3 | FIRST NIGHT IN THE WOODS
1316 Words
CHAPTER THREE
"You know..." he began after he was done with his apple. "You're pretty dumb for a twenty-year-old.”
You know what?" I stated, throwing my leftover apple at him, "You're an ungrateful pig."
Yep, right guess. I ended up giving him the apple.
All he had to say was please...nicely. I knew it took a whole lot of his ego to utter that simple word, so I gave it to him out of pity. But instead of thanking me for graciously handing the apple over, the i***t just snatched it right out of my hand then called me stupid. I mean, what kind of maniac did that these days?
He just shrugged. "I knew you'd give it to me."
I stuck my tongue out at him and muttered under my breath. "Idiot."
After our tiny dinner, I removed my blanket from my backpack and laid it neatly on the ground. It had gotten really dark and gloomy. Just a few stars and a half-moon. The place was so freaking cold that it made me hug my legs close as I laid on the blanket, quivering lightly.
"Why don't you use the blanket as a covering instead?" Jack suggested when he saw me shiver uncomfortably on the blanket.
I thought over his words for a moment before sitting up and staring at him. "Since when were you considerate about my welfare?" I questioned dryly, but did it anyway.
He just rolled his eyes and murmured. "Just shut up."
I sighed and played with a lock of my hair as we sat in silence for a while. I could hear the crickets chirping wildly and other nocturnal animals scaring the spirits out of me.
I sighed again and looked around, even though there was absolutely nothing to see. Despite the half-moon, it was still really dark and if it weren't for the blazing fire which brought off light, I'd be clinging to Jack desperately.
Jack sat across me, the fire dancing on his features made him look even more handsome in the night. Of course, I could admit that he was gorgeous with his night-black hair and brown eyes. But I couldn't talk about his body because the way his shirt was clinging to his tanned skin and exposing his biceps almost made my mouth water.
I shook my head to drive away those thoughts and instead debated on whether I should strike up a conversation or not. I knew we weren't on good terms but what could possibly go wrong?
The only problem was I had no idea what to say to him.
"The weather's cold," I stated dumbly, but it was the best approach I could think of.
Smart move, Brenda. Good one.
He scoffed. "How did you ever figure that out, genius?"
I glared at him as he pulled the blanket closer to his body. I removed my gaze from him and shifted my body closer to the fire so I could feel a little warmer.
"So." I was at loss for words. I mean really, what could I say to the guy? We'd been cold to each other since, well, the incident. And besides, I didn't want to sleep. The woods were scary and I didn't want to close my eyes knowing that a beast could surface at any time from the bushes somewhere and eat me alive.
"So..." I grabbed a stone and tossed it from hand to hand. "How long is thirty miles?" I asked after a minute of carefully analysing the question.
"It depends." He threw a stick into the fire. "Since you're walking with me, I suppose it'll take two weeks."
My eyebrows rose. "Why do I get this feeling that that statement was meant as an insult?"
"Because it was, smarty," he retorted and rubbed his hands together to form heat. I huffed and shifted closer to the fire, getting warmer and warmer every time I moved.
"Really, tell me how long so I can prepare myself for the trek."
He eyed my body for a second. "Like a day and a half."
I sighed in relief. "At least it's not more than three days." I smiled. "We'll get home soon."
"I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you," Jack said dryly.
"And why not?" My smile grew wider. "We'll be home by tomorrow's tomorrow!"
"No. We'll reach the tracks by tomorrow's tomorrow. And when we do, we'll follow them till we get a signal. Then we'll call the bus driver before we get home."
"But can't we just find the railroad station and wait there, get a ticket, climb aboard then be on our way home?" I suggested as if it was the most obvious thing.
"I-" He was silent for a minute. "Yeah, we could just do that." I grinned at his lack of noting the obvious. Hmm, it did feel good to be smart for once.
"Alright," he spoke after a long lapse of silence. "Go to sleep." He twisted his body and laid on his blanket.
But before he could close his eyes, I yelled, "Whoa. Wait, stop! What are you doing?!" I was baffled at the fact that he'd dare sleep and leave awake.
He looked perplexed at my stupid outburst.
"Umm, I'm going to sleep?" he replied, saying the words slowly as if I was dumb then shook his head and closed his eyes.
"No!" I leapt from my blanket and landed on him. He instantly rose and pushed me off him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jack asked in confusion as he stared down at me dumbfounded.
"You can't sleep!" I protested quickly.
"Why not? Isn't that what normal people do at this time?" he questioned, clearly exasperated. But when he noticed my frightened expression, he shook his head and didn't hesitate to smirk. "You're scared."
Well...duh! I wanted to scream at him.
"Which normal person wouldn't be freaked out in this place?" I retorted and glared at him.
"I'm not freaking out," he stated then shrugged.
"That's because you're abnormal," I said and was about to say something else that would get him to stay awake longer when I heard a loud sound of a frog croaking beside me. I yelped, jumped, stretched out my arms and wrapped them securely around Jack's neck.
"Hey! What are you doing? Get away from me!" He tried to pry me off him.
"Not until you promise to keep watch." I tightened my grip, enjoying the sudden warmth that engulfed me.
"Keep...keep watch for what?!" He threw his free arm in the air as the other was tugging at my arms as a sign of annoyance.
I looked at him as if he'd grown a third eye. "Wild animals, what else. Bears, lions and even gorillas."
"There are no wild animals here and certainly not gorillas," he said dryly. "You're being insecure, now get away from me."
I held on. "Not until you promise to stay awake till I fall asleep."
"What?! No way."
I gave him a pleading look. "Come on, please. I promise I'll let you go and not bother you afterwards."
He pondered over my words for a moment before letting go of my arm and sighing in defeat. "Fine."
Yes!
I grinned. "Thanks."
"Whatever, just go to sleep," he grumbled and pulled away from me. I released him completely and giddily went back to my blanket. Wrapping it around me and lying on the ground, I watched as he sat cross-legged and returned my stare.
I immediately closed my eyes and blew out a breath. If only things hadn't turned out the way they did, I would've been sleeping in his arms right then and kissing him goodnight.
I sighed and soon, I was in dreamland dreaming about my bear babies and a certain man who chose to leave the bus to come for me.
- Writer
