Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 23: Nice Boys Are All Liars

Arabella heard a distinct buzz vibrating in her pocket. Pulling her phone out, she placed it straight across her ear.

"Hello?"

"Ara-bear!" The caller called out through the phone, a voice that resonated in her heart. It was her boyfriend, Brenton Lang sounding for once uncharacteristically ecstatic, unadulterated cheerfulness in his tone.

It unsettled her....

Brenton wasn't one for cheesy romantic greetings, PDA, or in general, much intimate affection.

Sometimes she thought Brenton as younger than he was because of how flustered he got around everyone, boys and girls alike. Arabella was the first girl who actually put in the effort to hold a decent conversation with him. With his never fading rosy cheeks, shy compliments, never ending patience and stellar listening skills, they quickly became great friends. But after the Tatum and Nikolai fiasco, and then another major bad break up with Rhett Arbor, the captain of the baseball team, she went for someone new. Not an athlete, golden boy, or anyone remotely popular in any kind, but a nice one.

She went for the quiet, but kind nerd for once.

Over the months, things had been sailing smoothly. Even if they weren't going as fast in the relationship as she'd like, Brenton being still uncomfortable with too much affection from her, overall it was going great.

Until now.

Her boyfriend's voice was almost sickeningly sweet while he addressed her.

"So I've been planning this surprise since we got here, and it's finally ready" he announced

"A surprise?"

"Mhmmm It's gonna be great. Meet me at Keystone River by the stream" with that being said, the call ended.

Strange.

But maybe.....was this Brenton's way of finally opening up, and allowing her permission to take their relationship to the next level?

Hope fueling her heart, she started heading east, the curved woodchipped trail leading to her intended destination.

A mile in, the once warm summer breeze started to become chillier, more arctic and winter like, the season's weathers out of order.

Taking one last turn, she arrived at Keystone River, it's waters a bold navy blue, the stream's color too dark to estimate how deep the water was, seemingly like a endless pit.

Not spotting Brenton anywhere in sight she called his name.

"Brenton?!" But there was no response.

Maybe he had given her the wrong destination?

But Brenton was never wrong with things like that....

"Brent?! Brent! Hey if your playing a prank on me I'll let you know that this isn't funny. Stop this and come out" her voice echoing throughout the woods, the place deadly silent.

And then a snap of a branch.

"I was wondering if you'd actually come"

Brenton.

Arabella's eyes flew to her boyfriend, who was casually leaning against the trunk of an oak tree. His face an unreadable mask as he stared unwaveringly at her.

His dark eyes in the shade looked like sharp coals now, instead of the usual resemblance to warm liquid pools of ink. Her boyfriend's whole body guarded and stiff, like it was when she first met him.