Love and the Undead (gxg)

Chapter 7

After a few more hours of walking and idle small talk, we come across this trail that veers off of the gravel road and into the trees to the right. I pay it no mind, but after a few steps I stop and realize that Iris is no longer next to me. I turn around, and there she is staring off down the trail.

"Uh, Iris? Whatcha doing there?" I ask her.

"I wonder where this goes.." she replies distractedly.

"... The woods?" I reply sarcastically, causing her to turn around and glare at me.

"No shit sherlock" she replies back, rolling her eyes at me playfully. Then her eyes turn serious, and almost nostalgic.

"Every trail, road, every path, was made for a purpose. Each leads to a destination that is or was important to someone at one time. Arent you curious?"

Well, when you put it like that...

"I mean, yeah I gues that makes sense. Let's go check it out!"

I wasn't really too interested in it but whatever, if it would make her happy I guess we could see where the trail goes.

"Awesome!" She says exitedly, and we take off walking.

Erebus runs ahead and dissapears through some grass but I dont worry. I know he'll be back and he can take care of himself. I have to admit, the trail, or rather its surroundings are gorgeous. There are trees all around on both sides of us, curving above our heads so that the very sunlight almost has a green hue to it. I look over at Iris, and a small smile settles on my lips at the sight of her gazing all around in wonder. I see her eyes settle on something that causes her to smile and follow her gaze to a patch of purple flowers off to the right. I run ahead, and pick the prettiest one before running back to her side. I hold it out to her gently, so as not to bend it or cause it any further damage. A grin scratches wide across her face, and she takes it from me tenderly almost cradling it.

"Thank you" she says softly, looking up at me through her eyelashes.

"Anytime" I say back shyly.

Oh god when she looks at me like that, its almost too hard to stop myself from kissing her. I look away to pull out a cigarrette and light it. I had to distract myself with something else before I ended up doing something that could jeopardize our friendship. As we continue walking, I smile to myself with the picture of her grin in my mind. I love knowing that I caused that, that I could help her forget the past in moments like these-

"Eeee!" I squeal, jumping away from Iris.

I look over at her, and see that she's laughing hysterically. So not funny.

"What the hell?!"

In between fits of laughter she tells me, "I... was just... trying to get your attention... but you weren't listening, so I poked you and... you're ticklish!" At that she collapses into a fit of giggles, which I'll admit is adorable but I'm too embarrassed by that awful scream I let out when she poked me to let myself be distracted by it.

"I dont know what you're talking about, i'm not ticklish. I was just surprised, thats all." I say trying to cover for myself.

The last thing I need is Iris knowing how ticklish I am. I'll never hear the end of it.

"Mhmm okay Raine. Whatever you say." She replies sarcastically.

"I'm serious!" I tell her, but she just rolls her eyes.

I'm about to say something else when she starts walking faster and points ahead of us.

"Ooh look!" Iris exclaims, pointing ahead of us.