Four

Melody's POV:

"Why are you looking at your phone like it might grow a nose?" Asher asked looking at me curiously, instead of the road ahead.

"I am not." I said, still looking at my phone.

To be honest, he was actually right. I had been stealing glances at the screen from time to time waiting for a call or message. I was hoping for a call from Mom. Or maybe...Tyler.

I mean he called once. Couldn't he call back?

Couldn't you call back?

I fidgeted with my fingers thinking about it.

"Okay." He said going back to concentrate on the road.

I scrolled through the missed calls again and again.

What will my mother do? Will she stop looking for me? Will she give up? Will she ask Jordan? Will she ask Alyssa? Would she believe their lies? What if she believes?

"Don't think too hard. It might burst your head." He hummed the words in a tune.

I looked at him unbelievably.

This guy is extremely crazy...

He pursed his lips, not looking at me, controlling his laughter. I took the nearest thing which was one of the many CDs in the car and threw it at him.

He dodged perfectly which made the CD fly out of the car.

I looked at the open window in horror while he looked at me in horror. I guess it was one of his playlist CDs.

And then I broke down into laughter as he eyed me angrily.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

At night, everything felt dark and mysterious.

"Come on." He said.

Asher stopped the car near a plain forest view and got out. I myself followed him and blew out a comforting sigh as cool fresh air hit my face.

We had been driving for so long now and my legs were aching in protest.

I looked around noticing we were actually lost. Nobody could be seen. No light. Nothing. Just big trees surrounding us in the dark night. Only a black expensive car and two teenagers could be found here.

"We aren't lost." He said with a chuckle as he went to the back of the car.

How did he know I was thinking that?

I went ahead and looked around the big canopy trees. I wasn't the type to be afraid of dark. To be honest, dark was my only escape. I usually used to close the lights of my room and go over to the window, look at the bright moon and cry my heart out.

This place wasn't bad, only if there were no wild animals roaming around. For instance, snakes. Or maybe wolves? Does coyotes exist here?

It seemed we are spending our night here. No complains and all, but what if we get attacked by wild bears?

"What if there are coyotes here?" I asked breaking out from the series of thoughts invading my brain.

"Don't know. Don't care." He said straightening out a tent. "I like the way you pronounced that word. Coyote."

I looked at him trying to figure out whether he was joking or not.

"You do not mean that, right?" I asked after a while.

He stood up, dusting his hands and looked at me seriously.

"What could we do anyways if there are animals here?" He asked with a shrug turning away.

I froze at my position freaking out deep inside.

"Asher?" I begged him.

I felt his shoulders shake.

"Are you like serious?" I asked blowing out a sigh of relief and sitting down on a wooden log as I heard him laugh louder.

He loves to see me freak out.

I rubbed my arms and placed my hands near the fire he had made on the ground. It all felt like a camping night. Except that I do not do campings. I never had.

My family was too busy to even act like a family. I always craved for some family time but Mom was always busy and I was no fan of asking Jordan or Alyssa.

"You know what? I'm sorry if this all running away didn't turn out like you expected it to be." He said sitting beside me.

I looked at him and laughed lightly.

"Believe me, it's better than I expected." I said looking at the flames cracking.

That was the truth. I didn't even know where I would have runaway. I didn't even know what I would have done.

"Were you seriously going to runaway alone?" He asked.

"Yeah." I murmured.

"Why did you want to runaway?" He asked softly.

That's what I was scared to tell. But I knew he would ask me that at one point. I was scared to tell him. I don't know why but I couldn't make myself. Part of me thought that he'll leave me if I tell him the truth.

Maybe I still didn't trust him. Or maybe I was scared of the consequences.

I looked at him already staring at me.

"I..." I started but my phone rang.

I looked at it like it was a ghost. I couldn't believe it. Tyler was calling me. Like right now!

I glanced at Asher who was looking at me in sudden confusion.

"Uh, I'll be back in a minute." I couldn't even control the happiness in my voice.

I stood up and went towards a big tree, answering the call.

"Hello?" I merely whispered not because Asher was just steps away but because my heartbeat was almost at the speed of a train.

"Melody? Is that you?" A familiar voice asked.

It was Tyler. It was the voice I longed to hear.

"Y-yes." I said with a smile.

"God, Melody! Where are you? Are you fine? You couldn't just runaway! Are you crazy? Do you know how worried I was?" He asked in a voice that radiated worry.

He was worried. For me.

