The train came to a stop and when the doors opened, the packed crowd dispersed through every exit available. Oxygen flowed into Johan's lungs as he stepped out the train and gasped for much needed fresh air. He flattened out his shirt as he surveyed the train terminal watching every manner of person heading to all corners. Among the remainder in the platform once the crowd thinned, Lucy was not among them. Instinctively, Johan picked up his phone only to roll his eyes and put it back in his pocket.

'She was on that side of the train, so she must have exited a bit beyond.' He headed south and after a few minutes of walking, he finds her arguing with a staff member.

"I'm telling you someone stole it!" he heard her saying loudly as he got closer. "You got to find it right now!"

"We're looking around, miss, but I'm sorry to say that it may not be recovered in time or intact."

"This is not fair. This is your train, isn't it? You should be responsible for your passengers."

When Johan finally arrived, "What's going on?"

Lucy turned to Johan, "It's terrible. Someone stole our picnic basket."

"That big thing?" Johan responded with surprise.

Then the staff member, "She was just telling me that a rather large basket was stolen as she was exiting."

"Those passengers were pushing me," she continued. "I was finding it hard to get through and someone just swipes it from me."

"Do you still have your things?" Johan asked, "Like your keys and your wallet?"

"Yeah, those were in my pocket, but the basket..." Johan could clearly see she was on the verge of tears when she suddenly hugged him. He was taken aback by this sudden embrace but wrapped one arm around her while gesturing with the other that he would take it from there, allowing the staff member to dismiss himself.

A little while when they sat down, wiping away her tears, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start crying."

"Nobody likes to have their things stolen."

"No, it wasn't just that. I worked hard on that food. Sure, it was just sandwiches, but I spent so much time getting them ready."

"But why? You should've just made something for yourself. That's what I meant when I said to pack a lunch."

"Because today was a special day."

"Special day?"

"I've never been to the mountains before, and I've never been on a picnic. I was so happy when you accepted my suggestion to go on a picnic in the mountains."

"Really? This trip means that much to you?" A sinking feeling emitted within Johan that a great remorse was upon him. "I'm sorry about the theft. I think he's right; you may not see that basket again. At least they didn't steal your important things. It was good you didn't put them in the basket."

"But what about the picnic?"

"I'm afraid it's been canceled, but since this means so much to you, how about we get something to eat later at a restaurant or something?"

"But you said you couldn't afford it."

"Well, that was before I knew how much this meant to you. Besides, I was just going to spend it on myself anyway. I might as well spread the joy, you know?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."

"Burden?" He felt compelled to grab her hand, something that she wasn't expecting, "Lucy, you will never be a burden to me. I'll work twice as hard as long as I can make you happy. Never say you're a burden, because I'll always be here to bare the pain along with you."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The words had apparently pierced her as Johan could feel her hand trembling as she slipped them away from his. She wiped her tears before placing her hands on top of his with a smile on her face. "Thank you, Johan. You're a wonderful person."

With a gentle smile of his own, "How about we head over to the hiking trail."

"Okay."

With a sense of rejuvenation, Lucy's excited demeanor returned. Her anxiety now replaced with joy, she goes on ahead towards the exit to spectate the mountains ahead of them.

'I can't tell her right now,' Johan thinks to himself, 'not after this had happened, but now I'm buying her dinner as a result. This is going too far. I have to tell her eventually. But when?'

[https://i.ibb.co/2dm6J8z/ch45.png]

The cool breeze swayed the orange and yellow leaves as both walked the trail, enjoying the natural beauty of the various trees lining the path, the vibrant colors of the flowers, and the various animals scurrying along.

"Oh look, a squirrel." she asked as she pointed at a small critter.

Johan chuckled. "I think that's a chipmunk."

"Oh, is it?"

"You've never seen one? Not even online?"

"I have but I could never tell the difference. Can you have one as a pet? I would love to have one. It looks so cute!" Lucy's excitement got the better of her as she started running around, frolicking in the path.

