It was still early and, although the morning's first rays of dawn were barely peeping over the mountaintops, Charli had the insistent urge to go to the river.
With her backpack filled with a day's supply of food, which she guiltily helped herself to from Aunt Lydia's refrigerator, she slipped into her jeans and sneakers and threw on a warm light-blue sweater before sneaking out of the house as quietly as possible. There was no traffic yet. People were most probably sleeping in as it was a Saturday morning. Something she should be doing instead of running after a guy. She ignored her inner rebuking.
When she reached the bridge, she cautiously glanced around, eager to avoid raising any suspicions, and then jumped over the bridge wall. Carefully, she made her way down the rocky embankment to the river below.
The water still rushed by with crashing haste but was thankfully not as hazardous as the day after the storm when she had almost drowned. But just in case, she kept clear of the water. She just wanted to sit by the river and relax anyway and think about everything that has happened in the past month and maybe try to come to terms with it, somehow, if that was at all possible. The slight chance that Chris might be there, was a cherry on top. Lying to herself taunted her emotions. Crazy! She cursed herself for her foolishness. Falling for someone she hardly knew and then somehow hoping he would be there waiting for her was beyond ridiculous. She shook her head, angry with herself, then shrugged it off. What did it matter anyway? All that mattered was that she needed to escape the confines of her Aunt's home and she needed time to heal. Spending time here, in solitude, at the river, was the perfect way to digest her emotions and the dire events that had led her here. I'm not here because I hope to see Chris. But lying to herself didn't help nor could she stop thinking about him. What if they were all wrong about him? What if he was just pretending to be a jerk at school in the name of popularity but underneath all that bravado, he was really a good guy?
"Stop it, Charli!" she cursed aloud. "You don't need anyone in your life, not now, not ever!" she shouted.
"That's not true."
Startled, she jumped up and then swallowed hard. He was there. For a minute she was mesmerized by Chris's enchanting blue eyes. Her insides crimped tightly together, and her breathing crammed in her throat.
"Hi," Chris said, releasing his dazzling dimpled smile.
He should be arrested for having such a gorgeous smile. "Hi." Her voice came out so squeaky and high-pitched, and her breathing was jagged and breathy that she wanted to simply die of embarrassment.
"Surely, you don't believe what you just said - that you don't need anyone in your life, do you?" Chris repeated her statement.
"Well, I uh - I was - I am –" as Charli staggered to find the right words, she wrung her hands nervously together.
"I never did get your name," Chris said, grinning.
"Um, I'm Charli," she blushed and extended her hand to shake his, but he did not make a move to take her hand. Instead, he turned and walked a few yards towards the river's edge.
Charli wasn't sure what to make of that so she merely watched him, anxious to see what he would do or say next.
"You know, it's quite beautiful down here. And despite the fact that there are so many warning signs prohibiting us from being down here due to the dangers that this river poses, I'm quite surprised that I never came down here before. Well, not until..." his voice trailed off, which left Charli eagerly waiting for the rest of his sentence, which - never came.
Several minutes of awkward silence endured before Charli bravely spoke. "Are you hungry? I brought breakfast?"
She sat down on a flat-top rock and started to unpack a few items from her backpack, which included two apples, two cereal bars, a lunchbox containing a few slices of ham, and two boxes of juices. It hit her then that she had subconsciously packed lunch for two – proving to herself once and for all that the only reason she was there was to see him. Darn it! She hated losing an argument with herself.
Chris glanced over his shoulder and studied the contents lying sprawled out on the rock and immediately Charli noticed a deep sadness in his eyes. His sad gaze shot up and met her, locking them in a stare so intense that left her breathless. Then he abruptly severed the connection and turned to face the river again.
Unsure of what to say, she sank her teeth into an apple, despite her sudden loss of appetite. Finally, after she had consumed the entire apple, which was tasteless due to her emotions, and felt as though she was chewing a lump of plastic, she suddenly broke the insufferable silence. "So, then what made you come to the river and hang out here now?" she asked, hopeful to start up a conversation with him to get to know him.
