My navy blue Converse All-Stars scrapped the short, green blades of grass as I dragged myself across the wide front yard, gazing up lazily at the clear blue sky. Looking back behind me to make sure Carol wasn't watching, I sucked in a long, deep breath of the clean mountain air. Surprisingly enough, the air actually was much cleaner up here than in the city. Although it still sorta hurt to take in deep breaths, it was much easier to do here, then in the polluted New York City. I exhaled the air through my nose, feeling the cool breeze swim through my raven-colored hair. The tree branches above shook gently with the wind, making a calming whoosh sound.

I opened my eyes, looking around me again. I was in a small clearing about 40 yards away from the house. Right in front of me, was a thin parting in the trees, revealing rolling mountains and sky. I walked over to the space, thinking that the view would be absolutely great; but, having my head looking straight forward, I must not have noticed that that little opening between the trees was actually about a 50 foot drop off. I didn't notice this fact until I felt my foot falling on air, not ground. Alarm and fear blossomed in my chest as I basically walked right off the cliff face.

My eyes widened as I caught a glimpse of the steep, rocky edge of the cliff, and the thick forest below it. I twisted my body so that I was again facing the clearing behind me. My hand instinctively went out to catch hold of something, anything, but only grasped thin air. I was too scared to scream out, my throat closing up in terror.

I'm going to die.

This realization chewed at my brain as time seemed to stop before me. It was as if someone had pressed the 'Slow' button on a remote. The ground was easily leaving my sight as I began to fall, slow motion. I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing that I would either have a heart-attack before I could actually get smashed at the bottom, or I would just fall to my death, watching as the ground above me became smaller and smaller.

But nothing happened. I didn't feel that overwhelming rush that one would normally get by falling more than 10 stories- nor did I feel the wind push against my body as I fell. Nothing. But then, I felt something catch my arm, and hold me there in mid-air. Forcing my eyes open, I gazed shakily up at what had caught my arm, half-expecting a branch snagged on my shirt sleeve. But no- it was no branch- it was a boy. My eyes widened even more- what was this kid doing here?! There wasn't supposed to be anyone around here for miles!

Or so I had thought...

He wasn't with the movers either- much too young, even thought he looked about my age. He stared down at me with forest-green eyes, his face pinched up with the effort of hanging onto my weight.

"Whoa, there!" he said, his voice heavy with what sounded like a New-Zealand accent. "Ya know, it's not very good falling off cliffs like that. Someone could get hurt."

Was he trying to be funny? Because it wasn't really working."J-just get me up there, will ya?!" I stuttered back, my voice unnaturally shaky.

With a grunt, he pulled his arm up, heaving me up with it. In no time, he had successfully dragged me up and over the cliff. I crumpled onto the grass on my hands and knees, breathing heavily and painfully. I must've been so wrapped up in my near-death experience, that I had totally forgotten about my condition. Now it came rushing back to me, the pain slapping me the face like an angry ex-girlfriend.

I bent over and starting coughing up a storm, feeling as if I hacked up a lung or two. After about two full minutes of hacking and wheezing, I finally felt the pain and pressure start to subside. Picking my head up slightly, I sat back, my legs pressed loosely against my hip. I pressed my hand against my chest, taking slow, ragged breaths, trying to shake off the after effects of my fall.

"Hey...are you ok?"

The sudden voice shook me from my stupor. I looked up to meet the concerned face of the guy that had remarkably saved my life. He sat cross-legged on the grass, arms held back for support. He had sun-bleached dirty blond hair, and-quite frankly- gorgeous forest-green eyes. His skin was a dark, tanned color, apparently from working outside all day every day. He was quite well-toned too; although I have NO idea why I was thinking that. That near-death fall must've screwed up my brain more than I thought.

I nodded my head. "Y-yeah....I'm...I'm great." I ran a still slightly shaking hand through my black locks, sighing in exasperation. "Um...T-thanks for..saving me..."

The boy smiled at me, making me blush-wait, why was I blushing at ithat/i?! It's not like I loved the guy or anything!

