The path was long, followed by a series of twists and turns but it didnt bother me one bit. The smell of the lake was around me and the sound of kids surrounded me. I took a deep breath in and sat down on the bench. I could see the carnival perfectly; the lights, sounds, music and rides were so beautiful and calm. I wanted to go so badly but what would be the point of going alone? That's no fun. People would look at me strangely, not that they already dont but if I go to a carnival alone, they sure will.

I was still in complete shock that I had just met Hot Chelle Rae. They were so nice, so beautiful, so... Surreal. Everything I thought they were, they are. I smiled to myself before the sound of a twig breaking made me jump out of my thoughts. I looked to my left then to my right but no one was there.

"Hello?" I called out. Still no answer. I shook my head a bit then rubbed my face and pushed myself up off the bench and continued walking. The sun was beating down on my shoulders but it felt so good. It was like warming me up with its rays. I heard another twig break then whipped around to look. I saw someone dive behind a tree. I raised my eyebrows and walked over to the tree.

"Who's there?" I asked a bit more sternly. I walked around the tree but the person quickly ran around it.

"Hey! That's not cool," I said whining. We kept walking around the tree for a while before I finally turned around and the person slammed into me.

"Owww!" He let out. I couldnt help but to smile hugely at the sound of Ryan's voice.

"What? First you shoot me with a Nerf Gun and now you're stalking me? You are not getting on my good list, mister." I said half jokingly. A smile grew across his face as he erupted into laughter.

"First off all," He said. "I didnt mean to shoot you. I thought you were Ian. Second of all, stalking is such a harsh word. I prefer the term.. Getting to know a person."

"Oh! Oh! Is that what it is?!" I laughed.

"Yes! Stalking is such a harsh word, you know?" He nudged me gently and I let out a giggle. I looked up at him smiling and shaking my head.

"What?" He asked.

"Looks like I'm stuck with you as a walking buddy now, huh?"

"Well, no. Nash, Ian and Jamie are wayyyyyyyyy back there." He pointed down the path. I looked down the path and I could vaguely make out three figures walking up.

"Yeah! But they're way back there and we're way up here!" I laughed. He just smiled and shrugged. We started walking together, our hands touching every now and then. I kept smiling at the ground and listened while he talked. He loved to talk.. It's like he didnt have an off button.

"So then, Nash proceeded to take my stuff, and throw it into mud! It was horrifying!" He laughed. I laughed along with him and nodded.

"I bet! Once, my twin sister took my make up and flushed it down the toilet." I laughed at the memory of that. Ryan smiled and laughed then turned his face towards me.

"You're a twin?" He asked.

"Yeah, and no, we're not identical." I said with a nod. He smiled even bigger.

"That's so cool! I wish I had a twin.. I got stuck with Jamie and Julianna. Which, dont get me wrong, I love my brother and sister, it's just that being the oldest sometimes sucks because they always mess with you first. I dont mind that, I just wish I had someone who I could talk to. Other than Nash and Ian."

"Yeah, I understand what you mean." I smiled. "It's harder to talk to people who dont really know what you're going through, especially if they're younger."

"Exactly!" His face seemed to harden a bit with concern and worry.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, looking up at him. He looked back down at me and nodded.

"Yeah, everything's okay."

I smiled at him then looked forward. We had reached the end of the path unless we wanted to go into the woods. I'm not a big fan of the woods so that was most definitely not on my list of things to do. I looked at Ryan then back at the edge of the woods.

"Now what?" I asked, looking up at him

"Now, we turn and go to the right."

I followed in his steps as she helped me get down a rocky path that led to a small, remote little beach. I hopped down onto the sand and proceeded to kick my shoes off for easier walking. Ryan did the same thing then turned to look at me.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"What is this place?" I asked him.

"B. O. B." He said.

"Bob?"

He chuckled and nodded. "Yeah! It means Beautiful Out of Bounds."

I smiled at him then looked around. It was really beautiful. The water was slightly ruffling with the sun shining off of it. I smiled happily then looked back at Ryan.

Ryan's face with completely and utterly beautiful. Seeing him in person was completely different than seeing him in a photo. His smile seemed to be wider and his eyes were brighter. He had his flaws, though. Tiny bumps on his face. I giggled a bit at how cute they looked at him but on me, it looked like i was being attacked by a bunch of ravenous monsters. He was really slender though. A lot more slender than photos make him seem. But I figured he just had a slow metabolism. I remembered Keith saying something about one of his son's having an eating disorder. Maybe it was Ryan? I mean, he's really skinny but he looked so healthy so I'm not going to bring it up. He looked at me and with a smile, nudged me.

