Chapter Nine:

"Are we there yet?"

"Nope."

"How about now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"Nooo."

"How about... now?"

"No."

"Now?"

Hale sighed, "For the last time Marcie, no weren't there!"

Marcie sighed, she had finished off her ice-cream twelve and a half minutes ago and they were still driving. "Can you give me a hint on where we are going?" Marcie asked.

Hale shook his head, "No hint. None."

Marcie sighed and rolled her eyes, "You're evil."

Hale shook his head, "Nah, I'm a good guy," He turned the car into an old parking lot, "Here we are."

Marcie leaned forward, "What am I suppose to being looking at?"

Hale turned off the car and pushed his door open, "We have to walk a bit."

Marcie moaned, "Walk?" She pushed her door open.

Hale nodded, "Come on." He held out his arm.

Marcie sighed and looped her arm through his, "Let's go." Marcie kicked the door shut.

Hale smiled, "Right this way."

LIDILIDI

"Okay," Hale said, "we are getting near, close your eyes."

Marcie shut her eyes, "So? How can I trust you won't lead me to my death?"
"You can't," Hale said.

"Oh great."

"But since I'm your team mate, I probably won't."

"Thanks Hale. I feel so safe."

Hale took her hand, "Just walk."

Marcie sighed, "Fine."

So Hale lead Marcie down what felt like a hill and then Marcie could hear running water. "Okay," Hale said letting go of Marcie's hand, "open your eyes."

Marcie opened up her eyes, "Wow."

She was standing on sandy patch right in front of a river. Across from the river, the bank was raised high above the water, trees grew wild and the grass was high. One tree had fallen and was laying in the river, making almost a bridge to the other side.

On the other hand, the side Marcie was standing on was sandy, with rocks, big rocks, everywhere. One big tree stood right beside the river.

Hale smiled, "This is my special hide out."

"It's beautiful Hale," Marcie sighed, lowering herself on to one of the big rocks. She kicked off her flips flops and put her feet in the river.

Hale nodded and started to climb the one tree. "What are you doing?" Marcie asked watching him climb.

"I'll be right down!"

"That's not what I asked!" Marcie called to him.

"Uh huh," Hale said as he lowered himself to the ground. In his hand he was clutching a book.

"What's that?" Marcie asked.

Hale walked over to her and handed it to her, "It's my sketch journal. I hide it up in that tree."

Marcie took it and flipped through the pictures, tons of drawling. Hale's car, birds, the river. "These are beautiful Hale, you are so talented!" She handed it back to him.

Hale nodded, "Thanks Marcie. That means a lot to me."

Marcie smiled and looked back at the river, Hale bit his lip, "Hey Marcie, I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"Can I sketch you?"

Marcie turned around, "Sketch me?"

Hale nodded, "Yeah."

Marcie shrugged, "I don't know."

"Please?"

Marcie smiled, "Here, I'll make you a deal, I'm going to take off running. You catch me, you can sketch me."

Hale sighed, "But you'll use your super speed."

Marcie shook her head, "Nope, no super speed. Give me five seconds, starting... now!"

Marcie took off, using the fallen branch as a bridge, to the other side of the river. And then she darted in and out of the trees.

But she wasn't fast enough, in a few in, out, in, outs, Marcie could hear Hale was behind her. His feet breaking fallen branches.

Marcie bit her lip, she had to run faster.

But as she tried to pick up speed, she felt a set of arms grab her around her waist. "AH!" Marcie cried. Now before you panic and think OH MY GOD HALE IS GOING TO CRUSH MARCIE! Marcie was a trained fighter, she knew that she could let Hale crush her, so as they fell. Marcie flipped them so Hale landed on his back and she landed on her stomach on top of Hale.

"I caught you," Hale said once he caught his breath.

Marcie shrugged, "I guess."

"Nice flip there Marcie."

"You were going to crush me if I didn't," Marcie said.

Hale smiled up at her, "So I can sketch you now?" He asked.

Marcie smiled, "I guess."

Hale reached up and brushed back a piece of Marcie's curly, red hair, his dark eyes meeting her grey ones.

Marcie smiled, the heat rushing to her cheeks.

"Your hair, it's so pretty."

Marcie looked at Hale, "Thanks," Then she looked down at the collar of his blue shirt. "Hale, can I tell you something."

Hale nodded, "Yea. Sure what is it Marcie?"

Marcie stared at the collar of his shirt, "It's just... I really... like you," She spit out real fast.

Hale took a deep breath and his eyes grew huge.

And that's when Marcie kissed him.

Kissed him right on the lips.

"Marcie?" Hale muttered from under her kiss.

Marcie pulled back, got one look at his face and jumped up, "I-I'm sorry!"

Hale sat up, "Marcie!" He grabbed her wrist.

Marcie yanked away, "No!" She took off running and in a flash was down on the other side and in other second across the parking lot, running past Hale's car.

Hale stared at the dust as it swirled in the air from Marcie taking off. "But Marcie," He said to the air.