A long silent moment passed before he turned around and faced her. He addressed her with a long thoughtful gaze as if pondering how to answer her. He then came to sit down beside her, but not too closely, he kept a reasonable distance between them.
"My story is a long story. What brings you here, Charli?" he asked.
"Funny you mention that your story is a long one, I think my story's even longer."
It wasn't long before she related her entire life's story to him, pouring her heart out. She spoke about her father's tragic accident, how she missed him so much, and her life – and how wonderful her life had been with just her and her father.
Charli spoke for what seemed like hours, all the while Chris remained silent except for an encouraging word here and there. Charli felt his genuine concern and sympathy towards her. He listened intently, and she was grateful to be able to talk to someone and share her life story. It was even greater that that someone was Chris. It just felt right. No, it felt wonderful – especially knowing that he was there for her, even if just to lend an ear or give a comforting word.
She wanted to ask him why he didn't let people see him for who he truly was. It was obvious he was an extremely compassionate person. But she feared he might be offended and disappear again, so decided against it. He probably had his reasons. She was in a similar boat. Other than Milli, there was no one at the school, or in this town, aside from Milli's folks, that were decent. This town was the last place on earth she would have chosen to live in. It was no wonder that her mother had run off with her father those twenty years ago when he passed through this town. This town was but a dirty blotch on the map. Then she admitted that she loved the mountains and the forests – it wasn't the town but the people she couldn't stomach. Their hatefulness and cruelty and their obvious disdain for her, for no good reason. Would that ever change? She was doubtful.
"So, now that you've heard my story, why don't you tell me yours?" Charli was bursting with curiosity but before she even finished her sentence, she regretted it, because he tensed and got up.
"I need to go." His beautiful eyes met hers and a brief glimpse of a smile lifted at the corners of his mouth. She imagined what it would feel like to kiss that smile.
"Bye Charli." His greeting sounded like a final farewell and Charli started to panic.
"So, I'll see you at school then?" she asked, anxiously holding her breath.
He regarded her for a moment, and a shadow of sadness crossed his face. This escalated her existing panic. Then he turned to leave.
"Wait, I want to come with you." Charli grabbed the items of food still sprawled out on top of the flat rock and hurriedly shoved them into her backpack. When she was done, she looked up. But Chris was gone. She scanned the area, frantic. Surely, he couldn't have gone that far so quickly.
"Wait for me," she shouted, flinging her backpack over her shoulder, and ran in the direction of the forest to her right. He wasn't on the rocky incline to the bridge so that only left the forest behind her which ran westward. She ran, all the while still calling out his name. After running for about ten minutes she stopped. There was no excuse for him ignoring her. He must have heard her calling him. The entire town probably heard her. Anger nudged her. He obviously didn't want to be with her or be seen with her. How could she have been so stupid? Oh, man! She had blurted out her whole life story to him. Her anger slowly depleted and was replaced by sadness. Her heart was breaking all over again. Why did she keep doing this to herself? Tears welled up in her eyes and a knob in her throat made it difficult for her to swallow. She had not cried so much in all her life, she never needed to. But her days of happiness were long gone – perhaps it was a form of karma reversed if there was such a thing. Maybe, being so happy and content in life was against the cosmic order of things, and therefore had to be rebalanced. That's why life had cast her into a pit of chaos and disarray filled with agony.
Charli languidly made her way back to the bridge, jumped over the cement wall, and walked alongside the road, dragging her feet with a heaviness that was similar to the heaviness in her heart.
Suddenly, the blast of a car horn brought Charli out of her foggy state of mind and walk of despair.
"Hi Charli, where are you going? Can I give you a lift honey?" Mrs Mitchel offered kindly.
"No thanks, Mrs Mitchel. I just needed to get out."
"Then come, if you hurry, you should be able to catch up to Milli. She's out hiking on one of her favourite mountain trails. I just dropped her off a few minutes ago. Can I give you a lift?" When Charli hesitated Mrs Mitchel urged, "Come on, it will do you the world of good, honey."
