My week of rest and relaxation continues relatively undisturbed. I watch at least three TV series and actually read a few books. Violet and Peyton come over afterschool each day to hang out, but other than that, I have most of the time alone.

I reflect on myself. I think about Grayson, wondering what he's doing at this exact moment. Probably not thinking of me as much as I'm thinking of him. I resist the urge to text or call him, picking up that he's probably not much of a texting person.

Almost every day, I look at the picture Gray sent me on Monday afternoon. It's obviously a timer picture, taken in the living room of their penthouse. Gracie is sitting on Gray's shoulders with her tiny hands on her hips, cheesing really hard for the camera. Gray looks happy too, holding Gracie's legs and flashing a swoony-worthy smile.

But it's their outfits that really gets me. They're both wearing the matching bear onesies that I got for them. Their hoods are flipped up so it looks like they both have nubby little bear ears. The onesies were the dumb gift I bought at the mall after I received Gray's flowers. Nonetheless, it's the cutest fucking photo I've ever seen in my life.

The text that accompanied the picture made it even more special.

If I remember correctly, there are three bears in the story. Little Bear and Big Bear are here...any idea where our Medium Bear is?

I almost faint every time I revisit that text. Damn, I really should have bought myself a onesie.

I never mustered the courage or humor to reply, and every potential response just seemed stupid. So I just left it there. Sitting. Waiting. Fuck, I'm a terrible person.

On Thursday, another box arrives. It's bigger and shaped like a regular box, but with a similar red bow tied neatly around it. I barely contain my excitement as I sign for the package and rush inside. This time, I bring it up to my room to unwrap it, shutting and locking the door even though no one else is home.

Slowly, I unwrap the gift, wondering if Gray's hands have touched the same silk bow that I'm touching. It'd oddly intimate - opening something so carefully prepared by another person. I swear that the box even smells like him, but I know that I'm getting carried away at that point.

It's a very expensive-looking pair of hiking boots. They're a soft grey with deep blue laces and accents. They're beautiful but I don't know why in the world Gray would send me these. Immediately, I search for a note, eager to run my fingers over his distinct handwriting.

I find it, tucked into the tongue of one of the boots. It's the same thick paper, but a faded pink color instead of creme-colored.

5 am Friday. I'll pick you up...but only if you're wearing these.
- Gray.

I have to read the cryptic letter a few times over before I fully grasp its meaning. He wants to pick me up at 5 am in the freaking morning...but only if I wear these hiking boots. I'm definitely no genius but I think he's taking me hiking. Just a theory.

Then I remember the last note and the writing on both sides. I quickly flip the card over and, sure enough, more of Gray's messy handwriting fills the paper.

"In every walk with nature
one receives far more than he seeks."
- John Muir

The whimsical quote only confirms my suspicions. I will be walking. In nature. With Grayson. Grayson is really the only part of that plan that I am actually looking forward to but that's enough to have me bouncing with excitement.

It's a date.

I already finished all the work Violet brought over for me today so, for the rest of the night, I watch romantic comedies and think about my outfit for tomorrow. At one point, I even try on every pair of leggings to see which make my ass look the best, while also not giving me a camel-toe. It's a pretty hard decision.

Eventually, I decide to go to bed early since my alarm is set for 4 am. But before go to sleep, I watch the 1997 version of Romeo and Juliet, an iconic romantic classic. Young Leonardo DiCaprio's face used to keep me up at night as I wondered if I would ever come across a boy that dreamy.

But before efore I drift off near the end of the movie, I can't help but think of how Grayson is so much cuter than Leondardo DiCaprio.

♔     ♕     ♔

"I think you misunderstood; I expected you to be wearing only those hiking boots when I came to pick you up," Gray says. He leans over and kisses me. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to go back inside and change."

I kiss him again, wanting to feel his lips one more time. I felt half-asleep when I got ready this morning but being with him is waking me up fast. "You're so funny. Were you a comedian in your past life?"

"Wrong again. I think I was a poet, actually. Did you enjoy the quotes?" He asks, putting his hand on my waist. We haven't seen each other in almost a week, and both of us are feeling the withdrawals.

I purr in agreement. "I love your stolen quotes," I whisper into his lips, kissing him once more. He tastes like peppermint. This whole week, I've been wondering what his lips would taste like the next time we kissed. I'll have to add peppermint to my list of favorite flavors.

Finally, I muster the self-control to pull away. My lips already feel slightly swollen, and I want to kiss him again more than anything. But even more than I want to kiss him, I want to talk to him. I want to hear his voice again and feel the familiar calmness fill me.

"I missed you," I say, sitting back into my seat.

Gray start the car and smiles lazily. "There aren't words to describe how much I missed you, Riv."

He starts driving to whatever hiking spot he's chosen, and I can't stop looking at him. "You should know that I'm skipping school for this. You're making me break the rules, Gray."

