Young Folks (Ross Lynch AU)

nineteen.

I slipped on my sweatshirt and then grabbed the knife off of the counter. I exited the bus and sat next to the fire that was still smoldering from the night before. I was waiting for Ross, who had gone off just several minutes before to grab a few berries he had seen yesterday and knew weren't poisonous.

I was mindlessly turning the knife over in my hands when suddenly, I heard a piercing yell in the distance. My first thought was Ross. I immediately stood from my spot, grabbed the knife, and started running in the direction I had heard the noise. The yell echoed through the skies once more, and I knew then for a fact it was him. I picked up my pace and sprinted towards his yelling.

"I'm coming, Ross!" I screamed, pushing away bushes and tree branches that blocked my way. The shrubbery slowed me down immensely, but I refused to stop. I pushed my way through, another agonizing scream of pain piercing the skies and my heart.

I ran as fast as I could and finally came into a clearing to see my worst nightmare.

His limbs were sprawled out, limp. His eyes dull, their light gone. His chest immobile.

Ross was dead.

There was a huge grizzly standing over him, oblivious to my presence. The bear's head ducked, opened its jaw, and took a large bite out of Ross' stomach. Blood poured from the bite, and I could feel the little food in my stomach resurfacing. I quickly made my way back into the forest and out of the bear's sight before emptying my stomach of what little contents were left.

I then ran back to the bus, sobbing.

Ross was gone.

The one person I had in this unforgiving wilderness. My protection. My rock.

Gone.

When I made it back, I was screaming bloody murder. I banged my fists on the bus, taking my anger out on the old rusty thing. I pulled at my hair, nearly tearing it out of my head. I then went into the bus and into Ross backpack. I quickly found his sweatshirt, removed my own, and pulled his over my head. Then I sat down on the bed, curled up into a ball, and cried.

He was gone.

Forever.

"Aspen."

It was his voice.

I was hearing things in my head, hallucinating, making myself believe he was still there.

"Aspen."

My body shook with sobs.

"I'm sorry," I whimpered.

"Aspen!"

My eyes shot open and I found myself face to face with Ross. Tears instantly sprang to my eyes as I lifted both hands and grabbed his face, holding it in my hands.

"Ross," I sobbed, flinging my arms around his neck and pulling him down for a hug. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around my body as I cried into his shoulder loudly.

He was there.

It was just a dream.

"You're alive," I got out between sobs.