~Erica~
I look up at him, my heart feeling lighter than it had in awhile. "Since my parents aren't expecting me home till after 2.. wanna play hooky with me for 3 hours?" My voice shakes lightly at the end, and I can't help but fiddle with my nail. A wild grin spreads across his face before he lets out a laugh, and I'm surprised by how light it is. "Fuck it. I hate it here anyway. But I'm driving." I giggle before tossing him my keys, getting into the passengers side. "Sorry it's nothing fancy" I suddenly feel very subconscious of my car, knowing he had showed up in that luxury suv earlier. He laughs before shaking his head, throwing the car into reverse. "This gonna be fun. I know the perfect place for us to go." this time it's my turn to grin, butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. I've never played hooky before, I've never done anything without my parents permission... let alone with a random boy I just met at school a few hours prior. I shake my head and laugh, at this point this is harmless fun right?
We zip around a corner in town before hanging a right, going up into one of the side roads heading up the mountain. I can't shake the feeling of how great it was to just relax, my smile never faltering. "We're here." He says, his voice relaxed and peaceful. I look around as I get out and close my door, we're surrounded by nothing but trees, and I hadn't seen a house in a while. "We're exactly is here?" I ask with a laugh, and he shoots me a boyish grin. "You'll see. Come on." He extends a hand and without any hesitation I place mine within his. We follow a trail up further into the woods, and after a few minutes and several turns we come to a stop. Looking up I can see the whole town and some of the city from this spot on the edge of the mountain. "Holy hell. This place is beautiful!"
He just hums in response and I let out a sigh I didn't realize I was holding in. "This is the first time I've really just...gone and did what I wanted to do.." I wrap my arms around my midsection, the cool spring breeze tickling my skin. "I wish I could say that we could come back u-" before I can finish my statement, he places his school coat over my shoulders, a blush blooming across my face as I spin to look at him. "Alec..."
~Alec~
The whole car ride up to my secret spot, Erica had a huge grin on her face. I couldn't help but catch the contagious smile before continuing to drive us up the mountain. This is the only spot that I know I'm safe, that I know isn't dangerous, the only safe haven in my life. When we finally pull up to the entrance to the trail, I stop the car. "We're here." I watch as she looks around curiously, her eyes wide with wonder. "Where exactly IS here?" She asks, her nose and brow crinkled in confusion, the look so cute I can barely hold back the laugh building in my chest. "You'll see." I say, shaking my head lightly, a smile still on my lips. "Come on." I held out a hand to her, almost surprised when she took it, a mischievous smile on her face. We walk through the dense woods, silence surrounding us, following the winding trail. I slow my pace to match gets, not wanting her to lose her balance. Finally we reach the clearing, standing on the edge of a large Boulder hanging from the mountain.
"Holy hell.." her voice is soft, "this place is beautiful!" I watch as she walks over to the edge of the cliff. She spreads her arms wide, the mid afternoon sun illuminating her skin, the spring breeze scattering her gorgeous strawberry blonde hair through the sky. I watch her shoulders drop, the tension slowly melting away, her smile soft and natural. I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear her talking, and all I can manage is a hun in return, my mind not able to focus on a reply. I shake my thoughts free and notice a dusting of goosebumps has formed on her skin. Not even thinking I slip my school jacket off, stepping up behind her slowly, before resting it over her shoulders. She turns slowly, her brown eyes wide, a blush spreading across the freckles on her nose. "Alec..." before she can even reply I pull her into my chest, burying my nose into her hair and breathing in the sweet lavender smell. "You don't have to be scared anymore. "