"I don't want to be a lawyer," Anthony shouted at his father before storming out, slamming the door behind him. As soon as he was clear of the gates that surrounded his house, he made his way to the lake. He started running; his only thought was to get away, away from his father and the house.
When he exhausted his energy he slowed and then stopped. He bent over to catch his breath. He looked for a tree to collapse against, and when he located one he did just that.
Sitting with his back to the tree, knees bent up to his chest, he thought about what his father had done. He had sent in applications to Universities without telling Anthony, or even consulting him. His father knew Anthony wanted to be an artist but didn't care. They were moving next week; a month ago his dad got back from court, and told him he had taken a new job in America with some fancy law firm.
"Damn it," he said out loud, "why can't he leave me alone?" He dropped his head on his knees.
"Are you okay?" he heard someone ask. Looking up, he saw no-one in front of him, left or right.
"I must be going mad," he muttered, dropping his head back down.
"Well, they say talking to yourself is the first sign," the voice said with a laugh.
"What the..." He raised his head but still couldn't find who was talking to him.
"Up here," the voice called.
Looking up he saw Megara, a friend from childhood; she was in the tree with the sun behind her. With her blond hair around her face and amethyst eyes she looked like an angel.
"Erm, are you okay?" she asked again, looking down at him worriedly.
"Why are you in a tree?" he asked instead of answering.
"Why not?" she replied, smiling down at him.
"Good point," he said, smiling back. Why not be in a tree?
Megara's father was richer than his own and, also like Anthony's father, had specific plans for his daughter's life. She was to learn how to be the perfect wife, and hostess, docile and quiet, and then she would marry the man her father approved. It wasn't the type of life that would suit her, Tony knew.
She was smart, cute and friendly to everyone, she didn't care how rich or poor. Tony had had a crush on her since they were kids, but his dad and hers had never got on, or he would be the one to marry her. As they grew up, Tony had been the wild one, partying, staying out late and dating a new girl every week. Meg had hung out in the library, and eventually got the nickname of 'Princess Innocent' since she never dated.
"Where's your dad?" he asked.
"Away on business somewhere, why?" she asked. She was still gazing at him, or specifically down his shirt. She could see his chest hair and muscles it sent a tingle down her spine. He's actually talking to me, she thought. Usually Anthony ignored her.
Anthony was unquestionably handsome; nearly six feet tall, with thick brown hair that always fell over his eye. It made her wish she could push back the hair back, and not those girls he dated. His eyes were gold, and so she'd nicknamed him 'Golden Boy,' but he thought it was because she saw him as the boy who could do no wrong.
"Well, I don't think your father would be happy about his innocent little princess climbing trees," he said sarcastically.
"What my father doesn't know won't hurt him," she said, grabbing a branch and swinging down. She landed right in front of him.
When she stood up he looked her over. She wore denim shorts and a tank top that fell off her shoulder; she looked relaxed, very different from how she appeared in school, he thought.
"Nice dismount. You must climb trees a lot," he said, reluctantly impressed.
"Only when my dad isn't here or at night. I climb down the one outside my bed room," she said, wondering why she was telling him, Golden Boy, of all people.
"I better go. You look like you want to be alone," she said, turning away.
"Wait," Anthony said standing up, "I was going to the lake. You can come, if you want," he said a bit shyly. He didn't know why he was nervous; he'd been with plenty of girls before, in all kinds of circumstances.
Why not? He looks like he could use a friend, Meg thought. But you're not his friend, a little voice said/. She ignored it.
"Okay," she said.
He exhaled in relief, suddenly realizing he had been holding his breath for her answer.
Walking side by side in silence with Megara felt right., It wasn't awkward, he didn't need to keep her amused with stories, and he wasn't trying to get off with her. Maybe that's why it's so comfortable, he thought.
They reached the edge of the lake before either of them spoke.
"So... do you know what you're going to do after high school?" he asked her.
"I thought you knew," she replied, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well yeah... it was just the first thing I could think to ask," he said, blushing and wanting to kick himself.
Is Anthony blushing? Meg wondered. No, probably just the light, she decided as he continued walking. He must be regretting asking me to come, she thought. She was about to turn back when he called to her to hurry up.
When she caught up with him he repeated the question.
"I want to be a teacher, my dad would love that," she said with a laugh, "How about you?"
"I want to study art, but my dad wants me to be a lawyer. He says it's in my blood," Anthony scoffed.
He was intrigued that she wanted to do something other than what her father had planned for her, like him. He felt that made them kindred spirits.
"Well, first I have to get the grades and avoid any suitors my dad throws my way," she said wearily.
It started to rain and he grabbed her hand and dashed. "Here," he said indicating the shed by the lake in which he had made out with more than one girl. Not that that was his plan; not with Megara.
"Is it safe?" she asked.
"I'm not going to pounce on you, Princess," he said laughing.
Taken back at what he meant she blushed but lifted her head, she hated that name.
"I meant is this thing stable. My name's Megara, not 'Princess,' and I'm not scared of you, Golden Boy!" she said, walking past him into the shed, her head held high.
"Oh no?" he said following her in and grabbing her around the waist, spinning her around.
"What are you doing?" she asked, startled. She began to struggle away from him.
"You scared of me now?" he asked, laughing again and wondering what the hell he was doing.
Realizing he was playing with her Meg raised her chin and looked him in the eye, no longer fighting his grip but molding her body into him.
