Free The Boy Who Paints Me by Sharlay Page B

knew that eventually I would have to go so I shouldn’t be thinking about Leighton anyway but I couldn’t help it. Something about him had opened up a part of me that refused to close.
     
    I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when I felt a warm breathe against my neck, instantly calming me.
     
    “Hey,” he said. How did I know that he was smiling, just from the sound of his voice?
     
    “Hey.”
     
    “Have you enjoyed yourself?” He whispered. Everyone was making noise and talking about how beautiful the fireworks looked. The moment Leighton came along, I had left that world and somehow entered my own private cocoon with him. I nodded my head.
     
    “Good,” he said as I tried not to focus on the heat that I could feel radiating from behind me as his body seemed to be getting closer. I fought the urge that I had to close my eyes and let my body lean against his. “Ready to go?” He whispered, sending a vault of heat up and down my entire spine.
     
    “Mmm hmm,” was the only words that I could get out.
     
    “Ok,” he replied before his hand slipped into mine.
     
    It took us ten minutes to say our goodbyes. Everyone was saying that I had to promise that I would see them again. Megan kept reminding me about my trial shift at the diner and that me, her, Layla and Caroline would be meeting up over the weekend. The truth was; I was glad that I had come but I was even happier to be leaving with Leighton.
     
    “The cars that way,” I said as we began walking in the opposite direction.
     
    “I know, I want to show you something,” he said with a huge smile on his face.
     
    “Again?” I asked as I tried to hide the smile on my face.
     
    “The worlds full of wonderful surprises, there’s always more to show,” he chuckled as pulled me through more and more trees.
     
    When we finally came to a halt I gasped.
     
    “How did I not know about this?” I asked as I slipped free of his hand and looked ahead of me.
     
    “Not many people do,” he said with a proud smile on his face.
     
    “It’s beautiful.” I glanced at him. He nodded his head as he watched me. I couldn’t believe that I was stood in front of a waterfall. I had seen them on TV, even in my dreams but never this close up. It was breath taking. In the silence of the night, the sound of the water was so calming. The breeze felt great against my skin, and the refreshing smell that bounced through the air made me want to run around like a little child. I had never seen clearer water in my life.
     
    “This is amazing, Leighton,” I said as I turned to face him.
     
    “Yeah,” he nodded as he took a step closer to me.
     
    “Want to go in?” He asked seriously.
     
    “We can’t, we’ll get wet,” I giggled.
     
    “So, this could be one of life’s greatest moments, Rai. Never pass on a great moment,” he said as he held his hand out towards me. “Come live in the moment with me,” he said as a smirk filled his face. I silently took his hand and giggled like a little girl as he began running, dragging me along with him. He let go of my hand just as we got to the edge of the water. I watched anxiously as he stepped into the water. Once he was in, he immersed his entire body in the water before jumping up and screaming at the top of his voice “woahhh!”
     
    I started laughing as I watched how free and happy he looked. He wasn’t scared of who might see him or if anyone thought it was right or wrong; he was just living. Something I hadn’t done in a long time.
     
    “You’re crazy,” I chuckled as our eyes met.
     
    “I know,” he said as he held out his arms for me. I looked at his arms for a moment and began backing away. I saw the disappointment in his face as he watched me moving away from him, then before I could change my mind, I started to run. I ran full speed towards the empty water, next to him and when I hit the edge, I lifted both feet in the air and jumped. The cold water hit me instantly, and I sank