don't let go • jenzie

chapter 6

• Third person •

The next day they moved the camp a little upper the hill. Nayip talked about the sights there.

''What's up there Nayip?'', someone asks pointing up the hill.

''People say there used to be a temple but that was ages ago. They also say that it's haunted there. But you don't have to worry about it because we're staying here.'', Nayip explained

''Oh come on. I think we should go up there.'', Johnny says.

''No, I think we shouldn't! I'm scared of ghosts!'', Jayden exclaims.

''I heard that ghosts flip out when they see red...'', Annie Begins pointing to Jaydens scarlet jacket. ''...and you with that jacket...''

Jayden immediately takes it off and throws it away screaming. Annie just laughs at her.

-

Now it's the middle of the night. Johnny decided that he would go to this place alone if they weren't going as a group.

Half way up he already gets tired but keeps Walking. Then he hears something behind him and turns around.

What was that? He thinks as he turns around because he didn't see anything.

''BOO!'', Kenzie screams in his face causing Johnny to back away scared widening his eyes. She just laughs at his reaction.

''Oh my god, Kenzie! You scared me to death!'', he shouts, his heart still beating fast.

''When the leaves rustle in the wilderness, you better not turn around.'', she quotes him.

''What are you doing here?'', he asks.

''Come with me.'', she turns to the front walking as he follows. ''If there really was a temple I want to ask for something.'', she explains.

After a while of walking Johnny got more tired than ever. He could barely breathe.

''Do you need a break?'', she chuckles.

''No, I'm fine. Let's go.'', he says out of breath trying to keep cool.

''You are, but I'm not. Let's sit down.'', she says. Johnny breathes in relief as they both sit down.

''Do you have something to drink?'', she asks him even though she knew it would be alcohol.

''What?'', he looked at her confused.

''Please, I'm freezing. Just one sip.'', she begs.

''You're always full of surprises.'', he smiles as he hands her the bottle.

''But don't tell anyone.'', she says before she takes a sip. She twitched for a second before quickly taking another sip.

''Hey hey hey, that's enough for you.'', he laugh taking the bottle.

''That actually tastes good!'', she admits.

''Lugdi. A beer that's made out of rice. Manali is known for a lot of Things. Lugri, apples, great trouts and grass.'', he explains.

''Wow, you know much.'', she says.

''Hey. I'm not as dumb as I look like.'', he says as she smiles.

''Here.'', he says pulling something out of his bag. He hands her a book. ''Look inside.''

She opens the book and sees blank pages with only city names in there.

''Venice.'', she reads. ''London. What kind of book is this?''

''My life dream. I want to see every corner of the world.'', he explains as she looks up at him again.

''It will probably take you the whole life to do it. There won't be any time for something else.'', she says as she gives him the book back.

''What do you mean? Studying all day, getting a stupid job, then marry some day, getting kids and then retire waiting until you finally die?'', he says as she closely listens. ''No. I don't want a boring life like that.''

''Then what do you wish from life?'', she asks.

He leans in looking her deep in the eyes. ''Speed.'', he says. ''Independence.'', he continues. ''Every day has to be so good until I can hear my heart beating to my throat.'', he Looks up to the sky. ''I want to fly, Mackenzie. I want to run and also fall sometimes. Just don't stand still.'', she looks at him enchanted. He then looks up the hill. ''Climbing this hill may not be something special for you. For me it's magical.'' Then short silence comes up but she continues to stare at him. Then he looks back at her. ''Wow, I talk a lot.'', he says as she chuckles standing up.

''I didn't even tell that Hayden or Annie. Why do I tell you that?'', he asks confused of himself.

''I have no idea. You didn't even greet me in school.'', she says.

''Really? Well then I'm doing it now. Hi Kenzie.'', he smiles coming closer. She just smiles back. ''Hi Kenzie.'', he repeats.

''Hi.'', she gives him a little wave.

''How are you Kenzie?'', he asks. She just shruggs still smiling.

They both stared in each other's eyes for a while until he looked past her. She turned around seeing a deer walking in the snow. They turn around again and smile at each other. Then they continue climbing the hill until they reached the top.

There was something magical at the hill. And this magic was love. I've never felt such happiness in my life before. I fell in love. And I wanted to tell the world. I wanted to scream it from the tip of the biggest mountain. But mostly, I wanted to tell him. I don't know if this temple ever existed, but I wanted to ask for something. Something very simple. Actually just one word. Johnny.

author's note
happy 2 years of What If 🥳🥺