Page 27 of Running Winter

"There's a gorgeous spot by the lake. No one is here at this hour either, so you’re alone with your thoughts." Rayna smiled, turning back to me as I nodded.

Did she come here alone?

"You shouldn't come on your own, Rayna," I said, voicing my thoughts. "So many sick fucks out there, you just can't be too sure."

"Well, I've been good so far." Rayna shrugged, pushing a branch back and holding it in place for me. I grabbed it, ducking below it as I followed her down the path that seems to lead to the lake.

"Yeah, but make sure you change your routine," I commanded, feeling like her big brother all of a sudden. "If you come here at the same time every day, then you'll be an easy target."

"Rafe, I'm flattered you care. But honestly, no one is tracking me. I come here every Sunday morning at this hour; I have done so for years. I'm still alive."

I shook my head, wondering if she even carried any form of protection with her. I bet she didn't.

We reach the lake, and for a moment, I was stunned.

The water was utterly still, despite the soft wind blowing across its surface. The mountains were the kind that made you realize how small and insignificant you were in comparison, and I stared at them in awe. Despite living so close to this place, I never came here. Maybe because my family didn't bother either, but I decided then and there that Little Burg Lake was now my new favorite place.

A clicking sound interrupted the silence, and I noticed Rayna photographing the scene before us, a dreamy smile on her lips. She then sat cross-legged and pulled out her sketchbook.

I sat beside her, watching her as she began to sketch, but she wasn’t sketching what she could see—instead, she was sketching a waterfall, and it was incredibly good.

I dragged my book out and studied the scene for some time before I began to scrape my pencil over the paper.

The slate grey was the exact shade I wanted, and I was soon lost in what I was doing. I added pressure to my pencil now and then, and I noticed Rayna by my side, peering at the page I was working on.

"Oh my God, Rafe. That's…" she began, her eyes wide as she studied me.

I continued sketching, and Rayna watched me, entranced. I glanced at her and began to shade in more detail.

"Is that…" Rayna began breathlessly.

My pencil hovered over the page as I realized what I was doing.

"Is that me?"

I stared down at the image of a woman staring back at me. Behind her thick-rimmed glasses, her eyes dominated the show, a deep grey that seemed to stare into your soul. I'd drawn her hair down because I preferred it like that. She seemed more carefree. In her hand was a sketchbook, and her lips wore a smile I'd probably never see again; a real come here baby, kind of smile.

"Yeah, I guess it's good that you recognize yourself. Can't be too shabby." I grinned before I added the mountains behind her.

Rayna didn't interrupt me again; instead, she focused on her own sketch.

But I continued to draw her, adding the environment exactly as it felt. Finally, Rayna spoke.

"You're never this quiet at school.” Rayna laughed, and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not."

"I like this side of you. It's almost impossible to believe the great Rafe Deacon is sitting beside me sketching at eight am, Instead of crawling out of some poor girl's bed."

I frowned then, grabbing my phone as she watched me with amusement.

It was eight am!

How the hell had the time gone so fast?

"Shit!" I scoffed, continuing to draw. "Huh, Rayna. The same goes for you—I didn't think you were anything but a little nerd who holed herself up in her room with books."

"And your cousin," she shot back smoothly as I frowned again. "Chase usually sits with me. I'm not a complete sad sack."

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