Loved By Danger

Chapter 11

    Aden watched as she took her time in making sure her bike was hidden in the brush so that if any of the security guards were to come by, they wouldn't be able to see the bike.  She stood there with a smile on her face waiting on him to take her to this amazing place he was telling her about, "Well, shall we start moving then?"

    Aden started to walk, and he could hear her following him.  He didn't know what to say to her, and he wasn't really skilled in talking to other human people, and the fact that she was a hunter just made it seem more impossible.  They continued on a path that only seemed visible to him, and the sky was already getting dark.  They finally reached a small patch of trees that really looked like the trees grew in a circle.  At first, Jo thought he would go around, but instead, he stepped right through, "What's in here?" she asked as she was trying her best to keep up with his long strides.  It was almost like he was walking through a bed of grass.  

    "That special place I told you about," he turned around abruptly, and his face was close to hers.  He smelled like fresh pine, and his eyes looked like they shimmered in the dim moonlight, like an animal with night vision, "Are you worried?"

    Jo laughed a small laugh, "You wish."

    "Good...I won't bite you.  I said I would bring you to somewhere cool, and I will.  Just up ahead there."  Jo walked in the direction he was pointing, and there was what looked like a treehouse.  But it was large, wrapped up in oak, but you could tell it was really old by the way the branches weaved in and out of the windows.  The area was quiet, but the trees above opened up just enough to let some moonlight in.  Aden would come here sometimes when he could get away.  Without anyone wondering about how long he's been away or if he really wasn't needed.  He doesn't know how long this place has been here, but he remembers being here when he was smaller, he had got lost one day, and around this time, there wasn't a large wall blocking people from being monitored going in and out of the city.  He stayed here until he got the courage to find his way home.  Now he wanted to share it with her hoping that she could find something good about this place.

      The moment was silent for a minute. Both of them basked in the quietness of the area.  Aden thought about how so much has happened in just a few days. And Jo was thinking about how about how she really didn't want to be home.  Jo watched as Aden took the time out to climb one of the large trees. It amazed her at how he got up there fast enough. She took out a pad and pencil from her bag.

     "You got a struck of inspiration," he asked, giving her a sly smile, "I've been told how much of a muse I am. I have that effect on people."

      Jo laughed at him and his boyish ways. The moonlight hit his face in a way that she wanted to remember it.  But why was she feeling these types of emotions about someone she had just met.  She remembered the first time she saw him and how startled she was when they Noth locked eyes. It was like everything in her body wanted to be near him...command his attention.  This was a feeling foreign to her.  She wasn't taught to feel for boys occasionally, Amy would tease her from time to time about not having a normal teenage life, and Jo guessed that boys should be part of the agenda. But she also never had this much curiosity about a boy either.

      "So," he continued as he watched her hand move across her easel, "why do you hate being home?"

      That question took her off guard and made her mess up a bit, "what makes you think you hate being home?"

      "Well, for starters, you live in possibly the most comfortable living quarters in the city, but you choose to be out here in this dump.  I mean, if I lived there, I wouldn't want to be outside.  It's so large I could probably find an empty room to chill in."

      "Well, if you lived my life, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near that place.  Just the fact that you're assuming anything about my life is annoying as hell."

    "Sorry, I didn't realize how much of a touchy topic it was for you."

    "Yeah, well it is, and having the Terell name is not all it's cracked up to be.  I mean, my brother sure as hell loves it.  Manipulating people for his own benefit because of his last name is more his thing and my dad's.  I don't really associate myself with them."

    "Well, what about your mom," Aden was surprised at how she was still willing to show a bit of insight into her life after she snapped on him, "I hope you can at least find some peace with her."

    "Yeah, right, she's out of her mind on wine most of the time to pay attention to what anyone is doing.  I could care less about what she thinks."

    "Well, maybe that's her way of coping as well.  I mean, a family can be a big pain.  On the other hand, my dad expects a lot out of me, whereas my mother lets me be me most of the time.  It's like nothing I do can really make him proud."

    "I can relate...you're lucky you're an only child.  My brother outshines me every time."

    "I might be an only child, but my family is... tribe-like.  My dad is like a chief.  Meaning everyone is his children.  Maybe I would've liked a brother or sister but having Creed is enough."

    "Creed, huh?  I told you he doesn't really like me all like that.  He gives me the creeps.  Like I talked bad about his mother or something.  Or maybe it's because his special someone is paying more attention to me and not him."

    Jo peered her eyes at Aden from the notepad, "You mean he's jealous?"

    "More than that, I think he likes you."

    "Of course he does; that's my best friend."

    "Not like that...boys are so clueless sometimes.  Do you see the way he stares at you?  I think Creed is in love with you."

    "No!  Are you serious?  I don't get that at all."

    "Of course you wouldn't. He's a boy, and so are you.  But I know a person who's in love when I see it."

    Aden didn't know what to think about this information.  He wouldn't know the first thing about love, at least not in that way.  But he and Creed have been inseparable since they were kids, and he has never got the impression that he was in love.  This was something he wouldn't be able to ask Creed straight up.

    "It's hard to believe I know it is.  But I can see the way he stares at you."

    "Have you ever been in love before," Aden asked her.  He could feel the change in her energy, almost giving off a thick nervousness.

    "Not in the way we're talking about, but it's like he stars at you the way I stare at a beautiful piece of artwork.  It's like nothing else matters but this piece right here.  How unique it is to all the other pieces I'm looking at.  Or when I've finished something that I know I poured my heart into," Aden could listen to her talk for hours about what she thinks love is, "Or how you look at me sometimes."

    Aden almost fell off the tree trunk he was sitting on when she said that.  It was almost like she was trying to make him as uncomfortable as she was feeling.  The way he stared at her...sometimes he would stare so long he would forget that he was looking her way when she would walk in the hallway, when she was at her desk, when she's at lunch, or when she's in class having her far away look.  There was a moment of silence between the two of them as they locked eyes.  Both realizing that moments like these were going to be far more interesting.  What made the other want to be around, and who was going to make the first move?

    "Would you like to see what I drew?"  Jo's voice snapped Aden out of his thoughts.  He jumped down from the tree and walked closer to her, accidentally touching her hand, sending a chill down her spine.  Aden looked at the way she drew him.  He was sitting on the tree trunk, looking up at the sky.

    "I wish I saw what you see when you draw me."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I don't know how to put it into words.  This guy looks hella cool and looks like he has his s**t together.  But in my life, I'm far from that."

    "I think you're beautiful," her face suddenly showed fear and shyness as she started to stammer on her words, "Well...you know...to draw.  Don't get any ideas!  I'm an artist, and I like to draw beautiful things, both people and things alike."

    Aden grabbed her hand for real this time.  He didn't know what made him want to, but he did.  They both locked eyes as he moved his hands along her soft skin, "Well, I think you're beautiful too.  And not because I'm an artist...I think you're beautiful to look at."

    Jo could feel her cheeks getting hot, and then the moment was starting to make her very scared.  There was a weird feeling in her stomach, "I think it's time for us to go.  No telling who's trying to find us.  We have been gone for a long time now."

    Aden let her hand go, "You're right..we should get going."  And just like that, the moment has passed.