Chapter Four: Behind Closed Doors.. And Waterfalls?

I scanned around at my surroundings and my eyes were met with this gorgeous waterfall that fell to form a small pond. The water was clear as glass and I would have bet money that it had been virtually untouched by civilization. It was the kind of beauty that seemed too great for a world such as ours. It was definitely beautiful, no doubt about that, but we were in the middle of freakin’ nowhere.

I turned to Andi with raised eyebrows.

“Your favorite place?” I questioned skeptically, mulling it over in my head.

Where were we anyway? The drive hadn’t taken that long and I’ve lived in North Carolina for my entire life.. I should know where we are.

 

Andi nodded and shushed me with a gentle finger placed to my lips. He motioned toward the car handle and proceeded to get out himself. Shrugging, I hopped out of the comfort of the truck and onto the squishy ground. Andi's figure emerged from around the truck and he offered his hand to me. As soon as I grasped onto the smooth palm I was being yanked along. Compelled by his odd behavior, I didn't protest. After stumbling along for several minutes I realized we were following a trail, despite how undefined it was indeed a pathway and we were going up. Willing to be compliant I simply took in the sights as I was literally pulled up the trail. I wrinkled my nose as a spray of water hit my face and realized just how close to the waterfall we were. Andi suddenly stopped and I bumped into his solid frame. He turned around to look at me as if just remembering I was there and gave a distant smile, uttering only one simple word.

"Follow."

I obeyed obediently, carefully following him over the slippery rocks as it clicked in my head. We were going behind the waterfall.

Andi dipped under a large slab of stone and was out of my sight. Eager to finally be certain we were in fact behind the waterfall I scurried after him, ducking under the stone as well.

The light was dim and I sought Andi's figure out, eventually spotting him near the back of the cave. Calmed I knew where he was, I took in everything around me. I was right with my guess and we were indeed behind the waterfall. It was quite remarkable. The light shimmered in just the right ways off the falling water to create tiny rainbows throughout the cave. Carefully placed rocks created intricate patterns for the water to fall by.

Andi coughed, clearing his throat, and I turned to him with an inquiring gaze.

"This place.." Andi's voice was soft and I had to move closer to hear the words, "This place has been my refuge for the past year."

I was confused.

What was he going to tell me? More importantly, why was he going to tell me?

I figured whatever he had to say wasn't going to be easy. I laced my fingers with his much larger ones and brought him to the back of the cave sitting down. I patted the place next to me. Andi sank down beside me, placing his head on my shoulder. I stroked his hair, encouraging him to start again.

"Be- Before I tell you, answer me this question..do you believe everything happens for a reason?," Andi asked.

I understood there would be no easy answers to this question and so I thought for a long while before coming up with a response.

"I believe we were supposed to meet," I said sincerely.

He seemed to think it over and straightened up, turning to lean against the wall and face me.

"I think we were too. It's crazy. This. It's insanely crazy. I've known you a day. A freakin' day! But I took you here and I don't know why. I had this feeling, did you feel it?" Andi's eyes never left my own as he spoke, his sentences choppy.

I had to be honest, this was creepy. I've only known the dude a day and wait a sec, lets recount.

1. I meet him on the bus. He's an arrogant jerk.
2. He follows me off the bus and grabs me. Weird butterflies.
3. He runs into me in homeroom. Takes me to the nurse and the hospital.
4. He essentially kidnaps me and takes me here and starts talking all weird.

Yes. Creepy.

"Um..Yea?" I offered.

He just looked at me, realization dawning on his face.

"I'm freaking you out, aren't I?"

"Ha..um, yea. Kinda."

Andi laughed to himself, before looking up at me again.

"Sorry."

"It's k."

Andi sighed, "Alright. Anyway, I do think we were supposed to meet still and I'd like to get to know you...If you'll let me?," a grin suddenly light up his face, "Oh who am I kidding?! Who doesn't want a piece of this?," He puffed his chest out.

Andi was back. A grin took a hold of my face too and I playfully poked at his chest.

