“Will,” I looked down at the grass not being able to meet his eyes, “there's something you need to know about me. It's kind of a weird thing to bring up, but if we're going to be friends you need to know this,” I dared to look up at him and took a deep breath, “You've been asking a lot of questions about me lately and I'm not mad, but it's just... there are a lot of things about me you don't know and there are a lot of things that I can't really tell you.”
He just stood there waiting for me to go on.
“I'm a very complicated person. I have a very unique past and there are some things that for a very long time, if ever, I won't be able to tell you,” I was trying to make it sound normal like I just had an embarrassing history rather then a completely unbelievable one.
He slipped his hand into mine and stared at one of my curls flying in the wind, “What are you trying to tell me?”
“I know it's not fair and if you want to keep some things secret from me you can.”
He used his free hand to snag the curl he had been watching and twirled it around his finger, “I don't want to keep any secrets from you.”
I wasn't getting anywhere. At this point I could feel tears sneaking up in the back of my eyes, “J-Just know that if you ask a question and I don't necessarily answer it, I'm doing it for your own safety,” my voice dropped to a whisper, “and mine.”
Something flickered on his face and he looked me strait in the eyes, “Annie, are you trying to tell me your in some kind of danger?”
My heart nearly broke in two. His eyes were full of nothing but caring and protection. I wanted to tell him so badly. Yes I'm in danger. Yes I want you to help me. But I would be putting not just him in danger if I did that.
My fear of him getting hurt was bigger then my want for his help, “No, I'm not in danger,” the first time my lie sounded completely fake. I blamed it on the tears.
I recognized his calculating face. He was trying to guess, “Are you in trouble with the law?”
I nearly jumped at him even thinking of me as a criminal, “No! It 's not like that.”
“Annie, if you need help, you know you can tell me anything.”
Could I?
I looked away from the painfully understanding face, “No,” I shook my head, “I'm not in danger or anything I just wanted you to understand that if I don't tell you some things it's not because I don't trust you. I...” my voice started breaking, “I just can't tell you.”
Will put both his hands on my cheeks, making me look at him, “Do you promise? Do you, Annie Marie Martingale, promise that you are in no danger in anyway? That you aren't telling me things for the single reason of protecting me?”
My heart dropped and a tear escaped down my cheek. I couldn't lie to him like that. I couldn't break a promise. I gently pulled his warm hands from my cheeks and looked at him for a moment.
Then I ran.
I could hear him calling my name till I was far past the hill and nothing but fields lay ahead of me.
