Outcasts

Chapter 7: Cowardice

The knife embeds its silver head shallowly into the tree bark. Idris curses under her breath and she walks over to the trunk. With a swift twist of the wrist, removes the dagger. She examines the gash. Idris moves away from the tree and makes her way over to the center of the clearing, in which lies a large rock. She sits on the rock, which feels cool from lying in the shade. She picks up a stone next to her and she uses it to sharpen the knife. The blade glimmers in the one ray of sunlight that pierces the canopy. She tests the blade's point on the tip of her finger. A small scarlet droplet runs downs her finger and she draws the blade away. She stands and arches her arm. The blade embeds its head deep in the tree's skin. Idris delicately dislocates the dagger. She relocates and arches her arm to throw again. Caleb's voice rings out behind here. "I thought I'd find you here." Idris flips the knifes blade into its hilt and puts it back in her coat pocket and turns.

"What are you doing here?"

"What else, I was looking for you."

"How'd you find me? I didn't think anyone but me knew about this place."

"I've known you for 17 years, I've picked up on a few things. Like the fact you come here when you are struggling with something."

Idris shrugs. "That's an accurate guess."

"What are you thinking about?"

"I can't tell."

Caleb tilts his head, asking for more information with his expression.

Idris folds her arms over her chest. "I can't understand my brain."

"That's such a pain, isn't it?"

Idris nods. "I can't stop thinking about something."

Caleb raises his eyebrows. "What is it?"

"Isn't it annoying that you can't tell what people think about you?" Idris sits back on the rock.

"Yes, of course it is. You have just described one of the most annoying things everyone faces. You're beating around the bush, please just answer me."

Idris examines her dagger, looking at her reflection in the blade. "I think I'm in love," Idris blurts out, "I have never felt this way before and it is so painful," she says slowly.

He takes the space next to her. "Did I hear that first part correctly?"

She glares with eyes of steel. "You heard what you think you heard."

He processes this, looking at her with partial disbelief. "Why is it painful?"

"I have no chance with her," she replies, looking back at her reflection.

"Idris, you may not believe me but you are a beautiful girl with a," he pauses, "-a decent personality."

"Thank you for the ringing endorsement."

"As your brother I want to see you happy. I think you should go confess your feelings to this girl."

"That's not happening," Idris states.

"Yes, it's hard because you have only now just developed feelings," he teases.

She flips him off.

"That's a very mature response."

Idris rolls her eyes.

"But I mean it, the previous thing. Tell her how you feel."

She shrugs. "I would, but I'm a coward."

He raises his eyebrows. "I hope you know that you are lying to yourself. It's the only way to see what she really thinks."