Stargazing with the heartthrob.

02.

Friday came along really fast even though the week went in an excruciatingly boring pace. My friends tried convincing me to go to the party a few more times but I made sure not to break under their puppy dogg faces.

After school we didn't really hang out as Zoe wanted to get dressed and Andrew had practice.

She did ask me to go help her get ready but I somehow managed to convince her that I'd be of no use. I was basically uneducated about the whole make up section. I mean I knew a little bit here and there but never enough to cross Zoey's level of expertise.

Getting home, I spent hours together trying to do my homework and not just procrastinate but well, we all know how that goes. By the time I was done it was already eight.

I pulled on my black hoodie over my grey sweatpants, grabbed my cycle keys and ran down the stairs.

When I reached the kitchen I saw my mum cooking dinner humming some random song.

"Hey mom, I'm going to our place." I say start putting on my shoes that are near the door.

"Honey, isn't it too late?. It's not safe. You should really start going earlier." My mum says giving me a concerned look.

"I've been doing this since forever mom. I'll be fine. Stop worrying. Okay. I'm going to go now, mom. Bye." I say and start rushing towards the door before my mom can ask me not to go more adamantly.

"Okay. Make sure you text me when you get there  and call me before you leave. I'm very serious, Bex. Take care honey. Bye." I hear her say. I shut the door after giving her a thumbs up and ride my cycle onto the road.

I should probably give you a slight insight on what exactly "our place" is.

A few years ago, when the three of us were in sixth grade we used to ride around on our cycles everyday.

This one day we drove a bit further than we would usually go. We came to a halt at this place that was not very far from our respective neighbourhoods. We parked our cycles and stared walking under the canopy of trees into a place that honestly changed our high school lives. Well, we obviously didn't know that then. But, still.

I wouldn't exactly call it the woods but close enough, I guess?

We had walked a little into this vast area with excessive greenery when we finally came across this really beautiful place.

The place had a million tall tress and small lake. The grass was green and soft. You could the blue sky clearly from here. There were enough logs to sit and make yourself comfortable.

Lit by the moonlight and a baziilion stars this place became our place.

Excuse the extremely original name we gave this place. I mean we tried calling it a bunch of things over the years but nothing really stuck so we just decided to call it our place. A place exclusive for just the three of us.

To be very honest we had expected a lot of intruders over our first year of visiting because come on, this place was absolutely breathtaking.
But over time it became kind of obvious that people hadn't exactly discovered the place yet.

And we decided we weren't going to be the ones to let people know.

We started hanging out there a lot more. Had campfires and sleepovers there. It was basically a place we went to get away from reality. Sometimes we just need to, you know?

Even though we all found this place together, I spent the maximum time here. I come here a lot more than the three of us together or at least that's what I think. I come here a lot without  anyone knowing so maybe even my friends did the same, who knows?

I went there if I was happy or if I was sad or if I was angry or -- well, you get the point.

My friends and family could always find me here if I suddenly went MIA.

After finding this place back in sixth grade we had made a silent pact among ourselves that we would never let an other person know about this place. It would be something only the three of us would know about. And we have successfully kept this pact up until now. It may sound a little selfish but you can't really blame us, if we had given the location out, this soon would've been the spot for parties, loud music and so on and we didn't want that.

I felt the wind blow against my face as I peddled to our place. The weather had a tinge of coldness to it. It made me feel alive. So, so alive.

Once I reach the road right outside the woods I park the bicycle by the street lamp and looked towards the sky.

The sky blushed purple and the stars could be seen clearly.

I smiled to my self as I took the familiar path towards the lake. I was finally here. I was finally at my happy place and that made me really, really giddy with joy.

With the crackly noise of the dry leaves beneath my feet I fastened my pace. I could see the lake from a distance. Excitement bubbled in the pit of my stomach as I moved further. I was almost there, after a whole month I was almost there.

When I finally reached the lake I smiled so hard that my jaw actually hurt. The ever so eerie calm and quite atmosphere creepily enough made me feel at home.

I'm a little gone like that.

All of this joy was until I saw a vague outline of a person sitting on one of the logs watching the lake.

I slowed down, I didn't want the person to freak out, I mean what if it was Drew or something.

But when I got closer I realised it wasn't Drew, and that scared me. The one thing I had feared the entire time was happening. Someone had found this place.

It can't be that bad right? It's one person. Not like he can change much. Right?!

I thought of silently leaving. I mean what if he was a murderer and was here after a murder or was some drug lord or some rapist or some serial killer. I mean you can't blame me. It is almost mandatory for weird things to happen in the woods. Sort of.

I know, I over think.

I dug my hands deeper into the pockets of my hoodie. It made me feel calmer.

Maybe I should start walking in the opposite direction. Like, right now.

I guess, I stood there too long dazed out, over thinking and psycho analysing the whole situation that I didn't realise when my shoe made more crackly noises against the leaves.

This must have alerted the guy who's back was towards me, as he visibly stiffened.

He seemed as startled as me.

Everything happened in slow motion.

He slowly turned his head towards me and I waited with anxiousness, expecting the worst.

Maybe I should run?

I held the phone in my pocket firmer, you know, just in case something goes wrong.

Yeah, like thats going to help, my mind taunted.

When I saw the face of this unknown visitor I expected a lot of things, completely bad things but nothing as bad as the face that was in front of me right now.

I felt the air leave my body as our eyes made contact.

Of all the people on this planet that could have found this place, he did.

Chase frecking Anders did.

Oh my God.

What am I going to do?

and DON'T call me dramatic.