Analise

Chapter Three

"Does everyone have their bag?" Leland asks before they all walk up to the building. They nod and walk into the little place.

"Hi, welcome the the Great Smoky Mountains. What can I help you with?" The lady at the front asks with and over the top smile. Taylor ignores the lady and her brother's voice and looks out the window.

She stares out into the trees. She sees the sun just coming up and the mist that's still on the ground. She stares at the little river that runs through the trees. "Taylor." She looks up to see her brother motioning for her to come over. She jogs as she realizes everyone's already out. "Come on slow poke." He says.

"Really?" She asks and then starts running. He's stares at her back before running to catch up. Taylor runs as fast as she can with the backpack bouncing, but her brother catches up and grabs her.

"Yes really." He says with a cocky smile.

"You and your long legs." Taylor says out of breath. The rest of the group is talking while catching up to us.

"Don't know why you race with him." Layla says swinging her arm around Taylor.

"Because he's a brat and if I wasn't so short I could beat him." She says glaring at her brother.

"Keep telling yourself that." Leland says. Taylor turns towards him and trips over the bumpy trail. She lands on her butt and groans. Leland grabs her hand and pulls her up. "You good?"

"Yeah," She says rubbing her back.

"Learn how to walk." Layla says. Taylor looks over at her and the pushes her. "You lead the way." She says looking down at the trail. Layla begins walking in front of her and she follows behind her.

The rest of the group spreads out along the trail.

"Remind me who decided to go hiking?" Chloe asks bending over on her knees.

"Wasn't it Julia and Carson?" Leland asks.

"Don't blame us." Carson says with raised hands as Chloe glares at them.

"You said it was a good idea." Austin says.

"It seemed like one." Carson says back taking a breather.

"You all are so out of shape." Layla says stopping to wait for everyone. Taylor stops behind her and looks back at everyone. Leland's leaning against a tree and the rest of the group is doing similar things.

Taylor walks around Layla and walks up to the cliff. She drops her bag and looks over the edge. She watches the water crashes to the pond below. The water isn't crystal clear, it's got more of a dark blueish color.

She lays down on her belly and moves towards the water. She reaches her hand out and water splashes her. "Trying to get yourself killed again?" She hears from behind her. She turns and looks up at Austin.

"I won't get hurt." She says looking back down at the pond. Austin lays down about a foot from her and looks down.

"And this doesn't terrify you?" He asks holding onto the edge tightly.

"No, why are you?" She asks glancing over at him.

"Yes. One slip and I could be dead." He says looking back down. "And that's a long drop." He says and pulls himself further from the edge.

"Afraid of heights?" She says not looking up.

"Afraid of the fall so yes." He says looking over at her. Her hair is pulled into a high ponytail and she doesn't have any makeup on. She's in a dark purple long sleeved shirt and black leggings with tennis shoes on.