Crimson

Chapter 24: Common Ground

Hannah's Perspective:

I took a step toward Lea as she sat in front of the creek. The birds called within the trees and the cool air brushed through her hair.

"Lea?" I spoke quietly, trying not to startle her. But she didn't respond. Not even with a flinch. "Lea, are you okay?" I continued, taking a few steps closer to her. "Lea...I wasn't trying to hurt you...I mean—yes I was," I pressed my palm against my forehead. "What I'm trying to say is I didn't mean for it to be that deep...I guess..." Lea sat silent and still. I stepped forward and now stood beside her, watching her stare at the water below. Setting down her bow, cloak, and quiver I sighed. I took a seat next to her and looked at my hands in my lap.

"You see, I didn't understand...anything..." I spoke. "When I got here, everyone was so against me. They wanted me dead. Yet you were here and everyone loved you. Everyone respected you. And I thought you were a bitch for that..." Lea remained still. "I know we don't see eye to eye on everything...but there's gotta be some common ground...right? There's gotta be something we can agree on..." The birds chirped within the trees, interrupting what would have been silence. But Lea remained in her same state of emptiness. I rested my eyes for a moment. "I guess what I'm trying to say is..." I swallowed the lump in my throat, "I was wrong..."

The creek was silent as the ripples in the water spread outward towards the edge of the surface. I opened my eyes and stared and the seemingly bottomless creek.

"No..." Lea spoke with a stern voice. My eyes widened as I turned my head to her.

"No?" I questioned as she continued looking in front of her. She turned her head and looked me in the eyes. What began as a stern expression softened. Her eyes were less full of hatred and more full of pain.

"You were right," she said, "about me..." Lea picked up a stone and skipped it across the water as she continued. "I was a bitch...But don't think that the Lost Boys loving me means anything..." she said softly. I raised a brow.

"Why do you say that?" I questioned. Lea chuckled to herself.

"Sometimes I wonder if they really respect me in the way you would think..." she began. "See, when you're me, the Lost Boys don't go along with what I say because they love me...They stay out of my way because they're afraid that if they touch me I'll break..." Lea sighed heavily and stared at the ground.

"Are they right?" I asked. Lea closed her eyes.

"I don't know anymore honestly...I'd hope not..."

We sat in silence for a few moments as the peaceful breeze brushed against my cheek.

"Lea?" I spoke meekly, now staring down at the dirt below my feet. "Who was Jake?" I asked, partially holding my breath with the fear that Lea would lash out. But when I turned to look at her a small smile crept upon her face.

"He was my best friend", she spoke, "he was unlike anyone I had ever met..." she continued. "He was kind...thoughtful...easy on the eyes...and he told the worst jokes I have ever heard in my life", she laughed to herself. I chuckled alongside her. "He meant everything to me...I could tell him anything..." her smile began to fade, "almost anything..." Lea grew silent for a moment. "No matter how brave I may seem, there are things in this world that still terrify me...Losing him was one of them."

"Did he know how you felt?" I questioned. Lea shook her head, her dark eyes beginning to tear up.

"I never told my best friend that I was in love with him...and I never will..." she spoke with pain in her voice, a tear rolling down her cheek. "They took him away from me...He took him away from me..."