The Last of Them All (editing)

Chapter 38: An Adventure

"Oh!" She cried, in the middle of shoving eggs in her face. "Umm, yeah we will be." She said hesitantly.

What were they talking about? Is this another surprise? I closed my eyes and tried to visualize their doors, but I got a strong no in response.

"Ali..." Justin scolded playfully.

"Okay, fine..."

After everyone had finished eating and we had cleared off the table, Justin went over to the door and started getting his shoes on.

"Where are we going?" I asked, following him over to the door.

"It's a surprise." He smiled. "Here, put them on." He handed me my combat boots, the only shoes I really ever wore, and I started pulling them on. "Don't worry, I got permission from Dr. Tusik."

"Okay?" I laced up one of my boots while sitting on the couch, but almost fell over when I felt Justin grab my other foot and pull it up onto his lap. He began lacing it up for me and then afterwards pulled me up off of the couch.

"After you m'lady." He opened the door for me and I stepped into the warm summer air. A cool breeze felt nice against the hot air of Utah, and I closed my eyes against the brightness of the sun.

He grabbed my hand and walked me down the steps of the house, taking me through the gate and out onto the sidewalk. I instantly felt vulnerable, as if the protection of the Tusik house was no longer there. I felt like a dying animal in Africa, waiting any moment for a vulture to swoop down and feast on my decaying flesh.

Justin grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes, smiling to let me know that's it was going to be okay.

"Let's go on an adventure shall we?"

I nodded and we walked off down the street. I felt more comfortable in a car, but I guess with license plates and recognition software it was safer to go on foot? Oh well. I tried to push back the thoughts that were going to ruin my day, the thoughts that I had been thinking of for the past two weeks. I was going to enjoy today, and I was going to go on this adventure and have the most memorable sixteenth birthday ever.

And that's what I did.

We walked through the streets of a small section of Salt Lake, stopping in random little shores. He bought me anything I wanted, but I didn't really want much, so his wallet remained full. I'm not one for shopping. The only thing I did find that I really liked was this little glass ladybug. It wasn't really bigger than my thumbnail, and fit in my pocket. But apparently the ladybug was a symbol of luck, and I felt like I would need some. It was simple enough, and I so I got it.

Justin kept trying to insist that he buy me things, but the only thing I let him buy was the ladybug and then some nachos from a food truck.

"Let's go this way!" He shouted. He grabbed my hand and led me across the road and into a little children's park.

On one side of the park was the playground, but on the other was a grove of trees that ran through a little brook. Around it grew a bunch of wildflowers and squirrels, birds and a few rabbits ran around between the bushes and trees. It was a little oasis of wilderness amidst the hustle and bustle of busy streets.

We walked throught the trees, hand in hand just enjoying being out in the nature, when we came across a wooden bench carved out of an old tree trunk. We sat down and I looked up into the sky. It was darted with large fluffy clouds and the sun peeking through the trees and clouds made the area that we were in look almost angelic.

He got up off of the bench and walked over to the base of a tree where a bunch of wildflowers were growing. He brushed off his hands and came over to where I was sitting. I smiled, but then he began talking.