Coward

Chapter One

The forever restless forest was centered around a small group of only five. A girl with long, blonde, wavy hair sat on the thick layer of pineneddles, observing the group of boys. The air was cold, winter was at their door steps.

Sighing I rose from my position on the ground and slowly picked my way through the bush to the small huddle of boys. Pushing my way into the center I came face to face with a very unlucky pine tree. A boy with scruffy, brown hair proceeded to hack away at the poor tree, leaving shallow gashes across the trunk but not making enough of an indent to get the tree any closer to meeting the soft ground.

Placing my hands on my head I shook it from side to side, slowly. My light hair twisting around my shoulders. Smiling I held out my hand, "give me the axe, I'll show you how it's done."

The boy turned his dark brown eyes on me, instantly narrowing them upon realizing who is speaking to him. He snorted, "fuck off Belle, we can handle it." Then he turned his back on me and continued to mame the small pine.

I turned around in a full circle and took in the appearances of the three other boys, the first had short ginger hair, emerald eyes, freekles and a kind, knowing smile as he winked at me. Shaking my head I asked, "Peter you surely know I'm better with an axe than him." I pouted, pointing an accusing finger at the boy with scruffy hair.

"Sorry sweetheart, but you better leave this job to the men," he easily dismissed me with a wave of his hand.

My light green eyes turned a shade darker as he spoke, "what? So you guys can mangle our fire wood?"

Peter shrugs, "if that's what it takes."

Turning around to face the rest of the boys I rolled my eyes, "how about we make a bet?"

One of the other boys brakes out into a wide smile and shakes his head, his black hair swinging with the movement. He grins, "come on Belle, you know none of us has any money."

I also shook my head and leaned onto a nearby tree, "no not money." I smile, "bragging rights."

The last boy with blonde hair sets down a can of burben he was drinking, "and why would any of us want bragging writes when I'm already the best?"

I glared at him. "Well Liam," I said, dragging out his name in mock. "You certainly wouldn't want word to get out that you got you're arses handed to you by a girl!" I exclaimed excitedly.

Liam raked his fingers through his hair, his eyes cast a shadow of doubt as he looked over at me. Saying with a smile, "are you afraid Mason?" He asked the boy with brown, scruffy hair. No I could tell he didn't think I had it in me to knock down that tree as it felt like the boys had been trying for hours with no luck.

Mason frowned looking at Liam in distaste, "luck doesn't exist, so there is no chance of her cutting down this tree." He then turned to me and smirked, "sorry Beautiful but it's not going to happen."

I picked up my own can of burben and drained the remaining liquid until it feel empty to the ground. Holding my head high I stumbled forward, this had not been my first can and nor would it be my last. Roughly pushing Mason to the ground I straddled him as I clumisly wrestled him for the axe. Winning my prize but only after a sneaky kick to the groin. Standing up and leaning against Liam for a little support I readied myself with the axe.

The boy with black hair spoke up as a look of concern crossed over his face as he tried to reach forward for my shoulder. "You're a tad drunk Belle, put the axe down." He demanded, boredom leaking into his tone as he looked across the small forest of pine trees and the roofs of houses that lay in the narrow valley bellow them. Pine trees rose from the walls of the valley creating a textured green that waved in the wind like an ocean of leaves. This ocean surrounded the area they all called home a border separating the no so wild from the wild suburban roads. The sun was sinking low over the tops of the trees. "It's getting dark," he mumbled.