Gray laughs, putting his hand on my thigh. I don't admit that I'd been waiting for him to do that since I got in the car. I place my hand on his, feeling the warmth radiate from his hand to mine.

"I guess when you're dating a badass street racer, you have to be willing to break a few rules," he replies. "Consider this a test."

"Did I pass?"

"Barely. I knocked a few points off your grade because of your clothing--"

"You mean the fact that I'm not naked, except for my boots?"

"Yes, now let the teacher talk," he shushes, mimicking a low, authoritative voice. I feel a heat spreading up from my legs. "But you passed."

"Huh," I say, biting my lip, thinking. "Thank you, Mr. Maddox."

The suggestive nature of my comment shuts him up really fast. I mean, he started it. I give him a break and turn the conversation around. "If it counts for anything, I already skipped school this entire week."

I expect him to fire back with a witty comment, and I hope there's at least a little suggestiveness in his reply, but his face suddenly takes on a serious look.

"I don't blame you. Sometimes you need a break from that school's bullshit," Gray says, seriously. I'm reminded that he, at one point, attended the same school I go to. Then I remember why he left.

That fight in the hallway.

I nibble nervously on my lower lip, trying to find my next words. I try to lighten the mood. "I remember you. I was a junior when you were a senior. I'm pretty sure I thought you were the hottest thing on legs back then. But you never really noticed me."

"I didn't notice anyone back then. I was in a bad place." He removes his hand from my leg and runs it through his hair. "I didn't deserve your attention."

He wants to say more but he's holding back. "I'm listening," I press, trying not to overstep.

"Pretty sure that's around the time that I got into street racing. Met Eva. Made some fucked-up choices. That's it." Then he's done, and I'm closed out again. Although, we're making progress. I'm glad for the information he shared, even if it's only a small portion of the greater picture.

I still don't know why he thinks he killed his mom. I still don't know if it's true.

Something tells me to press further, if he'd let me. The words are coming. "Do you remember me from that day? In the hallway?"

I don't elaborate further, and I can tell from his facial expression that he knows exactly which day. If anything, I bet he remembers it just as vividly as I do, if not more. I wonder if he can tell how significant that memory is to me.

He surprises me by laughing. "Baby, your face is a hard one to forget."

I don't say anything, letting him decide if he wants to go on.

I'm relieved when he continues. "Of course I remember you. After that day, I saw your face in my dreams for weeks. I thought I was losing my mind, Riv."

He takes a deep breath, wrestling with himself again. I can't tell if he's winning or losing. But he manages to speak again. "Whatever came over me that day....you saw it clearly. Everyone turned their eyes away from mine, but you looked right into me. You weren't afraid at all, I remember that. You stared at me with this defiant little look on your face as if you were telling me to get my head out of my ass."

"You had the most amazed, yet disappointed look in your eyes. I'd never seen anything like it. I swear, that look was seared into my brain in that moment.

"That's what you remember?" Something in me soars at the thought of him remembering me, a stranger at the time, so clearly and vividly. Something tells me that none of this is a coincidence.

Gray turns his head to me, holding my eyes with his. For a moment, I worry we'll crash, but we're on an empty, straight road, and Gray's hand is steadier than ever.

"I remember thinking you were the most beautiful person I'd ever seen in my life," he says, before turning his attention back to the road.

I want to call him out on his bullshit but, deep down, I know he only told the truth. The way he described me on that day, with painstaking detail, tells me he's committed the memory of me to heart. I smile knowing that he's thought of me just as much as I've thought of him.

"I still do," he continues.

Sensing the slight change in tone of the conversation, I shrug. "I remember thinking you were alright. With your busted lip and all, there really wasn't much to see."

He laughs. "Oh really? Because just a second ago, I recall you saying I was...what was the phrase? Hottest? Thing? On legs? Am I correct?"

"No, I have no recollection of saying such things," I say curtly, pretending not to remember anything. Amused, he rubs his hand over my leg. I don't really remember him putting his hand back on my thigh but I'm not questioning it.

"You really know how to deflate a man's ego, Riv. Are you a sadist? I bet you're itching to tie me to a bedpost," he teases back. My jaw drops at his dirty insinuation, and I can only shake my head in response.

Before I can think of a retort, Gray is already swinging his car into a parking spot. I look around and, big surprise, only see trees all around. I'd guess we're in a state park of some sort, except I see no trail head. The parking spots are only barely visible and the lot itself is very much overgrown.

"Where are we?" I ask, unbuckling myself and looking around some more.

Grayson gets out and hauls a large backpack from the trunk. "Somewhere with many trees for you to tie me to."

I step out and walk over to Grayson, slightly fearful of the onimous-looking trees and near-pitch black darkness blanketing the forest. I'm reaching out to grab Gray's hand, still training my eyes on the dense treeline, when I'm something sweeps against my legs. I scream.