Chapter 1.
I have only been in love once. But I can tell you now; it was the greatest years of my life. It took 6 years to fall in love with Him and 1 year to lose him. Let me tell you about the summers we spent together. Beginning to end.
1st summer.
My mother told me I was being stubborn. She never really understood why I did the things I did. So I do the only thing possible. I run. I could hear my mother calling me but I didn't stop. I ran until the town was a blur behind me. I found a hill with a tree on it, A sycamore tree, to be exact. I sat under the tree. It was very quiet up here, on this hill. You could think of the strangest things up here and no one would judge you.
"One day, soon I hope, I will make it farther than this point in this world" I say out loud.
"Well that's a weird thing to say" a voice says. I look around but don't find anyone around.
"I must be hearing things" I say.
"Nope, I believe I am real and you are not hearing things" the voice says again, I look around, Still no one.
"Can you please come out so I can see you" I say.
"I don't think I can" the voice says.
"Well why not?" I ask.
"Because I am waiting for someone. I was told not to leave where I am hiding" the voice says. I look up into the branches of the tree. I see him. A boy with red hair and the cutest smile.
"Are you stuck?" I ask. He laughs.
"Of course not" he says.
"Alright then I guess I will be leaving" I say, getting up from where I am sitting.
"Wait, tomorrow, come back here and I will introduce myself properly" he says. I smile and wave and make my way down the hill. What a nice boy. I remember I ran from my mom again and I am afraid to go home, I know she will be angry. The walk takes about 15 minutes before I stand in front of my door.
I open it to find my mother with a scowl.
"Where have you been? Tallulah, I thought me and your father raised you better" she says shaking her head. I hate when my mother uses my name. I prefer Tally.
"I'm sorry mom, but I needed to go for a walk" I say, taking a seat on the couch in the living room.
"You are eleven, why do you need to go for a walk?" she asks.
"I need to go for walks because you and dad never let me be alone. You're always asking me questions about what I want to do with life; an eleven year old wouldn't know those answers. I just needed time alone" I say.
"Go to your room now" She says. I get up and walk up to my room.
I sleep easy that night knowing that tomorrow will be fun to make a new friend.
Next day.
Its early morning. My parents are still asleep. My clock says 9:30. It's a weekend so they like to sleep in. I pull on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I tie my long black hair back into a high ponytail. I leave a note telling my parents I am going to the park with a friend.
It takes me 20 minutes to make it to the hill. When I reach the top I see him standing there. He turns around when he hears me. He smiles. I kind of like his smile.
"Hello" I say.
"Hello" he says.
"Um, I'm Tallulah" I say holding out my hand.
"I'm Fred" he says and shakes my hand.
"So, what do you want to do?" I ask.
"Well, come with me" he says. Still holding my hand.
He pulls me down the hill, opposite the way I came. He leads me through a forest. I don't really like forests, but I feel safe. He leads me until we stand in front of a lake.
"Do you know how to skip stones?" he asks. I shake my head.
"Oh, well there is a first for everything" he says and picks up a stone. He picks up a stone and throws it. It skips three times. I laugh.
"What's so funny?" Fred asks.
"This seems stupid" I say. He frowns.
"I like skipping stones" He says.
"So, just because you do, doesn't mean that other people will too" I say. he frowns again.
"Just try, It isn't that hard" he says and hands me a stone. I take it and try to throw it like he did. I splashes into the water. Fred laughs.
"It isn't funny. It's actually quite hard" I say. He just shakes his head and laugh.
The rest of the day went by fast. Fred tried to teach me how to skip stones, but I failed. He was always laughing but there was a shy side to him. At one point he had put his hand on mine to move my hand. He couldn't stop blushing.
I came home to a empty house.
There was a note on the fridge.
Dear Tallulah,
Me and your father are going out for dinner.
Ms. Jackson is coming by at 6 to cook you something to eat.
We will be back by eleven.
Love,
Mom & Dad.
I ripped up the note and threw it away, like I care if they go out without me. I could care less.
That night I went to bed early. I have to wake up early tomorrow, before dawn. I want to watch the sun rise from the hill.