A/N: I couldn't leave you guys hanging with that for long :)
Chapter Eleven: Fire
"Oh my god Jadelyn!" Cat's squeaky voice rang out nervously, twisting a finger through her curly brown hair.
"On three, we run into the woods," Jadelyn whispered authoritatively. Her friends nodded in agreement.
"What are you guys doing there?" The voice wondered, getting closer.
"Three!" Jadelyn yelled, grabbing Cat's hand as she dragged her up, sprinting across the uneven grassy ground of the clearing back into the forest. "Follow the trail of leaves!" Jadelyn directed.
"Yeah! Now you like my leaf trail!" Robbie said, annoyed,trying to keep up with the group.
"Just run," Andre said, as the group made their way deeper into the forest.
The children were panting and out of breath, but they could hear the footsteps of their follower approaching. They couldn't stop now.
Jadelyn felt her heart beating faster and faster, pulling Cat along through the woods, but soon, she lost grip of Cat's hand, and the only thing she felt was her face in the mud.
"Dammit!" She swore quietly. Cat gasped, whether it was from the fact that Jadelyn had used bad language, or that the figure in the distance was approaching, she wasn't sure.
Andre, Robbie, and Cat huddled around Jadelyn quietly, hopping she was okay. Jadelyn was known for being a bit clumsy at times, so she was used to tripping.
The only real problem was they could see a figure running towards them.
"Jadelyn! Are you okay!?" The figure in the distance cried, coming into view.
Jadelyn froze, looking up into the brown eyes she probably shouldn't remember, but did just the same.
"Beck?" She asked, making her voice icy. "I thought you lived in Canada."
Sure enough, a much taller Beck than the one Jadelyn remembered came walking down the forest road. His black hair was longer and his face was more mature. He wore as smile as he approached, holding out his hand to help Jadelyn up.
"I did," Beck said. "My dad's job moved back to California. I'm gonna be going to school with you guys," He explained, grinning. He kept his hand out relentlessly, looking at Jadelyn, who was still sitting on the dirt path, with a patronizing look.
"Yey!" Cat cheered happily, standing up to give a small victory hop.
Jadelyn flattened her lips, irritated. She stuck out her hand, grabbing Beck's. His hand felt weird encased in her own.
She yanked her arm down wards, pulling the small tan skinned boy to the ground. He fell directly on her, before rolling on to the dirt road.
"Ow! What was that for!?" He asked in his high pitched voice.
"I can get up myself," Jadelyn explained, standing up to prove this.
"I was just trying to help," Beck shrugged,sitting up, before standing and brushing himself off.
"I don't want your help," Jadelyn defended, annoyed.
She didn't know what exactly annoyed her about Beck Oliver. Maybe it was his sure-of-himself attitude, or the fact that she couldn't seem to do a single thing that would scare him.
Beck rolled his eyes, turning to face the rest of Jadelyn's friends.
"What are you guys doing here anyway?" Beck wondered, scratching the back of his head, confused.
"We meet here every Saturday," Andre explained. "But, we're thinking of creating a secret club in the clearing over there."
Beck laughed. "That'll work," He smiled. "That clearing is my new yard. We could definitely turn it into a club meeting spot," He grinned.
"Who said you were joining!?" Jadelyn asked, annoyed. "We haven't even seen you for three years. You could have turned into a wazz bag!"
Beck rolled his eyes. "It's my yard.. And Cat, Andre, and Robbie want me to join! Right?" He turned to face the kids.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Cat grinned happily.
"You're still our friend," Andre said, smiling. Robbie nodded in agreement.
Jadelyn furrowed her eyebrows angrily. "It.. It doesn't matter what they say! I'm club president! I veto you joining!" Jadelyn decided.
"Who voted for you?" Beck challenged coldly, approaching Jadelyn. His eyes ran over the crystal blue eyes he hadn't seen for so long. There was a fire in them. Determined to come out victorious.
"I did!" Cat cried happily. "And I vote Beck as co-president!" She decided.
"Yeah! Equal gender rights! We should have a boy and a girl president!" Robbie agreed.
"Yeah!" Andre said. Beck crossed his arms, smirking at Jadelyn smugly.
"Looks like we're co-presidents," Beck said cockily.
Jadelyn looked up at Beck, the fire in her eyes still strong.
"Fine," She agreed reluctantly, her voice cold. "We," She motioned to Cat, Andre, and Robbie, "Should be getting back to the playground. I'll see you here next Saturday." She said it with a sense of finality, before stalking off, followed by her subjects.
That left Beck alone in the woods, who was still memorized by the fire in the girl's eyes, keeping him warm, despite her cold words.