Unattainable

Chapter 17 Boulevards

We walked in silence to Liverpool Road where the Baskin and Robbins waited for us. Aaliyah and Jenna were more than likely already there but Shawn was in no hurry.

Our finger were now laced back together, as it seemed that he would have it no other way as we plodded along the leaf-print stained sidewalk, as cars rushed by us, spraying small spits of damp up at our feet.

"I never asked you if you liked ice cream." Shawn sounded more concerned than anyone should be over a small trifle as this.

"It's okay," I tried to reassure him. "I love it."

I looked over as he smiled at his shoes.

"Good."

We walked into the parking lot and I caught a glimpse of Aaliyah through the window. I let Shawn's hand go.

I sensed him stiffen at the sudden loss of warmth as he pulled open the door and let me inside.

We didn't make eye contact like I thought we would; signaling to the other it was alright.

I pushed the thoughts to the back of my head as we made our way to the line.

"You guys took forever!" Aaliyah moaned mockingly. "We though we were going to starve while you two were making out." Her and Jenna broke into a hysterical fit of giggles as I watched shawn bite his lip to keep from laughing too.

What a silly thought, he must be thinking.

"We were not making out you two," he messed with their hair. "Now what do you want?"

The girls ordered their mountains of ice cream and I couldn't help but smile at how much Shawn visibly cared about his sister. I could tell she meant a lot to him and he wasn't going to let her go unnoticed.

"Astrid?" He looked back at me as he stood at the counter. "What would you like?"

I must've zoned out. "Surprise me." I smiled as I ushered the girls to the stools looking out the window.

I sat down with them as they began to eat.

"Is that good?" I smiled at Jenna's now chocolate/spotted nose.

She nodded with her mouth full.

"Do you like my brother?" Aaliyah asked out of the blue.

"Well-" I started slowly.

"Only when he's brining her ice cream," shawn intervened at the last moment placing a single mountain of ice cream between us as he sat down. "For you." He passed me a spoon.

I smiled in appreciation for his rescue. "Where's yours?" I changed the subject.

He winked. "Well, I like this kind as well so I figured we could share?"

I laughed as he dipped his spoon in and dabbed a drop of ice cream on my cheek.

"Hey!" I cried as I tried to do the same, only he opened his mouth and ate it instead causing the girls to laugh.

I smiled at him as he took another bite and motioned for me to do the same.

I rolled my eyes and ate as the girls whispered beside us while Shawn and I nibbled on our ice cream in silence.

"Are you taking us home?" Aaliyah asked as she slid off the stool and stood between us.

He shook his head as he glanced at his phone.

"No, mom will be here in a minute to take you guys back?"

"Well what about you guys?"

"We are going to hang out for a bit."

Suddenly Aaliyah's eyes grew darker and her smile seemed to fade. I watched as Shawn reached and pulled Aaliyah to him so he could whisper in her ear.

"..won't...leave..alone...him...promise." Was all I could make out from his hushed voice slipping into her ear.

She nodded as we saw a car pull up outside the window. It was Shawn's mom. She waved at is through the window and motioned for the girls to get in.

"Okay, thank you, Shawn, I'll see you Astrid!" Aaliyah called as she and Jenna bounded out the door and ran to the car and were then driven away.

I didn't want to pry but I'm a curious person.

"Shawn, is she going to be okay-"

"Are you finished?" He interrupted as he stood and took the dish away.

"Yes, I am now." What was his problem.

"Good, then let's go?" He quickly took my hand and ushered me out of the building. The cold autumn air stung my cheeks and sent a tingle down my spine: welcome to Canada.

"Shawn," I asked as he led me back toward the main road. "What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on. I'm just taking you out."

"Well would you kind telling me where?"

"Can you run?" His lace quickened and I began to jog to match his speed.

"Yes, why?"

"Good keep up!"

And suddenly we were crossing the main road onto the narrow strip of a boulevard that ran between the oncoming and going traffic that was zoning beside us.

"Shawn are you crazy!" I called as I tried to keep myself from Falling into the speeding cars. His grip on my hand tightened.

"No! it's just fun! come on!" He continued running and I followed him, dodging small trees that stood in the middle of the grass that was fading to a brown.

We ran for a minute until the bridge came into view. The bridge was connected to the boulevard and it ran over the freeway. If we continued running and didn't stop at the bridge, we would run right in between the lanes and fall into the traffic.

"Shawn slow down!"

"We're almost there, keep going!"

We were going to jump. Or he was. I tried to pull back as the bottom faced me but it was no use. He was too strong.

"We are going to drop just a little okay?" he slowed slightly as I heard a horn blaring at us.

"Isn't boulevard running illegal?"

He shook his head. "Not if they don't see you."

A split second later we were off the ground. And them with a thud we landed...on a ledge that was jutting out three feet beneath the bridge at the end of the grass.

I opened my eyes, which I had shut as we had jumped, very slowly to look down at the traffics speeding below us.

My heart was beating so quickly I couldn't breathe properly. Suicide? Is that was this almost was.

"Are you insane?" I screamed at him, tears burning my eyes and threatening to fall. "We could've missed the landing and fallen!"

His eyes fell from mine and I heard him mumble under his breath.

"We wouldn't have missed."

"How do you know!" I cried as another horn startled me. Shawn reached out his hands and pulls me into his arms as he leaned against the stone, letting me bury my head in his chest.

"This isn't my first time coming here."

I snuffled as he rubbed his cold hands on my back the ting to soothe me. I tried to speak but felt myself choke on the words.

"I'm so sorry, Astrid."

"Shawn," I stifled a sob as I looked up To face him. There was a line visible tear streaking it's way down his red cheeks and falling off his lip into mine. "Are you okay?"

"Why did you let go of my hand when we got to Baskins?" He asked quietly and I heard his voice crack.

"I didn't know you wanted me to keep holding on."