A low growl was heard.
"Huh? What kind of noise is that?" a young girl squeaked, latching herself to Tyson's shoulders, whipping her head right and left, looking for any threat around.
"You'd be surprised that it wasn't a wild animal. It sounds more like Tyson's stomach." One guy answered knowledgeably.
"Hey, Tyson! Don't tell me that was you?" Hilary pouted.
"I'm sorry, I can't help myself. It's been long since I had anything to eat!" the boy whined.
"Long? It's been only an hour after breakfast!" Hilary challenged, retrieving her hands from Tyson.
"Hmph. Ray, I'm not really surprised if that noise was Tyson. I mean, he gets a musical stomach whenever he gets hungry." Max sighed.
"Oh alright! Let's just stop here and I'll make some rice balls and mushroom soup." The Chinese native laughed as he settled down into a clear grassy area.
As Ray started cooking into a huge pot, all other members volunteered to help in the clearing.
"Oh man! I'm so hungry. What's taking Ray so long?" Tyson grumpily complained, his face rested in his propped hand.
"What's the hurry, Tyson?" Max teased, placing a polished bottle of mayonnaise on the camp table that made others grimace. "Ray just lit the fire. Besides, we are all here to take a break, aren't we?"
"Max is right! You should be thankful that Ray offered to cook for us. Besides, cooking happens to be a very systematic procedure. And not something to hurry up doing." Hilary added.
"Well, isn't that right? Especially when it comes from somebody who doesn't even know how to cook." Tyson smirked as he mocked Hilary.
"Excuse me! I already learned how to cook. I even have my very own homemade cookies right there in my bag."
"You have what?! You didn't tell me you had cookies all along. C'mon, Hilary, let's grab some!" Tyson was way too eager to eat.
Sadly, Hilary was still holding up her red flag.
"No way. What makes you think I'll just give you my masterpiece after you just said I can't make one?" She retorted and eyed Tyson with sarcasm.
"Because I said so!" Tyson ran to the tree where there bags were placed.
"Hey! Get back here, Tyson Granger!" Hilary chased after him.
"Kenny," Max whispered in Kenny's ear, "Don't tell me those cookies are also an-old-family-recipe…"
"It's not," Kenny silently muttered, running internet speed test on his laptop, "Hilary uses that recipe written at the back of the packet."
"Oh good," Max sighed relieving. "
Tyson took Hilary's bag and yanked it open revealing lots of girl stuff. Then, of course, the much-anticipated cookies, which was in a ziplock bag. Hilary, who finally caught up with him, gasped as she saw all her things vulgarly scattered on the grass. By this point, her mere irritation turned into blind fury.
"Tyson, who do you think you are? Trying to mess up my stuff like that!" She hissed, her eyes are already glowing like fire.
"Uhhh, I didn't mean to! I was just, uhm, uhm..." Tyson sees the inflamed Hilary and is starting to back away from any possible danger.
Anticipating another argument that would hinder his peace, Kai who was perched on top of the branch, swooped down and walked away, passing through them.
Watching him leave, the two sweat-dropped and resumed their argument.
"Tyson, be thankful that I also learned how to control my temper." Hilary glanced at him then down to her precious belongings. "But it still gives you no right to throw my stuff just like that!"
"I'm sorry, Hilary, I don't know what happened. I'm just very, very hungry." Tyson exhaled deeply as Hilary knelt down to fix her stuff.
"Just don't do that again! Girls hate it when all their things are a mess. I'll let this one slide, since you haven't travelled with girls much except for me." Hilary asked as she zipped her bag. "Other girls won't be as patient as me."
"Patient?" Tyson scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest, "That's a first."
"What?" Hilary gave him the death side-glare.
"I'm just saying. Other girls are a lot less crankier than you are," he poked his tongue out. He just can't get enough of teasing Hilary.
"Oh well... Then, I guess you oughta learn more about girls!" She held the bag of cookies triumphantly, shaking it right in front of the all-of-a-sudden-still Tyson, who began drooling in front of the bag. "Ahww, don't tell me, you still want some of my 'special cookies'?" She made a run for it, making sure he won't get what he wants.
"Argh! Hilary! Just one! Or just one bite! And I'm sorry!" Obviously he was desperate to eat the cookies already. And Tyson chased after her.
They both ran around trees and on some occasion, Hilary would hide behind a tree only to find Tyson's hand on the bag of cookies already and they would play tug-of-war for it. Just like little kids fighting over a bag of cookies. But what makes this not a child's play is how the two would often turn each other's jabs into soft touches, letting it linger for a moment and in a split second, both their attention would return to the cookies, then, they would run again.
Too bad Tyson was the victim: hungry and tired. But he wouldn't let his pride down just by letting those sweet, sweet bag of cookies away. At last, he let Hilary run away with it.
