I'm back! I don't have a lot of time for a note though, so just enjoy the chapter!
"Are you guys sure you want to do this?" Simon asks about a week later. Ralph helps me to my feet and we both look over at him.
"Of course we are," Ralph says, sounding shocked that he'd even ask that. "We need a way to defend ourselves don't we?" Simon looks uncomfortable.
"Well, yes, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with Erin interacting with any of those creeps. King Creep, if she's right about it being Roger's night to guard. I don't think she's ready." I roll my eyes.
"I can stand can't I?" He quirks an eyebrow and looks me over.
"You're leaning," he corrects. "On Ralph."
"Leaning is a form of standing. And would it make you happier if I was leaning on you?" He shuffles his feet a bit and looks down abashedly.
"Maybe." I smile at his utter adorableness.
"Aw. You come to me then, or I'm sticking with Ralph. His arm is pillowy." Ralph looks down at me.
"I'd like to inform you that I am a toned, muscled teen god, not a pillow." I laugh.
"You keep telling yourself that bunnykins." Simon gags.
"Gross. Am I being replaced by a marshmallow man?" I laugh again, then double over in pain. Ralph grabs my shoulders and steadies me while Simon rushes to my side.
"I'm fine gusy," I cough. "Just laughed a bit too hard, that's all. No fainting, no vomit, no blood. All good." Neither one looks sure anymore.
"I really don't think this is a good idea," Simon repeats. "If we have to do this, can we at least wait until you're a little better?"
"No!" I snap. "This isn't something that can be put off, they're hunting us! I hear them in the woods everyday, I see you guys freeze up whenever they're close to our hideout, I can feel my stitches sting just at the thought of being caught by them. If we wait another day, you two could be dead. I'm not going to let that happen." When I finish my speech, I'm out of breath, but I do my best to hide it. Simon opens his mouth to protest, but I push them both away and try to keep my steps even and my wincing unnoticeable as I walk away. "I'm going, and you can't stop me." Both boys sigh and follow me out.
I clench my fists to keep my hands from shaking as I walk up to the boy on guard duty. Even in the dark, even from far away, I have no doubts that it's him. In the few months I've known him, I've developed a sort of hyper-awareness of him toward him. Every detail, from the set of his shoulders and the way he leans forward and the way his muscles seem bunched in the back, to his height and the length of his hair has become as familiar to me as the way my sister's voice gets higher when she's excited and Julia never shuts up when she's mad and Fiona screams when she wants to get a point across. I recognize him as well as I'd recognize my best friends, know him better than Simon, but without the warmth and safety associated with those three. I swallow hard as the space between me and him is closed.
"Roger?" I say softly. He jumps to his feet and spins to face me, brandishing a knife. It's all I can do not to skitter back into the forest. He takes a good look at me and lets out a deep breath.
"Oh, it's just you," he sighs. I quirk an eyebrow.
"So what, I'm not a threat?" He smirks bemusedly. "You know what, don't answer that." He chuckles.
"Good, you're learning Shitbrains!" he laughs, ignoring my glare. I cough. He clears his throat. Then awkward silence.
"So how's life?" I eventually ask.
"Not bad, you?"
"Can't complain. My tummy's healing nicely." Wow. Did I just feel it get ten times more awkward? "So... the weather's been nice..." He smiles crookedly at this.
"Really? The weather? Has it come to this?" I nod solemnly.
"Yes it has." He chuckles.
"Erin, I think we both know you didn't come all the way over here to discuss the climate. I think we've reached the point in our relationship that we can skip the pleasantries, don't you?" Well damn. What do I say now? 'Is it hot out here or is it just you?' Ha! Yea right. I can see Ralph in the woods behind Roger trying to signal me to keep going. "So why did you come out here?" I sigh and try to channel a slut from my grade, Nicole Corbin. Then I smile sweetly and step closer to him, lacing my fingers through his.
"To see you of course." You know, I've always seen Roger as the kind of guy to smirk or do something cocky when a girl hits on him. Boy, was I wrong. Roger pales slightly and his eyes go wide. Also, his hands get really hot. Hmm... interesting.
"Really?" Okay. Now I almost feel bad. He sounds hopeful.
"Of course. Isn't it obvious?" He tries to appear more confident, then gets an angry look in his eyes.
"What about Monroe?" I pretend to scoff.
"Simon? Oh please. What is he compared to you?" Roger grins a bit.
"Oh really?" He says with a faint smirk.
"Uh-huh. After all, you're tall, and handsome, and toned." I take the oppurtunity to check out his abs. "Very toned. Not to mention, you're funnier, smarter, faster, a way better singer, oh and I can't forget, you have way better taste in music." Over Roger's shoulder, I see Simon- who's been peeking out every now and then to make sure I'm not doing anything he wouldn't approve of- pales considerably. It takes a lot of restraint not to take back all of what I just said. Roger, unlike Simon, has become a tomato. A real fucking tomato. It's cute. "Plus, you can't have a satisfying Star Wars- or My Chemical Romance-based conversation with Simon, trust me, I've tried." He laughs a little at this.
"So, does this mean you're going to join our camp?" He asks.
"Oh, of course not!" I say in a rush. He looks confused, so I continue. "It'd seem suspicious, don't you think? And as much as I like you better, I don't think I have it in me to break Simon's heart that way just yet. Give it time, okay? Until then, I can stay with them for a bit, and help you guys in whatever way possible. Doesn't that plan make more sense?" I ask, batting my eyelashes and rubbing his upper arm lightly. He nods rapidly, looking too stunned to say anything. Behind him, Simon has completely frozen. I see Ralph trying to snap him out of it, which works a little too well. Simon stumbles back and knocks over the row of spears they have lined up against a boulder, and they crash loudly against the ground.
"What was-" Roger begins to turn and I can think of only one option. I grab his face in my hands before he can see and start kissing him. He seems much more than a little caught off guard at first, but once he gets over the initial shock he slowly gets comfortable enough to kiss me back. And I'm ashamed to say, the first thought I have is, Why didn't I do this sooner? I've got to give the kid credit, for all he lacks in his ability to flirt, he makes up for in his ability to kiss. I open my eyes while still kissing him, and see that now both Ralph and Simon have stopped and are staring at me in shock. I roll my eyes and wave for them to get their shit together. Ralph snaps out of it, gathers all the weapons they stole, and drags Simon with him into the woods. I sigh in relief and pull away from Roger.
"Well, that was fun. We should do it again some time." Before he can respond, I take off into the woods after my friends, leaving him still absolutely stunned behind me. It's not long till I come across Ralph and Simon waiting for me in a clearing. "Well, I think there's a lesson in all this. Never doubt my ability to catch people by surprise." Ralph chuckles, but Simon stays silent. "Simon, you okay?"
"Yea, it's just...you kissed him."
"Relax Simon. It was just to save your asses, and I promise it won't be happening again if I have anything to do with it," I say, not caring to mention that I might not have anything to do with it. He smiles a bit.
"All right. One more thing though," he says. "I'm a better kisser right?"
"Oh yea, of course!" I say. He brightens up considerably at this.
"Okay! Now that that's out of the way, let's head back to the meadow!" With that, he strides off ahead of us.
"Man I hate lying to him," I mutter. Ralph chuckles and we walk to follow him.
"Not so fast," someone says. Jack steps out of the dark, holding Simon by the collar. "You're not going anywhere."
...Well shit.
Haha, that was a fun chapter. I loved all the awkwardness. If you didn't figure it out, she was supposed to distract Roger so Simon and Ralph could steal some stuff to protect themselves with. I think she did a pretty good job, haha. Please review!