Chapter 7

The Ninja hopped from the rooftops, Lex clinging to him in fear that she'd fall. Lex looked around, noticing how she'd taken this same path the night she'd snuck out. Lex beamed and laughed a bit when the Ninja leaped onto a tree, just barely keeping his balance.

"I thought ninjas were supposed to be agile?" She joked.

"I'm agile! Just not when I'm jumping into a tree with a girl on my back." The Ninja replied as he leaped.

"So, where are we going?"

"I have a few ideas, but if it doesn't work, I'm letting you choose where we go."

"Nice to know you had a backup plan." Lex laughed. The Ninja jumped around, Lex wondering all the while where he planned to take her.

"Almost there, so hold tight." The Ninja said over his shoulder. They kept going for a bit until they stopped at the entrance to what looked like a park. A sign above the fence surrounding it read "Norrisville State Park".

"You brought me here?" Lex asked.

"Yep!" He responded.

"But…it's closed."

"For everyone else, maybe," He jumped into the air and landed perfectly on the other side of the locked fence. "But not us." He set her down gently onto the dew covered grass.

"Why here?"

"Well, I thought those nature doodles on the cover of your notebook meant you'd enjoy this."

"Smart."

"C'mon! I have to show you something really Bruce!" The Ninja grasped her hand (a bit hesitantly, but still) and tugged, trying to get her to follow him. She walked along behind the Ninja as he led her through the trees, looking back at her occasionally.

"Almost there." After a few moments, they stumbled across a clearing, a few dandelions and orchids littered across the grass.

"Cool yet?" The Ninja asked.

"It's…beautiful." Lex said, covering her mouth with her hand in a gesture I disbelief.

"It gets better!" He walked her toward the center of the clearing and smiled.

"Now, look up." Lex looked up and gasped. There were thousands of starts dotting the sky above the clearing. Glittering diamonds in a sea of navy blue.

"It's…just…amazing." Lex beamed, shining almost as brightly as the stars.

"I think my strategy has worked!" The Ninja chuckled.

"How did you even find this place?" Lex breathed.

"Oh, you know. Stumble off a path enough times and you find this."

"So you're telling me this was an accident?"

"No! I just meant…uh…" Lex laughed and laid down in the grass, gazing at the stars.

"W-what are you doing?" The Ninja asked.

"Stargazing, what does it look like? Care to join me?" Lex said, patting the space next to her. The Ninja seemed a bit shy about it, but sat down next to her.

"Nope, you have to lay down." He sat back slightly, resting on the palms of his hands on the grass.

"Nope." He propped up on his elbows.

"Fully." He finally laid down, still looking at Lex.

"Now: look up." The Ninja did as she said and noticed how much better the sky looked that was. The grass brushing against their faces due to the slight breeze, the moon shining gorgeously onto the clearing, and the stars seeming everywhere.

"Wow…"

"I knew you'd think it was cooler from this view."

"How'd you know it would look this amazing?"

"…my mom taught me. I never had a telescope, so we would look at the stars while laying on a picnic blanket in the park. It was a million times better than looking through any telescope." Lex chuckled, though the Ninja seemed to noticed the many emotions swimming in her eyes.

"You're close to her, huh?" "I was." Lex turned away, her back facing the Ninja.

*Randy*

Randy stared at Lex's back, processing what she had just said. 'Was?' He thought. And then it clicked. 'Her mom is…' Randy heard her sniffle and was taken aback. 'Is she…crying?'

"Lex?" He reached out a hand and set it gingerly on her shoulder, as if afraid he'd break her.

"Yeah?"

"Are you…alright?" 'You idiot. Of course she's not alright. You just brought up her deceased mother!' Randy mentally facepalmed.

"I'm fine." Lex sat up, still not looking at Randy. Randy sighed and looked at her.

"Lex."

"What?" She still didn't turn to him.

"Look at me." Lex refused. Randy sighed again and grasped both her shoulders, turning her around so she faced him.

"You're clearly not alright. I can see it in your eyes." Lex looked down.

"I'm fine, Ninja."

"Now that," he cupped her face in his hands. "Is the biggest lie I've ever heard."

"What's it matter to you? I assume you don't know what it's like to lose the one person you cared for. You don't know what it's like to have everyday of your life spent wishing for the impossible. You don't know what it's like to be alone!" Lex choked on her words and tears brimmed in her eyes.

"You're right. I don't know what it's like. However," Randy wiped her cheek with his thumb when a tear trickled down, "I do know that you're hurting inside. That's why it matters to me." What Lex did next surprised the both of them. She threw her arms around Randy's torso and sobbed lightly into his chest. Randy sat there in what could only be described as pure shock. This was NOT the Lex he knew. The Lex he had met was strong, feisty, stubborn, and didn't show sad emotion. The Lex currently crying openly in front of him was fragile and broken.

"Shh shh. It's okay." Randy cooed, finally wrapping his arms around Lex. He could feel the tears hitting his suit, but he didn't care.

"I miss my mom so much… I miss my family being together… I miss having a normal life…" Lex cried, hugging Randy tighter.

"It's fine…I'm here." Randy let her go and looked Lex in her now reddened eyes.

"Let's get you home, okay? You can cry all you want into that pillow of yours and I promise tomorrow you'll feel way better, okay?" Lex nodded and sniffled much like a child. Shyly, Randy lifted her up bridal style and began to run back towards the suburb. Once they arrived, Ranch spotted an open window and, upon further inspection, assumed it was Lex's bedroom. He gently set her on the black and purple bed and, with a quick glance back at her peaceful form, disappeared into the night.