Chapter 17

During lunch we chat about everything, from our favorite music and shows to school gossip. I actually enjoyed myself and Savannah didn't get on my nerves as much as usual. Well, unless she was teasing me. I really should put a stop to my feelings, it's kinda getting out of hand. I should start hating everything she does, but I just can't.

Anyway, maybe I don't have to worry about Jane anymore, considering now she's going out with Ava now. Ava just found out she's bi and is thinking of coming out but is not sure. She's actually a nice person once you get to know her but behaves like a bitch with strangers because she has a bad past.

We get up and get in the car to go to "that special place" she was talking about earlier. I'm kinda nervous, I don't know what to expect, even thought when people say "special place" they mean going somewhere private to do stuff. I don't think that's what she's going to do, I hope. She drives us out of town and into the woods. This is looking worse the more we go on. We get to a clear space beside the road and she parks. She looks at me and says "We're here."

"Are you gonna rape me now?" I say in a kind of joking manner even though I am half worried. Rose, she isn't like him, calm down, you're fine. Your old life has nothing to do with your new one, don't get it in the way.

She laughs and says "No, I'm not. Maybe. Just kidding. Anyways, we just have to walk a little bit then we're there."

"Ok then if you're maybe going to rape me, you definitely brought me here to kill me and now that I gave you the idea to fuck my dead body too." That earns a laugh and we get out.

We walk into the woods and after ten minutes I ask if we're there yet. "Just behind here." she answers, pointing at an old brick wall. She jumps on the other side and goes down, apparently we were on a hill. The trees are fucking tall here.

"I ain't jumping over that wall. Snakes could bite my beautiful ass." I say, staying away from the wall. Jokes aside, I'm actually scared.

"Don't worry, the only thing biting your ass will be me."

"Oh God, I'm imagining a snake with your face on it." I laugh hard because it's true. Why is my humor broken?

She laughs and says "Attractive, isn't it?" wriggling her eyebrows. Damn, she looks good when she does that.

We stare at each other, Savannah challenging me to cross, me not wanting too. After a while she comes on my side and grabs my legs. It takes me a second to realize I'm hanging upside down from her shoulders.

"What the hell are you doing!?" I half scream.

"Helping you cross." she's so calm, I just want to punch her in the face. Damn, I'm not heavy but it doesn't sound like she's making any effort, she must have muscles.

"Put me down right now or I'll kick you down there." I try to imitate but I can't get there, I risk to fall off instead. Still better than this. Embarrassing though.

"Shut up." is all she says and slaps my butt.

"Don't you ever dare touch my ass again unless you want to be dead."

"Guess I have a death wish then." That makes me smile and blush, thank God she can't see my face.

By the time she says that we're on the other side and she puts me down. She grabs my waist and looks at me, I instinctively put my hands on her chest. "You ok?" she asks, looking at me like she cares. My mind is blank. It takes me a second to understand what she said, then I answer yes, looking down and shaking my head. She looks at me for a second and I look up, then she pulls back, making a sound and putting a hand in her hair. There's a moment of awkwardness, then we go down the hill and Savannah says "Here we are."

"Here?"

"Yeah. There." She points to a tree in front of us. It's a robust one with some kind of a ladder? I follow it up the tree with my sight and see an enormous tree-house, complete with windows and a balcony.

"Woah-" is the only thing that comes out of my mouth.

"Yeah, I use to come here on holiday with my family every year when we lived in Italy. That's why we moved right in this town, has lots of memories. When I was little we built this for me and the holiday friends I made here. Sometimes when I need to think or just need peace I come here. Wanna go up?"

I nod because I can't really say anything else. I guess when she said special place she meant an actual special place. That was not what I expected at all. I kind of feel like I shouldn't be here, like it's too intimate, even thought she told me to go and I'm the one that knows her better than everyone else. Her little story's cute, I imagine a baby Savannah playing with other little children up there and a grown up version going up the ladder with a book.

We get closer and she says "Ladies fist. Or shall I say, nice asses first." while bowing and putting out her hand, a loop-sided smile on her face. Fuck, you know those prince charming moments Leonardo DiCaprio has in the Titanic that makes ladies swoon over him? This is one of those moments but with Savannah. I look at her badly and answer "I see you're making a good job at earning your answer by pissing me off.", I flip her off and start climbing.

"Anything for my princess."

I ignore her and keep going higher. How could children climb this thing without falling off and dying?