"Not a problem. Thought you'd might need a hand- falling off a cliff and all," he said, chuckling, laughing at his own joke. Wow. What a looney.

Clearing my throat, I brushed a piece of hair out my face and tucked behind an ear. "So uh....W...why are you out here? There's isupposedly/i no one around here for miles."

"I really should be asking iyou/i the same question," he answered, giving me a crooked grin.

"I asked first." I said sternly, my face flat as a board.

"Ah I see," he chuckled, his green orbs rolling."Ok. Fairs, fair- I live about a mile from here in the middle of these woods with my old man." He jutted a thumb towards the right.

"Is that right?" I mumbled out the corner of my mouth, gazing towards the suggested direction.

"Yup. OK, now you- what brings you to this lovely part of town?"

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "My step-mother and I just moved into that old house back there this morning," I replied, pointing behind me in the direction I had came from. The boy's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh, you're the ones who are moving into the old Pennington place. Hmmm..." His hand went up to hold his chin, his brow furrowing in thought. Suddenly, he shot up from his position on the ground, dusting the invisible dirt from his jeans. His abrupt action startled me, causing me to flinch back.

The boy's hand reached down, hovering in front of me. "Well, little lady- seeing as /you/ were the one who walked herself off a cliff, it'll be my /pleasure/ to escort you back to your home."

My eyes narrowed. "Are you being funny?"

His eyes widened in mock disbelief. "What? Me? Perish the thought! I'm just trying to be an honorable neighbor, is all."

You know, I almost did not take that hand. But as I looked up into his smiling, tanned face, my mind betrayed me and did just the opposite. My own hand reached out slowly, unsure at first, but then grasped the out-stretched hand. His skin was a great contrast to my own pale ivory colored skin-which, for some reason, was kind of unsettling.

With a smile, he pulled me up from the ground. "Oh! You know, I almost forgot to mention!" he said, smacking his fist into his other palm. He turned to me, green irises sparkling. "My name is William. William Anderson- but my friends' call me Will."

I gave him a bored look. Why did something tell me that this guy did not have any friends?

"I'm Amber. Amber Smith." This new fact seemed to cheer him up a lot for some odd reason.

"Well, Miss Amber. Let us be off- don't want your step-mother worrying." I rolled my eyes. Ya. Sure.

We traveled through the thick woods for about six minutes in silence. Had it taken me this long to get to that clearing before? After what felt like forever, we emerged from the thicket, shaking and pulling stray leaves or branched from our clothes and hair. As I was pulling a small twig from my hair, I noticed that the movers were already at the house, Carol conversing lively with one of them.

I sighed, slapping a hand to my forehead. How did I ever put up with this woman?

Will walked up beside me. "What's wrong?"

Pulling my hand down my face slowly to emphasize my aggravation, I gave him a cross look. "My step-mother is the problem." Heaving another sigh, I began to walk towards the house, Will close behind me.

"Oh, yes! It is quite nice isn't it? Such wide open space!" Carol was saying, laughing brightly. The mover guy just stood there, nodding and smiling. From where I was standing, the guy looked like a trapped animal. Poor dude.

Walking behind Carol, I cleared my throat loudly, almost saying 'Carol, leave the poor guy alone- he did nothing to you to make you corner the guy.' causing Carol to stop mid-sentence, and turn around.

"Ah, Amber! Finished with your exploring? I would hope that you didn't get into any kind of...trouble while you were out galavanting."

"No, Carol, I did not get into any "trouble"." I lied, quoting the 'trouble' with my fingers.

"Well that's good- I would surely hope no-" she stopped, her eyes traveling over my head. She must've spotted Will. "Amber", she said a last, still staring. "Who is this?"

Before I could answer, Will popped up besides me, saying, "Oh hello there. I'm William Anderson- I live a couple of miles from here with my dad. It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand, smiling. I ground my teeth in frustration.

I glanced back up at Carol- her eyes widened in understanding. "Oh! You must be Richards' boy yes? It's very nice too meet you too- My name is Carol Smith." she said, shaking his hand. Wait...Carol knew Will's dad? How? I hought she had said there was no one around here for hundreds of miles!

