(This chapter may seem kinda long, but you guys deserve it. It was too good to split into parts:) I hope you like it:)

Chapter 12

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor." - Romans 12:10

~

I don't know if it was because we were in Washington, D.C. or just because, but when we made it to the mall.... It. Was. Huge.

I got off my Penny board and I was awed by the look of the mall and Aspen chuckled at me. "Hehe, amazing isn't it?" He asked me. I swallowed shrugging.

"Well....I thought everything was bigger in Texas....." I looked at him pulling loose strands of my hair behind me. He smiled at me. "But apparently I've been lied to." He gently tugged at my arm.

"Haha. That's not all of it. Come on, the real surprise is inside."

I smiled walking right behind him and we dropped our stuff off in this expensive jewelry store as they let us drop our stuff off there until we finished window shopping. It was very nice of them.

"Follow me..." Aspen smiled at me.

"Hehe, okay," I chuckled.

We were about to walk out, but I stopped as I passed by one of the jewelry cases and was awed by a bracelet.

"Whoa..." I whispered to myself admiring it. Aspen heard me.

"What is it?" He came back curiously.

"Oh nothing....I just....really like that bracelet," I looked at it.

"That one?" He pointed.

"Hmmhuh," I said through my lips. "The charmed one....I'd wear that everyday..." I said imaginative. I felt Aspen look at me with a chilled smile.

"Oh really?" He asked me. I nodded again.

"Hmmhuh..." The bracelet was beautiful.

It had random things on it but I felt it described me. It had butterflies, moons, hearts, a key, a rose, a vintage camera, and a diamond cross that stood out.

I felt it was...it was for me.

"Are you going to buy it?" Aspen asked me. I laughed pathetically.

"Seriously? I don't have that kind of money. I have to save my money just in case of an emergency and that means ANYTHING. Besides I can't afford that...." I sighed looking back at it. 'But Kelly would...' I thought sadly.

"Oh....." Aspen said looking at it too.

"Sorry, we should go," I tried to avoid myself being upset. "I have to go to the bathroom." He nodded and he said he'd wait for me here.

I found the bathroom which was by the entrance to the mall and I went inside.

"Okay Amanda, pull yourself together," I whispered to myself in the stall. "You gotta stop being so sad! Aspen most likely doesn't want to hear your crying or whining, so stop self-pitting yourself!"

I washed my hands and dried them and also my face and I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded. "Now go out there and stop being a burden."

I went back out and returned to the jewelry store and he was still there as promised, but he had two boxes on the counter that looked like miniature Christmas boxes.

"Aspen..." I came over in a whisper. "What is this?" He shrugged standing up straight.

"Open it and find out," he hid a smile. I knew where this was going so I already rejected it.

"Oh no. No..." I pushed the boxes back to him. He gave me a sad-worried look.

"What's the matter?" He asked sincerely.

"I can't accept this," I shook my head. "I can't."

"Amanda please," Aspen pleaded. "Just open the box," he whispered with a smile.

"But I can't accept this from you," I chuckled sadly. "It's just-"

"Amanda," Aspen placed his hand on my shoulder with the box in the other. "Take it." He handed me the box and I sighed as I KNEW this wasn't going to go anywhere so I did.

I opened the box slowly and sure enough it was the real silver charm bracelet that I wanted and I sighed almost wanting to cry. "Thank you so much Aspen..." I shook my head sadly. "I love it," I chuckled. He smiled and nodded to me once.

"No problem.... Open the other one. I hope you like that too..." I almost forgot about it and I took a deep breath and I slowly dragged it toward me on the counter and Aspen chuckled. I chuckled too and I even think the clerk was smiling at us.

I slowly opened it and thinking it was something outrageous it was something simple yet quit delicate.

It was a diamond cross necklace and the tiny diamond was on the center of the cross and the edges of the cross were wrapped like a ribbon and it was beautiful.....I think it was better than the bracelet.

