spaces | njh

chapter 1 - sacred grove

It was past 5 in the afternoon when I walked outside, the cold breeze immediately blowing in my face. I walked down the porch, my worn army boots making sounds when they hit the pavement. I concentrated on my feet as I walked out of the street I live in. It was eerily quiet, the only sound was the cold breeze and my feet hitting the sidewalk.

I walked past the big sign reading MULLINGAR with a red X through it, letting me know I was leaving the city I live in. The pavement ended so I continued walking on the side of the road. A few cars passed, honking at me and waving with their hands. I decided to ignore them.

After a few minutes of walking I finally reached my destination: the woods. It was already becoming darker, but it didn't matter. I heard branches crack under my army boots as I walked through the woods.

I finally reached a small grove - also known as the Sacred Grove - in the back of the woods, the place I always came to in my spare time. I discovered it a few years ago, when I came here for a school project and found the grove. Since that day, I came here almost everyday. I sat down on the old trunk in the middle of the grove. 

I had some books in a box, hidden behind a trunk. I grabbed one of the books I was currently reading - The Rosie Project - and continued where I stopped last time I came here.

My head shot up when I heard a few branches snap behind me. I dropped my book in the box and turned around to see whatever snapped those branches. But I found nothing. 

Weird. Branches don't snap by themself, now do they? I slowly got up from the trunk and looked around. ''Hello?'' I called out, mentally facepalming myself. I shouldn't make noise. 

I heard again, a few branches snap. It was closer this time. ''Is there somebody?'' I mumbled, nervously fumbling with my hands. 

''Erm, yes?'' I suddenly heard a voice behind me. I almost got a heartattack when I turned around to find a boy leaning against a tree, a few steps away from me. He wore grey sweatpants and a football jersey. He had blonde hair which was just a big mess on his head.

''W-Who are you?'' I stuttered, trying to kick the box with books behind the trunk without getting caught. ''Who are you?'' he directed the question towards me.

''I'm Zelda'' I still stuttered when I answered. ''Like the video game?'' he smirked, but I noticed he was also nervous as he fumbled with his hands. ''Yes'' I sighed in annoyance. My father was this massive video game fan and decided to call his kids after some famous games. He called me Zelda and my brother Falco, after the video game Star Fox.

''Cool name though'' he said, his Irish accent thick. I started to fumble with my hands again. ''What's your name?'' I asked. ''Niall'' he replied, exaggerating the L. 

''Are you also from Mullingar?'' he asked, his eyebrows knitted together. ''Yeah, why?'' I replied. ''I've never seen you before'' he answered. An awkward silence followed.

''I'm leaving'' I announced as the silence became too awkward. When I tried to walk past him, he blocked my way. ''Why?'' he frowned again, his gaze meeting mine. Even though it was fully dark now outside, I could still see his blue irises. 

''Why not?'' I said after I shrugged. He stared me dead in the eye for a moment, but didn't get out of my way. ''Don't leave'' he mumbled after a while.

''Why not?'' I asked the same question again. ''Just, don't. We can hang out at my place'' he suggested. ''I barely know you'' I told him. Even though I was actually in the mood to hang out with someone, it was weird. I just met this guy and all I knew was his name and that he had beautiful blue irises.

''So? That doesn't mean we can't hang out'' he chuckled lightly. I just shook my head - my parents would kill me if they knew I hang out with a stranger. ''Come on, don't be such a debbie downer'' he chuckled again, leaning against a tree. I stared at him for a few seconds, doubting. No. I shouldn't even be doubting.

''I'm not coming with you. End of discussion'' I cleared my throat and tried to walk past him but he stepped once again in my way. ''At least give me your number'' he pleaded, already his phone in his hand. I stared at his phone for a while.

''Okay'' I sighed, grabbing his phone and adding my number to his contacts. Instead of putting 'Zelda' as the contact name, I typed 'Stranger from the woods'. 

''Thanks, maybe we can hang out later'' he said and winked at me. My cheeks flushed, thank god it was dark otherwise he would've seen it. ''Bye'' I mumbled as I brushed past him, and hurried out of the woods. 

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first chapter! okay im really bad with author's notes so im just gonna say

please vote, comment, share! thanks ilysm