In The Woods

Chapter One

When can I leave this place? I stare at the clock, only ten more minutes left until summer. Ten minutes until freedom for a little while.

I look over to my friend Tyler, he's fooling around with his guy friends. I'd go join them, but I really only know Ty. He's one of my best friends.

"Hey, B," he shouts at me. I ignore him, hoping to get him annoyed. It's fun to ignore Tyler, he gets so mad sometimes.

I turn my head toward the clock again, six minutes. Ugh. Who's running time, snails?

I feel something hit the back of my neck, looking down, I see that it was a spit-ball. Obviously, Tyler did it. He only does that when my hair is up, which it was.

"Want to join this spit-ball in the trash?" I yell at him. He just sticks his tongue out, like a five year old. Except he's seventeen. I'm the same age. We still love acting like little kids. You're only young for so long.

The bell rings, and I sprint away. I push everyone in front of me to the side. Rude? I don't care. I just want to leave. Besides, I wasn't the only one running and shoving people. Okay, that was a lame excuse, but you get me.

Before I'm able to get a toe out of the double doors, I'm stopped by a hand on my shoulders. I turn around to see Tyler. Of course.

"What do you want, man?" I sigh.
"Did you hear about that chick who went into Oak Woods and never came back?" He asks.
"Can't you just text me this?" I turn away.
"No, wait," he steps in front of me, blocking my way out, "want to go check it out? Apparently, there's a lady spirit or something like that haunting the woods."
I smile, uninterested, "nah, that requires me to walk, which isn't my favorite thing to do."

Before Tyler is able to say something else, I run down the sidewalk, soon jumping into the passenger seat of my mom's car.

"Hi Bella Beans," my mom says.
"Don't--don't call me that," I say, putting my headphones on. I turn on some loud music, blocking out every sound around me. I like pretending I'm a celebrity, thinking that I'm riding in a limo which has thousands of fans following behind it.

Oh, if only.

I check my phone to see a message from Tyler.

Ty: c'mon, do you really have such a packed summer that you can't take a few hours to explore the woods with me??

Me: why do you want to go so damn badly?

Ty: I have nothing to do, I know you don't either. Don't lie, B. C'mon.

Me: I'll THINK about it.

Ty: alright, just think hard about it. It'll be fun! :)

I look at a billboard, it would be so fun to climb up there. But dangerous. But fun. I'm conflicted. I really don't have anything to do this summer, Ty was right about that. I don't want to go to the woods though, I'm afraid of getting lost. It's one of my biggest fears. I'm not scared about some ghost, I'm scared about never being able to find my way out. It's why I never go hiking.

My mom pulls into the driveway, and I jump out, leaving my bag on the car seat.

I run inside and into my room, jumping onto my bed immediately. I search up the story Tyler told me earlier, about the lady getting lost in the woods or something. I don't remember. I feel bad for her, she experienced or is currently experiencing one of my worst fears.

I don't get any search results, weird. It's not a big deal. I'm not the one lost in the woods.

My phone buzzes. It's Tyler, who else?

Ty: want to meet up at Sandy's Ice Cream?

Me: you picking me up, or do I have to drive myself?

Ty: drive yourself, lazy.

What sucks is that I had already taken my shoes off. Anyway, I put on my converse shoes, and grab my purse that was hanging from my doorknob as I walk out.

"Mom, I'm going to meet up with Tyler," I say as I close the front door behind me.

I start my drive to Sandy's Ice Cream Shop. It was about ten minutes away. Sandy's has the best ice cream in town. I don't really eat sweets, I'm more into savory goods, but I'm always down for Sandy's.

I get there before Tyler. I don't like being alone in a public place.

Me: where are you? I'm here already!!

Ty: get me a chocolate fudge brownie sundae, and meet me at oak woods.

Me: no way!

Ty: we won't go into the woods, they have benches outside the gate.

Me: I'm talking about getting you ice cream!! No way to that.

Ty: then just meet me at oak woods.

I can't believe Tyler. He's my best friend, and I hate him. I decided I would treat myself to a milkshake.

"May I have one chocolate milkshake?" I ask the lady behind the counter.
"Whipped cream? Cherry?" She asks.
"Yes, please," I reply.
She hands me my milkshake, I pay, and then head out to my car.

Me: I got a milkshake without you!

Ty: ha-ha, just get over here.

Off to Oak Woods, I guess.