"Omg..." I whispered holding it up. "It's so beautiful..." I stared at it as if it was fragile. Aspen smiled....showing his vampire teeth.

"You like it?" He asked. I shook my head.

"It's beautiful Aspen! Omg, thank you so much!" I quickly jumped in Aspen's arms and hugged him around his neck and he laughed hugging me back. I let him go and I was jumping up and down uncontrollably.

"Can you put it on me please?" I asked him. He brighten.

"Sure."

I gave it to him and he went behind me and wrapped it gently around my neck and couldn't stop smiling. He went back in front of me and I picked up the cross on my chest and the bracelet on my right wrist and I smiled.

"Thank you Aspen," I kept looking at both of them. "I....I love it," I looked up at him. He looked down at me smiling sweetly.

"Anything for friends right?" I chuckled and nodded. "Haha right. Wanna shop now?"

I nodded again letting out a laugh. We got beside each other and headed into the actual mall and the place was more beautiful in the interior as the ex.

There were like six or seven floors and the whole bottom floor was just a giant food court of all the fast food restaurants than you can imagine.

"Whoa..." I said easing a smile behind laughs. "This is so cool. I barely went to the Galleria in Dallas, but I know it's NOTHING compared to this," I shook my head.

"Haha! Well, you're here now. Where do you wanna go first Smart Shopper?" He chuckled at me and I smiled at him and I grabbed his hand pulling him along.

"Forever 21! It's a shop the girls in Dallas always loved!" He laughed as I dragged him inside the store that was a ways down and went inside and I literally was hopping all around the place like a baby grasshopper.

"Ooooo this is so cute!"

"Ooooo I want this!"

"Oh-my-gosh?! Is this on sale?!"

"Do they have this in my size??"

That's literally all I kept saying and Aspen laughed at me sitting on a bench with another guy who had a darker complexion with a SnapBack on and they looked at each other sighing.

"Girlfriend?" The other boy asked. Aspen sighed with a smile.

"Friend. You?" He sighed.

"Girlfriend." I chuckled at him as I figured I didn't want Aspen to be bored out his mind because of me, so I tried to think of plan to include him with me. I quickly grabbed some random clothes off some racks and I grabbed Aspen's hand pulling him to his feet.

"What are you doing?" He asked me chuckling. I stood in front of a dressing room and I told him with a smile,

"Wait here."

I went inside trying on the mixed match outfits and the first I had on was a 90's style with high waisted black shorts, a shirt that ties in the front, a red bandana, red vans, and I took off my hipster classes and replaced them with these big black shades. When I opened the door, Aspen laughed as I pretended to be at a photoshoot.

"What about this?" I asked smiling acting cool. He nodded with wide eyes.

"Totally." I just busted out laughing.

"I can't even see!" I told him laughing unbelievably hard. He laughed as I went back inside with my head back.

The next outfit I had was a cool girl type of outfit. Leather pants, leather jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, and comeback boots. I put my glasses back on and I felt all I needed was some bubble gum. I opened the door looking at Aspen and I think I saw his eyes dilate.

He smiled to the side at me like he didn't know what to say and I rest all my weight into my right hip and I opened my arms at him.

"Whatcha think?" I asked him going against my reserved personality. He gulped nodding looking down at the whole thing.

"Um....yeah. Uh..yeah," that's all he could say. I laughed cracking up.

"This is so not me!" I laughed at him heading back in. He had to laugh as well.

My next outfit was more me. I put on a flower crown with baby pink flowers like a headband, a sleeveless blue jean dress that went a little above my knee that had four buttons down the chest and the skirt part of the dress looked like folded pieces of paper, my white converse, and a gold watch.

I stepped out and I shrugged as I didn't think he'd like it compared to the others and I said with an iffy face. "So.....what about this one?" I asked him. He didn't say anything staring at me and I nodded waiting for an answer.

"It's.... It's beautiful," he admitted looking into my eyes. "I like it."

"Are you just saying that to make me feel good?" I had to ask. Aspen chuckled ashamed.

