puffs of breath through blurry eyes.

"Tallie?"

My heart jumped at the unexpected voice and I whipped my head around to see a pair of brown eyes gazing at me from behind. I clutched my chest and cursed under my breath, "You scared the hell out of me."

"Yeah, well that makes us even. You scared the hell out of me too, Natalie," DJ ducked his head down to lean underneath the playground equipment. "Uncle Jordan's driving around and freaking out, you know. He called and said he couldn't find you and had me to text Layne and Rebecca, but none of us knew where you were and you aren't answering your phone. I've been driving around myself for the past hour and it just dawned on me that we used to come here as kids. What are you thinking just running off?"

"I'm thinking I want to be alone," I gave him a look. "If I wanted to be found, I wouldn't have turned my location off."

"Uncle Jordan mentioned you did that too. Why would you do something so stupid, Natalie? That just made him panic more, you know."

"Stupid is as stupid does, right?" I muttered.

"What are you talking about, Forrest Gump?" DJ half-smiled and bent a little lower to come over towards me.

"Nothing," I tugged at the fingertips of my gloves to try to warm my freezing fingers that stung with numbness. "Look, you found me and now you can report back that I'm alive and not kidnapped or something, so can you just leave me alone? I'm waiting for somebody."