Warm walks

[sapphire emerson]

Sapphire looked around as she walked in the forest. The light that sparkled through bright green leaves that hung high above her head warmed her skin as she wore a tank top and camo capri’s. She smiled as she saw many different colors of birds; blues, reds, yellows, all chirping merrily in the warm sun. She took a deep breath, the fresh scent of damp and musty leaves filled her nose. It must have just rained in the deep wood as water droplets falling off the high leaves and hit her, along with flowers leaving water marks as they brushed against her ankles. She winced as a thorn brush rubbed against her, cutting at her exposed flesh.

Some, she came upon a wide river that was at the moment a sparkling blue, so clear that you could see the rocks that littered the bottom, as well tiny glints of metal as the light glared off of it. She quickly hid her eyes as the glare proved too much for her as she walked over to a large oak, deciding to sit beneath it's protecting form as she started to doze in the lovely warmth, the bright colors filling her visions and haunting her dreams.

[Joe Don Rooney]

The shyest of the boys walked up as well. He carried a flat-coated retreiver on the hunt of a stick. Tossing it with not much effort, the dog loved it and went crazy after it into the clear water. Either of them noticed the woman walking their way. When the dog gave it back to Joe, that's when the man saw the girl and his eyes showed a seance of fear. People were something he just wasn't good with and had a hard time living around as his world went on.

He backed up a few steps, the retriever still oblivious to the fact that there was a person. If he did notice he just didn't care. Jake turned back around and started walking away, hoping she didn't notice him avoiding her. His head bent down and the dog followed contently. Joe trained the ground as he floated away.

It took a moment for him to feel safe again in a crowded area of trees. He tossed the stick more and more as he waited for nothing to come but his dog, Axel... Ax.

Pic Of Ax

[sapphire emerson]

I was shaken awake as I felt a presence near me, along with the sun becoming to warm on my poor, defenseless eyelids. Quickly sitting up, I started to look around me, nothing but green leaves and moss and brown bark. Sometimes I wish it wasn’t this green, I thought, quickly shaking the thought away, knowing I wouldn’t want the forest any other way. Looking around again, still feeling like I wasn’t alone, I decided to get up and leave, thinking of coming back the next weekend if the weather held up.

So, as I walked back through the bright forest, humming along with the birds the chirped merrily above me, I heard a peculiar sound. As if leaves were being stomped by something of significant weight and obliviously not a rabbit. So, as I continued on my way, slightly faster this time, something hit me in the head, causing me to fall to the ground, a muffled cry escaping my lips.

Rubbing the back of my head, which was already becoming tender, I looked around for the object that caused my fall, eyes coming upon a small stick that looked out of place. As I stared at it curiously, a dark shadow came into view before I was once again toppled over, this time by something much bigger and very alive.

Looking up, on top of me stood a black retriever that had begun to lick my face in excitement. Hey there boy, I cooed as I pushed him off and sat up straight to pet him, not caring about the green stains upon my clothes or the leaves in my hair, the aching in my head moving to the back of my mind. Where did you come form? I cooed again as I stroked his soft black fur.

[Joe Don Rooney]

Joe tossed the stick and once it was out he saw exactly where it was going as so was the dog that followed. His body went tight, how was he going to talk his way out of this one. He jogged the direction the object went, to the woman that laid on the ground with his dog glomping her.

He walked up behind the dog and grabbed his choker holding him back, which he did easily. The dog made no movement to her, just the stick.

He didn't look her in the eyes at all I'm sorry he said so soft it could barely be heard. He took the dog back to where he had thrown it, looking eager to get away, like he was so deep in trouble.

[sapphire emerson]

As Sapphire pet the adorable dogs soft black fur, the dogs soft tongue licking her face, making her giggle as she cooed to him, a hand grabbed his collar and pulled him off of her, resulting in a pout from her as the dog went to go pick up the stick that lay not far off. As she thought of the stick, a throb of pain shook her head, a wince coming forth on her light features. Rubbing her sore head softly, she looked up to see who had taken the dog off of her.

Before her stood a handsome guy with shaggy, sandy blonde hair. From the looks of it, he wasn’t much older than she was, maybe in his early twenties. However old he was, he was very good looking and the sight of him caused a light blush to protrude from her pale cheeks, making her look down at her feet. She then heard a light apology that floated on the wind towards her, barely audible. Looking up, she saw an odd expression on his face. Was that fear? It was like he was afraid she was going to hurt him.

Thinking that she could stand know, any type of dizziness that had come with the stick was gone. With a huff, she stood up ad faced the man. It’s fine. Not much harm done, if only a knot that will vanish quickly, she said, a broad smile flashing on her face as she looked at him. My name is Sapphire by the way. And I must say, that is a very beautiful dog, she said, looking at the black retriever. What’s his name, she asked in curiousity, cocking her head to the side with a smile still adorning her features.

