Take a Risk

Chapter 6

Somehow, Liam and I were miraculously alive. There were a few parachute complications, but nothing too major. I tried to get up, but I was tangled in skydiving gear, backpacks, and Liam.

"Oh my gosh," Liam breathed, "you okay, Sierra?"

"Surprisingly, yes," I said. "How about you?" I added.

"Couldn't be better," Liam grunted.

"Oh!" I said, surprised, "I'm so sorry-" I began as I tried to get off of Liam.

"Wait- you're caught-" Liam started.

We eventually untangled ourselves from eachother and all of the gear. I was crouched down next to Liam and we just sat there, speechless.

Liam finally stood up and offered me a hand, which I gladly took.

"Thanks," I said as he lifted me to my feet.

We stood next to eachother and exhaled.

"Where the hell are we?" I cried.

"I was just going to ask the same thing," Liam sighed.

I honestly just wanted my friends, and to be at home. Sure Liam's spiked up brown hair and shining bright eyes were heavenly, but I hardly knew him. Yet, here I was, stranded on- lord knows where- with him.

I would say that my emotions were out of wack, but considering the fact that I just watched a man die, heard the beeping of a failing helicopter, and had to jump with a stranger from high in the sky down to the dirt grounds of wherever we were now, I think it was okay for me to feel the way I was feeling.

"Hey, don't cry," Liam whispered as he pulled me into a hug. There was somthing so comforting about him. Maybe it was the way his tan arms wrapped around my waist, or the way his deep voice sounded so reassuring.

After we calmed down and gathered everything, we finally began to venture off. I slung one backpack over my shoulder that contained my other clothes and a sweatshirt. It was all of the clothing I had worn and brought before I had to change into the skydiving suit and gear. Liam carried his backpack, which had other gear in it as well. I liked Liam, but I wasn't willing to completely strip from my gear until there was some privacy to change. As of now, there was not a tree in sight, or atleast close to us.

We walked across the grassy plain. As we continued walking, we watched the terrain change from plaines to small forest. By now I was panting. The equiptment was heavy and we had walked extremely far, just hoping to find some sort of civilization.

I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Exhaustion overcame me.

 Liam ran over to me and caught me from nearly falling.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Mhmm," I tried to answer.

"Can we rest?" I whispered.

"Of course," he breathed. Then, in one swift motion he was carrying me in his arms.

Liam carried me further into the forrest where there was a small space we could camp.

He placed me on the ground and began to gather some sticks and tree branches so that we could build a little fire. We didn't know where we were, so nighttime had the possibility of dropping temperatures.

I sat up and tried to help Liam light the fire. We rubbed sticks together and watched as a few sparks caught and danced for a split second before flickering out.

"Dammit, it's getting colder" I whispered.

As if right on cue, Liam got a flame to catch and stay lit. He finished making the fire and came over and sat down next to me.

"We can use our backpacks as pillows, I guess," Liam offered.

He saw my eyelids beginning to droop. Everytime I tried to talk and part my lips, I could tell they were chapped and parched.

"I think you need water," Liam said as he rummaged through the bags.

"Here, drink this," he said as he uncapped a water bottle and held it up to my mouth.

After a few sips of water I immediately felt better. I was now able to carry on a mostly full conversation.

"I really am exhausted, though," I yawned.

"Yeah, big day," Liam nodded.

I looked around and seeing that there was nothing to sleep on other than the hard ground, I curled up in a little ball, closed my eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

"Goodnight," I murmered.

But just before I fell asleep, I heard and noticed Liam setting up the two backpacks, placing them where two heads should rest.

Liam lied down next to me and rested his head on his backpack. Instead of resting my head on my backpack I lay my head down on Liam's chest. He didn't resist, so i snuggled in closer. I soon fell into a surprisingly peaceful and deep sleep.

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Picture of how I envision Sierra to the right.