Stupid Love

"I sound like a fucking therapist"

I laid in my bed that night staring at my ceiling fan, I couldn't stop thinking about what Davis had told me about his brother. I couldn't get the imagine of our cocky teacher falling apart in front of me, the way his tears kept coming. I hadn't finished dinner that night.

I felt like I should do something but there was nothing I could do. I wanted to help him, the way he broke down in front of a student suggested that he had nobody to talk to about it- or maybe he had someone, but chose to keep it all in. I knew the feeling of keeping everything in, it was one of my few talents.

I felt tears forming in my own eyes, seeing other people in pain hurt me.

Did I like Mr. Davis? No. Not particularly, did it give me an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach to see him upset, for some odd reason, yes.

I found myself wanting to talk to him, wanting to make sure he was alright. But I didn't have his number or his address- showing up at his house either way would probably freak him out. He was a fucking teacher, of course I had no way to personally contact him!

Then I remembered Mr.Davis telling us to write about a place that made us feel safe- or where we went to relax, or think straight. I remembered him giving his as an example, a Sun Lake. A local lake and park. Sun Lake got it's name from the sunflowers that grew all around it - there was an entire field. My dad would take me there a lot as a small child and still in my teen years as well, he knew sunflowers were my favourite.

I looked at the clock, it was almost ten-thirty. Mr. Davis wouldn't be there this late, or at all probably... would he?

I knew I'd never sleep until I went down there. I groaned and got out of bed, I decided I could use a jog around the park anyways. I put on a pair of black shorts and a white shortsleeved shirt and took out a pen and paper.

Dad, if your reading this I was not kidnapped from my room I snuck out and I am probably alive. I'm just going for a bike ride and a jog. I have my phone and mace with me- I've got full battery so you can call me if you need to. I accept the many consequences that I already know you'll have lined up for me. My sincerest apologies in advance, ily dad! -Natalie

I opened my window and reached for the long thick branch. This wasn't the first time I'd snuck out, and it was all thanks to Oaky. Now I don't even know if Oaky was in fact an Oak tree or not but my friends and I named him that. He was my accomplice in sneaking in and out.

I grab the branch over head and put my feet on the one below, two more hops and I was on the ground walking up to the fence where I had my bike locked up.

I put in the combo and put the lock in the small faded wicker basket that hung off the handlebars. I loved my bike, it was old fashioned looking and painted a beautiful light blue. I put my keys around my neck and clipped the mace to them, then I peddled off.

- - -
When I got to the lake there were only a few people around, some jogging alone, some walked with friends or their significant other.

I locked my bike and headed down the dirt pathway.

This is stupid, Mr.Davis isn't going to be here! I mentally shook my head at myself. Even if he was I realized it was insane, I'm stalking him, this is considered stalking right?!- I'm a fucking stalker.

I thought about turning around and going back to my bike but I had already gone that far, some exercise would be good for me- plus that stalker part of me still wanted to see if he was there.

I tightened my ponytail and began jogging as I kept my eyes out. I made it about halfway when I saw a man sitting on a bench alone facing the water, he fiddled with a sunflower.