"Ah, you know my pops?"

"Why yes, I do. Your father is the one I bought this wonderful place from."

Oh. That's how... Well she could have atleast TOLD me about that.

"Ah, I see." Will said.

"Miss Smith-" said a gruff voice from behind Carol. I turned around to see two buff-looking men in dirty jeans and orange shirts, carrying a large brown dresser.

Carol spun around to face the men. "Ah! That goes in the master bedroom- here let me show you gentlmen." With that, she ushered the men inside, all the while spouting comments to where, and how to place the dresser.

"Your mom sure is nice." Will said, placing his hands on his hips.

I gave him a sharp, cross look. "Step mother, and yeah-whatever." I shoved my hands in my pockets, walking back towards the woods.

"Hey-where you goin'?"

"Back to that cliff so I can jump off of it." I said hotly.

"Whoa, whoa there!" I heard him shout. Not a second later, I felt a strong han grip my upper-arm. I turned around, both surprise and irritation showing spreading along my face.

"If you would be so kind as to let go, I would grately appreciate it." I spat, tugging my arm. But his grip became tighter, keeping a solid grip on my arm.

"Sorry, but I can't just let a chaming little lady like yourself to go jumping off of cliffs- now what kind of man would hat make me?"

A stupid one, I thought acidly. With a bit more force, I managed to jerk my arm from his hold. "Whatever- I wasn't going to acually do it anyway. That would have been completely idiotic." Turning on my heels, I made may way instead, towards the back of the house. I hadn't searched there yet, and besides- I was NOT going in that forest again for a WHILE.

I didn't have to look back to know that Will was following me. "So," he started,"How do you like this place so far?"

Kicking a stray rock from my path, I mumbled, "Meh. It's...well...besides the random cliffs that I'm certain are all over the place, I think this place is.....actually....very beautiful." I kicked another rock, sending it bouncing across the grass.

"Hmmm...it is isn't it? I've lived here my whole life, and still haven't seen all of it. It's quite amazing really."

"Yes, it...is." I said, tilting my head up towards the lear blue sky. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an eagel circle by, it's long, powerful wings beating up and down against the air currents. Moving my head back down, I turned my attention back to the scene in front of me.

I was already at the back of the house, a thick line of dark trees facing towards me. The back yard wasn't very large, but it was still sizable. But the grass really needed to be cut. There were long weeds sprouting up around the space randomly, and the actual grass stood at least five inches from the ground. Thee were even some dead patches in places. As for the house, the front porch wound around the back too, but unlike the front, which was bright and some-what clean, the back was dark, and gloomy, with a thick sheet of dust covering most of the old boards.

So, unlike the rest of the area around the house, it was nothing special.

"Hey, Amber?" I heard Will ask from somewhere behind me. I looked back. He was crouched in front of a small patch of flowers, his knees held against his chest, and arms wrapped around them.

"Yeah?"

"Since it's getting pretty late, how about I show you around some of the /safe/ areas here? It might do you some good to know where most everything is."

I felt my cheeks heat up slightly. Wait...why was blushing becase of /that/?! Ugh. Oh man- this guy was really starting to...well, I don't know, but whatever he was doing was driving me crazy! I turned my head back around, so as to hide the fact that my cheeks were gradually turning red.

"Um...Uh, sure...I suppose...Just...no more cliffs- I think I've had my full share of near-death experiences for now."

I heard him give a light chuckle. "Well alright then- but most of the really awesome sights have to do cliffs."

"I said no cliffs!" I huffed, placing my hands on my hips a I turned back towards him. He aparently thought that was funny, because he suddenly broke out into this loud laughter.

"Ok ok! No cliffs." He stood up, and walked over to where I was standing. "Well- it's about time I was on my way- my old man will harp on me if I'm too late. So- I'll see you tomorrow, ok? Later." With that, he bolted off in the direction of the front of the house.

I just stood there, watching silenty as he bounded off. "Bye..." I muttered quietly.

I placed my hand on my head tiredly. Oh man...all of these random new discoveries were really making my head hurt.