Changing the Script -ON HOLD-

Chapter Four

As I lay in bed that night, I can't help but run over my conversation with Brandon in my head.

Gosh, guys are so confusing.

I'm staring at the ceiling, watching as the headlights of cars dance across my room every once in a while. 

Why wouldn't Brandon tell me about himself? He's hiding something, obviously.

Is he an axe murderer?

Did he rob a bank?

Maybe he killed someone and hid the corpse in a river!

Wait, what? No, of course none of those things happened. My father does the best background checks on his employees, there's no way Brandon is any less than perfect.

So what's he hiding?

As I ponder this thought, I hear a loud bang coming from under my window. I jump up and go to the window. But I freeze. Isn't this the part where, in the movies, the murderer pops up at the window?

I laugh at myself, knowing security is too tight in this house, and pull the curtain aside. 

Looking down, I see Brandon hastily picking up a fallen potted plant which shattered on the floor.

I guess that's where the bang came from.

"Brandon!" I hiss, opening my window.

He looks up, "Liv!"

Putting his finger to his lips, signaling me to be silent, he motions for me to come downstairs.

Pulled by some invisible rope, I put my slippers on, check my hair, and creep out of my room.

Like I said, security is pretty tight around here, and obviously Brandon doesn't want to be caught. So I stay away from all security cameras, avoid the elevator, and sneak out the back door. 

I see Brandon standing in the back yard, a small blue blanket laying in the grass, with a telescope pointed toward the night sky.

"Brandon, what the h-" I start.

"Come here." He says, reaching for my wrist and pulling me toward him. 

He nods toward the telescope, and I look into it.

The stars are lit up so beautifully. I stare at them, mumbling a low, "wow," under my breath.

I glance up, and Brandon is smiling at me.

"What?" I ask, suddenly defensive.

"You asked me to tell you about myself." He says, as if that explains everything.

"So you show me the stars?"

"No, silly, I showed you the stars through my telescope."

Does he think any of this is making sense to me? It's like two in the morning, nothing makes sense to me right now.

Seeing the puzzled look on my face, he explains, "I love astronomy. It's the coolest thing to me."

"Why?" I ask, curious.

"It's the one thing that never leaves. People leave, animals leave, nature leaves, not stars though. They'll always be there at night, always."

"Did someone leave you?" My voice is soft.

Brandon's face clouds over and he whispers, "Everyone leaves." 

I can see his eyes mist, so I reach over and take his hand lightly in mine.

He looks over at me, "Don't tell me you won't leave." He warns sternly, "Because everyone does. No matter how many times they promise they won't, they do anyway."

I don't let go of his hand, instead, I gently squeeze it sympathetically and ask, "Anything I can do to change your mind about that?"

He shakes his head, telling me it's hopeless.

Trying to take his mind off of it, I ask him to tell me about the stars.

He starts talking, pointing up to the sky and saying things I really don't understand. But he seems happier now that we aren't talking about people leaving.

Soon he tells me that we've got to get back inside, and I agree, helping him gather everything.

"Thanks for coming out here." He says, walking toward the telescope.

"No prob..." I start, but stop when I look up. The way he's looking at me silences me. I know that look, I've seen it a million times with other guys. 

No, I want to say. No, don't. We can't, you're my gardener.

But my voice is as weak as my will. Because the truth is, I want him to kiss me. I know it's wrong, and so does he; that's just not important right now.

The only thing I can think about is his lips on mine. And as he leans in, I know it's going to happen soon.

The seconds feel like years. 

And then his lips crash to mine.