We remain hanging in the tree thinking to ourselves for about thirty seconds, then Peaches slowly, silently lowers herself to the ground and puts me atop her head. The sun is still excruciatingly bright, and I find it hard to open my eyes for more than a few seconds. Peaches sneaks away from the tree as if she were trying to keep from falling through thin ice. When we're out of ear shot from anyone else who might be awake, Peaches stops and puts me on the ground.
"We'll have time to talk later." She whispers. Then she turns around and sneaks back to her tree; I notice her peak back at me before climbing up. What does she mean, 'talk later?' I hope she doesn't actually want me... to talk! I can barely talk around her when I've got a clue as to what is going on, this definitely not being one of those times.
I look over at Peaches, wondering what could be going through her head. Is she thinking the same things about me? I hope she's not... It's too cold. this not knowing, this ignorance, would be to much for her. She's too kind to deserve it. The morning sun outlines her glowing fur against the slushy backdrop; I love her. I love her, and it hurts too much to not know if she loves me. If she is feeling the same way, how will she ever forgive me for not telling her for so long?
"You have to tell her eventually." I say to myself.
I perk me ears up. Something has just shuffled through the tall grass behind me. "Who's there?" I whimper. The rustling stops; was it just the wind? Suddenly, and fierce, orange mass heaves itself into the air at me. My face turns white as a ghost. Run! Hide! Get out of here, Louis!
I dig underground, just dodging whatever it is. I dig away from the tree as fast as I can for about twenty seconds, and I slowly pop my head out to see if it's still after me. It is. It's sprinting toward me with a fury, but I can see it clearly now. Diego!? He's just about to reach me, but I continue to dig away. I try to talk to him, but after having to dig away several more times I can only get out a few words at a time.
"Diego... what... are you... doing..." I manage to get out between escapes. Diego doesn't seem to hear me. I keep digging, but he's still charging after me.
We get a great distance away from the tree, and I've little energy left to continue.
*Smash*
Ah! I hit something really hard; my head is buzzing. I exhume myself. What did I hit? A colossal cliff spans as far as I can see to both sides, and Diego is rushing towards me. I stand there looking into his fiery eyes.
He stops a few inches from me, staring into my frightened eyes. He looks as if his minds has gone blank; his snarling muzzle is the scariest thing I've ever seen. He's going to eat me!
"Why? Diego, why?" I feel searing tears streak down my ghostly face. Diego continues to look into my eyes as though he's trans vexed. Suddenly, something changes in his face; his eyes widen and his muzzle softens. He looks shocked, unable to process what is going on.
"Oh no! Are you okay!? I'm so sorry, Louis! I blacked out! I'm sorry." His sudden change in demeanor confuses me, but I'm too busy freaking out and being happy to be alive to say anything. My legs feel weak and numb, so I just kind of fall to the ground, crying. The crying is a fusion of happiness and misery. It was all almost over, and no one new that I loved them, not even Peaches...
"Louis? Louis, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" I can hear Diego talking, but I can't form any words over my sobbing.
"It's okay, Louis; you're okay. I'm sorry." Diego sits me up and pulls me toward him, looking into my eyes. I can tell he meant his apology, and my nerves start to calm themselves. What set Diego off so much? Is he okay? I see a single, little tear stain his face; Diego is crying! I suddenly feel an immense urge to make him feel happy; I pull him close to me and hug his muzzle.
"I'm fine, but what's eating you?" I say as ironically as possible, trying to cheer him up.
"Oh, thank goodness- you're okay." He restates, "I was worried I'd given you a heart attack."
"It's alright, Diego. I'm totally fine, but why are you so angry?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"It's ah... it's nothing..." He dodges. That's a bit frustrating- obviously something made him angry enough to try to kill me... But, if he really doesn't want to talk about it, should I make him?
"Okay," I say, "but if you ever want to talk about it, I'd be willing to listen."
"Thanks, Louis..." He looks around then back at me; the look on his face clues me in. He does want to tell me. "Here's the deal: you can't tell anyone. Okay?"
"Okay, sure." I confirm. Who would I tell, and, furthermore, who does Diego think I would tell?