[Joe Don Rooney]

Joe kept his eyes peeled off of hers. He hated being in situations like this. He knew she meant no harm and was only passing by. He just felt extremely uncomfortable being around anyone. Joe herd her say the words of her name, it was beautiful, he voice was deffinatly one he could pick up from a crowd. Dare he look her in they eye? No.

Joe... he said as he gave his dog a look that told him to get up and lets go. Axil stood up. Thanks... it's Ax he said as he admitted his dogs name. I'm sorry he said again for the stick hitting her head. After he spoke those words he pivoted around and started to walk away. He shoved his hands into his pockets and took place in walking back up the creek.

His body was trembling, not cause he liked her... which he did but just cause human presence scared the shit out of him. He never was able to cope with people after his fathers actions day and night. He came up to his truck about 600 feet away and sat on the hood of a small Toyota pick up truck, a guitar wrapping his fingers into a soft country tune.

[guitar of My Worst Fear by rascal flatts click to listen/watch]

[sapphire emerson]

I smiled as he answered, revealing his name to be Joe and the beautiful dog to be Ax. Then, after him uttering one last apology, he turned around and left, Ax following loyally after him, panting happily with the stick still in his grasp. I held out my hand to try and stop him, but the look on his face made me rethink saying anything as I watched him walk away from me. He looked so scared, so afraid to be near me. Was I that scary?

Sadness shone clearly on my face and in my eyes as I watched his form dissipate until I could no longer see it. Once he was gone, the tears that had been building up in my eyes finally spilling and leaving tracks on my pale face. Taking a slight step forward, I decided to just leave him alone and sat beneath a nearby tree, crying harder and harder until I had started to hiccup.

What was wrong with me? Why had everybody I had ever met or known, besides my mother, left me? Sure I had just met him but the fact of the matter was was that he had also left me alone and looked like he couldn’t stand to be near me. As the hiccups subsided, I wiped away the last of the tears that were falling down my face, aware that my eyes were probably red and puffy and face tear-stained. I didn’t my mom to see me like this so I stayed beneath the looming oak that seemed to protect me.

As I had been crying, the sky above me had gone from a once bright and cheery day to that of gloom; gray storm clouds filling the sky. But I didn’t care, I liked the rain and I waited patiently waiting for the drops of freezing rain to numb me, singing while I waited.

Ooooh

I feel these four walls closing in
Face up against the glass
I'm looking out, hmmm
Is this my life I'm wondering
It happened so fast
How do I turn this thing around
Is this the bed I chose to make
There's greener pastures I'm thinking about
Hmm, wide open spaces far away

All I want is the wind in my hair
To face the fear but not feel scared

wild horses I wanna be like you
Throwing caution to the wind, I'll run free too
Wish I could recklessly love like I'm longing to
I wanna run with the wild horses
Run with the wild horses, oh

whoahh Yeah, oh oh, ye-yeah

I see the girl I wanna be
Riding bare-back, care-free
Along the shore
If only that someone was me
Jumping head-first, head-long
Without a thought
To act and damn the consequence
How I wish it could be that easy
But fear surrounds me like a fence
I wanna break free

All I want is the wind in my hair
To face the fear, but not feel scared

Oooh, wild horses I wanna be like you
Throwing caution to the wind, I'll run free too
Wish I could recklessly love like I'm longing to
I wanna run with the wild horses
Run with the wild horses, oh

I wanna run too.
ohhh ohhh

recklessly abandoning my self before you

I wanna open up my heart tell him how I feel

woah woah

Wild horses I wanna be like you
Throwing caution to the wind
I'll run free too
Wish I could recklessly love, like I'm longing too
I wanna run with the wild horses,
run with the wild horses, run with the wild horses

ohh woah ohh woah
Yeeaaaah

I wanna run with the wild horses

[to here song *natasha bedingfield~wild horses, click www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWIVi_Oa4as]

[Joe Don Rooney]

He then laid on his truck, looking up at the sky he sighed to think what sort of lonely future he had as the days would roll by. Not that he minded being alone but being with someone scared the shit out of him. He didn't want to turn out like his dad, that was the worst thing he could ever dream of doing.

Ax barked at a tree and then bolted, he heard the sounds of a voice. The lady he had meet before smelt amazing and he wanted it again. His nose went straight for her. Being the duck hunter that he was, his nose lead him rite to that place where again, he toppled over the woman.

Joe saw Axil run off into the brush, when he did that he knew that there was either a rodent or a human he as going after. He flung up off his truck and ran in the direction of his dog, again.

