Page 60 of Ride or Die
We are all making decisions in order to survive in this fucked up place. To get from one day to the next. To get somewhere. The actions we choose aren’t always the smartest and don’t necessarily represent us, but it’s survival.
The party ends around two a.m., and we pass out hard. The next morning, Colt wakes me up around ten.
“Come on, babe, get in the shower. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
FUCK FAMILY
LAYLA
It's cold out, so Colton has me dress in warm, comfy clothes with my boots, jacket, hat, and mitts. He grabs a bag from the kitchen he must have packed when I was in the shower and we head out to the car.
We take a drive into the countryside. Colton pulls off onto a private gravel road that leads to a park with walking trails. There hasn’t been much snow yet, but out here, there’s a bit more than in the city. The trees are capped just enough to make for beautiful scenery. We pull into a parking lot overlooking a cliff and down into the forest below. I look around at the serenity and wonder why he has brought me here.
"You brought me out here to kill me? I was right. You were a psycho all along," I tease, arching my brow skeptically.
He laughs and leans into the back seat, pulling out a paper gift bag and placing it in my lap. He gestures to the bag with a mischievous grin.
“What is it? The gun you're going to execute me with?” He rolls his eyes.
“Yes, Lay. I brought you here to kill you and am giving you the gun beforehand." He shakes his head, smiling at me. "Just open the fucking thing.”
I tilt my head, watching him suspiciously as I open the bag and pull out a professional-looking camera. My eyes shoot up to his, confused.
“This was mine for our high school photography class. You’ve mentioned being interested but not being able to afford a professional camera, so I figured it was time to pass on mine so you can practice. I still owe you that date from our quiz competition, so we’re going on a hike and having a picnic down by the lake.” He smiles sweetly, and my mouth drops.
“Colton, I-I…” I’m speechless. This is so fucking sweet. I had completely forgotten about our bet.
“Don’t thank me. You do way too much for me, and you’re absorbed into this fucked-up world because of me. I love you and want to share your interests, so we’re going to spend today capturing beautiful things.” I place my hand on his cheek, my eyes filled with pure adoration.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and he smiles.
“You’re welcome. Now bundle up!” He throws on his gray toque, and his perfect black hair peeks out the bottom.
We hop out of the car, zipping our jackets and putting on our gloves. Colton grabs the bag from the trunk, and we head to the trail. It takes a few minutes to learn how to adjust the camera, but with Colt’s help, I get the hang of it.
A peaceful silence settles between us as we walk along the path, absorbing nature and waiting for moments to capture on film. I get a photo of a squirrel eating a tree nut on a snowy log. At a viewing point, I stop to capture the whole landscape in the valley below us, the snow-capped trees and gray sky giving a moodiness to it all.
Snow crunches under our feet as we continue down the hillside, reaching the small lake. It’s just begun to freeze over, the thin sheen of fresh ice as clear as glass. Colt clears off a giant rock and places a blanket over it to rest our bums. He pulls out a canteen and two metal cups. When he opens it, the rich scent fills my nostrils.
“Mmm…hot cocoa?” I ask excitedly.
“Yup, and cookies. We’ll have a snack, then head back up?” He pours me a cup with a grin on his face.
“Sounds perfect,” I say, taking the warm cup between my palms. It’s nice, but it doesn’t compare to the warm fuzzies Colt has given me today.
He settles with his drink and we lean against each other, admiring the nearly frozen lake, backdropped by the snowy trees behind it. I rest my head on his shoulder and take a deep breath, enjoying the calmness of the moment. Being in a place like this, it's as if our real lives don't even exist.
I take a few more photos before we hike back up the hill. Despite the cold, I’m warm all over. This experience has made me fall more in love with Colton, if that’s even possible.
After our hike, Colt drives me back to my house so I can grab a few more things to take to his place, heading home to start dinner while I pack.
Still smiling after our relaxing day in nature, I walk in the front door and am immediately bombarded by my mom, who looks completely strung out.
I’ve known for years that my parents sometimes use drugs. Drug addicts think they hide it well, but today it couldn’t be more obvious. She looks fucked up.
