"My shoe !!!" Mac got up and jumped into the water after her left shoe. Dick burst into laugh. "She stood up, all wet. One shoe in the hand, the other next to him. "Not funny." she said. She sat back next to him. "Do you know how long it takes to dry ?" she said, shaking her shoe. He stopped laughing, getting her point. "Stay there for the night, huh ?" she nodded.
She looked around. At least they'd walked today. But... there was nothing comfy around. Correction : there was him. But 'him' didn't have a roof.
They set a campfire up. "Nice work." she greeted. "With no alcohol !" he added. He slid an arm around her shoulders. "We're good."
They felt asleep in each other's arms in front of the fire, her shoe placed close enough to dry.
---
The next morning they crossed a road. Finally. They'd heard a plane in the last two days but it had kept passing next to them. "Someone's probably gonna come." she said, sitting on the side. "Or at least I'll pretend that until my feet aren't numb anymore." he smiled. "Someone's gonna come. I know this road. It leads to a private creek." She wondered if the 'private' meant there was gonna be no one or if it just meant 'paying showers on the beach'.
After thirty minutes a car came and they jumped on their feet. A women came out of the car. "Oh, my god, are you the missing kids ??!" They shook their head. Mac detailed the boy beside her. Shredded shorts, dirty t shirt, bed hair, tired face. "What do you think gave it away ?" she asked Dick. "Are you alright kids ?" She pressed the woman's hand. "We're fine. Can I use your phone ?" "Sure."
She thought for a minute. She had only a few numbers in mind but all she could think was Mars Investigation. "Hey, Veronica. It's Mac." she shook her head."Veronica, calm down !! We're ok. .. Yeah, he's with me." Dick ducked a brow. He was talking to the woman. "Ok. See you soon." She went back to the woman. "Thank you very much." "You need a lift to where ?" the woman asked. "You're so nice. Hum, center of Neptune, Mars Investigation ?" Dick smirked.
In the time they got there Mac's parents where there and Logan. And journalists.
---
Logan drove Dick home. He was silent. "Dude you're so skinny." Logan joked. "So, what'd you do with baby bro's ex ?" he smiled mysteriously. "She taught me how to fish and I taught her how to roll." Logan laughed. "That's my pal :" he shook his head. "Man, it's good to see you."
---
"Yes, dad, I'm fine. I... no I can't eat more." Mac replied. "The fact that I lost weight is good." she added. "I fit better in my skin." She said. Is that it or sex ?
"We were so worried." her mom said. "And that boy ? He didn't do anything to you, did he ?" her dad asked. She sighed. Don't blush, girl ! "He had the lighter. He was precious. That's why I didn't ate him." she concluded, leaving for the bathroom.