Scarlet

Chapter 23-Robin

My arm stings like a bitch.
Gritting my teeth, I stop, and slowly peel my shirt sleeve off the wound, struggling not to cry out. I stop at a creek, where we get our water, and rinse it off, to get the blood off my skin and clean up my shirt. I sit on the bank for a little bit, my mind blank. I gaze off into the distance, my wrist dully throbbing. It was a bad idea.
    Both because there was no logical reason, but also because it was pointless. And the band would loose it if they found out. As if in a dream, I got up, my bow and quiver still slung over my back. I began walking back towards camp, knowing they'll be worried.
     I can't imagine why anyone would worry about me.
    But they do, for whatever reason.
I arrive back, to find that there's a cooking fire going, with a rabbit cooking on a spit. I hear a muffled argument, likely between Scar and John.
     "I'm fine! Fuck what Rob says, I'm fine!" She says angrily.
      "You aren't going anywhere if I have anything to say about it."
     "Well that's too fucking bad. You don't get to say shit about where I go or what I do!" She shouts, sounding pissed.
      "I do have say. You're under my care until Robs back, and you aren't going anywhere! I don't fucking care if I have to fucking tie you up, you aren't leaving this camp!" John growls out.
     "Fuck Rob! FUCK. ROB. I'M GOING OUT, I'M FUCKING TIRED OF BEING BABIED." She screams at John.
    "Oh, you would fuck him. We all see how you look at him, how you act. You're so loved up it's fucking disgusting."
My jaw drops, and I loose my balance, catching myself in a tree. They don't know I'm there; he wouldn't have said that if he knew. Or would he? I don't know anymore. I wait, desperate to hear her response. My hearts pounding into my ears, like it might smash out of my chest. It felt like hours, but it was only a couple seconds when she responded.
    "I don't know what you're talking about, and don't think you know anything. You don't know shit. We aren't loved up, we've just known each other a long time." She says quietly, not sounding like she even believed herself. I knew that John wouldn't believe her either.

   "Bullshit. That's bullshit and we both know it."

    "If it is, it's not for you to say. It's none of your fucking business, you hear me? And as far as this conversation is concerned, it didn't happen. Got it?" She snapped, obviously upset. Without waiting for a response, she turns on her heel and stalks back to her cave, anger radiating off of her. John just stood there, watching her, unreadable.

   I lean against the tree, standing silently, struggling to sort out what i just heard. Maybe..just maybe, there's hope for us. With that in mind, I walk on, into camp, trying to remember that I never heard anything. 

    I walk on in, and sit down on a log. "Where's Scar?" I ask casually.

    "In her cave." John responds, spitting out the words as he stirs something in a pot.

   "She doing okay?" I ask

   "Go find out for yourself." He responded, almost hissing the words out.

I turn and continue walking, over to where she should be. She's on a rock just inside, her head in her hands, a mug of whiskey by her side. As I get closer, I see that her shoulders are shaking, like she's crying. I pause, then walk over to her, and sit down by her. She doesn't look up, but I know she knows I'm there.

   "Scar..are you okay?" I ask softly.

She doesn't respond, but just leans into my chest, her whole body shaking.

   "Scarlet. Talk to me."

She shakes her head, and leans into me, shaking. I put my arms around her, feeling so lucky that I got to hold this incredible girl. But then suddenly, she bolts upright.

    "We can't do this. I can't do this." She says, and runs off.

    "SCARLET WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" I yell, taking off after her.

    I wouldn't normally be able to catch her, but with her being injured, I'm able to. I tackle her, and land on top of her. I stare into her eyes, on top of her, and ask one final time.

"Scarlet, what is it?"