Kernington, Oregon.

=={Chapter 4}==

A/N: Picture of Aspen aboveeee! (yes that is Cole Sprouse <3 )

Aspen's P.O.V.
"So you want all of this?" The cashier asked. I nodded my head. Why else would I have bought it?

"I thought you just got groceries yesterday?" She said, eyeing me. I sighed, having already told her.

"Yeah, and this is for-" I started, but was instantly cut off.

"Dad!?" A female voice said across the square (yes, technically it was a roundabout but we call it Hilved Square), instantly causing me to turn in curiosity. There stood a very pretty, brown haired, 20-ish year old woman with her jaw dropped open directed towards who I assumed to be her father.

"How did you get here?!" She asked loudly. The man chuckled.

"You mean how did it get out of jail?" He asked. He was in jail? What for?

"Yes! I mean, I don't want to know! Dad, you can't keep doing this! Now that mom is dead-" The woman started, only to cut herself off realizing everyone was staring at her and listening. She grabbed her fathers arm and pulled him to the side.

"Aspen. Helloooo." The cashier said, chuckling. I apologised and payed for the few groceries I had. I was about to start walking towards the cabin where I was delivering the groceries when the woman started yelling again.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled at her father. The man reached firward abd tried to grab her arm.

"No! Go away, Dad! I don't want you here!" She screamed in his face. He kept trying to grab her. I immediately set my stuff down and ran over.

"Hey, I know it's none of my business-" I started.

"You're right, it is none of your business! Now you will come with me, Finley!" The man yelled at the girl, who was apparently Finley. She shook her head hard, her hair swinging everywhere.

Done with this bull, I stepped in between Finley and her dad. I crossed my arms and spread my legs to show him that I meant business.

"She's not going with you. Not now, not ever. I suggest you get back in that piece of junk you call a trunk and go back to where you came from. Alone." I said, a little anger twisting into my words as this guy was ticking me off. My words only made the man smirk.

"Or what?" He asked. I leaned close and whispered in his ear.

"Or I'll call the cops and tell them exactly where you are and that you are attempting to kidnap someone. That should put you in a high security jail for a long time." I said threatening him. He glared at me after I backed away, still blocking his view from Finley.

"Is that a threat?" He asked, his voice thick with something I couldn't identify.

"You bet it is." I replyed. I stared him down for a few more seconds before he stormed off, throwing a tantrum that would impress a 3 year old. He got in his truck and drove away. Turning back around, I saw Finley wipe away a few tears.

"Hey. Are you crying?" I asked, my voice quiet and soft. She laughed.

"No, my eyes are sweating." She said, her voice nasally from crying. I laughed, causing her to glance up at me.

"Finley James." She said, sticking out her small hand.

"Aspen Ryland." I said, taking her hand. Compared to her's my hand is huge. After the hand shake she looked around.

"Oh crap." Finley said her face falling.

"What?" I asked.

"My tour guide ran off." She explained. I laughed.

"Yeah, she has a tendency to do that." I replied. Sheryl, who has been our tour guide for 4 years, always runs off and tells everyone when there's gossip. The only problem is that no one cares.

"Ugh, now I have no idea where I'm supposed to live." Finley complained.

"Where were you supposed to stay?" I asked.

"I think she called it the old brown bear cabin?" She said, confused.

"Actually, I was just going to drop these groceries off to the old lady that lives in the black bear cabin, which is right next to the brown bear cabin." I explained. She smiled.

"Oh! Cool. Care to lead me there?" She asked, biting her lip. I laughed.

"Absolutely."

---
Finn's P.O.V.
---
Aspen lead me halfway through the roundabout to the other road. This road was bumpy pavement that quickly lead to a dirt road. The road occasionally branched off to a house, and after 30 more minutes of walking (and me complaining about my feet and heels) we finally came to the end of the road. There sat three log cabins. The one to the far left was black, the one across from us was brown, and the one to the right of us was white.

"Wow. I'm assuming that's black bear," I started, pointing at the black cabin, "that one is brown bear," I continued, pointing at the brown one across from us, "and that one is...?" I trailed off, not knowing what the white one was.

"Polar bear." Aspen said. I laughed.

"What?" He asked, his face serious.

"Nothing." I continued, starting to walk towards my cabin and Aspen starting to walk towards the black bear one. I only got a small glance at my house when I heard a scream coming from the black bear house.

I ran outside and met Aspen in the middle of the small opening.

"What? What is it?" I asked. Aspen only started at me with wide eyes.

"Aspen, you can tell me." I said softly, taking his hand to comfort him.

"Sh-sh-she's..." Aspen started, squeezing my hand.

"What?" I asked. Aspen swallowed.

"She's dead."

---
A/N: Yeah, sorry not sorry for the cliffhanger. In this chapter we meet Aspen and Finley's dad. Also, Finley's neighbor turns out to be dead. What are they going to do with the house now?

Thanks for reading!

Ttylxoxo,