Chamomile

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." -

Ernest Hemingway

For once the sound of shouting didn't wake me up, instead it was the ring of my phone did. Groggily I swiped at my phone to see I had received a text from an unknown number.

Wakey Wakey! :)

Who is this??

It's Dylan :)

I don't recall giving you my number...

Oh you didn't. I just took it. When you fell asleep :)

You even put smileys on the end of your texts.

Only the ones to you ;)

Why did you wake me up?

Because we have things to do :)

Can't it wait till I come to the café??

No. Pack your bags. We're going on a road trip! :D

You're joking right?? :/

Nope. You obviously haven't seen enough and a road trip is perfect. Now hurry up we leave in an hour :)

Wait what??

Meet me at the cafe in an hour. I better see a bag ;)

Dylan??

Where are we going??

What is happening??

Ugh...

This man was going to be the death of me. Death by too much happiness. Despite all my reservations about the guy I was curious to see how these twenty one days were going to pan out. I got ready for the morning, showering with my favourite lavender soap and shampoo before donning a thick, plain, ivory jumper.

I pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and tan ankle boots. I ran a brush through my wet hair before throwing it into my large duffle bag. With the wardrobe open, I picked out a variety of clothes to suit any season and added it to my bag. My travel toiletries were already packed, so they joined the clothes and shoes. I decided to leave any form of entertainment at home, taking only my notebook and a pen. My box of tea bags joined the contents of my bag and then I was ready. Skipping breakfast I hurried to he café.

Dylan had already arrived and was leaning against the wall of the café with two paper cups. "Tea for the lady." He said in a British accent, handing me a cup. I took off this lid and inhaled the steam. I looked up and raised an eyebrow. Whipping out my phone I typed out a message.

You put lavender flowers in??

"I may or may not have observed how you like your tea." He smiled, embarrassed. I took a sip and nodded appreciatively. "You can finish the tea in the car. We have a long drive to our first stop."

Where are we going??

"You're going to have to stop saying that the next twenty days. Let me tell you one think though. Whatever the outcome, I will never regret the next three weeks."

I nodded, taking a sip of tea. "Shall we?" he jerked his thumb towards the beat up red Chevy that was parked beside the sidewalk. I rolled my eyes but walked towards the truck. Dylan rushed towards the car and pulled open the door before I could get there and gestured for me to get in. He took my bag from my shoulder and threw it carelessly on to the back seat.

I sat uncomfortably in my seat as I embarked on a journey with a total stranger. I was scared, but at the same time I felt like I could trust him. I only knew him for a day, but he had made a huge impact on my life. All I could think about was the blond haired boy with the bright blue eyes. His words, his smiles invaded my thoughts.

Perhaps it was because I had my suspicions about him. Perhaps it was because he approached me. Perhaps it was because he was interested in me. Perhaps it was because I wanted to know about him. Completely, fully, deeply.

"It's about five hours from here, but it'll be worth it." He grinned at me, glancing quickly away from the road. Frantically I pointed towards the road. At first he looked shocked, but then he laughed. "It was only for a second." He protested.

I huffed and glared at him. "Relax. I'm a good driver." I raised an eyebrow. He jerked the steering wheel to one side causing the car to turn quickly. my eyes widened in fear as I clutched on to my seat. "Do you not think so?" he smirked. I shook my head fearfully.

"Okay I'm sorry. That was mean." He chuckled. I glared angrily at him as I dramatically folded my arms across my chest.

"When did you stop speaking?" he asked suddenly. I shrugged my shoulders.

"A year?" he asked. I frowned and shook my head.

"Oh so three years?" I shook my head again. "No? Okay it must have been a really long time ago." I just looked at him.

"Sorry. That sucks. I bet your voice is really beautiful." He smiled. I glared at him.

"You really can't take a compliment can you?" he chuckled. I shook my head, shrugging my shoulders. "And you like to glare. A lot."

I just rolled my eyes. "How about some music?" he asked. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Music it is then." He reached for the dials changing the fuzzy channels for music channels. A random country song came on, which Dylan quickly changed to a popular station. I reached over to change the annoying dance tune but ended up tuning into an indie station.

