Awakened

Chapter 13

I wasn’t even fazed that I was able to find my way out of the woods without any trouble at all. I wasn’t even shocked that Michelle made it out before me. What took me by complete and total surprise however was the fact that once I found myself back in the parking lot Michelle wasn’t alone. Standing right next to her leaning against the lamp post I occupied earlier was a person I didn’t expect to see. There she stood talking and laughing with a tall, muscular and lean, messy black haired guy. Chase. Chase Whitlock. As soon as I took a step into the light both of their gazes swept over to me.

            I straightened my spine and continued walking towards them simultaneously taking the bag off of my shoulders.

            “You were doing so well. I’ve never seen anyone find their two items that quickly before.” Michelle said a friendly smile on her face. That was the first time I ever saw her smile without a smirk or a pretense.

            “Actually—“, I began but was cut off.

            “Yeah it took Michelle a whole hour to find hers.” Chase laughed warmly. He wrapped his arm around Michelle’s shoulders and pulled her into his side playfully. At the sight my smile fell from my face and my heart dropped but I recovered quick enough that neither of them noticed. Michelle stepped out of his embrace and his arm fell back to his side.

            “Shut up Mr. I found three in forty minutes. Newbie over here would’ve beaten your time if she found one more. ” Michelle countered back.

            “Well you see I—wait how long was I in there?” the question formed on my lips before I could stop it. I didn’t even care that she called me a newbie.

            “Well when you found the feather—ten minutes.” Chase said matter-of-factly.

            “He decided to watch.” Michelle said to me explaining how he knew.       

“Well considering you forgot the bag and I had to bring it all the way here for you, I think I deserved to watch.” He said with ease.

 “Then we both headed out to wait for you and that took another fifteen minutes.” Michelle said ignoring Chase’s comment. I wondered how I never saw them together before, and why Michelle had to fake a date earlier. Then he smiled at her anyway and I knew that they were much more than simply friends.

The thought should’ve bothered me but I was too excited about my big news.

            “So I was in the forest for about twenty-five minutes? That’s what you’re telling me here right?” They both looked at me like I was crazy because of the excitement in my voice but they nodded. “What’s the record exactly?” I asked figuring I might as well know.

            “All four items in a half hour.” Chase said with a look of respect and admiration in his eyes.

            I handed the bag to Michelle wordlessly. She took it from me bewildered. “You can keep it. They’re yours now as a re—“, she started but I cut her off.

            “Open the bag.”

            “What?”

“Open the bag” I said a smile forming on my face.

She did as I told her and then proceeded to drop the bag in shock. Chase caught it by one of the stings and shook his head at her clumsiness. Then he looked inside and a mask of confusion forming over his features. Michelle took the bag from his grasp and checked inside again still in disbelief.