Barely There

Chapter 9 - Starry Night

He showed up at exactly 1. 

She followed him into the parking lot and sat in the same seat of his car, yet in what seemed like an alternate reality. 

Grayson placed his hand on the side of her seat as he turned over his right shoulder to pull out of the lot. She felt the thrum of the motor as he pressed down on the pedal, reaching a high speed before slowly going at a more constant one. The empty road stretched out before them, surrounded by a wall of tall trees on both sides. Neither of them talked for a while until she chose to break the comfortable silence that had enveloped them.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

She glanced at him, seeing him for the first time this focused. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead even though no other cars traveled at that hour. Her eyes trailed over his figure and the moonlight shining on his diamond skin. His silver watch gleamed on his wrist and she let herself be drawn to the shine. Her brown eyes fixed on the marked area on the top of his right hand. In the dim light of the car, she observed the thin, black lines that outlined the delicate, intricately detailed figure. He turned his head softly, still keeping his tattooed hand firmly on the wheel. His eyes caught hers before he turned his blue eyes back to the lonely road. 

He turned on the radio as a rather awkward atmosphere started to overtake the once natural scene. She relaxed with the tune and listened to the melancholy lyrics flow out in a rich tone. Leda looked at him again, before turning away at seeing his blank face. The girl busied herself by analyzing the interior of his car, finding no trash or signs of the previous day on any surface. The air inside the tight, moving compartment was cool and a faint smell of Grayson's cologne lingered in the car invitingly. She leaned her head against the window. 

The silence of the drive pervaded for an agonizing hour before they had arrived at the destination he had chosen. The time on the dashboard of the car read 2:17. They both got out of the car and stretched their tired legs. A dark, dense forest stood in front of them, illuminated by crystal moonlight. The trees towered over the two menacingly, the pointy branches reaching out to them like sharp claws. 

"Come on follow me."

Leda trailed behind him as he navigated the forest, seeming to know each corner and turn that they both encountered in their path. Her cautious body inched closer and closer to him as they walked in order to avoid getting lost in the darkness. However, as a result, she bumped into him frequently in their treacherous journey. 

He stopped. She bumped into him again.

"Sorry," she muttered quietly, embarrassment overtaking her.

He avoided looking at her but reached for her hand blindly in the dark environment. Startled, she jumped as his soft, warm hand grasped her cold one. The warmth spread throughout her entire body. Traveling faster than oxygen; faster than light; faster than her own blood.

A ruffle sounded in the darkness and the girl jumped again, tightening her grip on his hand. His thumb began to trace soft circles on her olive skin and his voice remained calm and soothing when he reassured her.

"It's just a squirrel."

"How do you know that?" she bit back harshly in the midst of her fear. 

The ruffle of leaves continued, closer this time. 

"Or it may be the murderer from yesterday. Who knows?"

"Shut up."

The tips of her fingers accidentally grazed the tattooed skin. She stepped over a fallen tree log, looking up at him.