We parked the car and got out, heading for my cave. I wasn't sure what to talk to Eric about as I was still a little nervous about him seeing my special place. For so long now, it has been a secret between only the three of us. It felt odd. I seriously didn't have anything against Eric seeing it, or even Colton for that matter. It was just change. I didn't always handle change well and for me this was a big change. After today, it wouldn't feel like this place was a secret anymore. A sudden chill ran down my spine. I wasn't sure if it was this crazy October weather or something else.
"So, Perri, do you come down here a lot?" Eric asked me, trying to get rid of the awkward silence.
"Not as much as I would like too. I used to come down every day after school, but now that I work most nights, I just don't have time. I understand why Mal didn't come here looking for me. Back around the end of June, she and I came out here late one night. We had this crazy idea that we were going to camp out here. We managed to get our sleeping bags down and we were all set up. We had a cooler with drinks and snacks. We went out and bought those lanterns that you can charge, and they serve as a charging port for your phones as well. Anyway, we thought of everything, we got all comfy. Mal was playing on her phone and me with my sketchbook when we heard a rustling. We stopped what we were doing, she turned off her phone and we got really quiet. Mal turned her flashlight on, on her phone and pointed it up. Next thing we knew, several bats came swooping down right at us. I was so terrified. I swore never again was I coming here at night. And until last night I have stuck to my word."
Eric started to laugh. "Oh my, I bet that would have been a sight to see. Two teenage girls flying out of nowhere. Man, that would have been epic."
"Hahaha very funny. It was terrifying! We even left everything behind. Came back in the morning to get our stuff and the cooler was dumped and half our snacks were missing. Everything else was there so we just assumed it was probably a bear. So that made my vow to never return at night even stronger. We are almost there just around this curve."
As we came around the small curve, Eric looked around confused.
"Right here," I said.
"Wow, you really can't see this unless you are right up close to it. This is amazing! And the view of the ocean from in here is beautiful."
"It really is! That's why I love coming here to draw so much."
It got quiet for a minute as we just looked out at the ocean. The sun's rays were casting beautiful shadows over the water. I loved how it looked in the mornings. And the lighthouse always looked so beautiful out on the water.
"Would you mind if I asked you a question, Perri?"
"Sure, ask away. What would you like to know?"
"What was it that made you so upset last night? Did it have anything to do with what I said about Colton? Or was it me asking you about yourself?"
"No, none of that bothered me. It actually was really nice getting to talk to you for a while. I feel like I know your family so well already, but that's only because Colton talks so much about you all. Mostly you. I can see why too. You have always looked out for him, and you seem to always have each other's backs. I know it meant a lot to him that you showed up for his game. I will probably hear about it for months." I giggled, hoping if I talked about Colton, I could avoid his question. I mean, what would I tell him?
"Yea, we are close. It was hard at first taking off for college. I mean, I know it's only a 20-minute drive back to my parents' house. I could go home every night, but my dad encouraged me to have the 'whole college experience', which, to him, includes staying in the dorms. And he was right, I really do love staying there. Sometimes I come home on weekends, but I picked up a job, so I mostly just stay there."
"What kind of job do you have?" I was trying to encourage conversation from him.
"Oh no, I see what you are trying to do."
"And what am I trying to do? Actually, your right. I am trying to do something."
"Ahh, so you admit you are avoiding a certain conversation."
"No, I said I was trying to do something. I am here to find my phone, but I don't see it anywhere."
"Hold on, let me call it quick."
Eric got out his phone and dialed my number. I just looked at him with a grin instead of looking around.
"What's that look for?"
"I told everyone at the house already that if I was in the cave with my phone, I get no reception. It isn't going to ring if it is here. I'll just have to look for it. It has got to be here! It's not at home or in my car. I fell asleep here…."
I started looking around by my favorite sitting rock. Eric came over next to me to help search for my missing phone. He reached down in a crevice between two rocks and there in his hand was my phone.
"Oh, my goodness! Thank you so much!" I jumped up and gave him a hug, not realizing what I was doing until after I had already hugged him. "Umm, sorry about that. Ugh thanks for your help. If I would have lost it my mom would have freaked! I'm surprised she hasn't called Mallory at least 100 times already."
"Is she really that bad?"
"You have no idea! She is a very over-paranoid and over-protective person. She always has been though. It didn't bother me at all when I was younger but, as I've gotten older, it's really getting annoying."
"Well, at least next year you will be off to college. I bet it will be nice to finally have your own space. And not have her looking over your shoulder every minute of every day."
"Yea, you're right. Hey, we better head back. I'd like to get a little sleep before everyone wakes up and wants to go."
We headed out of the cave and walked silently back to my car. This time the silence was peaceful and not so strained. I knew eventually he was going to want an answer for why I took off. Just as I knew, Mallory would be asking me about it as well, the minute we were alone next. What was I supposed to tell her? Should I tell her the truth? She would want to confront them about what I heard them talking about. However, I wasn't sure if the truth was something I was ready to hear. For now, I just wanted to have my weekend away with my friends. No stress, no worries, no mom watching my every move. Just freedom. When the weekend is over and we come back home to reality, well, we shall see. Is this 'truth' something I want to look into? Or should I just let it go and continue to tell myself that they weren't talking about me.