"Amanda, would I ever in my teen life lie to you?" He asked.... I realized it was a great question to ask because IT ACTUALLY opened my eyes to show me... Aspen WOULDN'T lie to me...

Ever.

"No," I breathe out rolling my eyes.

"Than no. I'm just not saying it..." He kept staring at me and eventually he squinted his eyes at me. "Do you want it?" He asked. I perked up at him.

"Huh?"

"Do you want it? The outfit?" He asked again even though I heard him the first time.

I was being parted again.

'Aspen just bought me TWO highly expensive accessories. I CANNOT, by ANY means, let him buy me an outfit too! Just ask for one item and call it even!' I thought to myself.

"I like it," I told him looking down at myself. "It's me, but...I really just want the flower crown. I don't have one and I'd really like it," I clasped my hands together. Aspen smiled up at me.

"It's a deal," he stood up. I took it off and handed it to him, but he asked me again.

"Are you sure you don't want me to buy the whole thing?" He asked leaning to me. I laughed playfully pushing him away.

"Go check out!" I told him.

"Fiinnnne," he turned around walking away. I saw him leave and I chuckled covering my mouth heading back in the dressing room and smiled biting my bottom lip.

"Aspen is too sweet," I whispered under my breath. I went out the dressing room and returned all the clothing items and prices and I went over to Aspen who turned around from check out and handed me my bag with my flower crown, but he quickly snatched it back toward himself.

"May I have the honors?" He asked me. I chuckled.

"As you wish..." I tilted my head to him a little and he carefully placed the crown upon my head over my thick top bun and he smiled.

"Perfect," he hid a smile. I chuckled.

"Thank you." We headed out the store and even though Aspen just bought me a flower crown and some jewelry...

A boy NEVER took me shopping, nor did they tell me I look pretty in an outfit I actually made. Although it was awkward to accept his 'gifts'....Aspen was a sweet guy and I felt getting stuff from him was a privilege for me being unattractive as am, but even if so, you can't say no to boys like him.

Not as generous as him.

We walked out the store, and Aspen turned to me. "Come on, there's still a lot of stores we gotta hit," Aspen smiled down at me.

"Lead the way," I smiled up at him,

Aspen lead me to this accessory store and I was looking at the sun hats while he was trying on shades. I glanced over at him from the corner of my eye and I busted out laughing when he had on these 'bad boy' shades and he pretended to be a poser. I went over to him holding my stomach still laughing and he chuckled at me.

He put them back and I got this grandma pair of glasses and replaced them with my hipster ones and I pointed my finger at him like I was nagging him and he laughed.

I put them back and he got some hipster glasses like mine and he gave me this (cute) confused face looking off in a distance messing with his chin, and I busted out laughing and he laughed too putting them back.

He went over to the hats and he tried on a baseball cap and pretended like he was actually playing baseball. I pretended to throw the ball and he hit it and we both looked out into a distance like he got a home run and we laughed again.

I got this cowboy hat and I examine it and I quickly put it on his head with a jump and I said, "Best impersonator of a cowboy! Quick!" Suddenly he pretended his hands were pistols and he was at a stand off and he shot his finger and pretended to blow out the smoke. I chuckled as he then looked at me and lower his hat to where I only saw his lips and chin and I looked at him a bit puzzled.

"Excuse me lil' lady?" he said to me. I shook my head laughing still confused. He tipped his hat at me with a crooked smile, his ocean blue eyes looking right into my chocolate ones. "You uh....come here often?" He took my hand and kissed it quickly and I turned pink chuckling and he smiled at me with his hat.

"Keep it! Keep it!" I begged him. He laughed as he actually bought it and he placed it on his back from the straps like a backpack and we headed back out to the stores.

We were in Dillard's and I was by the fragrances smelling everything and Aspen was a little ways behind me struggling to survive. I was testing EVERYTHING and when I found one I liked, I perked by the smell of it.

