Chapter 23

“Oh my god! Are we lost?” I hyperventilated.

“We are not lost.” Grayson says. “I’m sure the camp is just up ahead.”

“You said that five minutes ago!” I clicked my tongue with annoyance. “Let’s turn back.” I say.

“Which way is back?” He asked.

I forgot that this idiot was high! Why the hell did I listen to him when he said to go right?

I paused and pulled my phone from out of my pocket, praying that there was enough bars to text Hannah. Crap, she’s probably still at the campsite and there’s no reception there!

Okay, new plan: get cell reception and use maps to find the campsite to make our way back. With my eyes glued to the empty reception bars on the top corner of my phone’s screen, I started to walk in the opposite direction. After five minutes of searching for cell reception, my phone shut off.

“Fuck!” I groaned.

“What happened?” Grayson wondered.

Like he cared.

“Did you bring your phone?” I asked him.

That was a rhetorical question. Of course he has his phone, he was talking to his mother on it before I scared him.

“See if you have any bars.” I ordered.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and clicked it on, squinting at the brightness that came from it.

“Nope.” He says before slipping it back into his pocket.

“Shush!” I shushed him, hearing a faint noise in the distance and hoping that it was people at the camp.

It was a cricket, which only infuriated me.

“Don’t shush me.”

I rolled my eyes as I kicked the trunk of the closest tree, completely frustrated.

“I’m sure everyone is looking for us.” Grayson says, attempting to make me feel better but not at all succeeding.

The trees were silhouetted against a waning gibbous moon, making it possible to be able to see. “Can you turn your flashlight on?” I asked Grayson, seeing as his phone was the only one with a charged battery. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, turning on the flash. A rush of relief flooded through me. I’m not afraid of the dark, but I’m not an idiot either. A flashlight went a long way when lost in the woods, not that I am an expert in the matter. But, without a flashlight, I could easily walk into a ditch. With a flashlight, I’ll be able to see it coming, and instead I can push Grayson into it for getting us lost. Maybe if we wave the phone over our heads, someone from the camp might see it?

At the sound of a twig snapping, I instinctively reached for Grayson’s arm.

“You scared?” He asks arrogantly as we halted.

“Well, we are lost in the woods. What if there’s a bear, or a wolf? Or a mythical creature with massive fangs that hasn’t eaten a proper meal in days?” I released my hands from his arm.

“You’re being dramatic.” He says.

He’s not wrong.

Another twig snapped, causing Grayson to instinctively grip onto my arm.

“Are you scared?” I repeated his question to him.

He released his grip and shone the flashlight towards the bushes up ahead as something inside them moved. Both Grayson and I take a step back. I didn’t know exactly how he was feeling, but I was freaking the fuck out.

Something with white, grey and brown fur emerged from the bushes in a blurred movement.

“Thank god, It’s just a rabbit.” Grayson says after sighing with relief.

My heart was palpitating so harshly I feared that I may just have a heart attack.

“Face it, we’re going to die out here.” I say, walking to the nearest tree and slumping down against it’s trunk.

“We are not going to die.” Grayson laughed at my concern.

“You don’t know that! It’s cold, what if we get hypothermia? And just because we saw a rabbit, doesn’t mean the next animal we see won’t be a massive bear.” I said in a panic.

He hands me his phone and fishes into the pocket of his pants to retrieve… a lighter?

“Are you seriously going to have another joint?” I groaned.

“No, I’m going to start a fire.” He said.

Oh…

“Is that a good idea?” I asked.

“Well, you said it’s cold?”

“Yeah, but what if the fire attracts wildlife?”

He looked disappointedly into my eyes. “Are you going to disagree with everything I do?”

“Probably.” I say, shining the flash at him.

After what seemed like forever, he finally managed to keep the fire going. It wasn’t so big that it could accidentally spread and start a wildfire, but it was at a perfect volume that it was warming my numbed and shivering body.

Why the hell didn’t I wear a jumper?

“We should’ve brought some marshmallows.” Grayson says amusedly.

“No, we should’ve never left the campsite.” I retorted, my palms reaching out towards the flames.

I let out an uncontainable yawn that made my jaw hurt.

“You can go to sleep if you want.” Grayson says, seated on the opposite side of the fire. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no bears come and eat you.”

I scoffed at him. “You would probably sacrifice me so you could escape.”

He gasped. “Do you really believe that?”

I didn’t need to reply for him to know my answer. Of course he would, it’s survival instinct.

“I would not sacrifice you.” He says, sounding sincere.

“Well, I don’t want to go to sleep.” I tell him.

He stands up, walking towards me as he unzips his jacket and hands it to me. I didn’t see that coming…

“Why are you giving me your jacket?” I asked, completely surprised.

“Your brother would kill me if you freeze to death on my watch.” He says.

“Thank you.” I say, hesitantly taking it from him and putting it on. Even with his jacket and the warmth of the fire, I shivered.

“We’re going to die out here, and it’s all your fault.” I complained.

“My fault? How is this my fault?” He quirked an eyebrow.

“You’re the one who decided to walk into the middle of the woods!” I snapped.

“You’re the one who decided to follow me, so maybe it’s your fault.” He gave a pointed glare in my direction.