"Do I have something on my face?" He asked.

"Yes," I laughed. His face fell a bit as he looked at me.

"You have eyes, a nose and a mouth." I giggled and smiled up at him. He laughed again and slightly pushed me.

"That's not cool, Megan!" He laughed. I smiled at the sound of hearing my name come out of his mouth.

We sat down together in the sand. It was quiet, but it wasnt an awkward quiet. It was a comfortable quiet. I felt myself lean against his arm and it slightly wrap around me to make me a bit more comfortable. I heard him humming a slow tune into my ear which made me relax.

"What cha humming?" I asked him.

"I dont know.. A song that I've in my head. It's a newer song Nash, Ian and I have been writing."

"Can I hear it?" I asked. He looked back at me and took a deep breath in.

"It's not good.." He said.

"Nonsense. Just sing your song, Ryan." I smiled.

Ryan smiled back then nodded as words started escaping his mouth. His voice was slow and shakey and almost unsure.

"I woke up late again. Gunna get fired for sure this time. So I hit the snooze and sleep til it' four in the afternoon. The state I'm in is bound to end me in the looney bin but I dont care at all.."

He stopped singing then pursed his lips a bit. "That's all we have so far." He smiled. I smiled back and nudged him.

"Mr. OhItsNotGood was wrong," I said mocking him. "It was amazing, really!" I smiled. He chuckled. Our faces were so close together by this point. I could feel his breath on my nose. It was soft, and sweet. I giggled a bit then quickly turned my face to look forward. I felt my phone vibrate and pulled it out. I typed in my password and read the text.

Jake: Megan? Are you there? :( I'm really sorry for what happened.. I am.. Please, text me back!

I sighed quietly and stared at the text.

"You okay?" Ryan asked. He looked at me with a concerned face.

"Yeah.. I just.." I sighed and shrugged, shaking my head. "Someone texted me."

"Well, I see that." He said with a smile. "What happened? Your face tell through to the floor."

I looked at him. He was looking back at me. I knew he was serious. I could see it in his eyes.

"I.. Didnt just come here.. Your dad found me in the airport and convinced me to come stay here with him. But a lot of things happened before that.. A lot."

I told him everything that happened that night I left to everything that's been going on until now. The amazing thing? He didnt judge me. He just listened intently. He didnt even take his eyes off me either. I could see it in his eyes that he actually cared which was probably the most amazing feeling in the world. After I had finished talking, he grabbed the arm I punished and rolled my sleeve up. I hadnt looked at my arm since the night it happened. But to my surprise it didnt look that bad. The cuts were still bright and red but they were scabbed over. I looked away as his thumb gently stroked my arm. I felt some tears stream down my cheeks but I didnt look back at him.

"Oh, Megan.." He whispered sadly. He didnt let go of my arm. He just kept holding it gently, stroking it with his thumb in an almost lovingly manner. I took a deep breath in before exhaling and looking at him. His other hand cupped my cheek gently. He looked deep into my eyes.

"I dont want you to do this again. If you ever feel like doing this, I want you to come to me. I dont want you to hurt yourself. You shouldn't have to. But promise me right now that you'll come to me, and talk to me. I'll be your free punching bag if I need to be."

I looked at him in shock. Is this real? Is someone who I dreamed about my whole life, actually wanting to talk to me and help me? It just seems so.. So impossible. I smiled a bit before nodding.

"Thank you." He smiled.

I wiped a tear from my eye and laughed a bit. "I'm not going to punch you though.."

A slight chuckle escaped from his mouth as he smiled and nodded. He pulled me into a tight hug and my arms instantly wrapped around him.

Within a few hours, we made our way back to his house.

"What are you doing later tonight?" Ryan asked.

"Uhm.. Nothing." I replied with a shrug.

"Good." He replied before going into the living room.

I opened my mouth to say something but before I could get anything out I just smiled and sat down on the recliner across from him. I pulled my phone out and read Jake's text again before finally replying.

Me: Hey.

Jake: YOU'RE ALIVE!

Me: Yep.

Jake: Can we please talk? Please?

Me: If you want to talk about what happened at the party, dont. I dont want to hear it.

Jake: Okay, fine. Can I at least say one thing?

Me: What?

Jake: I'm sorry. Can we Skype later? Please?

Me: I dont know what I'm doing later. I'm going out with friends probably.

Jake: Arg. Fine, call me when you get back then?

I know he has no clue I ran away. Of course he wouldn't. He's Jake, the most oblivious person I know.

Me: Fine.

Jake: Thank you.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and that was the end of that conversation.