Chapter Four – Blindfolded
My fingers trace the outline of your shape
and recognize the way you pull me into you
oh you're calling out to me
not saying a thing
you're everything I need
and all that I could never, ever lose
Carsyn sat next to me in the truck, her hand just barely brushing my knee. I steered the ancient truck down the dirt road towards the beaches, glancing over at her for a moment. There was a small smile breaking her lips as the sand came into view and I couldn't resist my own smile.
"It might not be California, but it's the best Washington has to offer. Cleanest beaches in the state and you'll rarely see a tourist strolling around here," I explained, struggling with the door handle for a moment, grumbling incoherent words as I stumbled out and rushed over to Carsyn's side.
I yanked the door open for her and she smiled. There was a moment where I lost my train of thought and stood there awkwardly. I offered her my hand finally, moving slightly out of her way for her to climb out.
"You guys have a pathetic excuse for sand. Our sand is white as snow," Carsyn said softly, slipping her hand into mine. I snorted, glancing down at the dark colored sand, mixed with forest greenery and dirt.
"We're so close to the forest down here that it just mixes together." I said with a shrug as we walked along. She tilted her camera up at my face, catching the side of my face at an angle, the clouds and cliff jumps as a background. I was used to a camera in my face; Rachel had gone through a photography stage where I was the only child around that she could rope into modeling for her.
"I'm sorry, but you looked so handsome right then," Carsyn said softly and I smirked.
"When am I not?" I replied and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm used to it, my sister used to do photography," I explained with a shrug. Carsyn raised her eyebrows.
"You have a sister? How old is she?" she asked, glancing up at me.
"She's eight years older than me; she's twenty-five." I responded, glancing out at the waters.
The thought of talking about my sister again made my throat tighten up slightly and my eyes grow heavy with the possible onslaught of tears. She's been gone for four years, only coming down for holidays and the occasional weekend for Dad's birthday. But other than that, the strong connection my sister and I held from the time I could talk was severed after the accident. She'd come down for a few weeks during the summer I changed, trying to help me through it the best she could. Despite her being through it, our relationship was too estranged for her to be of much help. She moved back to Seattle, pushing every urge the change had within her aside and was studying for her medical degree. She was the role model of going against fate.
"Oh, does she live here?" Carsyn asked, glancing up at me.
"No, she lives in Seattle," I replied shortly, hoping my tone displayed that I didn't want to talk about my sister. Not now, at least, when the perfect beach lay before us and Carsyn's hand was slipped warmly in mine.
"What's your favorite animal?" I inquired, glancing back over at her, changing the subject into something easy.
"Tiger or a panda bear," she said with a small smile, before continuing. "I can't choose. What about you?" she asked, tilting her head up to me.
"Wolves," I replied with a small smirk. The urge to tell her was pressing on my chest, but that was as good as suicide.
"Just something about them," I added, jumping up onto a flat rock at the water line, pulling her with me, arms securing her close to me. Carsyn looked slightly surprised. I couldn't tell if it was the quick movement I made or my swift answer.
"That's… Cool. Wolves kind of scare me to be honest," Carsyn said and bit her lip. "I think my greatest fear is getting killed by a wild animal. They are just so big and scary," she said and I reacted with an awkward laugh.
My mind started to race.
Big and scary.
That was me.
I began to think of a way to change her mind, to look at them from a different angle.
"Maybe they are out for good, like nice big dogs," I suggested, brushing my fingers through her hair. There was a moment pause as she seemed to process that.
"I don't think so… They're big mean dogs, maybe." She said and I decided to back away from the idea of changing her mind now. She pressed her lips gently to mine, and I held her closer to me by her waist.
"Do you believe in folk tales?" I asked against her lips when she pulled away.
"Yeah, I do why?" she wondered, looking up at me. I paused, trying to recall a few of the stories that had been passed down through the pack for years.
"I'll have to have my Dad refresh me on some, because they're some really good stories." I said softly and looked down at my watch.
"Hey, would you want to go out and grab something to eat with a couple of my friends?" I asked, opening my phone, awaiting her response. She smiled.
"Sure," she said quietly and I texted Austin to meet us at Fuddruckers at five.
"Well come on, it's four-fifteen." I said and kissed her forehead. She nodded and followed after me.