I rose from where I was seated and snapped at him. “You’re so annoying!”

“I’m annoying? You’re like the most annoying guy on the planet!”

“Pshhh, me? Grayson Scott is calling me the most annoying guy on the planet? That’s rich.” I walked towards him and shoved him.

He shoves me back. “If you hate me so much, why don’t you just leave?”

Angrily, I pulled his jacket off of me and threw it at his face. “Fine!”

I started stomping away from him, despite the near-crippling fear a bear will come out and make me it’s dinner. Being mauled by a bear would probably have a better outcome than being stuck with Grayson simpleton Scott for any longer.

“Dallas, wait!” He called from behind. I glance back at him to see him stomping the fire out.

Ignoring him, I continue walking in an angry fashion. Who knows, maybe I’m headed in the correct direction of the camp? Thankfully no clouds obscured the moonlight, so I could vaguely see where I was headed.

“Dallas!” Grayson called again.

And again, I ignored him.

“Can you quit being difficult?” He was panting when he caught up with me.

“Leave me alone.” I snapped, walking faster down a slope.

“No. Your brother would murder me if you fell into a ditch!”

“Then let me fall into a ditch.” I snarled.

As if jinxing myself, my right foot stubbed against a rock that protruded from the ground, causing me to go tumbling down the slope.

Upon meeting the bottom of the slope, my head smacked against a fallen tree. It wasn’t so hard that it knocked me out, but I was instantly overwhelmed with vertigo.

Can someone please murder me?

“Holy shit, Dal?” Grayson rushed to my side. “Are you okay?”

Both of his hands held onto my left arm as he helped my up.

“I’m fine.” I groaned, shoving him away. Taking a step forward, I winced at the pain in my right foot.

I must have sprained an ankle?

He grabbed my arm. “Here, let me help you.”

I tried to pull out of his grip, but his hold on my arm was strong.

“Let go of me!” I snapped.

“Quit being a brat and just let me help you.” He says.

“I don’t want your help! This is all your fault!” I attempted to shoved him off of me. Again, his hands remained gripped on the upper sleeve of my left arm.

“Are you done throwing a hissy fit?” He wondered.

I stubbornly attempted to walk on my own, only to groan at the pain again.

“Fine.” I sighed.

He put his right arm around my back, resting his hand on my waist. “Put your arm over my shoulder.” He ordered.

I followed his instruction.

Slowly, we continued walking towards an unknown destination.

“I’m never leaving the house again.” I groaned as I limped with his support.

He laughed at me.

“Fuck!” He seethed before we both fell forwards simultaneously.

Seriously? Twice in the span of five minutes?

Is there a voodooist out there with a grudge against me or something?

“I give up.” I mumbled from the ground.

Beside me, Grayson laughed uncontrollably.

“Why are you laughing?” I smacked him in the shoulder.

He didn’t respond, instead, he continued laughing.

His laughter was unbound and pure, almost like a child’s. It was contagious, and I caught it.

When our fit of laughter died down, our eyes met.

In that moment, I didn’t think about how much I hated him. I didn’t think about how much he annoys me, nor did I think about the fact that we got lost because of him. All I could think about was the intense and indescribable feeling that coursed throughout my body. Nervously, I gulped down air as our eyes remained in contact.

He moved closer…

What’s happening?

Then closer…

I should turn away.

Then, after pausing an inch away from my face, he kissed me.

It was the kind of kiss I expected to only happen in the movies. At first, it was slow and cautious. Then, he began kissing me more fervently, pinning me to the ground. His body pressed against mine as I gripped onto the back of his jacket.

Ew!

What are you doing, Dallas?!

This is Grayson Scott!

I knew it was Grayson, and I knew I shouldn’t like this…. But I did, and I didn’t want it to end.

“DALLAS?” A voice called out, causing Grayson and I to abruptly pull apart in a panic.

Our eyes widened as we both panted.

Fuck.

“DALLAS? WHERE ARE YOU?” The voice belonged to Hannah.

“HELLOOOOO?” Another voice echoed into the night. This voice was Phillip’s, or someone who sounded just like him.

Grayson hastily helped me up off the ground and started walking me in the direction of the sound.

“Dallas! And Grayson?” Hannah’s eyebrows knitted together as she shone the flashlight in our faces.

My heart was a grain of rice away from beating harshly against the interior of my rib cage.

“Oh thank god!” I winced at the pain in my foot.

“What happened?” Phillip wondered.

“I needed to call my mom, and my phone was flat so I used Graysons… then we got lost.” I lied.

“No…”

Oh my god…. Do they know?

How do they know?

Grayson you traitor!

“..I meant, what happened to you?” Phillip gestured to my head and then to my foot that I was keeping off of the ground.

I gently pressed my fingers against my head and looked down at my fingers.

Oh, I’m bleeding…

“I fell over.” I groaned.

“Here, take him.” Grayson says to Hannah and Phillip.

After Hannah and Phillip each held me upright on either side, Grayson brushed his hair out of his face and started walking away as if what had just happened didn’t.

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I’m too tired to proofread, please let me know if I make any mistakes.

Let me know what you think about this chapter?