If All Else Fails

On this side of the Woods

It was a cool morning, the rising sun casted long, ominous shadows on the ground. The normally peaceful morning was interrupted by the sound of a Twang. The drawing of the bow was silent. The release? Yeah, that tended to echo around. Holly watched in satisfaction as her arrow pierced straight into the bulls eye.

"Well, you tried..." Holly turned around, face flushed as a tall, blond boy, sprang down the cliffs edge toward her. She regarded him with a nod.

"Hey! Like you can do-" Holly watched in annoyance as his arrow flew so fast by her head and pierced her arrow in two. While he was hopping down. "Better..." Holly finished dejectedly as Hugo casted a bright and victorious smile, stopping next to her.

"I believe I one upped you... Unless I'm mistaken." Hugo said, laughter ringing from his voice but he didn't straight out laugh. It's not that Holly didn't like Hugo but more that he annoyed her because he was basically a year older and better at literally everything.

"Whatever Hugh. I'm still quite skilled. More than Becca." Holly said swiftly and she brushed her brown sunkissed hair from her eyes which sparkled like storm clouds right before lightning hit. Clouds of grey and blue threatened floods and fury while pupils dilated in passion, eyelashes catching the sun beams glistening in between the trees. She had a passion for archery, one incomparable to any out there, one with such lust desire and love that not many people matched the intensity that she loved her bow. Around her neck was a single silver chain with a single tag attached on. On the tag, in small print read, "There are two rules in life: 1. never give out all the information."

"You truly are beautiful Hol. You know that right?" Hugh asked questioningly. His eyes were green, green as the wild and untamed forests or a soft washed out green, like a favourite sweater that's been washed one too many times.

"Yeah but you know I'm lesbian Hugh. You know I'm dating Rebecca." Holly said with a dazed smile. She hoped only Hugo and her were out here and that only Hugo heard as she knew she'd be thrown from the community if anyone knew. She blushed slightly, her cheeks acquiring a crimson colour to rise in them. Hugo sighed in defeat.

"It is dangerous for one to speak those words aloud Hol... be careful. Please. I don't want you and my sister to be jailed." Hugo said softly brushing hair from her face. "Plus we decided that we'd 'date' for showing purposes. Holly, you know I hate seeing you suffer. I love you, you know I have for the longest time. You're the one I would've chosen if you would've had me. Do you know how it feels to love someone who'll never love you back? At least not in the way you want, that way. It's like drowning in an ocean but you can't die. It's like I'm over here drowning and you're three feet away screaming, 'Learn how to swim!' but I can't..." Hugo said in a soft breath. "We should head home. The role call starts in two minutes."

"Yeah... That would be ideal... We should..." Holly felt a strange sinking feeling in her stomach. She never loved guys. Ever. Hugo was the closest she'd ever gotten then she met Rebecca and all thoughts of Hugo left. She hated hurting him. Hated it even if he was annoying from time to time.