I ran. I knew they would wonder where I had gone, but I couldn't stay there. I'll skip school, as usual, tomorrow. I didn't care what the teachers would think, even if they emailed my single working mom. She has too much on her plate already, plus, she's almost never home. No one would miss me, except the little friends that I had, which I was glad I didn't have my own phone, so they wouldn't bug me why I wasn't at school, nor why I left the party so early. The air felt great against my cheeks and hair. It made me feel free. Uplifted into the autumn's weather. Dead leaves crunched under my feet, as I passed several trees. No one knows how hurt I am. The little friends that I have, have their own friends which I don't feel comfortable around. Not to mention that crowd I accidently got myself into. Now I'm magically pregnant. Notice the sarcasm.

Tears streamed down my face, were they really my friends? I have to get away before I get hurt. All of a sudden, I heard someone else's feet trailing behind me. Turning around, I saw a boy I've only seen a couple times around my school including in one of my classes. He seemed like a pretty fast runner. So putting in more speed into my pace, I ran harder, despite how badly my legs stung and ached. I didn't want anyone to know how badly I was hurt. The Tears. The Pain.

Thinking fast, I decided to zig zag, by taking a few turns. Whatever the reason why he was chasing me, I concluded that he was sent to get me. My tears clouded my vision to the point where I couldn't see. By now, my throat was dry, and I needed some water. But I refused to stop. Up ahead, I saw steep slope going downward. My mind told me to slow down, but my legs rebelled. As soon as my foot hit the ground of the slope, I lost all connection to my body. Before I knew what was happening, my back landed on the hard ground. I heaved. My heart pounding hundreds of miles an hour as if it were to think I was still running. The tears choked my breathing, making me gasp for breath.

"It's okay." A soothing voice said above me, holding a bottle to my mouth. Despite the warning signals in my brain telling me it could be poison, I drank it, the fresh water refreshing my body. When my breathing slowed, and my vision, cleared up, I finally looked up and saw the same blue eyes of the boy who was chasing me.

I coughed, his strong arms, held me in the position where it was easy to breathe. He patted my back to make the cough go away. When I was done, his eyes still showed concern. "Why were you chasing me?" I ask, demanding an answer. He didn't answer right away, still making sure I was okay. Tears started to form again. He gently wiped them away.

"Because," was all he said, "you looked so lonely and upset when you left early."

"Doesn't mean you have to come chasing me," I growled. He kept a calm face.

"You would have killed yourself, there's a barbed wire surrounding the perimeter of these woods."

I didn't say anything. Those words sinking into my mind. Why would he follow me? Why would he take the time to notice my attitude? He never did that before. My own face fell, as I hugged my knees.

"I can't take this any longer." I sobbed. He didn't question me. I felt two arms awkwardly but reassuringly hug me from behind. We stayed like that for a while. The breeze cooling us off.

"Do you want to come inside?" He asked.

I shook my head, "I don't think I can after this." I expected him to get up and walk away, but he stayed.

"In that case, I hope you don't mind if I keep you company." He smiled.

I shrugged, "I don't care." We sat there for a few minutes in silence, neither of talked or said a word. It fit my mood perfectly and to tell you the truth, I didn't mind his presence at all.

"Brooke, is there something you would like to talk about?" I knew he just wanted to start up a conversation, but I wasn't in the mood.

"Like you would care," I mumbled. If he felt hurt, he didn't show it. His face remained neutral, and it drove me crazy. "Why are you acting like that?" I snapped at him.

"Like what?" He grinned.

I rolled my eyes, "Like that."

"Like what?" He asked again, only purposely turning around this time.

I groaned, "You're hopeless."

He laughed, "I was only fooling around, I feel no need to get angry or fed up with you because you didn't do anything to me."

"Exactly!" I pointed out, "I didn't do anything to you, why are you staying with me?"

"I don't see any sign saying that I can't." he argued.

"Well, how do you know I'm not giving you a sign?" I asked.

"Are you?" He raised his eyebrow, questioning me.

"No," I admitted.

"Good, that gives me full right to stay here with you." The grin returned to his face. I rolled my eyes again.

"You're still hopeless."

He lay down on the grass as he chuckled; he gazed up at the myriad of stars. "Call what you want, but you can't move me."

I let the smile creep onto my face, looking up at the stars also.

I felt a sore pain in my abdomen. I was surprised and relieved he hadn't noticed that I was pregnant. Since I was four months pregnant, it was pretty noticeable, but thank goodness, I'm pretty small for my age, and not many people pay attention to me, so all I have to do is put on an oversized sweater, and hopefully get away from the stares. This is one reason why I stopped going to church. I never really paid attention to the sermons, so it was easy to stop going. Mom still went though and never questioned why I didn't go. The stars twinkled, making me smile all over again.

"You look happy." Aiden looked over at me, noticing my smile.

"I just can't remember the last time I enjoyed an evening without everyone's whispers and stares," I told him, not thinking what I said; I wished I could take it back.

"Why would everyone whisper and stare at you?" his eyes searched mine, as he sat up.

Since I already dug a hole, I didn't want to dig it deeper with my lies and get tongue tied. I slowly let go of my breath.

"Just don't tell anyone."

"I won't." He ran his hand through his hair, giving it a shaggier but cute look. He repositioned himself so he would pay closer attention.

"I...I'm..." I started saying, but couldn't get the words out. I haven't directly told anyone. Not even the man who made me this way. "Pregnant." My voice cracked. He didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"Do you know the father of the baby?" He asked slowly.

I nodded, "But it doesn't matter anymore."

"What do you mean, doesn't matter?"

"I mean I don't care. You probably don't know him." Even that was partly a lie, almost everyone knew the father of this baby.

He ripped grass between his fingers, "Maybe I do."

"Aiden, I said it doesn't matter!" I tried not to raise my voice, "I'll get rid of this baby anyway."

He looked shocked by my words, "You shouldn't."

"And why do you say that?! Don't get me started on that's-not-right-because-the-bible-says-so." I yelled.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Nothing. Just like that. My anger boiled. I'm guessing he's one of those church goers. Can't they already see that there is no God?

Aiden cleared his throat, "If I can prove to you why you shouldn't get rid of the baby, will you keep it?" he looked pretty serious about this whole thing.

I laughed, "Even if I keep it, who would help me take care of it? Pay the bill and such."

He was silent for a little while, before saying, "I'll help in any way I can." I looked at him, hoping he was joking, but his eyes showed otherwise.

I looked up at the sky one more time, then at him, "Okay, you got yourself a deal." Funny how I barely knew him, yet I felt confident that he would somehow convince me to keep the baby. And his promise seemed promising.