School had since been out for the summer, days were hot and boring.

I was sittin outside on the porch with the bluetick hound that showed up last week, when I saw a streak of blue fly down the dirt road and into the woods.

I decided to make my way down the hill to see what in the heck was going on.

I made my way through the dry grass and out to the dirt road. I walked along the side of the road for a moment before making my way into the brush. A few yards in front of me was a tall, dark headed boy crouching behind a stump.
"Ben?" I said in an elevated whisper.
Ben stood from his crouched position and looked me over for a moment longer than normal.
"Allie?" He said with his head tilted slightly. "What are you doing in this part of town?"
"I live right up the road from here." I said looking at my feet.
"I had no idea." Ben said, slowly emerging from the woods.
"Why in the world were you running down the road like that?" I said with a chuckle.
Ben started to walk in the opposite direction from me. "It's complicated." He said louder than normal.
I turned my head to face my house. If daddy knows I left I'll be done for when I come home, but I needed to find out more about what was troubling Ben. I cared about him.
I turned and jogged over to him.
"I wanna know." I said looking in his eyes.
"I really need to go." He said quickening his pace.
"Meet me at my barn at midnight?" I said quickly hoping he wouldn't dart away.
"Isn't yours the one up the hill?" He said glancing up the road and back to me.
"Yeah." I said turning to him.
"I'll be there." He said before he darted back into the woods.