Faultless

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

           Unsurprisingly, I was the first one up the next morning. As soon as the sun began to rise it awoke me with it. For a while, I just lay there replaying the night before over and over in my head and trying to figure out if it was a dream or real life. Once I fully convinced myself that it was real life, I began to think about all the new information I had learned, but this just led me to think about all the information we still didn’t know and all the unanswered questions buzzing through my head.

           Could my love for Benson really be fake? Was I supposed to wake up today and feel different? Because I didn’t. I still felt like I was in love with him and if he appeared before me now I would have no hesitation running into his arms and feeling his soft lips against mine. My heart raced as the image played through my mind.

           My thoughts were soon interrupted by the stirring of Arnold. I heard him sit up and sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. I was unsure if he realized that I was awake or what I should say after our conversation the night before.

           “Good morning,” I said, holding back as a smile as I sat up.

           “Morning,” he grumbled as he stood up. It became clear that although our conversation the night before had been the most civil conversation we had ever had, it was right back to the guarded-walls up Arnold I had known before last night and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes to this, frustrated. He grabbed his back and started to walk away, not even shooting once glance toward me.

           “Where are you going?” I asked.

           “To get changed and get breakfast,” he answered as he continued to walk away, back to me.

           “I thought we were supposed to tell each other where we were going at all times,” I almost shouted so I knew he would hear me. He just flicked me off and kept walking.

           “Real mature,” I mumbled to myself as I got up and grabbed my bag so I could go find a place to change. I changed into clean clothes and then dug through my bag for a hair brush. I began to run it through my hair trying to get all the knots and tangles out.

           “Remi!” I thought I heard someone yell from far away, but I couldn’t make out which direction, so I ignored it and continued to brush my hair.

           “Remi!” The voice seemed to get louder. I quickly stashed my brush, through my back pack and on looked around. I didn’t see anyone. Maybe I was starting to imagine things now. I started walking back to camp and the voice got louder.

           “Remi!” I started walking faster.

           “Arnold! Remi!” I could make out the voice clearer now. It was Louis. He must have woken up and realized we were both gone. Oops. I sprinted back to camp.

           “I’m right here,” I said out of breathe, as I approached him, “I went…to get changed.”

           “Oh,” was all he responded, “I’m sorry. I got worried.”

           “I know. It’s okay,” I said, finally getting my breath back, “It’s my fault. I should have left a note. I’m sorry.”

           “No,” he said, walking toward me, “I’m sorry. I panic so easily. I just…I worry. I don’t want them to catch you,” he inches away from me now, “You just have the most to lose and I worry about what they would do if they caught you now.”