When Aspen finally caught up coughing from all the smells he couldn't take, I sprayed my favorite across his nose and he coughed harder pretending to die. "Can't breathe. Ahhh... Can't... Breathe..." I busted out laughing as I threaten,

"I'll spray you with it!" He quickly jumped back looking at me.

"No way...." I laughed I sprayed some on my wrist and called it a day.

"Fine. I won't you big baby." I mocked him.

"I'm no baby," he said proudly.

"Hmhuh, sure sure." We smiled at each other getting lost in each other's eyes and suddenly he glanced over to some escalators and crooked smile and I asked him suspense fully, "What?" He smiled at me and just ran off and I followed him giggling.

"Aspen what are you doing?" Suddenly, but just casually, he started heading UP the DOWN escalator and I busted out laughing.

"Aspen you dummy! Stop! You're going to get in trouble," I whispered yelled.

"This is actually really hard," he ignored me. "This is like a work out....perfect for football." I began laughing as I quickly went all the up the normal stairs but half way through, I began to head down. I looked at him surprised.

"This IS actually pretty tiring," I told him standing beside him separated by the bars.

"See, told you!" We kept going, trying to beat each other to opposite ends to our endless game and after an associate noticed what we were doing, before she headed our way, I turned around and headed up the stairs casually like I didn't do anything and Aspen turned around heading down TOWARD HER.

"Hello 'mam," he played it cool. I covered my mouth gasping in a chuckle and she squinted her eyes at him and nodded and Aspen turned back to me and waved his hand to me trying not to laugh. I quickly headed down the right set of stairs and we ran out the store together before she could say anything else.

We stopped down to the food court for food and we paused looking around for an option. "What to eat?" He asked me.

"Don't know," I shrugged. "I didn't eat out much since I was in the orphanage," I explained. He looked down at me.

"I know the perfect place then..." He took my hand and gently lead me to Taco Bell...the place I know kids raid about in my school.

"Like tacos?" He asked me. I looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Kelly and I use to make them all the time," I smiled sweetly. "Who doesn't like tacos?"

"Awesome." He lead me over to Taco Bell and once again he offered to pay for my food. Unsurprisingly I ordered a quesadilla because they were cheaper than the tacos and I didn't want Aspen to think I was stealing him out his money.... Considering the things he's already bought me.

After we ordered we sat down and I noticed he kept looking at me with his right eyebrow raised and I tried to make it seem like I didn't know he was looking at me, but I couldn't take it any longer.

"What?" I finally asked him laughing.

"Don't tell me you ordered a quesadilla because it's one of the cheapest things on the menu?" He said more in a statement. I shook my head.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," I shrugged my left shoulder at him. "I simply got what I wanted," I placed my hands into one fist on the table.

"Hmmm huh, don't lie to me Amanda," he pointed his finger at me. I laughed. "Lying is not cool."

"I'm not lying!" I protested with a smile on my face..... A worker brought us our food and the delicious-looking quesadilla was on our tray and I slummed down. "Okay.... Maybe just a little," I admitted. He laughed this time.

"Haha, it's okay. Say grace?"

"I'll have the honors," I began to bow my head. He smiled bowing too. I giggled before starting. "Lord we thank You once again for this food we're about to receive and You bless it. Thank You for letting us be a blessing to a man today as using ordinary kids like us to spread the Gospel. In Your Precious Name, amen," I finished. I opened my eyes and Aspen was already looking at me with a smile on his face. I chuckled nervously.

"Hehehe, what?" I asked him.

"You're....you're getting better and better every time," he told me clearing his throat. I chuckled shrugging.

"Well you showed me a lot. I kind of learned from you," I smiled. He looked right into my eyes grabbing his three tacos.

"Oh really?" He looked at me.

"Hmmhuh," I said through my lips drinking my coke through a straw. "You taught me a lot. I just pick up the rest on my own," I shrugged. He chuckled under himself.

"Amanda....I honestly don't get it," he shook his head grabbing some hot sauce. I looked at him weirdly.

