Chapter 39-1

The grove is inside a massive greenhouse bigger than my own home with high paneled ceilings and large troughs of dirt where the trees grow. I never even thought this was possible until now. There is dirt everywhere, but the trees and their roots stretch out into the deep man-made ground as if it were the earth itself. They trees aren't too big but not very small at the same time. Frost and water cover the panes. There are a few people in the impressive grove and their laughter bounces off of the glass walls from somewhere among the trees. I grin at Hayden, turning to take in everything at once. Someone had given me the advice to stay cool, calm, and collected during our date. At first I had been doing a pretty good job at it. But everything went downhill after the edible stand. No person could ever stay sane with that thing around. It took so much will power not the rip a piece of the Smarty's counter and take it with me. So here I am a bumbling ball of energy, skipping into the greenhouse the way Maria frolicked about the valley in The Sound of Music. Right at the doors, the owner of the fancy orchard has set up a stand to buy everything apple: apple pastries, caramel apples, apple clothing, apple accessories, baskets, apple-themed stationary. "I still can't get over this place," I say for the trillionth time tonight. The crimson apples shine deliciously under the large old lights hanging from the ceiling. It is pleasantly warmer inside and I strip down to the black tank top I wore under my sweater. "You can say that again," Hayden comments, "But knowing you, you probably will." He takes the sweater from my hand and sets it on one the benches around the outside of the trees, eyes lingering on the flushed skin of my shoulders from the sudden heat. I stick out my tongue like the mature seventeen-year-old I am and hug myself with a smile. Hayden shrugs off his jacket as well, pushing the sleeves of his gray shirt to his elbows and it's hard not to notice how the thin fabric hugs his biceps almost perfectly. "I don't understand why I didn't come here sooner." At his words Hayden ducks his head whispers something to himself with the laps of a memory playing on his sharp features and we step into the grove. The grass is damp and the trees glisten from being freshly watered. I can smell it in the air as I stand waiting, half expecting to hear or see a bird zip through the branches. A stream of cool air through the doors makes the wind chimes sing softly. "This place is pretty big," I breathe when we collect two baskets, "Are you sure we won't get lost?" Hayden shrugs and smirks at me with glowing eyes, "We might. But if we get lost it won't be the biggest disaster in the world. Besides, it could turn out to be really a fun experience in there. You know, under the trees with hardly anyone around." I dissolve into laughter, shaking my head. "Now what makes you think I want to have that kind of fun with you, Hayden Cross?" Hayden hooks his arm around my waist and pulls my hips against his. His cigarette and peppermint breath fans my face gently and there is something ragged about the way he inhales. It suddenly hits me that I haven't seen him smoke as often as he had before we went to New York. A small part of me wants to ask him why. Another part snaps to shut up and focus on how tight he's holding me. How it makes my stomach flip and skin sing in the best way possible. Hayden holds his face close to mine and tilts his head to the side, gaze dropping to my parted lips. The tension vibrates in my chest. It's so like him to turn a simple moment into something of exhilarating heat. His eyes crinkle and he chuckles, "Call it a sixth sense." Hayden's nose bumps mine, "Or hope." I try not to let it get to me, but that's hard when your legs become very unstable under your weight. I angle my head to match the direction of his and whisper in a thick and raspy voice, "I guess you'll just have to convince me." His arm tightens and Hayden gives me a look that says he'll do more than convince me. His hold loosens and he drops his arm, stepping back like nothing happened. I stop in front of the first tree and examine the apples with a keen eye for the best out of the bunch. The process of picking apples can be a stressful one. What if I don't get the right one? What if I can't reach it? Most of the time, I usually can't reach it. I reach for an apple and yank, water from the freshly sprayed plants sprinkling onto my shoulders. I jump at how cold it is and slap a hand over my mouth, giggling. Hayden rounds the tree and comes to stand beside me. "Oh Ember," he shakes his head in disappointment. "What?" He bumps his hip against mine and says in the most casual way, "The tree can't make you wet. That's what I'm supposed to do." Did he just--- This time Hayden is the one to fall into a round of laughter when every inch of me turns fire engine red. It's even worse because without my sweater, he can see how drastically red my whole body is capable of turning. I roll my eyes and playful punch him in the shoulder. Hayden pats my head, fingers lingering in the lose strands. "Come on, you know I couldn't pass that up," he explains. I sigh and move my hand up to pinch his cheek, "It's a good thing you're cute." His eyes widen, mouth dropping at my words. I laugh, side-stepping around him, and head toward the next tree. The burn of Hayden's gaze on my back makes my heart suddenly accelerate but I keep moving forward, carefully picking off two apples. We're only on the outside of the groove but it's already a maze of identical trees. We walk in a comfortable silence through the trees, stopping once in a while to pick the right ones. I wander off to a tree with deep red apples. Hayden calls my name and when I turn, his basket is full and his hair is drenched. I prop my basket against my hip and shake my head, matching his tone and saying, "Oh Hayden! The tree can't---" "Don't even say it!" he warns, raising a hand, adding with a snort, "Besides I don't get wet, Em, I get hard---" "Alright! Alright!" I roll my eyes, coming over grab his basket. Hayden shakes his head like a wet dog, splashing me on purpose. "A word of advice: don't yank on a tree branch unless you want to take a second shower." He pushes his hair back and wipes his face with the hem of his shirt. It's hard not to look at what's under it. My gaze ends up lasting too long because Hayden meets my eyes with a devilish grin. "Gotcha!" I rock back on my heels and pretend not to be so affected by it. "The last thing I need is to get wet and go out in this---" Hayden takes a step forward. "But if you do need a second shower please let me know. It would be my honor to accompany you." "Hayden!" "Oh, Ember, don't scream my name just yet." Another step forward. His eyes seem to change from light gray to stormy black. "You're such a pig sometimes you know that right?" I reply in a joking tone. He licks his lips. "I prefer sexy beast, if you ask me. But honestly, you look cold. Want to use me as a blanket?" I try not to smile, stepping back when he steps forward. "Is that a cheesy pick up line?" "It can be whatever you want, baby, as long as it involves me." I place the baskets on the ground and reach for another apple, looking over my shoulder and asking, "Ha, please don't tell me you've actually used those on girls before?" "You're so beautiful that you made me forget my pickup line," he counters in a low and seductive voice, eyes boring into mine. This time I blush and turn to face him. My back touches the hard trunk of a big tree behind me when his long strides send me reeling back. The branches fall a few inches above my head and Hayden ducks down to stand directly in front of me. "Oops, looks like there's nowhere to go now," he smiles. "Mhhmm," Hayden doesn't touch me, deliberately leave inches between us. "You know, this is the best date I've ever gone on," he admits. My eyes widen in astonishment. Hayden has probably gone out with so many girls. I never really cared if he was a player or not until now. Sure there were girls on his arm, but did he ever take them on dates? It leaves me wondering how in the world a person like me could make this date the best date he's ever gone on. I admit it makes me feel kind of special. "Really?" "Yes," he breathes, "But there's just one thing---you haven't even fallen for my pickup lines yet."