"So you like indie music then?" he quirked an eyebrow. I just shrugged. He understood I wasn't in the mood for further conversation because he turned his concentration to the car and road, while my attention turned to the surroundings blurring past. I could see the city disappearing, the suburbs disappearing and the countryside disappearing. A quick pit stop at a service station meant I could stretch my legs and refill my stomach.

"What you like sir?" the cashier asked.

"A pot of Earl Grey, a cup of coffee, two lemon cakes and a red velvet cake." Dylan ordered. Frowning, I tapped on his arm holding up two fingers.

"One for the road." He winked, grinning at me as if I discovered his secret. I rummaged through my purse to collect the cash when Dylan slapped down his shiny credit card. I looked at him, confused. "Remember I'm taking you on this trip, therefore I pay for everything."

You can't pay for everything. I typed out.

"I can and I will. Why don't you go find a table and I'll bring it over?" I shrugged resignedly before stalking over to a table. It wasn't anything like the café. I didn't feel safe, I didn't feel at home. I don't remember the last time I had left the city. I don't remember life beyond the city.

I felt as though there was a barrier that was prevent me from leaving. From escaping. I made it to the edge of the city once, chickened out and rode the bus home. I had unconsciously built a bubble round the city, a bubble made from metres of concrete. I glanced over to Dylan who was happily chatting away to the barista, probably comparing notes.

He had a bright smile on his face and suddenly I felt jealous that she was on the receiving end. I wanted him to smile at me. I wanted him to talk to me. I wanted all his attention. I wanted to be selfish. But seeing how she reciprocated his happiness I couldn't help but feel sad.

Why was he hanging out with me when there were more girls out there who suited him? Those who could talk to him. Those who would use their voices to communicate. I was just the depressed mute girl who didn't know how to smile. I didn't realise I had started crying until Dylan approached me with a concerned look on his face. It was the first time I had seen him frown.

He nearly dropped the tray in his haste to reach me. "Elise! What happened?" He exclaimed, cupping my face in his large hands. Sorrowfully I shook my head, my eyes unable to meet his. "Tell me what happened, Elise." He demanded.

I took out my notebook and wrote to him exactly what I was feeling. I told him that he didn't need to complete the twenty one days. That he didn't need to teach me to smile. That he could hang out with someone better.

"There is no one better than you, Elise. You may think we're different but we're more alike than you think." He said, smiling sadly. Even in sadness the man could smile.

Then teach me to smile.

"Gladly mi lady! Now drink up before it gets cold." He poured the tea into a cup before reaching into his pocket for... lavender flowers.

You brought lavender?

"Of course! How could I forget the secret ingredient to the best brew of earl grey?" he winked. The corners of my mouth tilted upwards slightly but didn't progress into a fully fledged smile. But to Dylan it was progress and decided that another lemon cupcake was needed to celebrate.

Why are you doing this? I asked him as we left; me with a paper bag filled with two lemon cakes and him with an empty paper cup.

"Because our world deserves to be understood."

That's so vague.

"Because I want to. A good enough answer for you?" he grinned.

That's even worse than the last one. I pouted at him.

"Now, now chicken. You'll have to wait till end to find out my intentions." He grinned, helping me into the car enforce sliding in himself. "Two more hours left and we'll be there." He announced twenty minutes later. I sighed, leaning my head against the cold window. My lids began heavy and soon I succumbed to the darkness.

"Elise! We're here." I was gently shaken. Slowly I opened my eyes, blinking to adjust to the bright light. "Hey there." Dylan grinned at me.

I looked around to see that we were still sitting in the car but parked in the middle of nowhere.

Where are we?

"We're at the coast." He announced, hopping out the car. I opened my door and joined him in front. He took a deep breath through his nose whilst his eyes were closed. "Isn't it wonderful?"

What is?

"This?"

What is this exactly?

"The sea. The breeze. The openness. The nature. Everything."

The freedom?

"You're catching on chicken."

Don't call me chicken. I glared at him.

"What do you want me to call you, chicken?"

Elise will do fine.

"Elise, Elise." He stood up and took my hand. The contact was unexpected and I almost jumped. But his large hand provided warmth and comfort. I wasn't used to feeling like that. I wasn't used to someone being there for me. It was the first form of contact I had since... since then. Despite my inhibitions, I blindly followed him. I didn't know whether he was leading me to my doom or enlightenment. All I knew was that I would follow him whatever the outcome. I was so far in the dark it didn't matter which way I walked.

