Rogue Squad

The Forever Apology

Trying to maneuver my way through the shrubbery and branches lining the hidden pathway is a lot harder to do at night. I've already tripped on a few rocks and exposed roots popping out from the ground.

"Oof." I grunt as a branch whacks me across the face.

God damn. Stupid Greyson for being out here stupid late at night and making me stupidly come get him.

Okay, maybe he isn't making me come get him, but what am I supposed to do when I find out he was still out here? Leave him working until morning? Certainly not.

"Greyson?" I ask as I continue to make my way through the path.

No response.

I'm going the right way, aren't I? At this point I can't second guess myself, I know this is the path. I've been making this trek since I was a little kid, it has to be the right way.

My eyes finally start adjusting to the dark and I can almost see where I am. I'm pretty sure that the training area is only a few feet ahead.

As I get closer, I can hear the faint clicking of someone struggling to pick a lock. I laugh to myself. This is the right place. Maybe I can sneak up and scare him? That would be a good way to break the ice between us. He hasn't talked to me since I yelled at him this morning...

Slowly I creep up to the edge of the pathway. Smirking, I get ready to pounce his way. Three, Two, ONE!

I jump forward, well at least I attempt to jump forward. Apparently I miss calculated and didn't see the rock in front of my right foot. I fall face first into the dirt covered training ground.

Thud.

"Ow." Old-dried leave crunch underneath me as I moan and sit up a bit.

I look up and see Greyson sitting pretzel style in front of a box with his head turned my way, staring at me. Now that I'm in the small open area, there are less trees blocking the sky. The moon reflects lots of light down onto the training ground and I can see Greyson's outline and the sparkle of his green eyes.

"Oh, it's you," he says, almost annoyed.

He proceeds to turn around and continue his mission to unlock the box. I grunt, wow what a gentleman. Way to help the damsel in distress.

I mean, it's not like I wanted to be helped by him or anything...

I push myself off the ground, "Why do you keep saying 'oh its you'? It's degrading you know."

I dust myself off. Scrapping the remaining wood chips, leaves, and dirt patches left on the front of my shirt as I wait for his response.

Nothing.

So I sigh. He really must be pissed that I yelled at him. So I get closer. That's when I notice the pile of locks on the ground.

"Shit Greyson, how many did you unlock." I kneel next to him.

"Thirty two." He states plainly.

He is so much quicker than I was on my first day training. There is no way he hasn't done this before.

"Who taught you to pick a lock?" I ask.

Without turning my way he says, "No one, this is my first time attempting it."

"Jesus. You are almost done."

I watch as he struggles with the next lock. He tries and tries, but cant seem to get it.

"You know, you don't have to finish this tonight. I can teach you the proper way to do it in the morning. I was just testing you both today." I say to him.