I giggled insanely as he puffed and grabbed at my waist.

"Dare you question my masculinity?!," Andi gasped in a stage whisper.

I pushed at his chest again and in doing so Andi's grip on my waist slipped and we were placed in what would appear to be a very compromising situation. His face was but a few inches from my own. All the traces of playfulness were erased and I felt the butterflies from this morning return. I drew my eyes away from his burning gaze to his soft lips.

A flutter of birds chattering outside brought rational thought back into my mind. Andi's lips continued to move closer to my own and I swiftly pushed myself sideways. His eyes widened with surprise as he realized my movement was away from him, not towards and his cheeks flushed a violent red.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and leaned against the wall. Andi followed my movements and soon we were in the same positions we had when we had arrived.

I broke the awkward silence first, "When we got here..you said..you said this was your refuge. Your refuge for what? From what?"

"My father passed away last year.." Andi finally spoke after what had seemed to be years of silence. I placed a gentle hand on his broad shoulder as an unspoken gesture of apology. He turned to me, his eyes hard and his voice sure.

"No. Don't be sorry. My father was not a good man. Now don't go thinking he beat me, he didn't. It never got physical but it might as well have been. I could never live up to his expectations. I never did the right thing. I never made him proud. I was never..enough." he finished simply.

"I -" I paused. I didn't know what to say. Only one phrase came to mind, the same one that had gotten him started.

"I'm sorry."

Andi let out a hoarse laugh.

"Son of a b***h got what was coming to him. Died of a heart attack. November 9th, 2006, 8:10 pm" he recited almost methodically.

He turned to face me, "You know what the worst part is?"

I shook my head.

"It wasn't even the fact that I couldn't live up to his expectations. I hated the man and in doing so I didn't care what he thought. I never gave a damn about that. I probably would have killed him myself if it hadn't been for my mother. It was always her. I'd come home, Dad would yell and in turn I'd yell back and it usually ended up with me storming out and coming here. I hated having to come back home though. That was the worst part. Dad was usually out drinking so I'd come home to Mom. She'd be waiting by the door and I'd come in and she'd tell me to sit down. I would and she'd repeat the same words she had to say every night to me, 'That man is your father. You show him some respect.' That was the thing that always got me. How she would ask me to show him some respect when he clearly didn't deserve it. He did nothing to earn my respect. But no, my mother always said that merely by being my father, he deserved it. By his position, she would say. Then she would go on to tell me how he had bought everything in the house we lived in. How she wasn't going to stick up for me anymore because she would get yelled at. It was ridiculous. But the part that really got me? After he died, he still affected my life. At the funeral, which I had to be dragged to, my mother demanded I get up and give some half a*s speech about how great my father had been. It was bullshit, complete bullshit. I spent a week here after the funeral. My mom still doesn't know where I went."

I was tongue-tied. I didn't know what to say to him - to make it better. Deciding for now actions were better than words I reached over and engulfed Andi in a hug. He returned the embrace and I felt the gossamer shudder of his shoulders as he held in tears. Regardless of what Andi had said, I knew Andi had wanted to make his dad proud and now he would never have the chance. He regretted it.

We sat there for what could have been minutes, maybe hours. I really don't know how long we were there but I was soon lulled into a tranquil rest. I suppose Andi must have fallen asleep as well because when I awoke, his head was in my lap and his body unmoving. In an attempt not to wake him, I carefully and quietly slipped my fingers into my jean pocket to retrieve my cell. My sleep ridden eyes were snapped awake to full alertness when they spotted the light up screen of the phone.

9:10!!!!! Dad is going to kill me!! Not to mention what he'll will do if he finds out who I've been with. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!

At some point in my mental panic breakdown, Andi had apparently awoken. He raised his head off my lap and sat up slowly.

"Whats going on?"

Before I could respond I saw his eyes scan around the cave and he shot out another question, "Jeezus, what time is it?"

"Ten after nine," I stood and grabbed his arm, pulling him up as well, "We have to go. My dad is going to absolutely murder me!"

