My 16th Summer

Which Way's Home?

ALRIGHT PEOPLE. THIS IS IN BOLD/CAPS TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

Hello there, how's it going? So, I'm kinda diggin' this whole 'so many POVS so little time' thing. It really shows how every character sees each situation. Anyway, I might be switching POV's a lot, so don't get mad at me. And, just so your eyes are on the lookout, I'm forshadowing two or three things in this chapter. Guess below when you're done? Thanks! (:

And if you like it, don't forget to vote and inbox me! I'm weird, but I'm sure if you read my writing you're pretty messed up too! XD

I'm freaking out!

I'm lost in the middle of a forest I'm not familiar with and need I remind you I'm alone?

"Alex!" I yelled again, though I already knew I'd have no response.

Ughh, this is gonna be a long night. Actually, now that I think about it, he's probably back home already. It's not like there aren't ways he could've gotten back to the house without coming past me.

I turned around to start walking back home, until I remembered; I'm in the middle of a forest. Which way am I even supposed to go?

Crap.

~~~

( Ayden't POV )

"Hey Winston." I said casually, as he walked in the front door. I was getting used to the fact that I'll barely be able to see him, because of that stupid girlfriend of his. He's a huge catch, it's not like anyone would be interested in me. I've tried SO HARD to have a girl like me, Claire was one of my contestants. But of course, she wouldn't like me.

I bet she can see right through me. Does she know what I'm thinking? Does she sense my neverending struggles? It's so hard to live like this . . .

"Hey, where's Claire?" Winnie asked, walking into the kitchen to grab a snack.

"She asked where everyone was. Then I think I saw her walking down to the lake, but that was a couple hours ago . . ."

"What was a couple hours ago?" Oliver asked, stepping in through the kitchen door.

"Last time I saw Claire." I responded simply, emmediately seeing a hint of fear and worry in his eyes.

"I'm sure she's fine." Winston reassured him, but Oliver just shook his head.

"Like I care about her." He muttered, heading toward the fridge.

"Psh, please. We all do. This is just an awkward time for everyone." I told them, sitting down in a booth chair at the kitchen island.

"No, I honestly couldn't care less about her." Oliver said bluntly, grabbing a coke out of the fridge and closing the door with his foot. "She slept with our brother-"

"She said she doesn't know how she got there!" I interjected, trying to stand up for Claire to the best of my ability.

 "Huh?" Alex asked, walking in through the kitchen door.

"Where've you been?" Winston asked him. I'm pretty sure he just didn't want to get into another heated discussion with the guys on this topic.

"Out. Where's Claire?" Suspicious . . .

"We dunno. She went down to the lake a couple hours ago and hasn't come back."

If I've never seen a completely panicked look, I have now.

Before any of us could say much of anything else, Alex had run upstairs, grabbed his backpack, and dashed out the door.

Nice talkin' to you too, bro.

~~

( Alex's POV )

"You stupid girl." I muttered to myself, slinging my pack higher on my shoulder.

"CLAIRE?" I yelled, although I figured it wouldn't help much.

I kept walking, and kept yelling.

This is hopeless. But I have to find her.

If she dies, or if I never see her again, that'll be the end of me. I have to tell her how I feel. I have to tell her that she makes me feel so . . . Good?

I don't know what other word to use. When I'm with her, even if we're fighting or completely ignoring eachother, I feel different. Like I did before that one summer night. So cliche, but how could I let it happen? I could've stopped it, yet I just stood there and watched.

I'm disgusting, and Claire's the only one who makes me think otherwise.

~~

( Claire's POV )

I'm so pathetic. With tears running down my cheeks I run down the hill. The hill? Or just a hill? With my luck, I'm totally losing it and I'm running up hill. Or worse yet, I'm knocked out and floating in a river. Yeah, seems like something that would be likely to happen to me.

"Alex. Alex! ALEX! ALEX!" I screamed out again. Why isn't he coming? Why should he though?

When exactly was the last time you actually had a conversation with him? The night before you woke up in his bed?

Damn, maybe I am going insane. I'm talking to myself, just like a scary hobo that kids throw rocks at.

. . .

"Lost, lost, look I'm lost . . ." I sung to myself, skipping around a large bush.

I'm almost positive I'm going in the right direction, but I still don't have cell service so there's really no way of knowing yet.

I pulled my phone out again, not really care whether I ruined my night vision or not. The screen lit up, but there wasn't even enough service to tell what time it is.

Note to self: Start wearing a watch.

I thought, just for a split second, that I heard running water. Just me being stupid again. I found a good looking stump and plopped down. Before I knew it, tears were running down my cheeks.

What would even happen if I found my way home? Would the boys have even noticed I was gone? Oliver wouldn't care, Ayden would pretend to hate me just as much as his older brother, Winston would be too busy planning his next "date" with this Hero chick, and Alex?

"Maybe he doesn't care about me afterall . . . Maybe-"

"Claire?"