Chapter Ten

      The first weekend after school started was remarkably beautiful as our small bit of the world refused to relinquish the heat of summer. It was during this weekend that Alec's father had to go south for a couple of days... and we were invited along. Tempted as we were by the warm weather, it proved no difficulty in persuading us to load up his SUV with camping gear.

      Perhaps the only real challenge had been my persuasion of Amelia to allow me this one minute adventure. Had I not lived with her for so many years, I did not think I could accomplish it. But my manipulation of my great-aunt proved successful this one time.

      Alec and I both skipped school that Friday as our miniature road-trip began. I sat in the backseat while Alec took the front, next to his father. Because he was in the passenger seat, he called dibs on working the radio.

      When we finally arrived at our destination, I wasn't exactly surprised to find that Mr. Baldwin had rented the cabin on a crystalline lake. Unlike most lakes, as I'd learned from Alec, the houses weren't piled on top of one another and were actually generously spread out along the shores of the expanse of water. On the other side of the lake from where we were staying was a beach spread beneath a rocky outcropping. Even as we were driving past it, Alec and I could see a swarm of local teenagers throwing themselves from the edge, diving into the cerulean water with a ease I was instantly in awe of.

     From the moment we arrived, Alec and I were off like a shot. Bypassing the house entirely, we ran straight out to the dock where the end posts seemed to plunge into the lakes dark depths. Alec paused for only a moment to give me a wide grin. Tearing his shirt off over his head, he threw his jeans to the ground and flew from the edge of the dock wearing nothing but black boxers. Even as I watched him, I found that I could not breathe. At least, not until he turned to me with his exuberant smile and beckoned me to follow.

      Of course I did as he wanted. I would always do what he asked of me. My heart could command no action different from the course he had set me on. And I had no will to challenge the most absolute of things.

      The water was our escape for the rest of the day. It even proved difficult to wrest us from the cool lake in order to eat. Yet, as soon as we had scarfed the hamburgers Mr. Baldwin had expertly grilled, we were back to splashing in the lake's depth like happy eels.

      Only when the setting sun stole the last of the lingering light from the sky did we emerge from the lake. Once inside the cabin, we roasted marshmallows in the fireplace and took turns telling each other scary stories. At last, long past the time his father went to sleep and our antics had died down with the crackling fire, we found ourselves in a rare, almost-meditative state of conversation.

     "I could live somewhere like this," Alec whispered, leaning his brown head on my shoulder. "A nice giant lake outside my door. And a cozy little cabin sitting right on the water's edge. It would be paradise, don't you think?"

      A smile pulled at my lips as I leaned my head on his. It was so natural, there was no room for hesitation. In my voice, however, came quite a big of reluctance as I answered.

     "I don't think so. I imagine that the lake would take on the same meaning as the valley for me. One more expansive trap that I can never overcome. The same with any small home. It would never allow me to escape from Amelia."

      Alec was silent for a moment and I found my teeth pressing anxiously into my bottom lip. It didn't usually bode well to disagree with him, so strong was his spirit. Yet, on matters of personal opinion, he allowed me my own thoughts and did not try to change them. A fact I was most grateful for.

     "Escape," he finally sighed, as if I'd said nothing else. "Yes, it would be wonderful to escape. That school. That town. Those God-forsaken train tracks! I would like to just vanish one day. No note. No sign that I'd just up and walked away. Disappear like the wind, leaving only the chill of my absence in that blasted town."

      It unnerved me when he spoke like that. The thought of him leaving me, for any reason, made my stomach clench uncomfortably and my lungs constricted until I found it difficult to breathe. In my chest, my heart began to beat a little harder and I had to work to calm myself. No, it was not the first time he spoke of just disappearing. But that didn't make it easier any other time.

     "Well," Alec yawned, "I think it's time for bed. What do you think?"

      Nodding silently, I rose to my feet beside him and stretched my arms above my head, mimicking his own movements. Silently, we retrieved our pajamas and took turns in the second bathroom before heading into the second bedroom. Twin beds flanked a nightstand with a lamp perched on its wooden surface. Once we were comfortable— Alec cocooned so tightly I wondered at his ability to breathe— I reached out a hand and turned off the dim light, plunging us into the darkness.

      Despite my anxiety, I slept deeply that night and only woke when the bright morning light flowed through the parted curtains to land directly on my face. Stumbling from bed, I noticed immediately that Alec wasn't in bed. My heart lurched for a moment until I heard his distinctive laugh from the main part of the cabin. His dad's own chuckle answered and I was able to breathe easy once more.

      Moving in a mechanical fashion, I gathered clean clothes for a quick shower, eager to rejoin my friend. Just as I was about to exist the room however, I nearly tripped over the worn pair of converse Alec had given me last Christmas. Frowning slightly, I looked down at the misplaced shoes; I was certain I'd left them neatly off to the side of the front door.

      Then I saw what he had done and a smile spread wide across my face.

      Written in the black permanent marked on one shoe was 'Never' whilst the other shoe held the world 'say Never'. It was my own personal assurance that he had heard every word I said last night. And his own advice on the matter.

      Never say never.