Secrets Worth Keeping

I jumped down from my window ledge, wiping my hands down my dress to make sure no leaves or dirt from the house was stuck on me. I hated sneaking out of my house but my father was strict. He was the Mayor of Middletown and expected me to act a certain way. That meant, I wasn't allowed to see my boyfriend, Chase who lived on the wrong side of town.

My father knew Chase and his family. They used to live beside us until his mother was killed in a car accident. After that his father slowly started to decline, drinking when he got home from work, then escalated to drinking at work until he completely lost his job, him home, friends, and his sanity. I truly felt for the guy, but Chase had to pick up the slack when he was fifteen, getting a job to pay the bills while his father wallowed in his misery. I couldn't condone that kind of behavior from a parent when he still had his child to live for, but I kind of understood it.

Everyone in our neighbor cast them out, Chase lost some of his friends but made new ones that had more in common with him than the fake people we hung out with. He got a job working construction with his uncle and was able to keep a roof over his head while still maintaining a 3.5 average in school. While I was so proud of the person he became, my father wasn't.

Only three more months to go until I was eighteen and off to college and then my dad had no say in my life like he did now. Chase and I got accepted into Northern University which was three hours away from where we lived. I was able to save all of my allowance to help us rent an apartment and Chase saved everything he could to help us keep it.

We had a plan and now we just had to be careful until we were able to leave for college. Chase's uncle was going to take his dad in and get him help so he had one less thing to worry about. I couldn't wait to get that part of my life started. I hated keeping this from my father but he didn't understand. He thought Chase was a reckless kid who would turn into a drunk like his father. He never even gave him a chance.

I walked down the trail behind my house that led to the old barn that Chase and I met up at. It took a lot of work to keep things between us when we both wanted to shout it to the world that we were together. Luckily, we were able to have the moments we did, like tonight, Chase was off work and we planned to have a picnic.

When I got to the old barn, I could see the candles lit from the inside. The place looked like it came from a fairytale. The sky was lit up with thousands of stars and the moon shown brightly in the sky. The only thing missing was a beautiful dress and my prince taking me away but I knew that would come, it was only a matter of time.

Chase was waiting inside for me with a big smile on his face. It was that smile that made my heart melt for him when we were little kids. He had a crooked grin with straight white teeth. His dark blue eyes looked black from where I was standing but as soon as I saw that dimple on his right cheek, I ran into his arms, knowing that he would catch me.

Chase spun me around the barn, making me laugh while I peppered kisses all over his face. We had been together officially for four years ever since we were thirteen. He became my everything the moment he beat up the boy in our class after he pulled my hair and pushed me onto the ground. He was my hero then just as he was now.

"I've missed you." He sighed into my hair. I could tell he was smelling my hair but didn't say anything. He always did that when he hadn't seen me in a few days.

"I've missed you too." I breathed.

"How's the family?" He asked on a laugh. It was the first question he asked me every time we met up. He knew how much of a pain in the butt it was to sneak out.

"Asleep." I told him before I smashed my lips to his.

After our little make out session, Chase brought me over to the blanket he laid out that held sandwiches, fruit, chips, and juice pouches. I wanted to tease him about those tiny drinks but the whole set up was adorable. I sat down with a smile as he got my plate ready.

He talked about his friends and job while I told him about my family obligations for the week and the painting I did that my teacher submitted for a contest. It was a black and white picture of us at this barn. I didn't want her to submit it since it was such a personal picture but she promised I would get it back along with a scholarship if I won.

"Kate?" Chase said my name with so much seriousness that when I turned to look at him, I froze.

Chase was up on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring in his palm. I could feel the tears come before he even started speaking.

"I know we are young babe, but you're it for me. You can marry me ten years from now or in just a few months but I want to put my ring on your finger because I want you to know that you are the only girl I will ever want. It's you an me against your father, my father. It's you and me against the world babe and I couldn't ask for a better person to be by my side.

"I know we still have to graduate and get through college but I know we will succeed with all of our adventures in between. Say you'll marry me Kate Matthews and make me the happiest man alive."

I couldn't speak from all the tears from streaming down my face, all I could was nod like a bobblehead and throw myself into his arms. We fell back and I Kissed him over and over while he laughed a slipped the beautiful ring on my finger.

"It's so pretty." I breathed.

"It was my mother's." He whispered. "My dad tried to sell it but I knew it belonged to you."

"I love it Chase and I love you."

We spent the next twenty minutes holding onto one another and basking in the happiness. We were in our own little bubble until we heard twigs snapping outside the barn. Chase gave me a panicked look as we hurried to pick up our picnic mess.

We grabbed my easel and I smeared paint on my face and jeans and started working on one of my paintings that I left there. Just as Chase got to the hayloft, my father made his way inside.

"I thought I heard you sneaking out." He muttered sounding stern. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just painting Dad." I sighed. "It's a beautiful night don't you think?"

"It is. Can I see what you are painting?" He asked not believing me.

"Of course." I smiled sweetly at him.

He walked over and took in the beautiful night sky that I had painted the last time Chase and I came here.

"You're very talented Katie." He sounded awed.

My dad never showed any interest in my painting before. I knew he loved me, that was never a question. The way my dad showed his love though was by spoiling me and making sure I stayed in line. It always annoyed me but I knew he cared. Just like I knew deep down underneath all of his pain, Chase's dad cared for him.

"Let's go home Katie." My dad told me, not giving me a chance to refuse.

I looked up into the hayloft to see Chase looking at me with so much love his his eyes. He blew me a kiss and mouthed I love you before I walked out of the barn.

I could hear the hooting of the barn owl and saw it sitting on a branch not too far away. I could swear it was looking at me and the way it hooted made me think it knew the secret I was keeping. I smiled as I followed my dad back to the house.

Some secrets were worth keeping and this secret while I hope this won't stay a secret for long, I know that it's worth it, that he's worth it. I know that love is worth it. That mine and Chase's love was worth it. My dad would understand one day, and if not, I knew i'd always be his little girl but Chase was my everything and that was worth the fight that would come from my dad when he found out.

Until then, Chase and I had a secret and it was pretty fun sneaking around.