(This chapter is kinda short, but it's so cute! You guys gotta read it:) Thanks for continuing:)

Chapter 11

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

~

Skateboarding in Washington, D.C. was fun by itself.

The roads were smooth and going down the mini hills was fun as you didn't have to push so much. People smiled at us as they must've thought we were cool just riding down the sidewalk, dodging them as we did, having a lot of fun.

First, Aspen lead me to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial and it was both comforting yet depressing. There were SO many names of men who died in the war, which made me feel good to have such men fight for my freedom, yet die merciless. I was reading the names and the whole thought made my eyes water.

"These men were fathers..." I whispered in front of the large plaque. Aspen glanced at me. "They were brothers....uncles...friends...." I sighed looking down at the ground. 'They were Americans." After a moment of silence of me mostly trying to keep myself together, Aspen spoke.

"Are you alright?" He asked standing beside me. I sniffed.

"Yeah sorry....I'm a very....emotional person," I crossed my arms wiping my eyes under see my glasses chuckling a bit to let him know I really was alright. He smiled at me and wrapped his right arm around my shoulder.

"Oh, well don't be sad..." I looked at him as he looked at the plaque. "They died for a great cause. They fought the Good Fight. Men and women fight like this everyday, and just because they fight for us doesn't mean we can't do something for them in return." I tilted my head at him.

"Well, what's that?" I asked really wanting to know. He shrugged and looked down at me,

"Pray for them.... I set aside one day a month and specifically pray for the men and women who fight for our country, and something tells me it helps. We're still here and free today aren't we?" he semi-joked. I smiled nodding.

"Yes. You're right..." A tear left my eye. He wiped it away and he smiled.

"Don't worry, there's another place we can visit..." He looked into my chocolate brown eyes. "That won't make you sad...promise." I smiled easing a chuckle as he did too and he began to tug me along. "Come on, I know it's a place you'll love." I smiled apprehensively as we continued about the city, but still keeping in mind of what he said. 'They did fight the Good Fight...' I thought smiling. 'They did.'

The second place he took me was the Abraham Lincoln Memorial and Aspen chuckled running ahead of me and I walked up slowly to it. My eyes huge in shock.

"Omg..." I whispered to myself. "It's bigger than what I thought." Aspen laughed with his hands on his hips.

"Hahaa, yup. That's what I said when I first saw it too." I walked up closer to it.

"It's amazing. It looks like nothing compared to the sizes in photos and movies I've seen," I was astonished.

"I know. Hey, let's take a pic in front of it for show," he suggested. I smiled greatly.

"Okay!" We both laughed as Aspen took my camera and he tapped on a strangers shoulder.

"Excuse me?" she turned around. "But do you mind taking a photo for us?" It was an elder women, who looked maybe in her upper 40's or early 50's and she looked happy to take two adolescents photos by her big smile.

"Of course I don't!" She replied aroused. We chuckled as we didn't know what to do as I honestly wanted to hug him in front of the 16th president, but I didn't want it to be awkward....

"What should we do?" I asked Aspen instead. He looked down at me.

"Don't know....." Suddenly Aspen struck a pose pointing to the monument with his thumbs looking at the camera and I busted out laughing doing the same, not caring that my braces were showing. After our photo, I couldn't help but laugh and Aspen looked at me while I did.

"Another one!" I said happily with a huge smile.

"Okay! What do you want to do?" I shrugged poking out my lips. Suddenly Aspen offered to carry me on his back and at first I protested, but he wouldn't let it pass. "Come on. I won't drop you," he promised.

"I never rode on a guys back," I said out loud.

"Well here's your first," he smiled. He bent down and I slowly got on him and he pretend to drop me and I quickly cuffed my arms around his neck and started laughing and he laughed too.

"What the heck!!" I squealed behind giggles.

"Kidding! Kidding, I was kidding!" He reassured happily. We looked at the camera as I placed my face by his, my arms on his shoulder even though he held me u[ with no problem on his back under my knees. After the snap, he went to retrieve my camera with me still on him.

"Thank you!" I squealed to the lady as Aspen took it back.

"My pleasure!" Then she waved walking away. I didn't get look at the photos we just took as Aspen placed it over his neck and I gave him an awkward look.

"Aren't you going to look at it?" I asked him concerned.

"Nope," he shook his head. "I know they look good," he told me. I smiled.

"Fiiiine." He chuckled as he carried me outside grabbing all our stuff heading out to the Reflecting Pool and he suggested,

"Hey let's take a pic in front of that too."

He turned around and held up the camera for a selfie as he held me with one hand and I had my hands wrapped around his neck and we were literally cheek to cheek, as I showed my braces with shiny eyes, and....for some reason....I didn't feel awkward doing it.

I was happy. Aspen was my friend....and with friends....you can do anything....without the feeling of awkwardness of course.

"I like that one," Aspen nodded at the pic.

"Me too," I looked over his shoulder. He looked up at me and I smiled at him and he let me down from his back even though I didn't necessarily want to leave. Did every girl think that after getting off a guys back?

"Where to next, my friend?" I asked Aspen with suspenseful eyes and a hidden smile. He let out a breath grabbing his backpack and longboard handing me mine.

"The inner city. Girls like shopping right?" I chuckled at him.

"Cough, cough, on a budget," I reminded him, my fist over my mouth.

"Don't worry, don't worry....Window shopping is always fun too." He crooked smiled at me and I belly laughed by his face and I slapped his shoulder putting my Penny down.

"Whatever Aspen. Let's go." I began riding on my board and he laughed behind me.

"Hahaa, okay."

~~~

(Aww, what a cute chapter! I know it was short but it makes up for it right? Haha:) Please vote and tell me what you think and I hope you guys are enjoying so far!

xoxo, Kyndra<3