Chapter 3
Ilooked up the mountain,terrified about what this day was about to bring. For some crazy reason, Lilly thought it would be a good idea to go out and exercise in the middle of the summer at StoneMountain.
“We’re taking the cable car up, so don’t worry.” I could hear the laughter in Erica’s voice as she reassured me. She and Lilly had been coming here every weekend to do their workouts, rather than going to the gym. Something about the fresh air and how it was good for you. Crazypeople.
I did have to say, this was a sight to see, me in gym clothes. Adam would be proud. I had tried to give him a call this morning but ended up texting him that I wouldn’t have service for a while. I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes. Maybe they weren’t all that crazy about this fresh air thing, and luckily it didn’t take long for the cable car to transport us to the top of the mountain. At almost 1,000 feet from the bottom, I was glad I had my notebook in my pack. This was the perfect environment to get some words writtendown.
“You look calm today.” Erica’s words made me smile. She always seemed to know exactly what to say, and after last night, I was happy she didn’t try to pry more aboutAdam.
“I feel calm today.” We made our way out onto the mountain and I found myself closing my eyes again and just breathing. I tried to center myself as I thought about this mountain and the last time I washere.
“Did you even talk to him today?” Lilly’s words put a sour taste in my mouth, but I knew what she was talking about, and I didn’t want to startit.
“It’s fine.” My words had no conviction, they were empty. Erica gave me a sympathetic look. No matter how much I pretended, they knew. Adam and I hadn’t been talking as much, which was why they recommended that I come with themtoday.
“Do you need me to call him?” Lilly didn’t break eye contact with me and her question fueled an anger inside of me, that I hadn’t known wasthere.
“No!” I yelled, my hands fisted around the straps of my bag. A few people looked over at us. I moved closer to the girls, lowering my voice. “Don’t.”
I was stern with my words, not because I was scared Lilly would say something wrong, but I just didn’t know how Adam would react. Every time I talked to him, it felt like things were changing, and all I wanted to do was get back to normal. I backed away from the girls, leaving them alone as I found a spot off to theside.
Both girls made themselves comfortable, Erica getting out her camera and Lilly stretching. We were all just a little different, but I think that’s what made us work together. I got lost in myself as I wrote. I needed a distraction, and this was the most welcome one. Time was no longer a concern. I was living in a world of infinite possibilities in my mind. I didn’t even hear the footsteps coming from behind, or see the shadow cast overme.
“Your handwriting is immaculate.” Max startled me as he knelt down next to me. I shifted myself away from him, without trying to seem rude. I still wasn’t over the fact that he had been so forthright with his intentions of taking me out the other night. I made sure there was enough space between us for him to get themessage.
“Look.” I tried to start writing again, but Max continued to speak. “I’m sorry for the way I acted. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. There’s just something about you. Something that drew me toyou.”
I ignored him and kept writing. He didn’t move. We sat in silence while everyone else moved around us. I came to the end of the chapter I was plotting out and put my pen down. Max wasn’t going anywhere, so why not get everything workedout?
“Thank you for the apology.” I said it to my paper, not wanting to look at Max. I didn’t think I could handle another smug smile fromhim.
“I didn’t know you were a writer.” Max said it with shock in hisvoice.
I laughed a little at Max’s comment. He didn’t know anything about me. “You don’t really know anything about me.” I looked up at him now. There wasn’t a smug look on his face. No. It was clear he wasupset.
“You’re right.” He moved so that he was fully facing me, one knee propped in the air, an arm resting on it. His other hand lay perfectly on the ground next to me, holding him up. “So, tell me what I need toknow.”
And that was it. That statement and the look on his face were all I needed to know—that I should steer clear of MaxWellington.
“We’re going to start walking down now!” Lilly shouted to us from a few feet away, where she, Greg, Erica, and two others were standing. I pushed myself up, not grabbing the hand that Max held out for me. He walked over to the group with a defeated look on hisface.
It was my first time looking down the mountain and seeing how we would get down. I hadn’t been paying much attention before, but seeing the railings down below spiked myheartrate.
I could dothis.
I could walk down this mountain with my best friends. I looked around and it felt like a dream: Lilly smiling at me, Greg staring at Lilly, Erica talking with one of the other men, and Max laughing with the other man. Where did I fit in here? I clammed up, retreating slowly backwards towards the cable carstation.
I couldn’t dothis.
“Alexa?” It was Max who said my name, and for a man who knew nothing about me, he clearly knew something was wrong. His hand was outstretched to me, ready to pull me towardshim.
“Um.” I pushed my hair behind my ear. I took another step back. “I think I’ll just ride down and wait for youall.”
“Alexa…” Lilly had taken a step closer to me. She knew the look on my face. She knew I was running. She knew all the reasonswhy.
“I’ll see you all down there.” I gave a weak goodbye and walked away. I clutched my notebook to my chest and paid the fee to go down alone. I was the only set to go down when the cable car finallyarrived.
“We just have to wait a few minutes to make sure no one else wants to go down.” The attendant informed me as he opened the door to the car. I made my way to the back and stared out the glass window. I didn’t become aware that someone had entered the car until they sat next tome.
