The Harper Family: Second Chances (Wattpad Version)

Falling

Keaton

After breakfast, we decided to go hiking through the woods. Why? Beats the hell out of me. It's not like we can avoid wild animals since they roam freely around here.

Has anyone seen Yogi? I don't want to get eaten before I talk to my dad and make amends.

Dexter was all for a hike in the woods. Why would he be? He had freedom from a toddler.

Marla went to keep Yogi from eating him since he had a kid. I couldn't blame her. Kids are a huge responsibility.

Ricardo accompanied us because it's his job to protect our stupid asses. If we die, he's out of a job. Plus, it took me forever to like someone enough to continue with whatever the hell was happening between us.

But I digress.

We changed into shorts and comfortable shoes, except for Ricardo. He only needed socks and shoes since he wore a tee shirt and shorts. Why didn't I do that after my shower? It would have saved me time and effort.

Marla and Dexter walked in front of us while enjoying nature. Okay, they were arguing about nature. What was with these two?

Ricardo and I strolled along the dirt path, scanning our surroundings for a surprise attack from Yogi.

"Explain something to me. If your family owns a cabin in the woods near a lake, why do you hate nature?" Ricardo asked me.

"I don't hate nature. I hate the wild animals that live in nature. Plus, my family would drag my ass here so I could bond with nature. I can bond with nature through a video game."

"You're not the outdoorsy type, are you?"

"Not really." I shrugged.

"So, what's with the knot cap you wore when we met?"

"My family came up with that brilliant idea. My red hair is a dead giveaway to people. I stick out like a boner in a girl's school."

Ricardo chuckled.

"I even used an alias."

"What?" Ricardo curved his brow and glanced at me.

"I told people my name was Kevin. It was Grandpa Casey's idea since his biological mother is married to a guy named Kevin. No one would suspect me."

"Isn't that a lot of work to maintain a secret identity?"

"It's better than Andre and his boss getting their grubby paws on me. Your family is a bunch of losers."

"Tell me something I don't know." Ricardo sighed.

While Ricardo and I talked, I didn't realize the pathway had hidden threats. I tripped and landed in the foliage. It wouldn't have been bad if it was freaking poison ivy.

Dexter thought he would save my bumbling ass and joined me. My cousin is a certifiable idiot.

"Don't move," Marla said.

We stopped rustling around and looked at her.

"You have poison ivy surrounding you."

Our eyes darted around us and widened. We scrambled from the patch of poison ivy. Marla and Ricardo gawked at us. Then we started itching.

"We need to get back," Ricardo said.

"No shit!" Dexter huffed and itched his arms and neck.

Holy hell! I wanted to scratch my skin off. The itching got worse as we walked back to the cabin. I ran to a tree and rubbed against it to relieve the itching.