Johan's amusement at the excited Lucy gave him a bit of a laugh. "Lucy, do you want to go off the trail."

"We can?"

"Sure. Come on." Johan stepped into the growth of tall grass with Lucy following along ardently. She couldn't help but run circles around trees, peeking into every crevice she could find, then being disgusted when she peered into one full of bugs. She was taken aback but not offended enough to not have a laugh afterward.

They eventually find a large tree with broad roots that held the tree aloft allowing her to go underneath. She beckoned Johan to enter with her.

"It's too low," he tells her.

"Then crawl down here."

He snickered. “I guess there's no harm, right?” Going down on all fours, he joins Lucy under the natural canopy.

"This is nothing like pictures online," commented Lucy. "It's so weird to see something like this up close."

"Haven't you ever been on trips like this?"

"No. My dad was always working, and my mom doesn't care. This is my first-time hiking in the mountains."

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"I am. I just wish I had our lunch. I mean, this would've been a perfect place to do so."

"No, it wouldn't. My back is already killing me. I'm getting out."

"Oh, come on," Lucy playfully grabbed Johan's arm.

"I'm going to end up with a hunchback, you know."

"No, you won't,” and both give a hearty laugh.

Johan removed himself from the cramped space and seeing that he wasn't planning on returning, Lucy exits from the tree to resume their walk on the trail.

"I'm having a lot of fun, Johan."

"I'm glad you are."

"But are you?"

"Sure, I am."

"Are you sure?

"What are you thinking?"

"Because I sometimes feel you are uncomfortable. Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Of course not. In fact, you're the only person I like hanging out with." An uncomfortable feeling poked him after realizing what he had just said that, causing him to straighten himself. "As in, like a friend, you know? That's what friends do."

"You think of me as your friend?"

“Yeah, I do. Its fun being around you."

She smiled, "I think the same way about you."

"Oh, thanks..." Johan replied as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Mind if I go ahead a bit? I promise I won't go too far."

"Sure, go ahead."

With a gleeful expression, Lucy ran off once more to enjoy her merry day, leaving Johan to his thoughts. 'What am I telling her? It's as if my mouth just says whatever it wants without me thinking beforehand. I can't say those things to her, she'll get the wrong idea. This can't go on, I got to tell her that this is the last time we're hanging out, that it's not right for me to be with her. The more this goes on, the more she's going to get attached to me.' His attention returned to Lucy, who stopped to pick some flowers from the side of the trail. 'I don't think she's allowed to do that.'

A crocus flower had gotten her attention as she plucked it and raced back. "What do you think?"

"It looks lovely, but I don't think you were allowed to pick those flowers."

"I wasn't? I didn't see a sign or anything."

"It's just something most people assume they can't do when they hike on the mountains. You didn't pick any more, did you?"

"No, just this. Isn't it pretty?"

"Of course, but I don't know if that bug coming out of the flower appreciates what you did."

"AH!" She let go of the flower while backing away but upon seeing Johan laugh, she realized that the flower was vacant from any sort of insect. This little prank amused her enough to laugh as well. "That wasn't funny," she said as she playfully shoved Johan.

Johan bent over to pick up the crocus and placed it in her right ear. "You look beautiful."

Lucy couldn't help but cover her mouth and turn around giggling. "Knock it off," she commented trying to control her amusement.

Johan gently took the flower from her hair. "May want to hide it. I don't know if you're allowed to pick it, but just to be safe, let's not pick anymore."

"Will you take me to a flower garden then?"

"Do you really love flowers?"

"Well, If I can pick some out for you."

"Alright. Maybe someday I will."

With a gleeful smile, she placed the flower in her bag as both returned to walk along the path. In only a few steps of walking, Lucy gets close to Johan and wraps her arm around him. Another unexpected move from Lucy but Johan accepted the invitation as he wrapped his arm around her.

He sighed as he thought to himself, 'This is turning into a disaster.'