Hurt - NocturnalWhiteWolf

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*Of course I don't own Over the Hedge or any of its characters*

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The sun peeked just barely over the horizon, awaiting it's rest under the cookie cutter houses and endless hilltops. Heather watched as what was a charcoal gray sky was illuminated by shades of red, pink and orange.

It wasn't uncommon that she would do this. She felt it was relaxing and awe inspiring. It made her feel at peace, and those times were rare now a-days.

"Heather?" her father called her from the log.

"Yeah?" she yelled back, looking over her shoulder.

"We're gonna be going soon." He was referring of course to the heist.

Heather gave one final glance at the crimson sky. Letting out a heavy sigh, she agrees. "Yeah, okay. I'm coming." It's not that she didn't want to go, but at times, she felt like she needed to be left to herself. Sometimes people around her would make her feel overwhelmed, like people wouldn't stop bothering her.

At the log, Heather gathered her things and placed them aside. No use in having the Bucky and the twins stepping on her CDs or hammy accidentally running over her ipod. RJ seemed to notice her aloof and distant behavior.

"Hey Heather," RJ says quietly as he walks up to her, so as to not alert the others. "Somethin wrong?"

Heather felt her face blush slightly. Damn it, she thought, trying her best to hide her glowing red cheeks. "No, no…not at all. We gonna get going or stand here talking about it?" she tried her best to laugh, but could see it in RJ's face, it wasn't convincing.

RJ turns to the rest of the crowd. Gesturing up to the sky, he says "Hey, guys…I don't think we'll be able to go tonight. It looks like it's gonna pour any second." There were a few grunts and disappointing sighs from the crowd, but RJ's point was taken, and they trust his judgment. He turns to Heather again, their blue eyes meeting.

"Oh come on RJ, the kids were looking forward to this one," Heather said quietly to him.

"That's why we're going tomorrow, but for now…" He looks aside into the forest brush, the part of the forest that's labeled future development on his map. It was thick, but there was a path wide enough for the two of them. "Lets just take a little walk."

"RJ, I'm fine, please…I don't"

"No, I insist. Come on Heather, you know it wouldn't kill you to have a talk with your good friend RJ" He starts to walk away into the brush, gesturing her to follow.

Friend she thought. Damn it RJ, Why ya gotta be so persistent?

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