LAST CHANCE WILL YOU SURVIVE

Just Talking

The door opened and I looked up at Saud and Zach.

"Are you okay?" Saud said helping me up.

"Yeah, I'm fine, the suitcase was just, really heavy..."

"You should've just let me help you."

"I'm not a helpless animal, I can do things on my own without help." I said agitated.

Saud looked at me with a saddened expression. It stayed like that until Zach squeezed in between us cringing.

"I just, need my suitcase." He whispered, pointing.

I turned around and walked away from the door leaving Saud. I don't know why I was so upset. I don't want to be upset with Saud it's just, I feel alone and... lost.

Before I could get to the steps Saud came up beside me. 

"Are you okay?" He said concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said walking down the stairs. 

"What were you and Zach doing?"

He furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head as I went to the Livingroom to sit on the couch. 

"We were just talking. I haven't seen him in a long time so it's nice to catch up a little bit." He said walking to the kitchen.

"Yeah, I guess so." I said looking at my phone.

There was silence for a few minutes. So I rolled on my stomach facing the kitchen.

"Saud?"

"Yes?"

"If everyone decides they don't want to play the games, you have to promise me you won't play with me." I said quietly staring at the ground.

I heard Saud walk toward me but I didn't look up. He knelt on the ground and lifted my head. 

"Hi." He said with a concerned look.

"Hi." I said quietly.

He sat down on the couch, and I sat up staring at him. But I looked back down and fidgeted with my hands. 

"Anne, I know something bothering you. And if it's something you don't want to tell me that's fine. But if it's something I'm doing and I can prevent it from happening please don't hesitate to tell me."

I looked up at him and slowly nodded contemplating if I should tell him. I opened my mouth to tell him but hesitated and quickly shut my mouth. I stared at him trying to find the right words but never found them. But at this point, he probably thinks I'm pathetic so I got up.

"Wait, where are you going?" He said following me.

"I'm going to take Moose out." 

"Oh, well thank you but you don't have to."

"It's fine I need some fresh air anyway."

"Okay, well after can we finish this conversation."

I found Moose and we walked to the backdoor. But before I opened it I turn and looked at Saud.

"I don't know if I can."

He looked down at Moose and leaned on the wall.

"Is it because of me?" He said quietly.

"I'm just having a hard time finding the words to tell you about it right now."

He looked back at me and slowly nodded his head opening the door for me. I gave him a gentle smile and walked out with Moose. I walked out hearing the door close behind me. I had no idea how Saud does this. I just needed an excuse to go outside. I looked at Moose who was staring at me with a sad expression. I chuckled and started walking and Moose followed. I decided to go into the woods for a longer walk, even though I'd never been in them alone. We got to the entrance of the woods and I took a deep breath and walked in. It wasn't that bad because Moose was with me, but I still was paranoid that someone was behind a tree ready to stab me. 

I started to think about what I was going to say to Saud. I came up with a couple of sentences that sounded pretty good. I practiced on Moose who just blankly stared at me. I found a rock and sat on it looking around me. I got my phone out and started to check some things but looked up when I heard a noise. I looked around me but I didn't see anything. I looked at Moose who was just calmly laying down beside me. I would think if something was out there Moose would be barking. So I went back to my phone. Suddenly two hands with leather gloves go over my eyes.

"Guess who?" The man said behind me. 

I recognize that voice. 

"Is it maybe someone who followed another someone who now is following me?

He moved his hands and walked in front of me.

"It's him!" He said with jazz hands.

"When did you get here? I thought you were taking a bath."

"Yeah, about that so-."

He looked at the ground and then stared at me.

"Can I sit on the rock with you? I just don't want to get dirty."

I stared at him and fought back every comment about dirt and how it's everywhere because we're in the woods. So instead I just scooted over and patted the rock telling him where to sit.  

He smiled and walked up to the rock and sat beside me. I looked down at my hands and started to fidget with them. We sat there in silence which made me even more anxious.

 "Why do you do that with your hands?" He said pointing.

"Huh?" 

"Your hands."

When he said that I instantly stopped. I looked up at him and then looked back down.

"So why did you follow me?" I said playing with the leaves under my shoes.

"Oh, well I was going to take a bath but I couldn't find my sugar scrub. So I went into the hall for my suitcase and accidentally overheard you and Saud's argument. So I went down the stairs a little bit and saw Saud by the door. So I went downstairs and went out the front and ran around the back. I saw you walk into the woods so I decided to follow. I kept hiding behind trees while you walk. And before you ask, yes I did hear your whole conversation with Moose about Saud."

I instantly look back up at him.

"You did?" I said nervously.

"Yeah, I did. But if you're having a hard time trying to put into words what your thinking I could always tell him for you."

I looked back down thinking about it.

"You would do that for me?"

"Yes of course."

I smiled and hugged him tightly. It took him a few seconds to hug back but when he did, he hugged tight too. We let go and got off the rock and started to walk up to the house. I looked at Moose who was walking beside me then at Zach.

"Thank you." 

Zach looked at me and smiled. 

"You're welcome."