“Listen, I have more or less abducted you. Nobody knows where you are, and therefore, you are helplessly bound to my will. I think you should just obey me.”
“Obey you? You’re crazy! But all right, I’ll pay for our food then.”
I reached for his arm to lead him toward the entrance, but he immediately moved away. Man, I thought, for a cool guy, he was awfully stiff. Every time I touched him, whether coincidentally or on purpose, he pulled back.
Grumpily, I went on ahead. “Are you coming?”
My good mood—and ego—had been given a huge blow. But in just a few minutes, I wasn’t mad anymore. The castle was fantastic. The grounds were much smaller than around the ruins near Loch Ness, but inside this castle, the rooms were partially furnished. I tried to imagine what life must have been like back then. If I’d had Payton by my side, I fantasized, I would have been well protected.
“How old are you?” I suddenly asked him.
He took a long time to answer.
“Nineteen. May I also ask questions of you, or am I the only one to be interrogated?”
“That, in itself, is already a question.”
He arched an eyebrow.
“All right, I have an idea,” I told him. “Today you answer all of my questions, and then I’ll answer three of your questions.” I gave him my best smile and batted my eyelashes.
“Three doesn’t seem very many,” Payton said. “But I will agree under one condition. I will try to answer all of your questions, but your three answers must be the absolute truth.”
I was silent for a moment, wondering why he would think I wouldn’t tell him the truth in the first place. It didn’t matter, though. I didn’t have any secrets to keep.
“Deal!” I stuck out my hand to him. And after a brief hesitation, he shook it.
I leapt at my opportunity, peppering him with questions for nearly a half hour. As promised, he answered them all. I heard about his brothers Sean and Blair. I learned that his childhood dog was a giant wolfhound named Lou. I found out that he loved the beach at night.
“Same here,” I told him. “I live at a place called Silver Lake. There’s nothing more beautiful than a summer night by the water!”
Suddenly, I felt very homesick. I’d been away from home for almost two weeks. I missed my parents and my friends—especially Kim. Was she still seeing Justin? I wondered. I decided I’d definitely call her in a day or two.
Payton lifted my chin with a fingertip.
“Are you OK? You look so sad.” His voice was soft and concerned.
“I’m fine. It’s just… I’ve never been so far away from home before.”
“I could help cure your homesickness. There are plenty of beautiful beaches here, and I could take you to one later.”
“That would be great. As long as I’m back in Aviemore by tomorrow night.”
For a long time Payton didn’t say a word, he just looked deep into my eyes. I started to get nervous. Did I say something wrong, I wondered. Did he want to get rid of me sooner?
He sighed, then laughed and said, “I really haven’t the foggiest how I am to survive, but it’s worth a try.”
I was confused. Did he think I was dangerous? I chalked it up to another language difference. Even though we were both supposedly speaking English, he often said things that didn’t make any sense to me.
“You can take me to a motel or something later on. We don’t have to spend the whole time together,” I said, trying to apologize.
“No, it’s fine.” He looked down at me. “I just hadn’t realized that you were intending to spend the night with me.”
My cheeks turned scarlet.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant!” I sputtered, and Payton started laughing. When he laughed, he looked so different. The serious, closed-off face disappeared, and instead I caught a glimpse of a funny, sweet side. My heart started to beat faster.
I wondered, was I falling in love?
Still embarrassed, I mumbled, “Well, then, are we going to the beach now or not?”
Payton nodded but made no sign of leaving. “Now answer one of my questions.”
I’d wanted the carefree moment to last a little longer, but the seriousness of his tone made me listen up.
“Go for it. What do you want to know?”
“Why are you here? Why are you in Scotland, and why are you here with me?”
“First off, that was actually three questions, but I don’t want to be nitpicky about it. Second, you’re wasting one of your questions. I already told you I’m here on a student exchange.”
“But why here? Why are you with me?”
He gave me a piercing look, but I had no idea what he was getting at.