"Get what?"

"Why don't you have a boyfriend?" I shook my head sighing.

"Aspen, I already told you," I started with a smile. "Guys just didn't ask me out. Nor did I really care. I was in an orphanage. Guys were literally the last thing on MY mind," I reassured him getting out my food. He laughed.

"Haha okay, okay. I was just wondering," he backed off.

"Thank you," I said playfully. We began eating and I just realized how GREAT eating fast food could be.... "Omg... This is so good...." I had to say with a full mouth. He smiled.

"Yup."

"I mean....I can see why people at school went here as the hang out....This is REALLY good," I kept saying. He laughed.

"Well since we're here, you have to try what their best known for," he handed me a taco. I had to protest.

"What? No, no, I can't eat your taco. That's yours," I said quickly.

"Nah it's cool. I mean, I don't mind. I want you to try it," he slid it over to my side of the table.

"Aspen-"

"Please?" He tilted his head. "You don't have to eat the whole thing." I sighed.

"Ugh fine." I took his taco shaping my lips to the side and he smiled when I got it. I took it and examine it pretending I didn't want it, when honestly it looked good.

"Is it suppose to look like this?" I asked him pointing to it.

"Haha, eat it," he told me. I picked it up.

"What's a taco anyway?" I asked not looking at him. "Like who came up with... 'tha-taco'?" I asked him seriously looking into a distance.

"Haha, come on Amanda. Just eat it!" He laughed at me.

"Okay okay, fine," I finally gave up. I bit it....him watching me intensively, and I looked away chewing, and I put the taco down like I didn't like it.

"How was it?" He asked me after a few bites. I swallowed....my fist over my mouth with my eyes closed taking it in. "Well....?" He asked me sadly.

"Do you want the honest truth?" I asked him. He widen his eyes. I put my hand down and took a deep breath and I looked at him with my hands in my lap.

"THAT...." I paused. He gasped. "....Was the best taco I've ever eaten." He laughed. "Excluding mine," I pointed to my chest. He laughed even more....I never noticed his dimples...but it seem to only appear on his left cheek.

"Haha! I forgot, you want to be a chef!" he smiled at me with his head held back. I hid my smile in my mouth.

"Hmmhuh," I said through my lips giving back his taco. He accepted it. "Food is good. Food is inspiration. Food is....life," I shrugged. He chuckled.

"You're right about that," he ate the taco I bit off of. I smiled.

"So how did you like the college in Texas?" I asked him thoughtfully. "What did you do?" He sighed imaginative.

"Ah it was great. Since I'm in football I might even get a scholarship to attend there. They've sent me a request in the mail and that's how I ended up over there," he looked down at his food. I sipped my drink and swallowed.

"How much can you get?" He didn't look at me right away,

"2500...." I looked at him.

"Oh.... That may be enough for your books and essentials," I commented looking down at my food when really that wasn't much. "You know for your dorm."

"No, 25000...." I looked at him with food in my mouth as he glanced up at me as if he was scared.

"Oh my gosh, are you serious??" I asked Aspen with a full mouth. He shrugged.

"Yeah." I gasped happily.

"OMG that's so cool! $25,000!? What would that pay for?" I asked him super excited. He forced a chuckle.

"My classes for half the semester....I'll just have to pay for my dorm..." He fidgeted with his taco.

"That's really cool Aspen! I hope you get accepted!" I mini clapped for him. He nodded once looking down at the table. I slummed down a little. "What's the matter?" I asked him like I would a baby. "Aren't you happy?"

"Oh I am," he glanced at me quickly.....he let out a depressing sigh. "It's just....." He paused.

"You're parents?" I had to say quietly.

"Yeah, but no," he eased out. I gave him a puzzled look.

"Well... What is it?" I asked him slowly. He paused before answering.

"Well....if I go...how will I be able to see you?" he asked me quietly. I looked at him with wide eyes.

"What....?" That's all I could say.