Mrs Mitchel pulled off to the side of the road and Charli reluctantly accepted the invitation. It's not like she had anything else to do anyway, and she definitely didn't want to go home. The less time she spent there the better.
Charli hopped into the front passenger seat of the old Chevy and Mrs Mitchel did a quick U-turn, which would have been totally illegal back home.
They spotted Milli, a distance away. Mrs Mitchel blew the horn to draw Milli's attention. It worked. When Milli turned around and recognized Charli, she let out an exhilarated shriek and came running down the roughly carved stone steps that were wedged into the mountainside. Charli thanked Mrs Mitchel as she climbed out of the car and then walked, listlessly, to meet Milli, who looked frighteningly close to falling a couple of times as she ran to meet her.
It surprised Charli to see Milli so happy, almost as if they hadn't seen each other for years. Milli threw her arms around Charli and laughed happily.
"O-k-aay, chill. You saw me yesterday at school," Charli reminded her.
" I know, it's just that I never get to walk these trails with anyone. Dad's always at work and mom's always busy with, who knows what."
"You could have waited up there for me. Now you have to climb up all those stairs again," Charli said, with half a smile.
"No problem. I could climb those steps in my sleep a hundred times a night."
"Now you're scaring me," Charli teased.
"I told you. I love these trails. I love the mountains. I feel free here."
"And I love sane friends. Just kidding! Shall we go?" Charli had to admit that being with Milli improved her mood. She was a good friend, even if she did get a little over-excited at times. Okay, most times.
The climb was more taxing than Charli first anticipated and it wasn't long before she was panting like a dog and her lungs were on fire.
"I thought you were supposed to be this avid athlete," Milli mocked.
"I'll have you know; I won the gold medal for a hundred meters, two years in a row," Charli defended herself. "But running is not the same as hiking up steep mountain trails."
"If you say so," Milli smirked but decided to stop and take a break for her friend's sake. They sat on uneven rocks and sipped the water which Milli carried with her.
"So, what have you been up to today?" Milli asked curiously. This instantly sucked Charli's cheerfulness out of her and the previous bleak mood settled over her again.
"Okay, what nerve did I hit now?"
"It's nothing," Charli mumbled.
"It's not nothing. It was either your Aunt Lydia or one of your malicious cousins giving you grief? Who was it?"
"No, they were still asleep when I left the house this morning."
"So that leaves..." Milli rolled her eyes, sucked the inside of her cheeks, and then pulled her eyes together, suspiciously. "No way! Chris?"
"Just drop it, Milli!" Charli was not in the mood to indulge her friend or fuel her theatrics.
"I'm here for you, you know I am. Spill the beans."
"You mean, you're just going to die if I don't tell you."
"That hurts!" Milli protested with a grin.
"You were right about Chris. He's nothing like I thought he was."
"I..."
"Don't you dare say 'I told you so'." Charli pointed her finger at Milli, casting her a warning look.
"I wasn't going to. Now tell me what happened."
"I opened up to him, Milli, and then he literally ran away from me. One moment we were talking, or rather, I was talking, and the next he was gone."
"He's a jerk, Charli! Don't worry about him." Milli wrapped her arm around her to comfort her.
Charli could feel the tears stinging her eyes and quickly forced them aside and jumped up. Her emotions needed to stay buried.
"Let's go. Stop loafing," Charli flashed a forced smile and started the steep ascent.
"There's a tunnel, where the old mine used to be, right over there," Milli pointed ahead. "Stay close to me and follow where I walk."
Charli obediently followed as they trudged along the steep, narrow pathway which ran along the side of the mountain.
Suddenly Charli's foot slipped. Before she could stop herself, she went tumbling down the mountain, crashing into several shrubs on her way down. The trunk of a nimble tree stopped her fall. She screamed as a blinding pain shot through her foot.
"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Milli shrieked as she carefully made her way down to where Charli lay, clutching her ankle, almost crying out from the pain.
"Charli?" She fell to her knees and put her hand on Charli's shoulder.
"Don't worry. I think I just sprained my ankle," Charli reassured her.
