Rival Morality BxB

13

Rowan POV:

        I couldn't stop the words that tumbled out of my mouth. The best I could was switch to Spanish. I didn't even realize how I felt until it popped out. But as soon as it was out in the air I knew that I was completely and utterly fucked. I couldn't face Oliver, even though he didn't understand my confession, I avoided him under the guise of working on the assignment. At some point the excuse became real and my pen jolted across the page. I read over the poem. There was no way I could turn this in. I ripped it out of the notebook, but part of me couldn't throw it away, so instead I folded it and folded it in crisp neat creases until it was impossible to continue.

         Mrs. Montenegro finds me with my hand clenched around the paper. "Almost everyone has gone back to their tents. You don't have to go to bed but I'd prefer if you stayed within the campground."

        I nodded.

        "Is that your poem?"

        I nodded again.

        She smiled, "The best literary works come from times where the author feels strong emotions. I saw the way you carved into that page." She closed a hand around my fist. "You don't have to share it with me, but if there is something you want to tell me, I'm always here."

         All I could do was swallow. I wanted so bad for an adult to take over, one that actually cares about me. I wanted someone to tell me what to do. Without my brain's consent, I hand her the sheet. She unfolds it delicately and her eyes scan the page. She reads it again.

        Finally, she speaks, "This beautiful Rowan." She pauses. "Can I offer you some advice? The universe always has a path for you. The worse that could happen is taking a different fork in the road. Tell this person how you feel. Everything has a way of working itself out." She smiles and gives me my poem back. "Oh, and you have an A on this assignment. Don't worry about turning it in tomorrow."

        "Thanks," is all I can manage.

        When I see Oliver sitting alone at the fire, my heart jumps into my throat. I think about turning tail, but he's already seen me. He waves me over.

        "I saved you a s'more."

        "Oh, thanks."

        "But then I got hungry and ate it."

        I smiled. "It's alright, I don't need anything." Just you.

        "So," he sighed, "you were gone for awhile." He swallows, hard. "Did I do something wrong?"

        I pull his hand into my lap. "No, of course not querida."

        "What was it that you said at the lake?"

        I grimaced, "it's not important. C'mon, let's go to bed."

        Oliver spent the entire night cuddled up in my arms while I laid awake. I needed to savor this as long as I could.

_______

I LIVE