It's Not All Roses

Chapter 7

We pulled off the highway and started to going up a hill on a dirt road. I've given up on asking him, so I'm just enjoying the view. You don't get to see much when you're the driver.

After about five more minutes I can't take it any longer. I turn in my seat and look at him. "Okay Hero, What gives? Where are you taking me?"

He only gives me a glance before turning up the music and continues to drive. This is honestly starting to creep me out. We stay quiet for the entire drive up this hill then he takes a back road. I can feel the panic starting to set in.

Then we stop. In front of some woods, Hero turns off the Jeep and gets out. He leans down and looks into the open driver side window. "Are you getting out?"

I let out a sigh and unbuckle myself and jump out of the car, slamming the door behind me. He looks at me with a smirk. "Okay. What's going on? Why are we here? Why did you bring ME here? I swear to god if-"

He starts to chuckle, "Mae I'm not going to murder you. I just want to show you something, so please let me do so."

It takes me about 15 seconds to calm down, but I nod and he takes me down a trail. Within ten minutes we get to an area that is covered by shrub, he pulls it aside and gestures for me to walk first. I do, with hesitation, but what I see shocks me.

It's a meadow, near the cliff. If you look you'll see the entire city. "Wow. This please is beautiful. How did you find it?"

He walks over to the edge of the cliff, staring at the lights from the city. "I found it last year. This place is my safe spot, to like get away and think. Everyone has one. This just happens to remind me of home."

"Yeah, I have one too."

We stay silent for a few moments, enjoying the view and the slight breeze that blows over us. I can totally tell fall is on its way.

"You still haven't answered my question. Why did you bring me here?" I ask, my hands on my hips.

"Mae, I brought you here so you and I could talk about today."

No. No. No. This is not happening. He's going to get mad at me for telling Kiya what happened between us.

"Look Hero I-" he stops me by holding up his hand.

"Mae I need to apologize for how I acted toward you today."

I was slightly shocked by this because he's been so cold towards me since we've met.

"What? You want to apologize?" I take a step towards him and almost loose my balance.

He catches my arm and pulls
Me close to him. I don't know why it sends shivers up my spine.

"Clumsy as always, and twice as dim."

He just quoted Absomlem from Alice in Wonderland. I can't help but smile a little. Maybe this means he likes to read.

"Yeah I'm sorry I got carried away I was wor- I mean looking out for Kiya. She's always worried about her friends. And you're for sure her friend."

I can't help but look at him a little confused. "I mean I understand what you are saying and you have every right to because I wasn't thinking about her. I was just thinking about myself so you don't have to apologize for speaking truth."

Now he looks a little confused. "But I was incredibly rude to you?"

I walk a little bit to side and take a seat on a patch of grass plucking them out of the earth and tossing them over the edge. I want to drop this conversation all together.