Banished and 30 Days

23

I've been at the camp that they're calling Camp James in the memory of my father. Jake told me to take some time to come to terms with his death but I don't seem to be affected by it at all. Seeing Jake try to be normal despite the fact that his daughter was missing with the already existing fact that she could be dead. I had to find her. It was bad enough that half of the kids here had parents that had died in the explosion or they'd gotten kidnapped, I had to find them. I couldn't live with myself if Annabeth, Courtney and Abby died. Their blood would be on my hands. That's why I was going out to look for them. I begrudgingly let Nick come after hours of annoyance. I couldn't exactly tell Jake where I was going, that I was going at all. I was basically sneaking out with the help of Maryanne Summers, who said that if I didn't get her daughter back that she would skin me alive, so, I really had no choice in the matter. I was waiting outside of the Barracks where I cut a hole in the fence, Nick and Maryanne were honest to god the slowest people that I knew. I was an impatient person among other things but I didn't have enough time to be waiting on people. I remembered what Annabeth said to me after Abby had gotten kidnapped; I didn't want to think it let alone say it but I knew she was right. They would feed her to their dogs, maybe they'd keep her alive and torture her in some of the worst ways possible, if I came across that then I'd decimate their goddamn village
"Nate?" Louise said as she rounded the corner, I saw the look of surprise on her face. I didn't know how to reply, I had to cover my acts
"Hey, Mrs. Cooper" I said, I tried my best to not feel awkward, but it was no use, I was gonna feel awkward no matter what I did
"What're you doing back here?" she asked as she walked closer to me. I had to be careful. One wrong word and she'd be reporting back to Jake. I saw her gaze glance over the hole in the fence. I knew I was screwed unless I found a good enough excuse. Or I could just flat out lie
"I found this when I was on duty and figured that I should keep an eye on it" I lied, she smiled. Yep. I was incredibly, undeniably screwed
"You must really love her" Louise said, I opened my mouth to say something then closed it again. What? Love? That wasn't me; I saw the way love turned out, sometimes people died, sometimes their love grew into hatred, it's part of the reason I made a pact with myself to never fall in love with anyone, ever. It just caused to much trouble, I didn't want to be the guy that fell in love with a girl that didn't love him back, I didn't want to be the guy that at first loved the girl but then hated her, but most of all, I didn't want to be my father
"I don't know what you mean" I said, she couldn't be serious, she had to be messing with my head
"I grew up with Jake Rockwell, he's still one of the most amazing people that I've ever met. I remember when he first met Rebecca, he looked at me and said that she was the girl he was gonna marry and he was right. Which is why, I couldn't understand what happened when she died. I didn't fully understand what happened either, I knew that my best friend needed help. I also knew that Annabeth didn't kill that horrid man. I saw the love in Jake's heart every day of his life, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't get his revenge, I know that Jake shot Roland. It was his final act of love for Rebecca" Louise said, I saw the saddened look on her face, it only occurred to me now that I looked at her closer, she was almost identical to Nick with the same blue eyes and light brown hair colour. I understood how she felt but I doubted that I had those feelings for Annabeth, I mean, she was a great girl, amazing if I was being completely honest but I still don't think I love her
"I see the same look in your eyes. The same look that Jake had the moment he saw her" Louise said. I nodded even though I didn't think I loved her
"Thank you" I said and she smiled at me kindly
"Annabeth's a great girl. Don't let her slip through your fingers" Louise said before walking away. I hadn't thought about her like that before. But now that I have, it made sense. I always felt like crap when she was upset or hurt, I always felt better when I saw her smile, I always felt good when I made her laugh. I guess Louise was right, but still this could be a sign that she's just a great friend. Yeah, she was a friend, nothing more, nothing less
"Nate? Are you ready to go?" Nick asked as he pretty much stumbled toward me. I had to stifle a laugh as he kicked the stick he stumbled over
"Yeah; lets go" I said climbing through the fence with Nick behind me