He starts off slowly, "Uh... Shira's... uh... Shira's..." Wow... I thought I was the only one who stuttered that much... "Shira's pregnant."
"Wow! Congratulations!" I say, "Wait; why were you angry then?"
"She doesn't know if I'm the father..." He states a little condescendingly. Well, I guess I walked right into this one.
"Oh, uh... s-sorry." I say. And I guess all that confidence was never going to last.
"No, it's fine. You didn't know." He says sympathetically, "Speaking of not knowing..." He wouldn't go there; I know exactly what he's about to do, and, quite frankly, I'm tired of everyone always bringing up Peaches just to make me tense. I'm about to tunnel away when Diego catches the look of disdain in my eye and stops me.
"Louis, wait. I was about to say that I didn't even know there were any other sabers here." Well... now I feel like a jerk, yet Diego does seem to feel the same way. Can I have one conversation that isn't awkward?
"Okay, Diego, sorry for my complete ineptness; can we just..."
"Act like this never happened?" He finishes.
"That's probably the best idea." I confirm, "So what exactly is your plan to deal with this?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but... Shira has assured me that I'm the one she wants to be the father." He states skeptically. I guess I can see why; it must be really hard to trust someone after that. My mind wanders a bit over the possibility that Ethan actually really likes Steffie and I've nothing to worry about. It would certainly make it simpler that way, and I wouldn't have to worry about Ethan not getting to be with whomever he wanted, too. And what if Peaches really doesn't like me after all, not even as a friend? I can't stand to think that, but it's only going to get harder until I ask her and find out.
Diego shakes me out of my thoughts, "What's up with you?" He asks.
"Oh, uh, just... uh, just deep in a thought."
"About?" I was worried he'd ask that; of course we all know he knows what I was thinking about. Then again, maybe he doesn't, but I'm pretty sure he does. I'm starting to think that everyone knows I love Peaches, except Peaches.
"Louis," Diego probes again, "you still trapped in that thought?"
"Yeah." I answer mechanically.
"You wanna tell me what it is you're thinking about?" He asks again, feigning irritation. Either he just wants to make fun of me, or he's actually interested in what I'm thinking. Should I risk letting him know my feelings about Peaches? I notice my thoughts rambling again; I should probably tell him something.
"Well... I was thinking about... about..." My voice trails off. Diego looks at me arrogantly and cocks an eyebrow.
He finishes my sentences for me, "Peaches?" I nod reluctantly, preparing myself for his onslaught.
Diego grins, "Just tell her already." He states matter-of-factually. Sympathy, kindness? I almost feel cheated; some "remorseless assassin" he turned out to be. Still, he does have quite the advantage on me, and poking fun at him doesn't seem like the best approach.
"How?" I ask.
"You think I'm in the position to give romantic advice?" He counters; well, he's got a point.
"I guess not." I say.
Suddenly, a shout pierces through the otherwise silent background, "Louis!?" It's Peaches; she must be looking for me.
"I should probably get out of here." Diego whispers, slowly backing away. He turns and bolts off through the bushes just before Peaches comes into the open on the opposite side. Her face is full of worry, but it melts away when she sees me.
"Oh, thank goodness! Louis, where on Earth did you go!?" I'm so happy to see her that I completely ignore her question, run as fast as my little legs will carry me to her, and hug her trunk tightly. She looks at me, puzzled.
"Louis, uh, where did you go?" I could tell her the real reason, but I literally just promised Diego I'd keep his secret.
"I was... uh, I just... just went for a walk." I try to say convincingly, but she doesn't look very convinced. I notice that she's not making direct eye-contact with me; instead, she seems to be studying my face which is probably soaked with tears.
She opens her mouth to speak but closes it again before any words can escape. I continue to hold to her trunk, refusing to leave her so soon. She slowly sinks to her knees and hugs me back. I wonder what is going on in her head; what does she think I was out here for? I hope she doesn't want an answer. I know I can't lie to her again if she asks, even facing the wrath of Diego.
Peaches never ends up asking and instead lifts me with her trunk and cradles me. "Let's head back to the tree." She says. I smile shyly up at her in approval, and she smiles back.
This chapter's song is "Vulnerable" by Secondhand Serenade.