12: Surprise

Alluring...

Like the nightsky those midnight locks promised places I've always wanted to explore.

I walked up to him with a thundering heart.

"Hi"

"Ready?", he asked with an intense grin that made my heart somersault. I nodded climbing onto his bike.

I was excited for tonight. We've created a good friendship in such a short span of time and it feels nice to have someone to just hop on the bike with and leave.

I think its been healthy for me and and I hope my presence is something that's brought about a healthy change in him as well.

The breeze hit me pleasantly and my body relaxed.

My arms wrapped around him and I rested my head on his shoulder inhaling the pine forest scent.

Who knew the trouble maker could bring so much peace.

"Rose?"

"Hmm"

"Look at the sky", I looked up and smiled.

"There's so many stars tonight"

"It says good things are coming"

I thought about it,"I hope so too Tristan".

We drove further away and away from town and deeper into the woods of Bloomsville.

"I'm surprised by the worrisome amount of unknown places you find out"

"Yeah...perks of leaving for school and not reaching"

"What if someone found out", my anxiety kicked in.

"As if anybody cares", he said with a snort.

I shrugged, " The school does and your parents...."

"School wouldn't care as long as you pay them and my parents... I don't care if they care"

"Then what do you care about?"

He was silent for sometime.

"I don't know... a lot of things.. nothing.It depends on how you see me I guess".

After a long maneuvering journey through dirt and rocks with the front bike light guiding us with its illumination, the motor bike finally came to a stop.

"This is it", said Tristan and hopped off.

I looked around, cicadas chirping.. cold night air.. huge trees... typical Bloomsville forest.

Why the hell did he bring me here?

"What's going to happen now?", I asked curiously, observing my surroundings.

"Now you sit....", he sat down on the floor knees bent, elbows resting on each bent knee,"and wait"

Ok.....

I sat down with him and we both remained in silence for awhile just letting our mind and body sink in to the new atmosphere after the long bumpy journey, opening it up to the sound of nature.

"Its at times like these that you feel so calm...like... there are not many worries inside your head.. it's so nice", said Tristan in a low voice as if he were trying hard to not disturb the tranquility of the night.

He took in a deep breath and I followed suit watching him as he inhaled, feeling my chest rise with air the same exact time as his.

Then suddenly I saw something move in the corner of my eye.

I focused on the thing to make out what it was because it was very small and..

It was a firefly.

Then I saw another one.

It was about 10 o'clock at night now and this forest was getting filled with yellow stars.

"No way", I let out.

No fucking way.

There is so many of them...

Rising up from the soil or from leaves and reaching up to my height as seconds pass.

I stood up and froze; afraid that I might scare them and also stunned at the sudden turn of events.

"This is so unexpected", my voice had a jitter to it as my body hummed with excitement and awe at all the twinkling creatures.

I looked at Tristan, eyes filled with disbelief. Did he actually bring me to this place now...

"I've never seen something this beautiful"

He gulped with an unreadable expression on his face.

"It's for you tonight..."

This guy...

I twirled around and cupped my hands to take in some fireflies and two sat on my hands.

My heart elated.

"Come on let's go"

I took his hand in mine and we ran deeper into the woods..

The fireflies flew all around us as we just walked and explored the forest.

Some would occupy an entire tree which looked out of this world.

"Hey look", said Tristan to show me a hole in a tree which was lit up with these little creatures.

"How did you even know they would be here tonight"

He shrugged,"It was just a guess"

I peered into the forest, there was nobody but us. I wondered how so many people would be sitting at home and missing out on this beautiful sight and here I was having the luck to see it.

I guess this is one good thing I am going to reminisce some day.

"Do you come here often", I asked sitting cross legged on the forest floor.

"Not as much as I go to the Mountain but yeah", he said joining me.

"Sometimes I feel jealous of you".

He laughed a small laugh and looked at me, " Why?"

"Because I wish I could just be so carefree like you"

He tore his eyes away from mine and looked down at his joined hands which were resting on his bent knees.

"Rose.... that's so naive of you. I am not carefree I just have too much shit I don't want to deal with which makes me ignorant" and he looked back and shrugged.

I didn't know what to say to that.

"Yeah well I guess... you just have to unpack them one by one"

"Hmm.. I guess"

Then we fell into a huge silence but it was comfortable.

After sometime the fireflies started receding and the weather started to get really cold.

"You ready to leave?",he asked.

I took in a deep breath.

"Yup"

I turned around one last time to imprint this beautiful sight to my mind.

The ride back home was too short for my liking.

Tristan dropped me off at my doorstep and I gave him back his jacket which he offered to me when we left.

"Guess I'll see you tomorrow", he asked.

I smiled,"Why do I feel like this is becoming the norm?"

He shook his head with a smile,"Well if you like it this could be the norm"

I had to tell him.

"I really really liked today... nobody has ever done something like this for me before.. Thank you"

"You're welcome, I'm glad you liked it.. I had fun too"

I didn't want to get back inside.

"I'll see you tomorrow"

He had such a breathtaking smile,"Yes"

"Night", I whispered and turned to walk back inside.

"Hey ...A hug?", he said with an inquisitive grin.

I slowly walked up to him with jittery steps to wrap my arms around him.

This is probably a small gesture for Tristan but for me it was a huge step towards stepping out of my comfort zone.

But I have to say I liked hugging this guy, he just had such huge arms that can engulf someone. Tristan's body heat made me feel like a warm fuzzy marshmallow.

I sighed.

Rainy days with a cup of coffee and a warm Tristan to fold myself into.

I peeled myself away from this very complicated person and almost ran back home.

With the way my heart was beating from a single hug I knew some things were going out of hand.