Searching for Paradise

Chapter Six

We had only been walking for fifteen minutes and already the boys were getting on my nerves. The were arguing over who was faster. I groaned loudly and they both got quiet. "Look," I said stopping and facing them. "This trip is going to be alot longer if you guys are arguing the whole time. So play nice!" I snapped glaring at them. They stayed quiet. "Good." I huffed turning back and walking. They stayed quiet for about two minutes before arguing about another thing. I sighed rubbing my head. I swung my pack around grabbing an apple. I took a large bite, the sweet taste filling my mouth. "Whats that." Collin said taking my apple. "Its mine is what it is." I said trying to swipe it back, but before I could he took a huge bite from it and smiled. He tossed it back to me. I caught it and looked at where he had bit and almost laughed. Where I had bitten and he had bitten formed together, forming a heart shape on the apple. I looked up at him and he winked. I felt my face go hot and saw Reeve shoot Collin a dirty glare. 

We walked for another ten minutes before finally seeing the tree line where Cades note said hed be waiting. "Were almost there." I said sighing with relief. I took off in a sprint towards the trees, Reeve and Collin following closely. We broke through the branches and looked around. "So you made it did'ya Goldilocks." Cades voice laughed. "Where are you." I exclaimed looking around. "Your looking to low." He said in a sing-song voice. I peered up and thats when I saw him. Perched in the tree like a bird. Suddenly Cade dropped down in front of me and smiled. "Ta-Da." He said spreading his arms and grinning. I smiled as did Collin. Reeve looked as though he couldnt care less. "So where are we going." He said his voice stern. "There." He said pointing up through the trees. "I dont see anything." I said. He reached out and pulled me to where he was standing and pointing again. "There." He whispered in my ear. I looked through the leaves and could faintly see a tall spire in the distance. "What is that?" I asked still aware of his hands on my arms. "That my friends," He said dropping his hands. "Is a mountain. And on that mountain, inside the intricate cave system, is the rebellion!" He exclaimed clapping his hands. "And you know this for fact." Reeve looked unsure. "No." Cade said smiling. "But wheres your sense of adventure." He said punching him lightly on the arm. Reeve just glared at him. "You mean to tell me were risking our necks for something that might not even be there." He said evenly. "You didnt need to come." I reminded him and he shook his head. "Daylights fading." Collin commented. "Right you are!" Cade exclaimed. "Well make camp tonight and start fresh in the morning." He smiled. "Goldilocks," He said turning to me. "Make yourself useful and cook us men a hearty meal!" He rubbed his stomach. I glared at him my mouth twisted. "Im joking." He smiled. "Im not that sexist. But seriously, you could gather firewood." He said turning back and started piling sticks up. "Ill help." Collin said and Reeve looked like he was going to say something, but thought better of it. I smiled at Collin and we went in to find broken branches. "

So whats the story with you and pretty boy." Collin asked as soon as we were out of earshot. "There isnt one." I said picking up a couple branches. "Oh please. You could cut the tension with a knife." He said picking up a big branch. "Smaller." I said picking up more. He looked at me confused. "We need smaller branches." I said showing him mine. "Im just saying, if you guys are star crossed lovers or something Ill gladly fight him to the death." Collin said dropping the branch. I scoffed. "Trust me, were not lovers." I laughed. "Does he know that." Collin said his voice getting serious. I turned to him. "Yeah. At least.. I think.. I punched him in the face. Whats not clear about that." I said. Collin stepped closer to me. "I dont doubt he did something to deserve it." He said softly brushing a piece of hair behind my ear. He leaned closer and I could feel my heart speed up. "Your so beautiful." He whispered before pressing his lips against mine. My whole body tingled and I dropped all the branches I had picked up. I felt my arms go around his neck, my fingers burying themselves in his hair. A twig snapped and we quickly pulled apart. I felt my face flush as I started picking the sticks back up. He bent down helping me. I smiled at him and he quickly planted another kiss on my mouth before standing up. I picked up the rest of the sticks and stood. "We should get back." I said my head still spinning. He nodded and we headed back for the camp.

We came back just as Cade was getting a small fire going. "There you guys are." Cade said looking up. "Thought the wolves got you." He laughed as I dropped the branches next to the fire. "Are there really wolves?" I asked sitting on a log. "Don't worry Goldilocks, its the bears you gotta worry about." He winked. I got confused. "Oh right." Cade laughed. "You've never heard the story." I smiled. "Will you tell it?" I asked as Collin sat down next to me. Reeve scoffed. "Doesn't sound like a very good story." He said. "Oh it is if its told by the right person." Cade said making his voice spooky. "See the story goes, Goldilocks found a small cottage in the woods after getting lost in the woods." Cade shot an amused glance my way and I felt my face flush. "Now," Cade continued poking at the fire. "Goldilocks you see, she was very hungry, so she entered the cottage. On the table sat three bowls of porridge. The first she exclaimed was too hot, the second too cold. But that third bowl was just right. Now Goldilocks wanted to relax because her feet hurt from running in the woods all day. She sat in the first armchair. "Its too hard." She exclaimed." Cade said making his voice high, trying to mimic a girls voice. "The second was too soft. But that third chair was just right, and she rocked until the chair broke. BOOM." Cade shouted making me jump and let out a nervous laugh. Cade smiled. "With nowhere to sit, Goldilocks climbed the stairs to find somewhere to sleep. She tried the first bed. "Too high!" She exclaimed. She tried the second bed, but it was too low. But the third bed was just right, and soon Goldilocks fell asleep." Cade threw another stick onto the fire making the flame bigger. "But all was not well, for the cottage belonged to a family.. Of bears." His voice got serious. "And they were coming home. The bears entered the cottage, and Papa bear exclaimed, "Whos been eating my porridge!" Mama and Papa bear exclaimed. "Who has eaten all my porridge up?" Baby bear asked. "Whos been sitting in my chair!" The bears exclaimed again. "Whos been sitting in my chair and broke it?" Baby bear asked. The bears climbed up the stairs to where Goldilocks still slept. "Whos been sleeping in my bed!" Both bears exclaimed again. "Whos been sleeping in my bed and is still here!" yelled Baby bear, waking Goldilocks." Cade stopped. "And?" I said leaning forward. "What happened to her?" Cade sat silently for a moment. "The bears... Ate her!" Cade shouted lunging at me. I let out a small scream and Cade started laughing, Collin joining him. I threw a stick at him. "That's not funny." I said but couldnt help laughing along. "That story was stupid." Reeve said. "Well feel free to grace our presence with a better story." Cade said watching Reeve. Reeve stayed quiet. "Ah well. I think that's enough stories anyways." Cade said laying back against the log. "Wouldn't want Goldilocks getting scared." Cade winked at me. "Oh shutup." I smiled. "Better get some sleep." Cade said closing his eyes. "Got a long walk ahead of us tomorrow." I slid down onto the ground closer to the fire and closed my eyes. I briefly felt someone brush back my hair before I fell asleep.

I dreamt of porridge and bears that night.