What It Is

Chapter 2

I quietly held my breath as Ryan pulled me behind him. I was hesitant to go with him, who wouldn't have been. Leaves swirled and spiraled around us as we made our way down the path, the aroma of burning leaves scented the crisp fall air. He then stopped at one point in the path and spun on his heels to face me. I stood facing him speechless as he gazed into my eyes.

"It's down this way." Pointing right with his index finger into the woods.

"In there-in the woods?" I squeaked looking beyond me.

"Yes A." Not looking at my trembling figure but the swarm of trees that extended for miles beyond us. "The woods, there is a path that will lead us down and then at the end you will see."

The lump growing in my throat was the size of a frog, only becoming larger at each waking moment. I swallowed and bit my tongue, withholding the urge to tell this Ryan that I was afraid of being alone in unknown places.

"Scared?" He mused glancing at me once more.

"I-uh-um am just-" he cut me off and grinned widely.

"Don't be, guys and girls of freshman age come here all of the time. You'll get to meet some more of us once we head down."

"I'm not sure that I can d-"

"Your very introverted, come A." Flashing his tinted eyes briefly into mine.

I flushed crimson, embarrassed as he began dragging me into the woods. Trees littered the area, a colored blanket sprawled out over the barely lit ground. Unfortunately, the clumsiness of myself took over as I walked behind him, stumbling and tripping on every tree root that stuck it's nose out. As I tripped on another tree root, my body flailed and I fell face down on the forest floor.

Ryan's footsteps faulted as he heard my nimble body hit the hard ground. Granted it was a rough crash and I wasn't that heavy, but I didn't expect he could hear me. I tried to be brave, but it was hard to stand on my own. He turned around as I lifted my head up, my hair coated in leaves.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rushing back to me.

"I-I'm okay." I whispered as he began to lift me up instantaneously.

His arms grabbed mine as he helped me stand, holding me closely against him. I winced as he let me go and I felt the world shake and spin around me. Ryan studied my expression as I held my arm out, him grasping it quickly. His eyes pierced into mine as I took a few deep breathes, my eyes glued to the ground.

"Aurora, you're not." Making eye contact with me as I was grasped on my elbows once more. I tried not to look at his face as he made me sit down on the root I had stumbled on. "You tore your jacket." He spoke looking at my right rib cage.

"It's-its fine." I stuttered. Truthfully though it was one of my favorite jackets, but I didn't want to make him pity me more than what he did currently.

"No, it's not." He spoke in a statement. "You're hurt." Looking at my jeans. "There's blood." Noting a small tear where my jeans had ripped.

"Really, it's okay." I finally stated aloud.

"Are you hurt anywhere else A?" Picking a brown leaf out of my hair. It was crumpled and fractured, the ends twisted and contorted. He picked out other loose ends of leaves in my hair, his fingers brushing out the lose ends of my frayed chestnut color.

"My palms are scratched too." I chocked out.

"Let me see them, I just want to help you." Analyzing my soft and quaint hands.

I cautiously nodded my head, and Ryan took my hands in his. He wiped off the dirt that was in my cuts while I flinched at his touch as it was. Ryan stared intently at me and his eyes lit up as he set each of my hands cautiously down in my lap.