Rayne Chapter 2: The Woods

It's been a couple of months now, and everything is settled in. Aunt Carla is still working overtime and I'm still sitting here in my room, to sad to do anything. My phone buzzes and it's a text from Bronx. "hey rayne, so we are coming up for a visit this weekend and you can't say no." I text back curious to how they are going to do that because there was no possible way they would have known my new address. It buzzes again. " Carla told us before you left, we agreed to give you space for sometime, and so now it is time. We will be there Thursday night ok?" I couldn't believe what I just read. Who in the hell does Carla think she is letting people from home know where ism at?? Ya I know they are my best friends and all it is just, I want to be alone. I don't need reminders of what I lost, or of who I use to be. I text him back saying that I didn't think it would be a good idea, and that I still needed time. it took a moment to hear back from him. " well quite frankly my dear, I don't care. We miss you and I know it would do you some good to see us.

You can't just hide forever. period. We are coming and that is final." A deep sigh escapes my chest. I look at the text and a slight smile inches its way across my face. Bronx knew how to get his way. I texted him that only on one condition which was that they don't talk about my family. Bronx complied and promised. I get up and tuck my phone in my pocket and look out my window. It was a sunny day today, with wind rustling the trees gently and birds gliding in the air. I struggle with opening the window a bit, it was stuck in the groves with dirt and webs. Once opened though a gently and warm blast of air enters my room filling it with new air. I throw on my nikes and head downstairs. I left the house through the back door and felt the gravel path crunch beneath my shoes. I start walking towards the tree line looking for a small dirt path Carla told me about the other day. She was trying to get me out of the house because she thought I was rotting in my room. If she would have ever found out that was my intention she would have chained me up outside to make sure it didn't happen. I let out a little laugh at that thought. I found the path although it was badly over grown, and started following it.

I could feel the life around me, the birds in the trees, the wind among their leaves, the wildlife going about not noticing that I was there. I kept walking, stepping over fallen branches and ducking under huge creations made by the spiders. About an hour passed and I came to a clearing. I look around and everything seemed just perfect like in the movies. I walk to the middle of the clearing and stretch my arms wide and spin in the sun letting my skin drink in its warmth. My mind relaxes and my chest doesn't feel so heavy and I feel like I can breathe for the first time. I open my eyes and across the way I spot a boy, about my age, a bit taller than I am, and he had dark-colored hair. He was watching me and all I could do was stare back at him. My mind started to race, oh my god, who is that? Has he been watching me the whole time? What the hell am I doing here? I need to go, I need to run back to the house, I shouldn't have come out here.

But there I stood. Motionless. The boy started to make his way slowly towards me. My knees go weak, and my breath quickens. He is half way to me. I keep staring, and my knees threaten to give away. I dunno what to do. He finally reaches me. His footsteps go silent just a couple of feet from me. I now have to look up at him since he is a good three inches taller than my measly 5'7 height. I study his face, everything about him was defined so perfectly, and his eyes, oh man his eyes, a striking green. His hair shaggy but short , dark brown and natural highlights, and his lips, so perfect, so smooth. He smiles at me. His smile did the trick, and my knees gave out. I start to fall and something caught me, I mean , he caught me. I couldn't stop staring he was too beautiful. My mouth makes a small gasp, I forgot to breathe, stupid me. I prop myself up on the ground into sitting position and he knees in front of me. My cheeks turn red. " My name is Devin Mortales.

I live on the land next to you." He smiles again, and there goes the butterflies. I take in a small breath and stutter, " I'm..I'm..Rayne Sterling." I wait for him to respond. The wind dies down around us, and the birds chirping gets quiet. He just looks at me. I still wait. "Well, miss Rayne, it was nice meeting you." Devin smiled. I smiled. I struggle to my feet not sure what else to say. I look towards the sky and the sun was just about to set, I look at Devin.
"Well I have to go now," I say nervously messing with the hem of my shirt. "I agree, so will I see you again Miss Rayne?" Devin stood and moved to get closer to me. "Um, I...I dunno. Maybe." Is all I could reply. "Well I hope so. Until we meet again," he reached over and tucked the hair out of my face and behind my ear.

I smiled sheepishly. " Bye," is all I said and turned around and started half running back to my house. Devin Mortales. Oh god he was handsome. What was he doing there today? Watching me? He was so handsome. He was perfect. I reached the house just after the sunset and ran straight to my room. I threw myself on my bed, and sighed. I picked up my family picture and a tear rolled down my cheek. I didn't deserve any happiness. So why did I feel so good inside? I tuck the picture under my pillow and changed into my father's shirt. I laid down thinking about the boy, and about my brother. I wish he was here to meet this Devin guy. I fall asleep with the image of Devin smiling down at me. I decided I would be going back to the woods as soon as I could.