A Reason To Love

Ch. 24

"Mark my words The Bears are going to go to the SuperBowl next year!" My dad stated with no doubt in his voice. Though I don't know the first thing about football I do know that my dad has been The Bears number one fan for as long as I can remember.

"That confident huh?" Will arched a questioning eyebrow at my dad when he stopped at a stop light.

"Hell yes! Oh I can just feel it in my bones..." I tuned them out focusing on the song playing softly in the background.

The ride to wherever we are going doesn't last much longer before Will pulled into what seemed like an abandoned park. Skeptically I climbed out of the car trying to fight off the eerie feeling that I felt.

"Will are you sure about this?" I trailed off looking around trying to take in my surroundings. I felt like I was on the grounds of a crime scene. The park was old, the playground splattered in rusty coated metal, the grass easily was knee high. Everything about the place gave me the creeps.

"Oh lighten up Cam! You only live once! Lead the way Will." My dad gestured towards the mountains off in the distance. I walked a few steps behind Will and my dad letting them engage in 'guy talk' making me feel more like a third wheel.

Will led us through the playground following a trail on the ground. A gust of wind blew the swings and the rusty merry go round started squeaking. I sped up catching up to my dad and Will who had left me behind. You know that feeling you get when you walk through your house at night and you get the feeling someone is watching you ready to snatch you at any moment? Yeah that feeling was creeping down my spine.

I fell into stride right behind the guys stirring in my sour mood. I wanted to spend time with them but the thought of something happening to my dad had me worried beyond consoling. After we made it through the playground we made it to a wooded area. Will led us through the woods following the same trail we started on.

"I've seen this part of the movie...a group of people go into the woods only to be chopped up and gutted." I huffed swatting at a mosquito. I've never been a fan of bugs but the deeper we went into the woods the more they seemed to appear, which only added to my irritation.

"Cameron try to enjoy the outdoors. Besides you are with your two favorite guys and we wouldn't let anything happen to you. Now stop sulking and get your ass up here." Guilt flooded my veins. I should be happy to be with my favorite guys, my dad was right. The logical part of my mind was playing continuous clips of 'what ifs' but I knew my time with my dad was limited so I forced myself out of the grumpy mood I was in.

I picked up the pace until I fell into stride between Will and my dad. I felt the ground started to shift upwards as we started going up the side of what I am guessing is a mountain. The woods covered the entire area. The higher we went the less and less bugs seemed to be lingering around so that was an added bonus.

It didn't take us long to get to a clearing just outside of the woods at the top of the mountain we were climbing.

"Wow!" I gushed letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The top of the mountain overlooked the wooded area we just hiked through. On the ground there was a river that consisted of rushing water which created crashing waves against rocks spread throughout the water. A waterfall fell from the mountain we were standing on fell into the water creating the most beautiful sound. A feeling of peacefulness spread throughout my veins.

"Now this is a view." My dads voice dripping with admiration. I took a second to watch him taking in the scenery. The sunlight was shining off of his not so bald head from where the chemo stole all of his once thick black mane. He looked more rested than I have seen him since he started chemo. He is walking and eating like a teenage boy. Looking at him you wouldn't know he was terminally ill especially now that his hair is starting to grow back.

"I found this place the night my mom died. I come here whenever I am having a bad day or just need a break from the real world. It's so easy to get lost in the scenery up here."

"I love it up here." My dad sighed as he captured pictures on his phone to show mom who will no doubt be jealous.

"Cammy I have a question for you. I've already talked to your dad about it." I felt my heart start to race inside of my chest. What in the world could he have to ask me?

"Will you go to prom with me?" Will fidgeted nervously. How can someone who practically screams confidence seem so nervous? His blonde hair blowing in the wind, the green flakes in his honey colored eyes shining bright in the sunlight.

Ahh Prom...the one dance in High School that every girl dreams about. Where you wear the perfect dress, spend hours getting ready, and then spend the rest of the night dancing your ass off. Since my dad got sick I never even thought about going. It's not like I have any friends anyways so what would be the point?

Yet here is the hottest guy in school who also happens to be my boyfriend and all I want to do is say no. I want to go but I don't want to leave my dad. I can't.

"Will..I ugh-" I started bluttering words not forming a single sentence. How do I tell him no? Would he be mad? Would he understand?

I steal a glance at my dad who has happiness and hopefulness in his eyes evident. He wants me to go. I know he does. If I say no it will crush him. He wants nothing more than to see me happy and living my life.

"I would love to."