Somewhere Only We Know

By Lily Allen

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting tired and I need something to rely on

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting tired and I need someone to rely on

So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know

Apparently they explode if you get too close.

I look it over several times. Explode? The thing barely has legs for one thing, just four little cubes for feet that are somehow managing to get it moving at a considerable speed. It has no arms either. And it's green. And yet … and yet ….

And yet it's absolutely adorable!

"That thing's not gonna explode!" I laugh to Hero, who's crouched down beside a rock next to me.

"Go test it out if you don't believe me," he says drily.

This is the final stage of my healing, apparently. Blue-shirt guy's sword cut a pretty big gash in my forehead. At least, that's what Hero's been telling me. But there's this … well, there's just something nagging me at the back of my head, telling me that it's not the truth. That, yet again, Hero's not telling me something. Then again, that could just be my uncertainty. I've been a bit on edge again. I guess I haven't made up my mind about Hero yet. Is he really a good guy? He's not a bad guy, I'm quite sure of that. I'm just not sure how I'd describe him. If you came along and asked me what kind of a person Hero is, that would really stump me. Guess he's just mysterious then. Sums it up pretty well.

I sigh and slide down the rock next to him. Don't really know much about him, other than his name, which is now Hero. He perks up every time I say it. I think he really does like it, but I can't think what was wrong with Herobrine. A little unusual, sure, but this is a world made out of blocks. It sounds like the norm.

"How old are you?" I ask suddenly.

I'm not very good at asking questions. I'm curious and all that, and I get all fidgety if there's something I don't know about someone, but I get all embarrassed actually asking people personal details. Don't ask me why. I wish life was simpler.

"How old are you?" he replies, smirking.

Excuse me?! It was hard enough to ask the question in the first place, then you just have to go throw it back at me and make me feel like a stalker?!

"Si-Sixteen," I say, flushing. He looks a little taken aback.

"Well, coming on seventeen," I feel forced to add. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," he says quickly, "I just thought you were older than that. I'm twenty-one."

So he's an adult. Suddenly, I feel a whole lot more nervous. Of course he's an adult! I knew that … didn't I? He's not a whole lot older than me, but still … he must just think of me as a kid then. I look away. Why is this affecting me so much? Some part of me must've known he's an adult! Get a grip, Tamsin.

"Thought you were an adult," Hero says, then smiles to himself, "Guess I was wrong."

I smile back, but it vanishes when I turn away. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why is this bothering me so much?! Seriously?! It's his age! Just his age! He's an older guy, that's all! And then I think of the words 'an older guy' on their own and the blush already forming in my cheeks goes haywire. I'm bright red. Damn it damn it damn it! Why am I even thinking about that?! It's not like I could ever consider a relationship with … well, how could I even consider considering a relationship right now?! STUPID!

"Uh … something up, Tamsin?"

I hear my name on his lips and suddenly it sounds completely different. No, shut up! Don't think that! Quit it already, you've never thought of him like that before!

Have you …?

No, you haven't, and that's final! And you never will! So SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUTUP!

"I-I just feel a bit dizzy," I lie, feigning a stumble as I get to my feet.

No, I'm not lying when I say I'm dizzy, I'm so dizzy I could just keel over, but it's not 'cause I'm ill, it's 'cause … it's 'cause I (SHUT UP SHUT UP!)

"Oh no!" Hero says worriedly, "I knew this was a bad idea … I'm sorry, Tamsin, I'll take you straight back."

"No!" I say, a little louder than I intended.

He stops to stare at me for a few seconds. Under his white eyes I feel exposed, naked, and then I think of those two words and I have to look away 'cause I'm blushing so fiercely. He snorts.

"What is wrong with you today?" he says, but now he's sounding more impatient, "You're so … I don't know, all over the place."

I shake my head. I shake it so much I stumble again and have to sit down. Hero rubs his weary face with his hands.

"If you're really not well, I'll have to take you back. We can do this some other time," he sighs.

I'm going to shake my head once more, but think better of it. The blush is cooling off now, so I think it's safe to look up.

"What do you mean, some other time? How long do you expect me to stay here?" I say tiredly.

Hero looks a little shocked, but then he falls back into a shrug.

"I dunno. Until you were recovered, I suppose."

"Well, here I am. Recovered."

And essentially, I am recovered. Other than a bit of bruising on my collarbone, I'm fine. Hero, on the other hand, is not. While the black eye has died down, and the scratches and scrapes spanning his body have also faded, his forehead still requires binding wound across it, and his limp is as noticeable as ever. And this is because of … what zombies? Despite everything else that is grievously wrong with this world, the whole zombie thing gets me every time. Zombies? Zombies? Really?

"Where will you go, then? If you leave?"

Hero's watching me closely. I'm not flushing though. I feel tired. Too tired, like there are weights pitted down in my stomach. I groan.

"I don't know," I admit, "I have to find my family, that's all I know. They'll need me."

"Do you … know where they are?" he asks quietly.

I give him a look. It's so deadpan, it could turn a frying pan into a saucepan. Now that's hardcore.

"Okay, okay," Hero says, going back on himself, "So you don't know where they are. How on earth are you going to …"

"… Find them?" I finish for him.

He doesn't speak. I'm not sure what to say next. I remain silent.

How am I going to find them? Do I have anything to go on? Anything at all? No. Just the fact they're alive, because it is a fact. They couldn't be dead. Not if I'm still alive. And they're together, that's the important thing. If Hero hadn't found me … well … thank God he did.

"I'll help you."

There's a rustle next to me as Hero heaves himself off of the ground. I glance back up at him, not quite believing it. He extends a hand. A grin crumples over his face.

"Why wouldn't I?" he says.

Tamsin …? Is there something you're not telling us?

Is something happening between Tamsin and Hero?! Tune in (some time in the foreseeable future) or follow the story to fiiiiiiiiind out!

Lu xx