Caught

Stakeout

"I'm bored," Xavier mutters, shifting back against the tree.

"Stakeouts aren't meant to be fun, and it's been ten minutes," I whisper, wishing I'd just come alone.

It would have been more productive but I was also scared of just sitting in the woods alone and in the dark. Hence why Xavier is sitting behind me. 

About ten minutes ago we called D from the woods, let it ring for a couple seconds and then hung up and now we're waiting to see if they'll take the bait.

Xavier sighs, leaning against the tree and takes out a cigarette, I take it from him.

"Hello? The smoke will give away our position AND your lungs might give out." I tell him.

"Really? I have never heard that before." He says dryly. 

I frown, "Why do you smoke? We're so young." I ask him staring at the little death stick.

"No, you're young. I had to grow up far quicker." Xavier says reaching for the cigarette in my hand.

"I don't recall growing up meaning you have to destroy your body in the process," I say moving it further away from his reach. 

Xavier chuckles, "My body is just fine."

I pocket the cigarette and stare at him, I want a real answer. The truth was I was worried about him, and for whatever reason I cared just a bit.

Just a bit. 

"Elena I don't need your judgement." He tells me, noticing my stare. 

"I'm judging your terrible excuses."

Xavier sighs again and closes his eyes, "I welcome physical pain Elena, I revel in it. Because it's far easier to deal with, far easier to fix. You can heal physical injuries. But a broken mind will always be broken." 

And for one moment I wonder if Xavier was far more complex than I had ever imagined. 

I pause, "You can't fix something that was never broken in the first place." 

He opens his eyes and stares at me and I watch him back, something shifted. Just then, something changed in the air, how I was looking at him. It terrifies me.

"You really only see the good parts of people don't you?" Xavier says, tilting his head to the right.

"If I didn't who would?" I ask him, tilting my own head to mimic his movements.

Before Xavier can say anything we hear a loud crunch a couple of feet to the left of us and my eyes widen, Xavier moves forward and pulls me towards him. I fall against his chest and we both turn to the sound of the broken twigs.

I see the movement of a figure and I lean forward to get a better look.

Xavier drags me back and I panic immediately and twist to look at him, "You can see the top of your head when you do that." Xavier murmurs lowering his head and I do the same.

I turn my head and almost scream when I see the figure is maybe a foot away from us, back turned. They're breathing heavily and looking around.

"Wait..." Xavier whispers to me and I see recognition in his eyes.

He leans back and pulls me on top of him so he's lying down with me lying on top of him.

"What-"I whisper, confused before I hear a yell.

"What are you two doing?"

My heart stops when I hear the sheriff yelling at us, his flashlight beaming into my eyes.

"Sorry Officer, we were just messing around." Xavier chuckles and sits up which causes me to fall off him.

"Elena? What would your mother say!" The Sheriff says, glaring at me.

"She probably wouldn't say much Sir but I imagine she'd act on her feelings," I say awkwardly as I stand up and brush the mud off my jeans.

"What are you doing here?" Xavier asks, standing up.

"Received an anonymous call that someone received a call from Missy's cell, coming from here."

"We haven't seen anyone," I tell him.

"Yeah well, I doubt you two were looking for anything. I mean come on Elena."

My cheeks turn scarlet and I look at the floor, I feel shame even though I didn't even do anything.

"Lay off her alright, it's your job to catch killers not slut shame sixteen-year-old girls," Xavier tells him.

The Sherrif walks away and I sigh, "Well that was a bust...do we still keep D as a suspect?" 

"Might as well we have no more leads...well Detective what's next?"

I frown and glance at the woods around us, "We need to look at where Missy's body was...not tonight though it's already too late." 

Xavier nods and we walk back together in silence. 

********************************************************************

"Abigail we never go to parties," I remind her as we eat our lunch together outside, it's very sunny today so we take full advantage. 

"Yes I know but I'm not saying we should drink or dress like sluts but I'm saying we should go." 

I take a bite of my chicken wings and eye her sceptically, "This wouldn't have anything to do with Wes going tonight right?"

Abigail's cheeks turn red as she shakes her head her blonde hair shaking with her, "No no, I just think it would be fun." 

I laugh at her panic, "What would we even wear?" 

"We can look cute without having our...boobs out." 

I think for a moment, "Why don't you wear that pink dress? It's backless so it's kinda sexy but you know I'm sure God wouldn't send you to hell for it." 

"It's a bit short." 

I frown again, "Just don't bend over." 

She laughs taking a wing from me and I try not to look as enraged as I feel, "Fine....and you?" 

I stop laughing, "I need to focus on escaping my house. I'll worry about what to wear later." 

Abigail nods, "Party starts at 8 so let's go then." 

"No, we have to go at 8:45 that's the cool time" I tell her taking a sip of water. 

"How do you know that?" 

I pause, technically Xavier told me when we were walking home one day but I couldn't tell Abigail that without her head blowing off and I like her head, "Read it online." 

She shrugs, "Okay I'll meet you then and we can walk in together." 

"And then you can ditch me for Wes," I add. 

"Yeah." 

We both dissolve into giggles.