Purple

Chapter 6

I'm not sure how long I slept there for, considering I don't know what time I got here or what time I fell asleep. I didn't dream, or at least I think I didn't. I don't remember it either way.

I slowly open my eyes. I don't sit up immediately and look around like in the movies. I simply lay on the ground, my hair sprawled out around my head like some sort of halo. I look up at the sky and try to process what happened just hours before. Maybe minutes before. Or maybe days. Or even years. Maybe I've been asleep for years because this clearing in the middle of the thick woods is magical. C'mon, what are you, seven?

I think the childish fairy tale story out of my head and avert my attention back to what happened. Oh yeah. I nearly forgot about the nine year old girl who got freaking run over by a car.I wonder if she's alive. The image of her small bloody body on the ground crawls back into my head, but I push it away. I can't think about that anymore.

I finally sit up and blink my eyes over and over. The sun is less bright before, and it looks like it's starting to go down. I squint and reach into my back pocket, pulling my phone out of it. I stare at my reflection in the black screen for a moment before turning it on. My hair is sticking out of the bun I put it in and my mascara is smudged under my eyes from crying.

Not wanting to see my just-woke-up ugliness anymore, I turn on the phone and look at the time. It's 4:03. I've been asleep for four hours. I wonder if people are looking for me. What if they think I ran away or got kidnapped or eaten by wild dogs or something. I shudder. The thought of everyone I love being worried about me makes me shiver. Not with cold, but with worry.

I hear a rustling of leaves from behind me. I whip my head around so fast my neck might snap. I see a figure coming down the path that leads to the clearing. I grab a stick from beside me, not caring that it might as well be a gun without bullets.

The figure gets closer. I squint my eyes as the sun is blocking my view of who it is. When the person enters the clearing, I don't have to squint anymore. I watch as Jeremy walks out of the woods, into the clearing, and up to me. He's wearing a different shirt now. I stead of the call of duty shirt he had on earlier today, he is wearing a orange button down shirt. Orange, his favorite color. He smiles down at me.

"I thought I might find you here."

I tilt my head slightly as I look up at him. I don't say anything just yet. I guess I'm still a little bit out if it. Normally I'd come up with some snarky comeback, but my head just isn't in it. I simply nod my head. It's then that I notice he's holding something. Well more then one thing, that is.

In his arms he holds a Star Wars themed blanket, a large pillow, and a big bag of salt and vinegar potato chips, both of our favorite. He sets the blanket down next to me then lays the pillow at the head of the blanket. His smile doesn't leave his face as he sits down on the blanket and puts the chips in front of him. He looks at me strangely and gestures to the spec next to him.

"Well, are you gonna sit down or what?"

I nod again and stand up, brushing hrs grass of my back and butt. I sit back down, but this time on the blanket next to Jeremy. I cross my legs and open the bag of potato chips, reaching in and grabbing one. I pop it in my mouth and hear Jer speak again.

"Well you certainly aren't very talkative today, are you?"

I shrug. I don't really feel like talking. Jeremy sighs.

"Well you're gonna have to say something."

I look up from the bag of chips and say the first thing that comes to mind.

"Why'd you come?"

His expression changes

"Huh?"

I roll my eyes, the first sign of attitude I've shown since the accident.

"Why'd you come and find me?"

I look back down at the chips and pop another in my mouth, but I can tell Jer's smiling without having to look at him.

"What, did you think you could hide away from everything without me coming to get you?" I shake my head and smile slightly.

"Maybe I should hide better next time"

He laughs when I say this. I suddenly have a huge wave of gratitude for him. I lean over to him and wrap my arms around him, pulling him close to me in a hug and holding him tightly.

"Thanks Jer", I say into his shoulder, not sure what I'm thanking him for. But I know he understands.

I feel him wrap his arms around me in return. I feel his breath on my back as he rests his chin on my head.

"You're welcome, Scar."

I close my eyes and breath into his shoulder, taking in the comforting smell of dish soap and tangerines. We stay like that for a while. Not saying anything, but hugging. Hugging like it's our last day alive. Because who knows, maybe it is.