Chapter 7

"Hey," Atticus smiled when I opened the door. "You ready?"

"I think so," I smiled. "Bye dad!" I called behind my back.

"Try to be back by eleven."

"Will do," Atticus called back. He took my hand and led me tohis car. "Your seat," he opened my door and gestured to the passengers sear of his blue Camaro.

"Why thank you," I giggled. "So, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, my lips are sealed." he said.

I decided to just let it ride, I loved surprises. We drove around for about half an hour until Atticus turned off the engine and took out the keys.

"Uhhhh...I can't see..." I said awkwardly when I got out of the car. I felt a hand grab mine, I shrieked.

"Gosh it's only me," Atticus laughed. "Give me your hand and I'll lead the way." He took my hand, and using a flashlight, led me to a little tiny park. He spread a blanket out under a tree and pulled a picnic basket out from behind his back. He turned on the biggest flashlight he could find, and sat down. "Ta da!"

"Awwww, a picnic."

"Yep," he smiled. "Do you like it? I spend a lot of time here alone during the day, I thought it might be a cool place for a first date. But if you don't like it we can always..."

"I love it," I rested my hand on his.

"Oh good," he sighed.

"Why are you so nervous?" I asked as he pulled the food out of the picnic basket.

"Cause I'm a dude and you're a pretty girl." I saw him blush in the beam of the flashlight.

"I'm flattered," I smiled. "But you really shouldn't be nervous."

"Yes, I should," he passed me some bread and gestured to the sandwich making supplies. "Matt says you are gonna dump me, and we you do, he's gonna become your boyfriend. Not that just one date makes me you boyfriend. Unless you want me to be your boyfriend but if you don't..."

"Shhh," I put my finger over his lip. "Matt's not gonna be my boyfriend, I don't like him, I like you."

"I like you too," Atticus said a smiled. After that everything relaxed and we could just hang out. It was fun. We talked about our previous acting experiences, I told him about the US, and we agreed to try recording some music together. All was going smoothly until he brought up family.

"You dad seems really cool," he said taking the final bite of his sandwich. "It seems like he's taught you a lot of things, but you haven't said anything about your mom. What's she like? Has she taught you anything?"

I froze. "She taught me that what doesn't kill you," I took a deep breath, "makes you stronger."

"I sense there's a deeper meaning to this," Atticus took my hand.

"There is..."

"You wana tell me what it is?"

"My mother," I looked down at the blanket, "Is dead."

Atticus gasped, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," I whimpered, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"You wana talk about it?"

I could tell he was curious, but afraid to push it. "You want the whole story, or the abbreviated version?"

"The whole story, if your willing to tell it."

"Okay," I took a deep breath and began my story. "After I was born my mom got really sick, and really weak, and about 3 weeks later passed away." I shivered. Atticus noticed this and took off his jacket and laid it over my shoulders. "My dad raised me, with the help of some of his female friends, and I was okay. When I was little people thought it was weird that I didn't have a mom, but nobody said to much about it. Then in middle school, so kid called me a mutant, and everybody started torturing me about it."

"What did you do?" he asked scooting closer to me.

"I punched one kid in the nose," I laughed leaning my head on his shoulder. "But I was still a traumatized, emotional reck, so I spent a lot of time with a psychiatrist. And when I wasn't in the psychiatrist's office I was being back stabbed but some stupid group of girls who I thought were my friends, or at the

boxing gym yelling, and hitting things. My dad tried to help me, but it was...hard."

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"It's not your fault. I think I'll be okay here in Canada. You and the rest of the cast seem nice. I really don't get this emotional all the time." I said blowing my nose. "As long as nobody ever says "freak family" or "mutant" or "she

killed her mom" I don't throw any punches."

"Why didn't you tell me?" There was a worried look on his face.

"I was afraid I'd get all emotional like this, tell you everything, and you'd think I was a crazy person. People don;t like the word psychiatrist."

"I don't think you're crazy at all." he whispered taking my head in his hands. "I think your the most beautiful amazing talented and wonderful girl I've ever met." and with that, he kissed me. He pulled away, smiled, and kissed me again. "I don't care what Matt says, I like you."

"There you go. What's Matt gonna do anyway? Besides, I just might like you too," and we kissed a little more.

A/N Shocker right? I feel like Disney killing off my own mother, but I have this weird thing about guys loving girls with troubled lives or something. I find it romantic. Comment and tell me how you feel about this.