"Can you walk?"
"I don't know. I'll try." With Milli's help, she managed to lift herself up onto one leg. But when she tried leaning on the other leg the pain was unbearable. She cried out and sat down again.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh," Milli started to panic.
"Just relax, Milli. I'm not dying. I don't think anything's broken. It's just too painful to stand on my foot right now. Maybe I can just sit here for a while until the pain and swelling subside," Charli suggested, trying to sound courageous for Milli's sake even though she was far from feeling brave herself, and surges of panic threatened to suffocate her.
"Why don't you continue with your hike and by the time you come down again my foot should be well-rested, and we can then go down the mountain together?"
"No, I'm not leaving you like this," Milli protested, panic audible in her voice.
"Just stay calm and let me think for a minute." Charli looked around anxiously. There was very little chance of meeting anybody on the mountain, especially this time of the year – the holiday season was over, and she was in too much pain to climb down the mountain, even with Milli's help. Besides, it was far too dangerous, due to the narrow footpath in certain places where only one person could fit at a time. That left only one option.
"You'll have to go down and get help." Charli realized glumly that this incident would give the townspeople yet another reason to gossip about her.
"Dan was the paramedic who helped me last time. Perhaps you can find him?" Charli was hopeful.
"That's a good idea. He's a really awesome guy, always helpful. His wife bakes the most delicious cupcakes and their kids, the one goes to..."
"Milli, stop! Now's not the time," Charli objected.
"Sorry!" It looked like Milli wanted to burst into tears.
"Just go and see if you can find Dan for me, please. I'll be fine," Charli insisted, and then to lift Milli's spirits she added, "I promise I won't go anywhere." She forced a smile to spur Milli on.
It seemed to help. Milli pulled herself together, stood up straight, and took in a deep breath of air.
"I won't be too long. You hang in there." Milli found courage.
Milli was probably only gone for half an hour, but it literally felt like hours. The pain refused to subside, and Charli was thirsty for water. There was only juice in her backpack. Milli was the one with the water bottle.
After a further ten minutes had passed Charli grew impatient and the pain infuriated her. How could she have been so clumsy? She should have looked properly at where she was walking. If only she hadn't accepted Mrs Mitchel's invitation to come hiking this would not have happened in the first place. Then her scolding questions took on another form of a more torturous nature. Why had her father gone to that stupid meeting which had run late – well close to midnight? He shouldn't have been on that treacherous road that claimed his life and stole him away from her. Sadness overwhelmed her, like a knife slowly penetrating an already open wound. Her anger and sadness intermingled, heating her blood to boiling point and finally, she let out a long, heart-wrenching cry that echoed over the mountains and through the valley. Her cries then morphed into hysteria. At first, she hoped no one could hear her anguished cries but after a while, she no longer cared and continued to bawl.
"Charli." At first, she hadn't heard him. His voice was gentle, always gentle.
"Charli." When he called out her name again, she stopped crying, sniffed, and lifted her head. Chris knelt down a few feet away from her.
She glared at him, confused, but then her anger erupted. "What do you want?" She was so angry with him, and with the whole world, that she wanted to lash out at him, just to appease her torment.
"Everything's going to be okay." As usual, his voice was calming and so intoxicating that she was tempted to let go of her anger, but a large part of her refused and just wanted to lash out at him. But there was a part of her that just wanted to be left alone – and that part won.
"Go away."
"Charli, you need to stay strong. Help is on the way," he tried to appease her.
"How would you know? How did you find me anyway?"
"I'm always around. Just because you don't always see me, doesn't mean I'm not there."
Charli frowned at him. He wasn't making any sense. Truth be told, what he said sounded rather creepy. Suddenly she heard voices. She turned to see who it was, hoping it was Milli and Dan. When she scanned the horizon and spotted them, she let off a sigh of relief. A smile lit her face and she turned to speak to Chris, but he was gone.
Her mounting joy dropped like a ton of dead weight. Confused, she sat motionless, gazing blankly at the empty space where Chris had been kneeling only moments before.