Page 68 of Into the Mountains
“Care to elaborate on that, Elias?” Sky levels me with a look that would scare a bear if they happened to stroll into our camp.
So, with Charlotte’s permission, I explain our story. From the beginning where I started having feelings for her, to seeing past that friendship line, but too afraid to go for it because I thought she hated me. I tell them about graduation and how I always wished I’d have gone to talk to her more, but I never did. I was so wrapped up in my parents and their own drama I couldn’t see anything past the blinders I had on. Filling them in on my first year of college was fun and I don’t know if it’s something I want to relive. Feeling lonely even though I had Alan and Ash. And then I got to the end of freshman year. I tell them everything, not once looking away from Charlotte.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ELIAS
JULY - FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
THE LAST DATE
Two months. That’s all it took for me to fall head over heels for the red-haired woman sitting beside me in the passenger seat. I was a goner for her before and not much has changed it seems.
Our playlist filters through the speakers and cascades around the sound of the wind. A Green Day song comes on and Charlotte reaches for the dial, turning it up as loud as possible.
I glance over at her for a brief moment and all I want to do is sear it into my memories so I never forget it. The way she looks with the sun shining on her face, accentuating her freckles, strands of hair coming loose from her low ponytail and the way she is unashamedly belting out the lyrics to “American Idiot.”
If I could safely stare at her for the rest of the night as she is right now, I wouldn’t hesitate to do just that. But we have a dateto get to. One that she mentioned last week she’s always wanted to try, but never had the chance to and since she found out about what her parents were keeping from her, I just want to see her smile and forget, even if it’s just for a few hours.
“Are you ready?” I turn down the music as we pull into our destination.
It takes her a second to figure out where we are and what I have planned, but when she does, her head whips in my direction, hair flying with it. “You’re kidding?” she exclaims, a smile fully reaching her eyes. One I haven’t seen in a few weeks. My heart has palpitations at the sight of it.
“Not in the slightest, red.”
She squeals and practically barrels out of the car with the seatbelt still strapped to her. I can’t help but laugh at the excitement protruding from her whole body.
When I join her side, I plant a kiss on the side of her head, but it’s not enough for her. She throws her arms around me and kisses me right on the mouth, uncaring that we are surrounded by people waiting in line.
“Are we on the same team or are we re-awakening our rivalry for one day?”
“Oh I don’t think I ever want to be on different teams again.”
“Deal.” She slides down my body as we wait to get a spot in the paintball arena. There’s a group of five guys that look to be college age a few yards away getting ready for the next match. A few of them are riled up and barking at each other, reminding me of the frat back at university. That group would be Ash’s style. Another group consisting of three males and two females, a more subdued group I might add, sits on the other side of the field, lacing up their boots and laughing together. My fingers are crossed we get into that one. The last couple in front of us is pointed to the louder group and I think we are lucky.
Once we get to the front of the line, I pull out my wallet and pay for our tickets and gear. He motions us to the group of five other players and we make our way over to them.
One of the girls jumps up and starts to introduce herself before a look of recognition spreads on her face. “Ahhhh!” She screams at the same time Charlotte does. They descend into a fit of laughter and hugging and I’m not too sure what to do with myself until the blonde next to her comes up to me and makes an introduction.
“I’m Meredith,” she says, sticking her hand out. “And that,” she gestures to the brown-haired girl hugging Charlotte, “Is my fiancée, Andy.”
“Yourwhat?” Charlotte screeches and reaches for her—I’m assuming—friend’s hand. “When? How?”
Andy goes into explanation of their proposal and how she expected it, but didn’t expect it that day. They both look fairly young and I wonder if they’re the same age as us. Andy looks vaguely familiar.
“Have we met before?” I ask her and immediately regret it when her and Charlotte both roll their eyes at each other.
“Really? After I served you both coffee on your first date?Andwe went to high school together, Elias.”
And now I look like an idiot. Of course, Andy. She was always right there next to Charlotte, studying in the library or walking down the street to and from school.
“Andy. Of course. I’m sorry. It’s been a while and your hair is different.” She runs her fingers through her pixie cut and smooths it down.
“I needed to get my hair cut. Once I turned eighteen and graduated, I was able to make my own choices instead of my mom trying to make them for me. She was pissed I cut it, but she got over it. Once she found out I was engaged, that was the last straw, though.”
A flash of pain crosses her features before she shoves it away and looks over at Meredith, a look of pure bliss erasing anything that was there a moment before.
“I know the feeling when it comes to difficult mothers. And going no-contact.”
