Chapter 4 Togetherness

The next morning i woke up thinking about what had happened between me and derek. i wanted to tell my best friends about it but they already though he was weird so i kept our walk in the woods a secret. All that day i thought about him, but i couldn’t let a silly little crush get to me. but was i really crushing on this guy?

I sat up in the corner room and held the paper with his number on it. wondering if it was a good time to call or not. I fought myself with for about 20 minutes and i finally picked up my phone and called him. I rang once….. twice…. then he picked up. “hello?” he said me stumbling over my words to get them out “ hey its Clare” i said a bit fast. he seemed kinda shocked. After a few seconds of weird silence he said that he would meet me under the big oak tree after dark if i could sneak out again. I told him id try to. i wondered was it a good idea to be out in the woods with him at night? Without my parents knowing? with the chance of them finding out? or worse something happening to me? i still decided to go out the tree after dark when my parents had retired to their room for the night. i grabbed a flashlight from the cabinet and headed out the back door, shutting it carefully and creeping across the wooden porch and down the steps trying to step lightly because i didn't want it to make any noises. I walked toward the gap in the fence leading to the woods and glanced back at the house. i stepped through the hole and turned on my flashlight i was a bit early for him i guess. he wasn't by the oak tree, i walked towards it and sat down turning off my light. i listened to the sounds a few minutes had passed and he stepped out of the dark and walked into the moonlight area surrounding the tree. “you look beautiful in the moonlight Clare. Ive never seen someone as pretty as you.”   I blushed and looked back down as i stood up to greet him. He came toward me and gave me a hug. i felt safe and happy with him. Almost as if nothing else mattered at that moment, when he let me go i looked into his eyes and he bent down to kiss me and i actually let him. i had let my guard down for him. i felt like i could trust him. he took my hand and sat me down under the tree. “ Clare, will you be my girlfriend? i know this is sudden but i can't go on another moment knowing someone else could get your hand before i could get the chance. in our few short conversations i felt a connection to you, a connection i dont wanna ever lose. Clare please will you make me the happiest person alive?” I looked at him stunned at the way he said it. “ i will be your girlfriend, i dont know what is it but i feel a strong connection with you too. i feel safe and loved actually. “ we sat there smiling as he held me close to him. we talked about everything that we could think of at the moment. we told each other secrets we laughed and played. we poured our hearts out. we had a talk i couldnt have with anyone else. he moved his arm to hold my hands again. as i looked out i noticed cuts all down his arms. i was surprised, i think he noticed i saw them because he kissed my forehead and said “i think it's time to get you home” he walked me back to the hole in my fence. kissed me goodnight and watched me walk up the stairs and into my house. I saw him disappear into the dark again like the night before, but now it was different. i knew i loved that boy.