Trying to ignore the burning eyes that are glaring at me with curiosity, I continue up the trail.
“Why don’t you want to talk about them? I think they’re awesome. I want a bunch myself. I’m just not for sure on what I want to mark my body with for the rest of my life. I want some though.”
Now I am intrigued. I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him, not knowing what to say next. Looking him over from head to toe, he looks too proper to want to be covered in ink. He just oozes of good preppy boy. I’m sure his parents wouldn’t like him to mark up his whole body. He just seems like the type who lets his parents control him. I can’t help the smile that slowly creeps up on my lips. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself thinking he isn’t like all the others. I would though love to see where he wants his first tat
“Come on, I thought you were taking me rock climbing.”
“Okay, but we will get to the bottom of these tattoos sometime.”
He pulls off his thermal long sleeve charcoal gray body hugging shirt. I stop dead in my tracks, unable to move or speak. He is left only wearing a black tank top that expose his huge arms. I am mesmerized by the sight in front of me. It feels like all the air has been sucked out of my lungs. The burning feeling in my chest reminds me to take a much needed breath. I’m trying to control the urge to reach out and trace my fingers along the lines of his chiseled abs. The closer I let Jase get to me, the more exposed the feelings become that he creates in me. It feels like lightning bolts striking my heart over and over.
When I catch his glance, we stand there for a moment gazing into each other’s eyes. I am in a trance. My brain is protesting the feelings, but my body defies it. We are face to face with our toes touching. I lick my bottom lip anticipating the moment when we might kiss. He leans in and his breath is now tickling my lips. Just when I think this is it I am suddenly brought down from my high.
“Coming through,” a runner yells out while he runs around us.
My face instantly heats. I’m embarrassed that I almost let this happen. I don’t know how that line just almost got crossed. Backing away quickly, I look down at the ground unsure how to act now.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have tried to do that. It won’t happen again,” he says with a frustrated sigh.
“No, um, really it was my fault. I’m sorry. How about we get to this rock climbing stuff?” I say as I slide my foot back and forth in the dirt, trying my hardest not to make eye contact with him.
We continue our walk on the trail until we end up at the spot where Jase has picked for us to climb. When we arrive, I look at the rocks. Most of them are smooth and beautiful earth-toned colors. I can feel the panic rise in my chest when I glance over and see a couple jagged ones that seem like they would hurt and leave permanent marks on my body if I fell down onto them. My breaths are coming in short and quick as I fixate on the rocks. I am picturing myself falling to my death. This is not how I pictured dying.
I am fighting the urge to flee. This is all a lot to take in. I’m not sure I have made the right decision agreeing to this. I start to get dizzy and bits and pieces of unknown memories are flashing in my head. It’s not clear to me when they are from. The sensation has a hold on me though. Something to do with this place is stirring up visions in my head. Flashes of brush, rocks, and what I think is a cave type of hideout are rigorously running through my mind. I feel like I am watching an old movie reel. The scenes are not playing smoothly. I can’t quite put together what it all means and why this is happening today out of all days.
“Maddie, you with me? You okay?” Jase whispers in my ear.
His voice causes me to jump back defensively. It took me a moment to remember where I was. I relax when I see him come into focus as my vision clears up. I don’t know when he became my
“Why don’t you want to talk about them? I think they’re awesome. I want a bunch myself. I’m just not for sure on what I want to mark my body with for the rest of my life. I want some though.”
Now I am intrigued. I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him, not knowing what to say next. Looking him over from head to toe, he looks too proper to want to be covered in ink. He just oozes of good preppy boy. I’m sure his parents wouldn’t like him to mark up his whole body. He just seems like the type who lets his parents control him. I can’t help the smile that slowly creeps up on my lips. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself thinking he isn’t like all the others. I would though love to see where he wants his first tat
“Come on, I thought you were taking me rock climbing.”
“Okay, but we will get to the bottom of these tattoos sometime.”
He pulls off his thermal long sleeve charcoal gray body hugging shirt. I stop dead in my tracks, unable to move or speak. He is left only wearing a black tank top that expose his huge arms. I am mesmerized by the sight in front of me. It feels like all the air has been sucked out of my lungs. The burning feeling in my chest reminds me to take a much needed breath. I’m trying to control the urge to reach out and trace my fingers along the lines of his chiseled abs. The closer I let Jase get to me, the more exposed the feelings become that he creates in me. It feels like lightning bolts striking my heart over and over.
When I catch his glance, we stand there for a moment gazing into each other’s eyes. I am in a trance. My brain is protesting the feelings, but my body defies it. We are face to face with our toes touching. I lick my bottom lip anticipating the moment when we might kiss. He leans in and his breath is now tickling my lips. Just when I think this is it I am suddenly brought down from my high.
“Coming through,” a runner yells out while he runs around us.
My face instantly heats. I’m embarrassed that I almost let this happen. I don’t know how that line just almost got crossed. Backing away quickly, I look down at the ground unsure how to act now.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have tried to do that. It won’t happen again,” he says with a frustrated sigh.
“No, um, really it was my fault. I’m sorry. How about we get to this rock climbing stuff?” I say as I slide my foot back and forth in the dirt, trying my hardest not to make eye contact with him.
We continue our walk on the trail until we end up at the spot where Jase has picked for us to climb. When we arrive, I look at the rocks. Most of them are smooth and beautiful earth-toned colors. I can feel the panic rise in my chest when I glance over and see a couple jagged ones that seem like they would hurt and leave permanent marks on my body if I fell down onto them. My breaths are coming in short and quick as I fixate on the rocks. I am picturing myself falling to my death. This is not how I pictured dying.
I am fighting the urge to flee. This is all a lot to take in. I’m not sure I have made the right decision agreeing to this. I start to get dizzy and bits and pieces of unknown memories are flashing in my head. It’s not clear to me when they are from. The sensation has a hold on me though. Something to do with this place is stirring up visions in my head. Flashes of brush, rocks, and what I think is a cave type of hideout are rigorously running through my mind. I feel like I am watching an old movie reel. The scenes are not playing smoothly. I can’t quite put together what it all means and why this is happening today out of all days.
“Maddie, you with me? You okay?” Jase whispers in my ear.
His voice causes me to jump back defensively. It took me a moment to remember where I was. I relax when I see him come into focus as my vision clears up. I don’t know when he became my
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