When he approached he grabbed the dog again and pulled him back. Look of worry filled his face. He was scared that she would start yelling at him for not controlling the dog. I'm sorry, I'm sorry he said frantic. We're leaving now. he took Ax by the collar yet again and this time he was heading home if not stopped.

For Joe, trust was a huge thing in his life. He had only two friends and that was Gary and Jay. For some reason he can stand on a stage and play his guitar but cant walk up to any one person. He hated to be the center of attention.

[sapphire emerson]

I sighed after I finished singing, wondering what had gotten into me enough to make me sing in public. Well, not really in public, but I usually didn’t sing anywhere but the safety of my home. So, as I revoled in my wonderous thoughts, a massive black shadow emerged to my right and rammed into my physic, knocking me over on my side. Not until the creature started to lick my salty, tear-stained face did I recognize it as Ax, the black retriever.

Hey boy, I said as I sniffled and let the dog lick my face as I also rubbed the tears away from my eyes. Why are you still here? I thought you left, I asked the dog, knowing that he wouldn’t answer me back. Then, a hand pulled the dog back, making me realize that the man from before, Joe, had come to take the dog back. And, he most likely had just seen my puffy red eyes. And if he did notice, he chose to ignore it. Usually, I would find this gesture sweet, but when it was accompanied by a quick apology and a frantic look as he tried to get the hell out of her presence.

This upset her greatly as he tried to get away as fast as humanly possible, dragging his dog with him. Umm, excuse me but before you go, I just want to ask you one question. What is it about me that scares you? I inquired, hoping he would take the time to answer my question and maybe stick around afterwards.

[Joe Don Rooney]

It took a moment to get control over Ax but once he did, Joe had him restrained to where he wasn't going anywhere. The dog smacked his tongue a little to regain some saliva that he was boiling up after he had just licked the salt clean off her face. His tail swung just like any retriever would, back and forth.

Joe found his back being talked to so he decided to stop and slowly turn around. It was clear that if you looked hard enough, his legs were a little shaky, his eyes looking for a way out. Of course that thought that she was beautiful crossed his mind but was Joe going to mention it? Hell no.

He found it hard to click his eyes to hers and if he did, he looked down like he committed a sin. I... I'm just not good with people he managed to mouse out those few words.

His blond hair batted in front of his eyes, giving him the skater boy/country look that he wore all the time. He grasped the collar a little more to give his hand something to do. The dog was already relaxed and looking elsewhere.

He noticed her tears, if he knew her well enough he might have acted this out different but people in general were Joe's worst subjects. One of the reasons why Joe never dated or got close to anyone, no one ever took the chance.

[sapphire emerson]

I watched and waited for the man before me to reply, watching his body movements for further emphasis on the fact he wanted as far from me as he possible could without going to hell. I noticed as the leaves beneath his legs quivered slightly, revealing his slightly shaking leg, wind almost whispering through the vibrations. When I wanted to, I could have extremely acute senses. I also noticed that he had a very firm grip upon Ax’s collar, as if to make sure the dog wouldn’t run away. But the dog, who had been licking away the last traces of saliva minutes ago, was sitting paciently, watching the birds that flew high above our heads towards their nests. I took this as one of the signs of nervousness.

And also, he didn’t look me in the eyes. Instead, he looked at his feet, as if he were a little kid being scolded for having been caught stealing a piece of candy. Where his shoes really that much more interesting then me? Was I really that scary? And then, Joe finally decided to speak, the words that flowed from his mouth hard to catch from a regular ear, but I heard it very clearly in the know quiet forest. Maybe the animals could sense my annoyance.

I… I’m just not good with people. he said, that one excuse standing between me and him. Are you serious, I thought, certain that my eye had started to twitch like it tend to when I was annoyed. Well, I’m not people, I said with an annoyed huff, placing my hands on my hips and staring at him. And you could at least act like your not terrified to be around others. I said, following it up. It would peoples feelings less, I quietly muttered afterwards.

[Joe Don Rooney]

He could tell her eyes laid strictly on him. She was thinking, was she judging? A lot of people did. He wanted to just walk away now. Why wouldn't he? His eyes stayed locked to the ground He looked back over at the water that lied beside the both of them and up to the same birds she had spotted just moments before.

Ax was simply peering around now, looking and squirrels and anything else he would dream to chase in his dreams. It seemed that was all that surrounded him was smaller animals to rampage.

Her words seemed cruel to him, the slightest bit of any tone was triggered in his head as a threat. His dad did that often. That only meant one thing. Joe backed up, as so his dog followed him. That's why I am never around them. I don't have to act unscared if I'm not around them. His mind was screaming at him to get away but in a small scence, her voice attracted him.

He turned away and shouldered the strap of his guitar so that his guitar would fall back into place where he played it as he walked away. He hoped she couldnt hear by the wind but the wind only carried it. Ax figured Joe still had his collar so he followed.