"If you're living here in Virginia with your parents and I go to school in Texas....I won't be able to see you..." he repeated throughly.

I never thought of that.

'Aspen is concerned he'll never see ME again if he does go to school in Texas.... Aspen is the coolest friend I ever had since Vanessa, and seeing him go....even if I find my parents...would devastate me....Kelly...Vanessa....I CAN'T loose Aspen too,' I thought lost in his eyes.

"That's not true...." I said quickly. "We could....we could still visit each other," I said optimistically. He titled his head.

"How so?"

"Well...." I took a deep breath looking down at my finished quesadilla wondering where I was going with this. "We could visit each other in the summer. On break we could catch up....Like Spring Break....or even Christmas...." We both began to smile by the thought of it. "Besides this is the 21st century. Common technology and internet is a big part of our daily life. We'll be able to stay in tact. Trust on that," I nodded confidently. He chuckled.

"Haha, right.... Want a find a hotel now? We killed a few hours," he suggested. I smiled nodding.

"Hehee, sure."

We gathered our trash and Aspen offered to throw our food away and I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip to hold in my excitement. 'Why. Is. He. So. Nice. To. Me?' I kept thinking.

We left out the mall, he had on his cowboy hat and grease shades, and I had my cross necklace around my neck, and charm bracelet with my flower crown on around my head and I couldn't help but to think this whole thing ISN'T real.

'A guy never bought me food or anything sentimental," I thought as we got our bags out the jewelry place. We exchanged thank you's and made sure our stuff was together before heading out. 'Rather that carry MY stuff..... Only guys who like you do that right?' I thought with an iffy face. Aspen looked at me as he put on his hat and he said,

"You ready little lady?" I giggled covering my mouth as he placed my backpack on his shoulders.

"Hehe, yup." We walked out Mall of America, and we looked around.

"I know where some hotels are in the inner city. Would you rather bus or walk?" I looked down at the ground shaping my lips to the side thinking about it.

"Wanna walk? If you get tired I still have a giant water bottle and a (small) variety of snacks in the back," I smiled too big. He laughed.

"Alright then."

We began walking and I couldn't stop looking at Aspens blue eyes under his off-white cowboy hat and I kept giggling and he finally looked down at me hiding a smile.

"Is there a problem little lady?" He asked me. I laughed even more.

"Don't you think it's weird to be wearing a COWBOY HAT in WASHINGTON DC?" I emphasized those words. "We're with the northerns. You're home place." He laughed looking ahead of him. How come I never noticed his left dimple??

"Ain't nothin' wrong with expressin' ya self," he replied. I laughed as he continued. "Besides my dream school is down-yonder. Shouldn't I already get use to the thing?" He asked. I laughed covering my mouth as he looked down at me smiling. We walked a few minutes in silence as it was around 4:30pm almost, and he smiled shaking his head.

"To be honest Amanda..." He started. I looked up at him.

"Yes?"

"You're one of the coolest girls I've met in awhile..." I looked straight unable to take that.

"Oh really?" That's all I could say.

"Hmmhuh," he said through his lips nodding. I paused a minute taking that in.

I WANTED to ask him was I better than his last girlfriend Katelyn, or how many girls he's known to actually comment that....but I've been with Aspen for two and a half days now, and I knew he was serious by what he said....so....I REALLY asked,

"How so?" He sighed thoughtfully.

"You're smart. Some girls who TRIED to talk to me acted dumb when really they weren't. I don't really like that, but you're the opposite." I smiled a little on my right side not looking at him as he didn't look at me.

"Plus you're pretty. I mean, yeah every girl is beautiful in there own way....but....you're different...." I looked at him as he didn't look at me.

"Is that....a 'good' different?" I eased out. He looked at me as we kept walking.

"Yeah....it is...." We kind of stared at each other and he looked away first and he added with squinted eyes, "Plus you're funny, so that's always cool." I laughed under myself looking away.

"Haha, I don't think I'm funny," I told him honestly. "I just say whatever I want to say."

