New filler chap is up!

Happiness!

The next morning I lay in my bed, my limbs felt like dead weight, and my brain felt slow. I had not gotten a good night sleep in last night, so I just lay here, thinking; reassessing life in general. I was wondering if my life has been worthwhile. Wondering why the world seemed so harsh. Wondering if all the decisions I had made were the right ones. Wondering why I felt like something terrible was about to happen.

I smelled something burning, my eyes snapped open. Matthew was probably attempting to fix breakfast. I looked out the window. "I overslept!" I flipped the covers off, and rolled out of bed. I yanked my wardrobe door open, and grabbed the first dress my hands touched. I had to get to the kitchen before Matthew burned the whole house down.

I fastened the buttons down the front of my dress and quickly ran my fingers through my hair then left it hanging down my back, because I did not have time to do anything else with it. "He could have woken me up." I grumbled as I sprinted to the kitchen.

Upon entering, chaos greeted me; there was bacon blackening in a pan, in another pan there was an unknown substance putting off an awful odor, and as I passed the trashcan, I saw the remains of charred biscuits. Matthew was standing in the middle of it all, a despondent look on his face.

I pinched my nose as I grabbed the unknown thing and carried it to the trash. Then I went back for the bacon, (which was now shriveled to half its size) and added it to the trash can as well.

Then I turned to Matthew, without a word I quirked an eyebrow.

He grinned and said cheerfully. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

I sighed, "Not really, I was thinking about some things." Then I remembered the strange conversation between Matthew and that man. I decided to ask him about it, "Who was that man from last night?" I asked trying to sound casual.

Matthew looked at me with a queer expression. "I thought you were asleep. He's an old friend of mine." He turned to look out the window, and then he went on talking. "Did you… recognize him?" He asked me.

"No, I've never seen him in my life." I paused as I thought about how his voice had sounded extremely familiar. "Although… I think I have heard his voice before."

Matthew turned to me, his eyes round. "You heard us talking?" Matthew was acting so peculiar over a little visit from a friend. Maybe it was a bigger deal than I thought. My question of whom they were talking about still wasn't answered. Alternatively, was it?

He is kind of beating around the bush isn't he? I feel like we are getting nowhere. "I heard a little part of the conversation, I didn't understand most of what I heard though. So… was there a reason behind his visit?" I hoped he would tell me what they were talking about last night.

He looked straight into my eyes, and then he sighed. "He just wanted to visit."

I heard the man yelling last night; that was no friendly visit. I looked at him for a second longer before turning on my heel and walking away, I did not feel like fighting with Matthew today. I was still sleep deprived, and incredibly grouchy.

I headed for the door, and called over my shoulder. "I'm going for a walk, I don't know when I'll be back." then I slammed the door behind me.

I had to get away from there quickly, before I decide I wanted to vent all my stress out on him. I ran through the gate of our yard, and into the woods.

Matthew lied to me. He lied straight to my face. I thought angrily as I ran. I soon heard the sound of the stream, and I knew I would have to pick up speed if I was going to make the jump across without getting wet. My heart started beating hard, my hands curled into fists, my feet launched off the ground steadily growing in speed. I have to time this just right… Three, I heard the water right where I knew it would be, two, the rippling as all the molecules raced each other, One, I launched myself over the stream. Air flew past me giving me a floating feeling, and then I hit solid ground. I crouched on the other side as I balanced myself and took in my surroundings.

My senses have always been extremely heightened when I am in the forest. I can hear in a further range than most people can. When I'm in the forest at night I can see better than normal people. I can run a little faster than human speed. I can even smell more things; today the air consisted of pine needles, rain, and something sickly sweet.

As I felt my temper cooling off I began to wish Nick was with me. I looked back the way I had come. He lied to me! Why didn't he just tell me what- or who the man came for? As I thought about it, the anger boiled over again. I cannot go back yet. I took off running, going deeper into the forest, trying to run from all my feelings, from all of my anger, my fears and my pain.

I finally came to a small circular clearing; wild flowers were growing in small bundles throughout the small field. It was so peaceful. I doubled over and let out a sob, all my pent up feelings came rushing out in that one moment. Tears streamed down my face.

Then I heard a twig snap, I spun around. Looking into the trees, I tried to identify the source. Something was fast approaching; I backed into the middle of the field.

Finally I saw what had made the noise; the figure of a man was jogging towards me. I considered running away, but decided against that. Then he broke through the trees, revealing his face. It was none other than Nick. He bent over hands on his stomach gasping for breath, not unlike the way I was just doubled over a few seconds ago; however he was doing it because he needed air in his lungs.

He gasped one more time before he straightened, and he said through breaths, "You're… really… fast. "

He sat down on the grass, while I stared at him. Then he looked up at me, he looked at me sympathetically then he patted the ground beside him, inviting me to sit.

I practically collapsed beside him laying flat on my back, while he stayed sitting up, twirling a flower between his forefinger and thumb. Keeping his eyes on the flower he asked, "Why are you crying?"

I hadn't noticed until then that hot tears were still rolling down my face, I looked at him, and another sob escaped my lips as I thought of him leaving. "I'm going to miss you when you leave." It wasn't a complete lie. I felt better when Nick was sitting beside me.

He nodded, "I'm going to miss you too." He still hadn't looked at me, he swallowed. "Are you sure that's all?"

He can always see straight through me. I sighed, "There's something Matthew is not telling me. He flat out lied to me this morning."

Nick turned hi head slowly towards me, a weird expression on his face. I gasped, "You know what it is, don't you?" I stood and paced away from him, then just loud enough for him to hear I said, "And you're not going to tell me." I closed my eyes, the exhaustion from my little run finally catching up with me.

I heard him come up behind me; he put his hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face him. His eyes were pleading, "Rachel It's just that it's really unbelievable, and very complicated. Are you sure you want to know?"

I looked into his eyes, wondering what he was about to share with me. Then I said determinedly "Yes, I am very sure." Then I sucked in a breath, hoping it wouldn't be something bad.

Nick looked away from me, his gaze distant, then he said, "It's not really my place to tell you, but we can go together to ask Matthew."

I let the breath out, disappointed. "Fine." I said a little bit harsher than needed.

Made with overflowing love

by Your Faithful Author,

Ilikemutemath