Jump the Gun

3. Paddington, Katniss Everdeen, and a Chicken Suit

BRIAR

Marlee is wearing a yellow raincoat and matching rubber boots as we trek through the woods. In contrast, I'm dressed in a floral jacket she lent me from her closet, paired with my rain-soaked flare jeans. I look like a middle school girl, meanwhile, she looks like a blonde version of that damn Paddington bear.

Aside from the ridiculosity of our appearances, this walk is honestly terrifying. The sky is a dark grey-blue that turns the deep green trees almost black. The forest is full of shadows, and I'm not fearless enough to figure out what from.

Every crunch of a branch beneath our feet has me jumping. Marlee, however, stares wondrously at the sky unleashing it's fury on us.

"I love thunderstorms," she muses, holding out her arms and letting the water pelt her, drenching her blonde curls.

"Me too," I reply, remembering all the times I'd enjoy them back home to escape my house. "Just not in the middle of what looks like the scene of a horror movie."

Marlee laughs, rolling her eyes at my jab. "I've been out here before. It isn't all that bad."

I'm about to ask her what the hell she was doing in a place like this, but the sound of thunder rumbling, practically shaking the ground, cuts me off.

Crows screech in the distance, causing me to inch closer to Marlee, looping my arm through hers. I have no idea where we're going, but she told me to get dressed and trust her, so I did.

It's eerie out here. I swear we even passed a cemetery not too far back. But I'm trying my hardest not to seem like a wimp. Marlee has lived here for a while now. She'd know the place better than I do.

"Okay, don't hate me for this," she mumbles, leaning close to me as we approach some area that resembles a path.

A chill seeps into my bones. "Marlee..."

"Just trust me, Briar! I've heard all about it from the girls in my nursing courses. Apparently, it's super fun and not scary at all," she rambles, which doesn't do anything to ease my nerves.

I groan as we approach a site where at least thirty college kids are gathered. A frat boy stands on top of a rock, waving a towel around and howling a bunch of nonsense to the crowd. You have got to be kidding me.

"I didn't realize you were into this stuff," I ponder aloud, shoving my hands in my pockets as we near the group.

"I'm usually not," Marlee admits, a peaceful smile grazing her lips. "I'm just trying some new things lately. Putting myself out there."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Didn't exactly take you for the shy type."

She laughs, a melodic sound floating through the air between us. "I totally was in high school. Major wallpaper." She points a finger at her chest.

"Really?" My eyes widen. "Color me surprised." It's odd to think that someone as unique and bubbly as Marlee would go unnoticed for four years straight. I've only known her for about a week or two now, and she's not like anyone I've ever met.

The frat guys continue with their hollering, banging on their chests like the "alpha males" they think they are. I guess this is part of the college experience you unwillingly sign up for.