Chapter 15; Hope is stronger then fear

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I don't know how long we stayed sitting next to each other in the silence. It was so calm and peaceful up here, if it wasn't such a long hike I think I'd come her a lot to think. Although after blocking my friends out for so long I think I've had enough alone time for a life time.

I here the whistle of a familiar tune and try to locate what I imagine would be a bright bird singing hight up in the branches, when all of a sudden the whistling stops
"Hello? Yeah hey. No, no she's with me. No were at Kim's. Yeah were all good. Yep. Want to talk to her? Oh okay. Sure. See you." I look up at dan expectantly ".. So that was Drake. He was just checking in seeing as you haven't called him yet, so I told him where we were. He said to come see him whenever, and that Jason was worried when you didn't show to school."

"How could I be so stupid! I should have told him I wasn't going!"

"Nah they weren't surprised. Just a tad confused when Drake answered your phone. But I do think it's time to head back to the real world. I'm starting to get hungry, and the hike back down is still going to take a while, even if it is downhill. You ready?"
I nod and begin the decent back down, but this time I pay extra attention to what I'm walking through, and there really is an awful lot of greenery. Each green shoot gives me that little bit of hope. Hope because Drake is awake, and he's still himself. Hope because even though I pushed away some of the best people who I'll ever met, they never gave up on me. Hope because the fire wasn't as destructive as I though it was. Thanks to Danny, I think I can see clearly now, the smoke has started to clear.

In no time at all the dense foliage around us begins to clear, and I can see Danny's car in the near distance. I look back at dan with a grin on my face before shouting "race ya!" And sprinting off in pursuit of his shiny black automobile. I can feel him gaining on me, but I've always been a faster runner then him, so I press forward, quickly glancing back to make sure he wasn't gaining on me two much, but the split second my eyes weren't looking down was too long. One big stick was all it to for me to plummet to the ground at an alarmingly fast rate, landing with a solid thud, and causing a sharp pain to pierce through my forehead.

"Crap! Kat are you alright? What hurts? Look at me. Holy! Your face. Oh my goodness" Dan is by my side in a flash, coming to my aid instantly

"I'm fine Danny. I just stacked it on a branch or something. Seriously, I'm sure it looks worse then it is. I bumped my head but there's nothing else I swear"

He gives me a cautious look and helps me stand. As I brush myself off he seams satisfied that I am fine, and walks the short distance to the car and unlocks it. "Were heading to see Drake, but while were there your getting checked for concussion. I'm not taking any chances.

"Are you serious? It's not that bad. I mean sure it hurts. But if I've learnt anything it's that I'm a survivor, no little twigs gonna get me down"
Dan chuckles "looks like it DID get you down Kat, and I'm not going to take no for an answer. And if you think you can get away with it I'll make sure to mention it to Drake, and we both know he will make a much bigger fuss about it then you. Besides I won, so consider it a consolation prize for loosing "

"That's so not fair! I feel over of course you fricken beat me! Your such a jerk!" I pout

"Yes but you love me"

"Your still a jerk Danny. I'm gonna tell Drake that you pushed me. Just so that you could say you were faster then me. It's unfortunate the only way you can beat me in a race is to push me over"  I joke

"Kat know I know your concussed. I could take you any day"

"Unless you've been training non stop for the past few months I highly doubt that"

The joking atmosphere suddenly dies out "I have" he states seriously. I don't know what to say, and thankfully after a slightly deep breath he continues. "I needed something to consume my time, I put a lot of energy into my body and running. It was mainly a distraction, something to do seeing as everything had changed. I find running really helps clear my mind, and running in the bush is so calming, it's beautiful out here. That how I first discovered this place, on a run about a month ago, then I found out about the fire..."

"Danny.." I start, not sure what I was going to say, just wanting to say something.

"Kat I don't want you to say anything. We've both got hit pretty hard, but I don't want to think about the past to much, cause once you start looking back, it gets harder to look forward. So please don't say sorry, or feel sorry for me, or blame yourself because that's going to do no good an a whole lotta bad. Do you think you can do that?"

"If you asked me that two weeks ago.. Well I would have thrown that fricken book my counselor was making me write my feeling in at your head  probably screamed at you.. I think I can. The fire wasn't my fault, it's no surprise that two fifteen year olds forgot to blow out a few candles before bed, Jase's dad died doing his job, and I'm starting to see that all now. Thank you Danny"

"You said that already"

"I know. But I truly mean it" I lean over the middle console and kiss his cheek

"Ewww cooties!!" He screams in a girly voice before igniting the engine and reversing out of the car park and heading towards the hospital.

'Way to ruin a moment' I think to myself as he speeds down the almost abandoned road.

You've reached the end of published parts.

⏰ Last updated: Dec 27, 2015 ⏰

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