Love, Romance And A Boy (bxb)

Part Thirteen - Part Two

Part Thirteen - Part Two

•••

The fire crackles softly, casting flickering shadows on the walls of our makeshift camp. I sit cross-legged on the grass, eyeing the grey fish Scott has prepared. I'm not thrilled about eating it, but it's been hours since we've had a decent meal, and we're running out of options.

"I'm not a fan of fish," I admit, closing my eyes as I take a tentative bite. Surprisingly, the taste isn't half bad. "This is actually pretty good."

Scott grins, his face illuminated by the firelight. "What can I say? I've got hidden talents."

We eat in quiet contentment, the peaceful night wrapping around us. Once we finish, we lie on our backs, staring up at the stars. They sparkle in the clear, inky sky, and for a moment, the world seems right.

Scott stretches out beside me on his enormous leaf. I can feel the fatigue settling in, but I push it aside to enjoy the serenity. That is, until the stark reality of our situation hits me.

"Scott?"

Scott shifts slightly, turning his head toward me. "Yeah?"

"You didn't answer my question earlier," I say, trying to steady my voice.

He props himself up on one elbow, looking at me with interest. "Oh? What question?"

I stare at the stars, the weight of my thoughts making me uncomfortable. "Remember that day when you and Jess had that big fight about communication? A text came through on your phone—"

Scott's expression darkens. "—oh no."

"I thought it was mine, so I picked up your phone by mistake," I continue, feeling a pang of regret. "I saw a text from some girl, with... well, explicit pictures. It was disturbing."

Scott's face flushes slightly. "Did it bother you? Or were you just curious?"

I turn to face him, giving him a wry smile. "I was definitely bothered. I even felt sick, but that's not all. Another message came through—it was from your mom. She was asking about your whereabouts."

The mood shifts palpably, Scott's eyes growing distant. "Oh."

We lapse into silence, and I can feel the tension between us. I take a deep breath, breaking the quiet. "Can I ask you something?"

Scott nods, still lost in thought. "Sure."

"Why are you taking advanced psychology classes?" I ask, genuinely curious.

Scott's gaze lifts to the stars. "I've never told anyone this before. Guess you must be special."

A small smile tugs at my lips. "What's the story?"

He hesitates, then begins. "When I was a kid, my mom was always so sad. She'd cry all the time and... one night, I found her with a handful of pills. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't let me. I thought I could save her, but I didn't know how. I wanted to be the hero, but I failed."

His voice cracks, and I see a vulnerability I've never witnessed before. "I blamed myself for not being able to help her. If I'd done something more, maybe she'd still be here."

I reach out, squeezing his hand gently. "It wasn't your fault. You were just a child. You tried to help her, and that's what matters."

A faint smile appears on his lips. "I know. That's why I want to study psychology—so I can understand how the mind works and help people who are struggling. I want to be a hero in a different way."

I sit up, feeling the gravity of his confession. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Scott's smile returns, though it's softer. "Actually, yes. Could you stay close tonight? Just for comfort."

I nod, rising to lie beside him. It's not like I'm going anywhere. We arrange ourselves comfortably, his arm draped over me and my head resting against his chest. His heartbeat is steady and reassuring.

"Good night, my squirrel," he murmurs, using the nickname I usually dislike. He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead.

•••

The morning sun filters through the forest canopy, casting a gentle glow on our campsite. I wake to find Scott already up, his silhouette outlined against the early light. He's by the stream, brushing his teeth with an old-fashioned brush and a small tin of toothpaste.

I stretch and yawn, rubbing sleep from my eyes as I join him. Scott hands me a spare toothbrush he must have found in our supplies, and we start our morning routine side by side.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask, working the brush against my teeth and watching the stream bubble gently.

Scott rinses his mouth and spits into the stream, his eyes scanning the forest. "I was thinking we should head east. There's a chance we might find a path out of here or at least more clues.Those notes mentioned something about an old ranger station."

I nod, spitting into the stream. "Sounds good. Anything to get us out of here. But we need to be careful. We still don't know if we're being watched."

Scott grins, his face brightening with the morning sun. "We'll stay sharp. Besides, the sooner we find that ranger station, the sooner we can figure out what's really going on."

Scott shrugs, trying to brush off the intensity in his voice. "I just get this vibe that whoever—or whatever—has put us here has a plan. It's like we're following some invisible trail."

I cross my arms, a skeptical smile forming. "Oh, so now we're following invisible trails? Maybe you're just spooked by being lost."

Scott's eyes flash with irritation. "I'm not spooked; I'm being cautious. There's a difference."

I sigh, trying to defuse the tension. "Alright, let's say you're right. How do you propose we figure out if we're being guided or misled?"

Scott's expression softens as he looks at me. "We keep our heads clear and stay alert. Together. That way, even if there is a plan, we won't be caught off guard."

I nod, a grudging respect in my voice. "Fair enough. Let's stick together and see where this leads. But if you start talking about ghosts, I'm out."

Scott chuckles, the tension easing. "Deal. No ghosts. Just us and a very confusing situation."

•••