"Ugh, this is ridiculous! I'm too tired to run and I'm too hungry to wait for the soup. The more I think about it, the more I get hungry though. I just have to get those cookies!"
Tyson thought for a moment. And then, as if struck by lightning, he had an idea. A risky one if you'll ask.
"Ahh! I know! If only Hilary would just get back and listen to me. Then, I would grab those cookies for sure. But it's kinda embarrassing though."
Driven by his hunger and his never-ending determination to win, he made a bait to lure Hilary and the cookies to him.
"Hilary! We have to go back! Ray said the soup is done!" He called out for her. Hilary suddenly appeared from a pile of bushes and started walking back to them.
"Really? Then let's go feed your barbaric stomach." She quipped as she approached, unaware of Tyson's little plan.
"Shall we?" Tyson offered his arm just like how gentlemen do in accompanying a lady.
"O-okay. That's weird of you, Tyson. I never knew you were a gentleman." Hilary raised a brow suspiciously but mentally, she found this side of Tyson charming. And so, they were technically connected as they walked.
He eyed the cookies in her other hand. "Well, I guess...I felt like treating you seriously." He shrugged but spoke in a voice so husky that made Hilary think that the world is falling on her. He let down of his arched arm gently and placed it on Hilary's other shoulder and managed to be a little more closer. "Hilary, I just want to say thanks for always being there for me whenever I needed you."
"Oh, uhm, of course! That's what friends are for..." She was startled to hear him speak sweetly. And who wouldn't blush after all this? Poor Hilary, she became lost in thought and in wonder.
"I guess I didn't thank you properly enough." He let his hand smoothly slide down her shoulder. It almost felt like he was caressing her. He let his hand linger there, almost near the bag of cookies. By this time, Hilary just felt her spine shiver as Tyson talked her right into it again.
"You're the only person who made me laugh most of the time."
He placed that hand of his on her waist very gently, bearing in mind that this is Hilary he was holding.
"I always missed you when you went back home after your sleepovers at my place," his voice hushed.
His voice made it sound convincing enough to make Hilary's breath hitch. It was pretty amusing for Tyson's part. But for some strange reason, he really ought to sound this way.
"Ohh, then I appreciate that you think of me that way..." She smiled at him, wishing that he should always be this romantic. She held her cookies and played at the ziplock, feeling a little bit dazed. And that's how Tyson thought she would react and continued to reach for the cookies. In a smooth and close-touched manner.
"You know...I appreciate having you travel with us, Hil. I don't know what I would do without you…"
Tyson finally let go of her. But this time, he held her shoulders.
"Hilary, I want you to know that after all this time..." He slowly slides down his hands, letting them prickle her skin, down to Hilary's very hands which held the cookies. "...that I realized something about the way..." He closes the distance by coming closer, allowing his fingers to delicately envelope her hands and to close over the cookies.
"...the way I feel about you." In this moment, his hands already held the jackpot; the cookies. And he's already gonna claim it.
But there's just something bothering him. How is he gonna make a run for it? But first of all, how could he? Especially in the middle of an intimacy which he was just beginning to enjoy? That other side of him took control and had unleashed his innermost thoughts that he tried best to ignore. And now, he finds himself caught up in the moment with the last person he expected to confess those thoughts.
"Let me tell you one thing, Tyson." It was Hilary's turn to speak. She looked at him calmly. Then, she spoke again.
"The same goes for me."
Tyson's expression went blank as she wrapped her arms around his neck, dropping the cookies on the ground. And all he can see are deep ruby eyes that looked at him sharply but with tenderness. Hilary smirked.
"You think you can get the cookies from me? You gotta give a little more effort than that, Tyson." She figured it out in a nick of time and winked at him. They were so close that her breath cooled down his face.
"I guess I'll give one more effort then." He leaned in and brushed her lips softly as if they were petals of a rose. His hands that no longer held the cookies, hesitated to caress her delicate back, unsure of what had come into reality. But before Hilary could even respond with either a more witty remark or a deeper kiss to follow, Max had his chance of interference.
"Hey Tyson! Hilary! Time for lunch!" the blonde called from afar, his voice still audible.
"Oh, uhh, ahh!" Both simultaneously pushed each other back, clearly, the fantasy was over.
"Finally, let's have some lunch, I'm starving!" Tyson scratched the back of his head, his face still flushed after what had happened but he also clearly returned back to normal.
"You're right, being out here makes me hungry." Hilary replied, also back to normal mode. She grabbed the cookies and held them up high to see if they're still good to eat after they fought and even 'feigned' passion for it. "Looks like my cookies are special, they didn't crumble too much!"
"C'mon! I had enough of 'Hilary's special cookies'. Now, let's get some real food. We're coming Ray!" Tyson ran ahead, this time his hunger cannot wait.
Hilary just chased after him again. She was smiling all the way, with pink dusted cheeks. "Good that I brought these cookies with me."