This all was swelling my heart in happiness. I couldn't believe this was happening. I never imagined this could happen.

But why was he worried about me? He never talked to me. How did he even know I ran away?

"I-I'm fine." I said.

I heard a sigh in response as I imagined what he would be doing right now.

"Melody? Where are you? You know it's dangerous out alone, right? Your mother is worried. You can't just runaway. It's not a solution of getting bullied!" He said.

Bullying? He thought I ran away because of bullying in school? He was crazy. He doesn't even know the half of it.

"It's fine, Tyler. I'm not alone. And I'm not coming back." I said as sadness washed over me.

I felt betrayed even if I shouldn't. It's not like he cared about me, anyway. He just thought I was too weak to go through that bullying. And maybe I was. But not because of bullying. I was weak to handle this shitty life.

"Melody, don't do that. Just tell me where you are." He asked worriedly.

It felt like he was faking it.

"Are you doing that because Alyssa asked you to?" I asked as my voice cracked.

Alyssa and him were a thing in our school. At least that's what the rumours said. And of course, it did hurt.

"No, she didn't." He said a bit angrily.

I never imagined this conversation to go like this.

"Just don't think I did this because of bullying. I didn't, Tyler." I said as a tear dropped down my face.

I heard him take a deep breath.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

I felt this all going wrong. He felt to far away. This felt all wrong. If he didn't believe me, how could I even trust him? How could I be that crazy to think he liked me?

"I have to go." I whispered.

"Wait! Melody! I-I did care about you." He said hesitating.

Did...

I shut my eyes close. I took my phone and ended the call.

I don't know why I did that. I don't know why I didn't reply to him. Wasn't I waiting for this moment for too long?

The truth was that I was waiting for him to say that. But I knew he didn't mean it. Alyssa must've forced him. He could never like a freak like me. Never.

I wiped my tear as all the happiness washed away into sadness. I turned and walked back to Asher who was looking at the fire.

"Was he the one whose call you were waiting for so long?" He asked still looking at the fire.

I looked at him, confused.

"Let's not talk about it." I said looking at the fire myself.

I was expecting him to change the topic into a more comfortable conversation. He used to did that. Which always made me feel safe.

"You go ahead and sleep." He said blankly.

He was acting strange now. What had happened to him? I mean, he was fine minutes ago.

I looked at him in confusion but he made no move to tell me what had gone wrong. In the end, I nodded and stood up, looking at the tent behind us.

"What about you?" I asked.

He needed to sleep too. I don't even know how he is even sitting still without getting that much sleep.

"I don't want to sleep right now." He muttered not looking in my way.

I nodded reluctantly and went inside the tent. It was a spacious one with a blue sleeping bag inside.

Taking a deep sigh, I went and laid down.

Is he finally thinking it was a bad idea coming along with me? Is he starting to realize what a freak I am? Is he thinking this all is a bad idea?

I couldn't help myself but feel guilty and nervous. After all, I'm the one who trapped him in this.

Laying awake for almost an hour and getting no sleep except wild thoughts, I sat up. I slowly walked out of the tent finding him in the same place as before.

Did he really mean when he said he was not sleepy?

I went over and sat beside him.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" He asked looking at me.

At least he was over whatever he was thinking about before.

"I...am not tired." I said looking up at the stars.

The sky was dark and shining with small stars. It looked so beautiful.

Asher didn't say anything after that. He just kept silent.

"I'm sorry." I said breaking the silence.

He looked at me with confusion.

"For dragging you in this. I know what you are thinking. That why did you even decide to help me. And I'm sorry for that." I said looking at the fire.

He still didn't reply.

Maybe he was thinking about that after all.

"I wasn't thinking about that." He said finally.

"But I am sorry. You wouldn't be here trapped between a forest if it wasn't because of me. You would probably be...enjoying your concert or stuff." I said not sure what else to say.

I was expecting him to remain silent instead he let out a small chuckle.

I couldn't help it. Whenever I feel guilty, I keep on apologizing. I was about to apologize again when he interrupted.

"Don't apologize again. I swear I won't be able to get that word out of my head and I'm in no mood making a song on it." He said.

I looked at him and smiled with a bit of relief.

After that, we both pretty much kept silent gazing at the fire and the stars in comfortable silence. I yawned as sleep crept in my eyes slowly. It may be midnight. And sleep sounded everything to me right now.

Even if I was miles away from my room in the attic. From Jordan. Or Alyssa. Or even mom. It felt safe. I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes into a beautiful sleep.