The Exception

Chapter 36: A Surprise Of A Life Line

I placed a piece of sticky tape on the photo before placing it on my project board. It was an assignment, and I had pretty much ignored my mom for the last three hours. I could not believe the fact that she went behind my back, and made a choice without letting me know. Keith was the one truly suffering, and anger churned inside of me. The way he looked at me, when he said he needed to let that go...

I gasped as hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who?"

I swatted the hands and turned around. "You're early..."

"Actually I'm ten minutes late, but if you think so, then yes, I am early and on time, and I am a gentleman and a genius..."

"Don't push your luck," I said and stared at my mom who was lingering at the back.

"Yeah, she kinda let me in, and asked me to cheer you up enough for me to forgive her..."

I raised my brow and she winked at me. I shook my head, but still a small smile escaped my lips. That was good enough for her.

"So, you got fired huh?"

"Shut up," I said and sat down. It still stung, very deeply.  

"Hey, I'm here for you, ok?So, first things first...I'm taking you out..."

"For that surprise?"

"Maybe..."

"That's awfully vague,"

"Well, I had a smaller surprise to give to you in a store, but that is going to wait, because I know it is a sore subject...so I organized a bigger surprise to help distract you from your sorrows and mopey dopey face you're pulling now..."

I smiled and shook my head. "Really now?"

"Yeah, are you ready for something that involves trusting me again?"

I nodded, and Evan leaned forward. His lips brushed my forehead, and he kissed it hard. "Come on..." he grabbed my hand and I smiled as he lead me out of the door and towards his car. I turned around and my mom nodded.

"See you tonight," she said. "Hopefully then, you've forgiven me."

I sighed, let go of Evan's hand and walked up to hug her. "I'll always forgive you, just like you had to forgive me... but please, don't do something like this again."

My mom glanced at Evan then back at me and nodded. "Of course sweetie, you have my word."

I smiled and climbed into the car. 

                                                                                                    -----

"When you said, I needed to trust you, this isn't exactly what I had in mind," I said and laughed nervously.  Evan squeezed my hand and winked. I watched as the guide checked my harness.

We were going zip lining, and Evan signed me up to go first.

"So this is your idea of distraction? Getting terrified out of my mind?" I asked him. He smiled.

"Certainly makes you think of other things, doesn't it?"

I looked down at the line that stretched far and wide. It was going to be one thrilling ride. One scary one too. However, I was excited. This was yet again, something I had never done.

"I'll be right behind you," he  said. "It's like flying."

"Yeah, except if the rope breaks, I'm dead..."

"Ma'am, I've been doing this for ten years, and never had a single case of the ropes breaking," the guide spoke gently to me. 

I took a deep breath, and stared at Evan who only grinned. 

"You look so cute when you're nervous..."

"I'm not nervous, I'm scared to death...no, no, I'm not doing this...." I said as I looked at the ledge.

"Yeah you are," Evan responded. "Because, you, Agnus, do not shy away from any challenge. You fight battles that need to be won. You are a woman warrior."

"You're just saying this to make me jump, right?"

"Pretty much, there's a cue, and we don't want to keep everyone waiting..." Evan motioned to the people behind us.

"You're such a jerk,"

"No, that was called being an inspirational speaker...." Evan took  step closer. "This is called being a jerk."

Before I knew it he lifted me up and I squealed. "Don't you dare..."

"Do you trust me?" Evan stared me straight in the eyes. I bit my lip. 

"Fine, but let me go," I said. Evan smiled and I walked to the ledge again. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and jumped.

I screamed as I jerked forward, the harness thankfully holding my weight. Adrenaline pumped in my veins and I was amazed at the view. Strands of hair brushed in my face, and as I arrived at the next platform I was hyper. I waited for Evan to arrive, and as he came I jumped on him with a hug. He held me tightly and laughed.

"How do you feel?"

"Like supergirl, and a big fat coward, because I'm not letting you go..."

Evan laughed and he let me go, before turning around and bending down. "Jump on my back, Princess..."

I laughed as I did and he carried me down the hill and back to his car. Kudos to him for being very fit. "Where are we going next?" I asked him as he opened the door. 

"To a certain victory party Tyler invited us to..."

"You serious? I thought you didn't like Tyler..."

"Yeah, well, I'm not really there for him, but for my other jock pals, and the fact that I'm singing..."

"Cool,"

"And you're singing a song with me..."

"Wait what?!"