"Lesson number two. Trust. I want you to completely trust me. I want all your trust. Give me everything you got." He said. His words should have made any sane person scared and run for the trees. But instead I found myself nodding at his words. "Do you promise?" I made the gesture of crossing my heart.

"Okay, follow me." He smiled with relief. He didn't take my hand but stayed within touching distance at all times. He lead us down the side of the cliff, down a rough pathway which had loose rocks falling from above and below on either side. We reached to a ledge, where the pathway stopped. I looked down, seeing the sea lapping below us. The drop was at least thirty or thirty-five feet drop. I wasn't so much afraid of the heights as I was of the fall. I hated the feeling of falling. It made me feel as though I would end up at the bottom. Bottom of society, bottom of the food chain.

Falling meant failing and the fear of failing was greater than the fear of heights. My breath quickened as I realised how in my moment of weakness I had placed everything I had, on a man I didn't know. I didn't even know his last name. He was just Dylan. I felt a familiar and welcome pressure around my hand, quickening my pulse for a different reason. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. I've got you."

I looked at him unsurely. "I won't let go of your hand. I won't let you drown." The way he said those words, it felt like he had a different meaning. Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head. "On the count of three?" I held up three fingers and counted down to one with him. Without leaving my hand, he jumped.

He jumped and pulled me with him. I flew through the sky, hurtling towards the water. As we travelled with the force of gravity, time seemed to stop. I felt like I was suspended in time, in the sky. The cold wind whipped through my hair, the saltly spray from the sea sprinkled on my face. The smell of salt and fish invaded my nostrils but I welcomed the new scent. I saw myself nearing the water's surface, my jumper riding up my body. Taking a huge gulp of air, I broke through the surface, accelerating through the water towards the bed.

I opened my eyes, ignoring the sting of the salt, to see what I had never been able to see before. The water was cool, yet refreshing under the heat of the sun. Everything had gone silent. The birds were mute, the wind was quiet, the humans were gone. It was just me and Dylan. I relished the silence. In this silence my thoughts became silent too. My mind listened to the silence in awe.

Though the visibility wasn't great, I could still see Dylan grinning at me. He gave me a thumbs up before changing it to a thumbs down. I replied with a thumbs up. This caused him to grin bigger. We looked at each other, staring. Seconds passed but neither of us made a move towards the surface. Bubbles of oxygen left our mouths, travelling in the direction we were supposed to.

We stayed underwater till our lungs burned and our legs ached. We propelled upwards gasping for blessed oxygen as we crashed through the surface. Dylan never once let go of my hand so as he kicked upwards, I was dragged with him.

He pulled me to his six foot frame wrapping his arms around my waist. "Wasn't that exhilarating?" he cried, laughing loudly.

Despite my inhibitions, I agreed with him, giving him a fierce nod of my head. "Do you trust me now?"

Nod.

"Will you continue to trust me?"

Nod. He smiled brightly, pulling me closer to his body. The cold started settling into my bones causing violent shivers to course through my body.

"How about we get out now?" I nodded, teeth chattering. We swam together to the small beach, immediately shivering as we stood up. We ran up the unstable steps, careful not to trip. Dylan pulled me towards his truck. I waited by the door as he grabbed a crowbar from the back. Once he unlocked the door, he threw a thick woollen blanket over my shoulders. The shivers that wracked my body didn't cease immediately, but the extra warmth was appreciated.

I helped him get a fire started as the dark approached. It seemed as though he came prepared for camping as he took out his equipment, methodically and carefully.

"Trust is a beautiful thing. Without it we would continue to live in suspicion and lies. But first we must be able to trust ourselves before we trust others. We must be able to believe in ourselves to even begin to believe in others. Trust is hard to build, may take months or years. You either trust someone or you don't. There is no in between with trust. When you trust someone wholly you feel freer. You feel like there is nothing you want to hold back. Nothing that can stop you from relieving yourself of burdens.

Elise. In time you'll tell me everything. And in time I'll tell you everything. I want you to be free. I want you to be happy. In twenty one days I want to show you there is more than one shade of tea."