Free Fledgling by Natasha Brown

crept into the dark recesses of her mind.
    An elated owl’s cry cut through the darkness and met her ears. She fell asleep with a tender grin on her face.
     

 
    Chapter 10.
     
    Friday arrived. Finally.
    Ana made it through her first week. Although her homework was plentiful, she caught up in calculus thanks to Laura. And Ana anticipated school for the first time as far back as she could remember. The second half of her day didn’t come soon enough.
    When she laid on her rock the previous night, she reflected on how fast things had shifted. She hadn’t seen it coming. In such a short period of time her life had shifted and her rules cast aside and revised. Her senses were saturated. There was no denying it. She couldn’t explain it. As sudden as a magnet being flipped, she was changed.
    She never thought of herself as someone who would ever be loved. She was still surprised Chance was interested in spending time with her. But there it was. Plain to see. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he drew near, mirroring her own reaction.
    She was curious to meet his family, to understand him better. As straight forward as he was, she wondered if he was withholding something. Or maybe since she hadn’t seen him hanging out with any friends, he was just shy. She felt conflicted, knowing she wasn’t being entirely honest either. It’s only been a week , she defended herself, she wasn’t really lying to him, she just wasn’t ready to tell him. Once he knew, it would change things and being ‘normal’ for once was just too enjoyable.
    Just a little longer.
    In photography class they settled in the same two seats they had all week. The previous day they picked two images for their assignment and holding them out now, grinned in satisfaction. One photo was of the sunset, the yellow globe melting into the distant mountains, casting ripples of blood orange light through the clouds. The second, was of the starry night sky. Taken with a slow shudder speed, the stars danced in unison, arching along an invisible vector. They signed their names on the backs and turned them in.
    For the remainder of the period they spoke in low tones, and grilled each other about favorite music, books and food.
    After class they wandered out to the busy parking lot together. Everyone seemed to be moving at a different speed than them, rushing to end the daily monotony. They stood between their contrasting vehicles like the embodiments of day and night as the onslaught of departing students ebbed.
    They heard scratching and chattering above them. A red squirrel peered down from a low pine bough, eyes wide. It edged its way out on the branch, staring intently Chance. He met the animals gaze for just a moment then stared down at the ground.
    Ana yanked open her door, and throwing her things into the van she turned to say goodbye. She saw Chance tilt his head down in silence, and he whispered, “See you tonight.”
    He walked to his truck and gave a nod before jumping into the cab. Ana in turn, swept herself into her van and with a loud creak, shut the door.

 
    Chapter 11.
     
    Wind combed through the firs, inspiring nesting birds to abandon their homes and ride the swelling currents. The sun caressed the tips of the needles, delivering one last kiss of warmth before relinquishing the sky to the moon and stars.
    Ana watched the trees swaying outside her second story window. The waving forest calmed her while she waited anxiously for Chance to arrive. She smoothed the creases in her jeans, then closed her eyes.
    She had changed out of her wrinkled shirt from school and into a thick woven green sweater with a thin white cotton tank underneath, to cover her opaque scar. She hoped they would wind up outside after eating dinner and knew it was growing cold out.
    Eva’s voice burst through Ana’s solitude announcing, “Ana, Chance is here!”
    Ana stood up slowly-an ingrained habit to keep herself from passing out. Her jittery fingers combed through