chapter 22

He was right. Hunter was right, it was calm at the meadow, the vast stretch  seeming endless from where we stood beautiful hues of greens, yellows, reds and blue surrounding us, adding us to their sacred romance with the rest of nature.

The wind had a special chill to it, the kind that gives you goosebumps and leaves you craving the feeling again. The sky was as clear as ever, the most spectacular of blues, hovering over us in a protective manner, cheering us on to leave the rest of the world behind and just be here.

It was surreal, the magnificence of it. And if I wasn't here right now, I'd never believe the existence of it and its capability to evoke and emit such peace, I was rendered silent. A grateful silence. 

There was an unspoken agreement between Hunter and I, one that we both honoured and found quite easy to commit to. No words were to be spoken. 

Here in the presence of such compelling peace, we watched and listened and observed, never once did we speak, because it's in such moments that you realise how frivolous words really are sometimes. 

So for the entire 45 minutes we just sat, both lost in our own little bubbles and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel like I was hiding or pretending, I didn't feel like I had  to. 

We stayed in this still state, both feeling frozen in a moment. That was the magic of this place, it makes you forget there's a world revolving, it makes you feel like there's no past or present,there's just that moment and it is precious. 

"We should get going," Hunter said looking at his phone checking the time, I wanted to protest, I didn't want to go back to normal, I did want to face who I was, I wanted to stay here in this entrancing illusion where nothing else existed, that none of my problems existed, like this is all there is to me, a girl sitting in a wildflower meadow, like a pretty picture. I didn't want to leave but I knew I couldn't stay. So I nodded and got up on my feet standing next to him and beaming, giving him the brightest smile I could master. 

He had to know this was special, he had to know I appreciated this and will always cherish this moment we shared, he didn't need to know why but he had to know I am grateful. 

So in a reckless moment of bliss I let my arms wound around his neck and I clung onto him like he was saving grace, the force of the hug being too much. I nearly threw him over but he's stronger than me so he managed to steady us and keep us from falling. 

"Thank you for sharing this heaven with me," I whispered, he stayed rigid for a minute and then he wrapped his virile hands around my back pulling me closer and making me feel safe. 

"Sorry,I got a little too hands on," I nervously said as I let go and stood in my previous position. 

He smirked, "I am not complaining, next time though try not to throw us on the ground, now I know where all that food you eat goes," he joked and I shoved him playfully as we started our journey back to my car. 

"I don't even eat that much," I defended

"Are you kidding, everytime you're over at my place you have your head in a dish," he said, completely oblivious to the hellacious ditch he'd dug himself into.

"So you watch me when I am over at your house," I asked, making it sound as innocent as possible but keeping the smirk on my face. 

He stopped walking which I did not expect, and looked me directly in my eyes giving me that devilish panty dropper smirk. 

"And what if I do Lia Jenkins?" He asked moving a step closer to me,making me nervous again, how are we always back in  this position, him bursting with confidence and me forgetting how to breathe. 

Then he laughed and a part of me relaxed knowing he was playing around, I shoved him away and led the way, I really don't want to be in this position right now, I don't want to feel what I feel. 

"Slow down jeez," he shouted to me but I didn't slow down. In fact I sped up and soon we found each other racing to the car in the most frolicsome of ways. 

"Where are we going?" I asked as we settled into the car, our breathing hard recovering from our race. 

"You'll see," he replied, starting the car and I leaned backwards into my seat, getting myself as comfortable as possible. 

Minutes later we pulled into the parking lot of a small diner-like cafe, it looked like something pulled out of the 70's I had to laugh. 

"What?" He asked 

"It's hard to imagine that a place like this exists in L.A, it looks so out of this century," I answered skipping out of the vehicle, unable to hold the excitement bubbling within me.

"Vintage lover?" He asked 

"The biggest," I smiled back and he laughed, shaking his head asif wondering where I came from but I couldn't care less, this place was the bomb and I was eager to see the interior. 

I let Hunter lead the way, and I followed closely, a silly smile playing on my face, at this point even I wasn't sure why I was so excited to be here. 

The diner itself  had a rustic and woody vibe going on, their were plants and flowers all around, all organised in the simplest yet well thought arrangement, the wall had a few faded posters and a jukebox situated at the very end of the diner and I made up my mind that that's where I wanted to sit. 

I grabbed Hunter's hand and pulled him  to the booth closest to the jukebox. There were only a few people sitting here. There was a couple that looked to be in a biker gang sitting at the other end next to the bathrooms. An old man fully engrossed in his newspaper and then Hunter and I. 

Completely bemused by the atmosphere of this little southern-like diner, I hardly noticed the middle aged lady walking towards us with a huge smile until she was directly in front of us. 

"Hunter, Hunter Daniels, is that you?" The lady asked with a deep texan accent, her voice sounded cherry and homely. 

"Yes Reiny it's me," Hunter replied light heartedly and I unconsciously kept observing their interaction. They had to have known each other a long time if they talked like that. 

"Still skipping school I see, and where's that Ashton boy, that troublesome fella, I have not seen you boys in a long minute," she gave a hearty laugh and I smiled. 

"Oh my who's  this, look how pretty she is, Hunter you didn't tell me you were replacing me that fast and with a fine young girl I see," she gushed all her focus on me and I froze like a deer in headlights, what was I supposed to say. 

"Reiny you know I'd never replace you," he joked 

"Oh shoosh, you can't fool me Hunter Daniels, what's your name beautiful?" 

"Li...Li...Lia," I stammered out and she smiled wide at me. 

"Lia, well ain't you an angel, so what are you two school skipping love birds going to order," I choked when she called us that 

"We're not together…. Hunter and I...we're not dating," I corrected in between coughs and her smile dropped a bit just for it to come back stronger. 

"See, I told you I can't replace you Reiny," Hunter jokes 

"Well that's just too bad, you too look good together," she added and somehow Hunter looked at me the same time I looked at him and our eyes locked for less than a second but it was enough for me to feel that confounding electricity in my body again. 

"That aside, what will you two be ordering," 

"The usual, Lia here needs to try your heavenly cheese burger and fries combo," he flattered and she laughed, 

"I'll be right back, want some drinks?" 

"A cola"  we both said at the same time making Reiny give us a suspicious yet knowing look. 

"Ohhh Kayyy," she replied and sauntered back to the counter. 

We were quiet a minute before I decided to speak, "she's an enigma huh," I said referring to Reiny. 

"Yeah, that woman can lift anyone's mood," he chuckled, staring into space as though remembering a wonderful memory and I just couldn't help but admire how beautiful he looked when the sun glazed over his eyes. They looked even more mesmerising when the sun rays illuminated over them, they looked lighter and more enthralling. 

"Lia" someone said  from the entrance of the diner, 

My eyes shifted from Hunter and moved to the intruding figure that had called my name. 

Shock etched on my face when  I realised that the culprit was not only familiar but was with two other people, also familiar.

My eyes glanced back at Hunter praying to God that he wouldn't turn back which was hopeless considering the trio were walking up to us

"Fuck," I whispered and Hunter chose that moment to look in the direction his bestfriend was coming from. 

The two people Ashton Parker was coincidentally with were not prepared for that, I watched as Sierra and Dylan's mouths hit the floor when they noticed who I was here with. 

"No fucking way," Dylan blurted out still obviously in shock. Sierra's hands were over her mouth and I threw my head on the table, praying and hoping that the ground would swallow me right now.