•Jenna•

I didn't run into Tyler anymore that week. But that doesn't mean that I haven't thought about him...what am I saying!? I talked to him once. That doesn't mean he likes me.
   I returned to the music store two more times to look at the piano prices. Even the keyboards are expensive. I'll probably never get one unless I start saving up my own money.
    School starts a little ways into August. My mom already has me registered. The local high school is in Columbus. It's actually in walking distance. Maybe Tyler and I could walk there on some days...
   "Jenna! Lunch!" my mother calls from downstairs. I come back down to earth as I climb off of my window seat. So far that and the woods have been the best places to get lost in my thoughts. I might go there later to get some pictures.
    The smell of hot ham and cheese wafts through the whole downstairs half of the house. Taking a seat at the dining room table, I place a ham and cheese roll on my plate and pour some lemonade. My siblings are out of town visiting their old friends while Dad is at work. At least they have friends to hang out with. Maybe I'll be able to hang out with Tyler soon.
    Mom takes a seat across from me. "So," She says while grabbing a sandwich for herself. "How are you settling in? What's your favorite part about the house?"
   "The woods," I automatically say.
   "Why the woods?"
    I shrug. "The woods are pretty. Perfect opportunity for pictures. I might head out after lunch if that's okay with you."
   "Sure, it's fine." My mom chews for a bit. "You really need to get to know people around here before you go to school that way you won't be completely lonely."
   I sigh. "I'm sure I'll find someone." I still haven't told her about Tyler. I push my chair back. "May I be excused?"
   My mom nods and I get up, putting my plate in the sink, then head upstairs to grab my camera.

     It's nice for a July day. A light breeze carries through the forest as I come to the clearing where I met Tyler. My heart sinks as I see no sign of him. He said he lives on the other side of the woods, but who knows how deep they go?
   I think suddenly of that treehouse that I saw when I first came here. Was it his? My heart races as I think of seeing him again. I still have a faint memory of where it is at. I start to walk in the direction that I think it's in, my feet crunching through the leaves and brushing ferns.
   After a few minutes, I see the faint gray box in the distance. I start to run toward it, my camera bouncing against my stomach.
   I suddenly trip, my feet flying out from under me. The ground meets me, followed by a cracking noise. Then, everything goes black.

                                ***

    My eyes blink open and I gasp, trying to remember where I am. Blurred gray is all I see. A face pops into my line of vision so abruptly that I jump and try to squirm away. Hands grasp my shoulders.
   "Shhh...," The face says in a soothing voice. "I don't know how long you've been out, but it's been a while."
    "I can't see," I whisper frantically.
    "That's normal. Your eyes should focus in a few minutes. Do you know who I am?"
     I try to think only to be met by a spitting headache. "I-I'm not sure." I've heard the voice before. It's...it's...."Wait! You're Tyler!"
   I think the face smiles. "That's right."
   I try to sit up, but Tyler grabs my hands. "Take things slowly. Don't rush."  A cool, damp cloth is laid on my forehead.
  Another wave of pain pierces my head. . I put my head in my hands and groan. The cloth falls off of my forehead. "I've got a migraine."
   "That's common," Tyler replies.
   "What happened to me?"
   "I found you not too far from here. Your head was on a rock. I'm guessing you tripped."
    "Where is here?"
    Tyler is patient with all of my questions. "You're in my tree house."
   "Is my camera okay?"
   "Yes, I looked it over for any damage."
    I sigh in relief. "What time is it?"
    He hesitates like he's checking his phone. "Three-thirty."
   "I've been out here three hours!?" I start to sit forward, only to have Tyler pushing me back again. "My mother is going to be worried sick!"
   Tyler lies me back down. I feel a quilt and pillow underneath me. "Jenna...I don't think you realize..."
   "Realize what?"
   "I think you have a concussion."
   My hands meet my head and I pull my right one away to see a red blob. "Tyler! I'm bleeding!" I start breathing quickly.
   "You have a scratch on your head from hitting the rock. Now, can you please focus for me?"
   I try to focus. I can't believe how patient he's being for me.
  "I'm going to carry you to your house. I will talk with your mom or whoever is home and you will probably be taken to the hospital. Your vision just has to clear enough for you to be able to identify your house."
   I slowly nod. Tears suddenly spill from my eyes. "Am I going to die, Tyler!?" I sound like one of those people who get their wisdom teeth removed and are doped up on laughing gas.
   He strokes my hair. "We're all going to die at some point, but no, you're not going to die right now. You'll be okay. Just breathe."
   Inhaling, I say,"I think I'm ready. My mom is probably worked sick."
   "Let me know if you need me to stop." I feel muscular arms wrap around me. "I'm going to carry you briefly over my shoulder to get you down the ladder."  
    I feel myself being readjusted and my nose meets the base of his neck. I can smell his shampoo. Mint.
  Tyler slowly climbs down the ladder, then readjusts me to carry me more comfortably once we're on the ground. "Now, what direction is your house?"
   "Ummm...," It's hard to think with a headache.  "Once you get to the clearing we met, walk past the blackberry patch and keep heading straight. My house is yellow."
   "A house of gold, eh?"
   "You could say that."
   "Tyler?"
   "Yeah?"
   "I'm scared. I don't know why."
   "You're probably just confused. It will be okay. Do you want me to sing to you?" I carefully nod, and he starts to sing.
    "Oh, Miss Believer
    "My pretty sleeper.
    "Your twisted mind is like snow on the road.
    "Your shaking shoulders prove that it's colder
    "Inside your head
    "Than the winter of dead."
     Tyler almost puts me to sleep with his voice. It's so angelic. He finishes the song and I clap. "Did you write that yourself?" I murmur.
    "Yes," he says shyly. My vision is clearing enough for me to see him blush.
   "It was beautiful."
   "Thank you."
   I look around and see light through the trees ahead. My vision is starting to return. "I think we're almost there."
   Tyler stops walking at the edge of the trees. "Is this it?"
   I look up at the yellow house and recognize my window seat. "Yes."
   He carries me onto the deck and knocks on the sliding door of the back porch. I'd like to see him explain this. Hurrying footsteps sound from in the house as my mom appears at the door, a frantic look on her face. "Jenna Black! It's been THREE HOURS! Where on earth have you been!?" Her loud voice makes me wince. Apparently, she hasn't noticed the boy carrying me yet, or thought about why I'm being carried and why there is a gash on my head.
"Ma'am, may I talk to you inside?" Tyler pipes up in a quiet voice. "It's about...your daughter." My mom appears like she's just seeing Tyler.
"O-of course. Come in."
Tyler steps through the sliding door and sets me down on the living room couch, tucking a blanket around me. Then, he follows my mom into the kitchen. The chairs scrape against the floor as they both take a seat.
Words such as "concussion," "migraine," and "hospital" drift around the room, followed by my mothers gasps.
Then, I fall asleep.