The Beauty in Time

27

◿𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚠◸

Interestingly enough, I don't want to off myself as much as I expected when I make myself get up at five in the fucking morning.

I try not to start glaring when I make it out into the hall to see Elle bouncing about like she's been up for hours. Even fucking Dizzy seems excited. Like she just knows she's about to go out and sleep on the cold, hard ground for three days.

Elle grins at me in all her colorful glory. Her sweater is a little less oversized than normal, only making it down to tuck into her blue jeans at she cuffed at the bottom just above her brown hiking boots. I think it's so I can see her colorful socks that peek over those boots.

She clutches the handles of her backpack around her shoulders tightly as she bounces up to me. "You ready, neighbor?" She beams.

I sigh deeply as I glance over her head. Her backpack is so big, it peeks out over her head with whatever metal she has in there. It's either a chair or a part of her tent. "Uh-huh." I grumble, glancing down at the duffle bag in my hand.

I didn't own a tent until a few days ago when Elle reminded me I needed one. She took pity on me and took me to whatever store she got her stuff from. Even did the honors of picking out the boots I needed. At least those are more my style—Basically black combat boots. They're cushiony too.

"You'll be okay, Matt. Promise." Elle's smile softens as she reaches out to rest a hand on my arm briefly. When she pulls away, she reaches down to scoop Dizzy up. "What about Cujo? Is he ready?"

"Almost." I look over my shoulder briefly. "I'm giving him time to eat first."

"Oh, good." Elle nods quickly as she peeks over my shoulder. "Dizzy usually doesn't eat the food I bring while we're out there." She smiles and looks to Dizzy proudly.

I frown, brows slowly furrowing. "What does she eat then?" I mutter.

Elle frowns back at me as she slowly looks between me and Dizzy. She presses her lips together. "Um. She likes to...make her own dinner." She awkwardly offers.

I grimace at Dizzy. "Okay," I shake my head to dismiss the thought of her catching a random, disease-ridden bird or fish. How she hasn't gotten herself sick is beyond me. "Cujo," I call as I sigh and turn back around to go into my apartment.

"Hey, you mind if we just take your car?" Elle calls after me. "I forgot to fill up last time I used mine." She admits without shame. I chuckle to myself as I assure her it's fine to take mine. I figured we were anyway if we were taking both pets. Besides, I don't know the way.

__________

I really don't know what I expected. I know Elle. She's wild and full of energy and she loves a challenge.

So, of course she'd want to hike the seven miles through the rugged forest to get to a campsite she says she just stumbled upon one day. Which means she was wandering this forest one day mindlessly to find it. She went off the trail and everything and somehow managed not to get lost.

Elle hardly breaks a sweat as she steps over leaves and sticks, tightrope walking across logs in our way. Even worse, her cat seems to be just as skilled at navigating her way through the obstacles in her path, big or small. Dizzy seems perfectly content out here just like Elle, happily bouncing about like they don't have a care in the world.

Meanwhile, about three or four feet behind them, Cujo and I trudge on. Both of us are out of breath and pissed. Him more so than me. At the very least, I get to ogle Elle while she bounces and bends a few times to pick up whatever rock she decides is worth picking up. Cujo on the other hand has nothing to look longingly at. At least he got to have his steak this morning.