taking chances
part 12


I sighed and stood up, lifting my backpack to rest on my shoulders. I started walking down the quiet road in the direction that I thought I was supposed to go. I felt beads of sweat form on the back of my neck at my hairline. The late July heat was not helping me out. 
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I continued to walk down the road. It got more and more abandoned-looking. Was I going into the country? I couldn't be. The country was miles away. I shook my head and my hand flew up to the key on my necklace. I squeezed it hard. Nothing.

"Come on, Brittany." I said and squeezed it hard enough that the key doug into my palm, leaving a mark. I shrugged my shoulders and continued my long walk. There had to be one car passing by every half hour. The quiet felt as if it was haunting me. When I thought I heard a whisper, I turned around and nothing was there. 

I was convinced that I was in the country when I smelled the terrible smell of cow manure. There were farms lining the dusty road. I have to say that I've never been in this part of New York. I turned off the road and onto a farm with cows all over the huge field. I heard horses and pigs when I got closer. I noticed that the sun was setting already, and I was exhausted. I saw a shirtless teenager working with wood. He had to be at least my age, if not a year older.

"Excuse me?" I called. The saw he was using was louder than my voice. The saw stopped as he rearranged the wood. "Excuse me." I repeated. He turned around. Let me tell you, he was very good looking.

"Well, hello there, little lady." He had a faint Southern accent, even though we were no where near the South.

"Hi." I said. "I've been looking for a street or road named..." I trailed off when my eyes flew down to his abs, and right back up. Don't let him intimidate you, Danielle. I realized I hadn't said the street name yet. "Boulevard." My voice came out louder than expected.

"Boulevard!?" He exclaimed. "That street is miles and miles away. Where do you come from?" 

"I'm from more in the town area. In Clarence." I said.

"And you walked all this way!?" His accent was actually kind of cute. "You must be exhausted." He said as he took his gloves off. "Do you want to come inside? Maybe have a glass of homemade lemonade?" He asked kindly with a dazzling smile. His bright blue eyes twinkled in the lowering sun. I could almost see the sunset through them.

"Hello?" He asked and waved his hand.

"Uhh. Sure!" Be cool, Danielle. Be cool. I walked closer to him and we started walking side by side.

"So, what brings you out here?" He asked. 

"Just... exploring." I lied. He nodded. I had a feeling that he knew that wasn't the reason I was here.

"Hmm."

We got closer and closer to a very big house. When we walked in the front door, all I saw was a wide-open, beautiful house. A lady came up to us.

"Hello, honey." She said over-nicely.

"Hi." I said nicely.

"Welcome to our home."