Andi chuckled, "I almost wish I could care what my mom would think.. But lets get you home. Follow closely, its wet and I don't want you to slip."

At the mention of his mom, my mind flashed back to our earlier conversation but I followed his advice and carefully placed my steps. Even with my precautions, I managed to take a few stumbles as I was unfamiliar with the area. After the third tumble I took, Andi turned and took ahold of my hand. The ridiculous butterflies found their way into my chest again and I was oblivious to where he lead me. He could have lead me off a cliff at the point and I would have taken no notice.

"Alex.. Yo, earth to Alex." Andi's voice finally penetrated through my thoughts and I centered my attention on it.

"Yea?"

"Your parents? Its late, you have to get home. Ring a bell?" Andi asked amused.

"S**t. Yeah, lets go."

Andi eyes drifted downward, "Well, honey I hate to break it to you but you're going to have to let go of my hand if you wanna leave."

As he spoke I followed his gaze and found my hand still latched onto his. My entire body flushed with embarrassment and I jerked our hands apart.

Andi smirked at my reaction and hopped into the truck, starting the engine. I ran over to the passenger side and jumped in, half afraid he might leave. The drive was silent for most of the way and as we went along things began to become familiar again. After about ten minutes Andi broke the silence with an inquiry.

"You know, to get you home, you're going to have to tell me where you live"

"Right.. Okay. Up here by the school, take the first right once you're past it and then its the third left. Keep going along that road and my street is Oakland Dr. House number 53157."

"Got it." Andi spoke, never once taking his eyes off the road.

That was something I liked about him I decided. He was a careful driver which also made him a good driver. Maybe if something did develop out of all of this, he would teach me. I smiled at the thought. As we passed the school, a crowd of skaters caught my eye.

"Andi?"

"Yea?"

"When we were at the nurses office, Ms. Greyhelder, she mentioned you skate."

Andi laughed, "I do more than just 'skate' babe. It's practically my life."

"Do- Do you think you teach me sometime?" I questioned, fumbling my words.

The light from passing cars light up the truck and I saw a grin grace Andi's face.

"I'd love too."

We passed the rest of drive in comfortable silence and I was almost disappointed when we arrived at my house.

Andi shut off the engine and turned to me, "I'll walk you up."

For some reason, those simple words sent my heart pounding. In every movie, every book, every story, every anything, this was where the girl got kissed. It was classic. I wasn't sure I wanted it, despite everything. I'd known him a day and I wasn't one to give my heart up so easily.

We arrived at my front door and Andi appeared to be almost as nervous as I was.

"Well, um..I should go.." Andi spoke in an uncertain voice, his eyes searching mine.

"Yea.."

Just as he took a step closer and began to lower his head to mine the front door was open. Light spilled out and illuminated the front porch. Andi immediately wrenched his head up and I swiveled around to meet the fiery gaze of my father.

"I thought I heard someone out here! Alex! Where have you been?!" his voice was stern. I could tell he was wavering between being completely furious and close to tears out of concern.

I thought fast, I wanted to work the concern part to my favor but I knew I couldn't lie.

"We-," I sighed, "Dad, we lost track of time. I'm sorry."

I hung my head.

"Wha- We?" he asked with a raised brow, seeming confused even as he tried to maintain the angry front, "Who were you with?!"

I turned, perplexed, Andi was still there, wasn't he? I saw he had stepped back out of the light and assumed he had as soon as the door was opened. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't seen what could have been an almost kiss. He hadn't even known he was there. But, I reminded myself not to get too relaxed, there was still a problem. How was I going to explain the situation to my dad without it coming out totally wrong?

I reached back and seized Andi's arm bringing him into the light.

"I was with him." I stated simply.

I saw his face go livid and knew I was going to have to think fast to get out of this one.

"ALEX! I-"

"Dad! Dad, chill. It's totally cool."

"Alex, you were out with a guy past dark! How can you say it's 'cool'?!"

"Because..," my mind was in overload as I thought of something to say.

"He's gay."