Just maybe

21 - Faith

(Happy game day everyone!!! Azzi's back and I'm so happy. Here's a new chapter. Thanks for all the support!!! Go Huskies!!)

Faith - complete trust or confidence in something or someone.

The rain was colder when Azzi woke up. It rain in rivers down her arms, soaking into the fabric of the sweater covering Alice. Her hair was still in its tangled braid from earlier but stray pieces clung to her damp forehead and neck. Her muscles ached as she tried to stretch without waking the little girl but Alice stirred as she raised her head.

"Where are they?" She asked, laying her head back down on Azzi's chest. The older girl shivered and shifted position, fumbling at her wrist to read the time. She sighed heavily when she realized her watch wasn't turning on and only showing the low battery icon when she tried to turn it back on. Guessing by the time she saw earlier before she closed her eyes, she could see it was nearing 2 am.

"I don't know, but I'm sure they're close. We can't move or they might miss us." Azzi gently pushed Alice off her lap and stood for a moment to erase the building cramps in her legs. She hold onto the tree as she stretched her right knee. Her head spun and her breath quickened as she quickly sat back down and wheezed through tightening ribs. "We just have to wait." She coughed, turning away to the other side. Her body shook as she continued to cough.

"Are you okay?" Alice whispered, afraid as she curled into Azzi's side. Letting her cheek rest against the coolness of the tree's trunk, Azzi nodded her head as though it took all the effort in the world.

"I'm fine. Keep your hood up." She told Alice, drawing the dangling drawstrings tighter.

"Your hands are cold," the younger girl pointed out and Azzi gave her a weak smile.

"They're always cold." Azzi said pulling her closer to keep her away from the wet spot beside her and keep her dry as much as she can. "Paige said I have icebergs in my blood."

"Who's Paige?"

"She's my best friend. Paige is my best friend." She replied and Alice didn't notice the pain in Azzi's eyes.

"She's like my Jordyn," Alice said looking up at her, "the most important person in the whole universe. Is Paige the most important person in your life?"

The question was simple but it didn't fail to make her throat tighten as she swallowed a sob, "Yeah, she is." She responded, "She's the best thing that ever happened to my life and I wouldn't know what I would do if I never met her."

"I'm sorry Azzi, I shouldn't have run off when you found me and we shouldn't have gone to the woods after going to the bathroom." The little girl looked down on her hands, sniffling. "The lady who gave us the apple juice told me there was a baby fox out here and that she saw it playing in the bushes and we just wanted to see if it was real. I told Jordyn that we should find it together since we're best friends and I want her to be with me if we found it."

Azzi nodded her head softly, "It's okay. Don't worry about it. Jordyn is probably waiting for you back there with your parents. We just need to wait for them to find us."

"Do you think she's mad at me? For leaving her behind when I run off? I don't want her to hate me." The fear and doubt on her face was so familiar that Azzi can't help but pulled her into a reassuring hug.

"She's your best friend, she's not gonna leave you or hate you. For all I know she's missing you right now and can't wait to have you back."

Alice smiled softly, "I think Paige is waiting for you too."

They were quiet as Alice closed her eyes and buried her face in Azzi's side. The rain continued to pour down, no longer stopped by the leaves above. Seated on the incline of the hill, Azzi tried to ignore the chill water as Alice's shift in position that left her more exposed than before. Curling an arm around her, she tried to focus on something other than her senses.