Memories

Chapter three

It took a couple months for Rhynn to suggest exchanging phone numbers. Brett's response was to be expected.

"Why?"

"Because, we can't always be out here, and I get bored. Plot twist: maybe I want someone to converse with on the off chance that my invisible friends won't talk to me!"

Brett laughed. "Well, if that's what you've got, it's weak, but I guess it works for me."

"Cool." She laughed, turning to straddle the tree branch she was sitting on so that she was facing him. She pulled her phone from her back pocket, then lost hold of it and it fell to the ground. "Crap!" She cried, slinging one leg over the branch and jumping down, quickly scooping up get phone before hopping up to grab the branch and hoist herself up again.

"Is your phone okay?" Brett asked, concerned.

"Yeah, it's fine." She waved him off. "I've got an Otterbox case on it because I'm clumsy."

Brett laughed.

"Question." Rhynn said as she typed her number into Brett's phone. "What is your biggest fear?"

"Why do you ask?" he replied, looking up from her phone.

"Well, everyone's afraid of something. Even the bravest man is afraid of something, or he's incredibly stupid. Everyone has that subconscious little niggling in the back of their mind, be it childhood fear or legitimate terror. What's yours?"

"... Um... I would have to say... This is going to sound stupid."

"Can't sound as stupid as mine without an explanation."

"What's yours?"

"No, come on, I asked first."

He chuckled. "Okay, fine. Mine is... Rejection. I mean, as much as I hate people, a lot of the time, I genuinely care what they think and why they think that. Because society, I guess. What's yours?"

"The dark."

"Okay, yeah, you're right."

"Whoa, okay, hear me out, right? My greatest fear is the dark... Or rather, what's in the dark, I guess. Because the dark, by itself, is fine. But the darkness hides things. Things like rapists and serial killers and robbers in your home. Robbers that have, like, friggin knifes and shite. I mean, I love nighttimes strolls and all that noise, but they kind of scare me to death. When I go out for a walk at night, it's to clear my head, to feel free. When it's dark, it totally negates that, because I'm constantly afraid that I'll be mugged and raped then killed in a dark alley where no one will ever find my body. Because everyone knows that streets are 'no place for a woman' at night, and as much as I wish it weren't true, it is. Very. And it's ridiculous. I should be able to walk alone at night without being scared, dammit! It isn't fair that I feel the need to keep radios and televisions and lights on constantly for fear of being robbed. Which, really, that's a possibility no matter what your gender, but still. My house is either too quiet, or too loud. There is no in between. I mean, your fear is perfectly legitimate. But... So is mine, if you take the time you think about it."

"... Okay. I'll give you that."

"But, really, if I were being honest, I guess I don't have one, single greatest fear. I have many."

"Okay," Brett said, head tilting to the side, small smile crawling across his face. "I'm intrigued. Go on."

Rhynn rolled her eyes. "Well, okay, so, like, the dark is really big, and rejection's a huge one too. But then, I'm always terrified that I'm going to undergo this horrid betrayal from someone who I really trust. That makes it really hard for me to get close to people a lot of the time."