Life Lines

17: Last Ditch Effort

Chapter Seventeen

I walked out of the woods a little dazed. After he said that one simple sentence, he made sure I was ok and disappeared back into the woods. Granted there was a little bit more confidence in his face then there was before but I couldn't help but be a little pissed at him for walking away after saying that.

I mean, who drops a bomb like that and then runs away?

Who does that?

And to make it worse, the second he disappeared into the dark, I started coughing again. Not as badly but as I made my way out of the woods and hopefully back to a waiting Union, the blue/gold streak that was leading my way disappeared.

That reminded me...

"Oh my god! Natalie!" I looked up to see Union pacing the ground behind the Hummer. "What...where...I was worried!"

My composure shot up my spine, my amazing practiced calm settling over me and providing me with an excuse.

"I'm sorry. I just...this whole turning Elite thing is taking a little bit of a toll."

"Are you ok?" His worry was real and crinkling his brow. "Do you need to sit down?"

"Actually, can you take me home? I'm not feeling well." His face fell with disappointment and I quickly rushed in with an apology. "I'm sorry, Union. Everything was going so well and I'm having a great time but..."

"No, no. I understand. I'll take you home like you asked."

Apparently he'd already packed up in anticipation of having to drive around the park looking for me. So he helped me up into the cab and we got on our way. The drive back to my house was quiet, neither of us saying much of anything. I kept going over everything that happened in my head, from the strange double Union had to what Cecil said. Then I started to think, did he really mean it? He literally walked away with confidence and it made me wonder if he knew I'd ask Union to take me home because of what he said.

Everyone knows boys are not connected to their emotions, that turn around was much too quick. Plus when I talked to Jesse, he said Cecil was completely clueless.

That also meant that he lied to me.

And that riled up my temper real bad.

"You know what?" I turned and looked at him, my southern accent getting a tad thicker because of my anger. "I fell like some ice cream. How about you?"

That threw him off guard, really off guard. "What?"

"Look, it's nine o'clock. I don't have to be home until ten. We can continue the evening with ice cream at Deedee's Parlor or..."

"Ice cream sounds good."

"That's what I thought."

As he pulled a completely illegal uie, he said, "Why'd you change your mind?"

I looked over at him, glancing over the right side of his face before I said anything.

"There's something about you. I don't know what it is and I don't much care but...I like you. I feel comfortable around you and I don't know about you, but it's nice. There's no pretenses to keep up, no grander expectations. It's refreshing and relaxing."

"I feel the same way. I thought coming down here was going to be hell but...you've made it a tad bit easier to bear."

"Why, Union Davidson, I do believe you're making me blush."

"Can I tell you something without making you mad?"

"I think I can reign in my temper for that."