"And that's even better!" He semi-yelled at me. I busted out laughing. "You don't even try to be funny but you are." I smiled hiding my lips and I licked my braces UNABLE to look at him.

"But all in all, I'm serious Amanda....." I looked at him as he looked at me as we stopped at a four-way intersection. "Thanks for letting me come with you on this trip." I blushed as our light was green as we walked across.

"You're welcome....but I feel IM the one who should be thanking YOU," I told him. He looked at me funny and back in front of him.

"How come?" I shrugged.

"No guy ever approached me the way you did. They'd just look at me and probably say hi or something and go back to whatever they were doing... But YOU, you kept the conversations going. You actually calmed my nerves on the plane. I thank you for that. You're with me now-I thank you for that....." We made it to the other side of the street and he looked down at me and I didn't even have the COURAGE to look back at him.

"You're funny Aspen. You're sweet. Probably one of the greatest people I've met in awhile.... I'm happy to call you my friend..." I finally looked at him, my face flustered, dry throat, and my big infant eyes probably even bigger... "I am." Aspen look down at me with a grin, but I had to look away at the ground and I couldn't even blink.

'Why. Did. I. Say. All. That?' I asked myself.

"Thanks Amanda...." I finally looked at him. "I'm happy to call you my friend too...." I smiled not feeling so.... Sick anymore and I honestly didn't know why but I didn't even think about it after that because he broke my train of thought when he said, "Hey look!" We stopped walking and he placed his hand on my shoulder and I smiled too.

"I guess the state fair is here." I chuckled.

"I thought the fair only came in the spring and fall time?" I asked him. He shrugged still looking at it.

"Maybe just cause it's summer," he suggested. I chuckled.

"I guess." He looked at me quickly.

"You wanna go?" He asked boldly. I looked at him.

"To the fair?"

"Yeah," he nodded like it wasn't a big deal. "Just to chill for the night. We can go when the sun goes down after we find a hotel. I learned my lesson. Hotel first then fun." I laughed as he referred to us going to the burger joint.

"Hmmm, I don't know Aspen," I shaped my lips.

"Aw come on!" He pleaded. I laughed by his eagerness. "It'll be fun!"

"But I have to get to Chesapeake-" he cut me off softly,

"Don't worry Amanda, I'll get you there." I looked at him quickly.

"You can? But how?"

"Here to Richmond isn't far. Maybe two hours. If we head out early in the morning tomorrow, we'll be able to reach Richmond and get my car. I can take you straight to Chesapeake after that," he offered with a smile. I smiled by the thought of it...but...something inside me was kind of sad too....

"Oh really?"

"Yeah...so...I guess we better make this last day worth it....You have a camera....memory is key..." He said kind of depressed, but he forced a chuckle. I looked up at Aspen smiling sadly.

Leaving Aspen would break something in me. I didn't want to leave him nor did I think he wanted to leave me either, but he was right. This may be our last day together....so we had to make it count.

"Sure...." I nodded with a chilled smile. He looked down at me surprised that I actually agreed.

"Really?" I nodded smiling.

"Hmmhuh," I said through my lips. "We gotta make this last day count." He smiled at me and looked over across the street to the right side and added,

"And hey, there's a hotel." I smiled glancing at the fair then the hotel and then him.

"Want to drop our bags off first?"

"Sure, I don't mind. I could always use time rest my shoulders," he messed with my backpack on his shoulders. I laughed.

"Thank you Aspen," I shrugged my right shoulder sweetly with a cool smile. He smiled by my smile,

"Anything for the lady," he tilted his hat at me. I chuckled covering my mouth as he let out his arm for me to take and I gently took it trying not to go crazy and I thought as we walked toward the hotel laughing,

'Yeah...definitely not a paid assassin...' I had to think.

~

(Awww. Omg you guys. If I met a boy like Aspen I'd probably die....he's so sweet!! Please vote and comment below and I'll be back with the following chapter;) Bye!

Xoxo, Kyndra <3