Maybe

Chapter 26

I emerged from the crystal clear, freezing cold water and ran my numb hands through my silky hair. I leaned back until the water was completely supporting me and I floated. I stared at the sky as I felt the sun burn my skin. I knew it was time to return to camp before Grayson got too worried. The first couple weeks after Ethan's death were hard for both of us. He had the especially hard job of keeping me alive. I was in such a state of sadness that even leaving me alone for 5 minutes could have resulted in my untimely death. I was slowly gaining my freedom back when I left for my daily swim in the lake nearby.

I swam over to the edge of the lake and reached for the towel that I had hung on a low tree branch. After drying off and getting dressed, I made the short trek back to the camp. By camp I mean a sad fire pit and two small tents placed as far away as possible from each other. That was my idea. I don't care if Grayson had saved my life. I don't care if it has been 6 months since the fire. He still killed the only person that I loved and I don't trust him.

The second I stepped foot on the campsite I retreated to my tent. I hung my towel up to dry, grabbed my dull switchblade, and sat down in front of the large tree that my tent was propped up against. I dragged the blade down in a straight line on the tree trunk, right next to the other vertical lines. Today marked the 6-month anniversary of the fire. I don't know why I kept track of this; it made me feel more human somehow to know a relative suggestion of time passed. I set the blade down and stepped out of my comforting tent. Grayson had read my mind and was already seated by the fire, warming our last two cans of beans. I sat down across from him and stared at the glowing orange and red flames trying not to think too much about the heat it was giving off.

"How are you?" Grayson asked skeptically

He had asked the same question everyday for the past 6 months and has always gotten a different answer. I would mostly respond with yelling, crying, or silence. It was usually silence.

"Fine." I responded

Today felt different. I wasn't angry, sad, or depressed. I wasn't any emotion.

"Come on, Olivia, I know you well enough to know that that is not the truth. How are you?" He asked again

"Grayson?" I asked

"Yes?" He responded

"Why do you care?" I asked

It was a little harsh, but when someone has spent the past 6 months dedicated to keeping you alive and healthy, you wonder these things.

"What do you mean?" Grayson asked

He was taken aback. This was turning into a full conversation; something that I hadn't voluntarily been involved in for months.

"Why do you care? You have risked your life to keep me alive and you don't even know me." I said

"I know you well enough." Grayson said

"You don't know me at all." I replied

"I know that you... always double knot your shoelaces, never smile, like salt on literally any food, always wear that necklace but won't tell me what it means, would've rather died for my brother than have him die for you, and could survive for a long time without any help from me." Grayson said, "I know you more than you think. We are a team now and we have to keep each other alive."

"Be honest with me. Did you start the fire?" I asked

"Technically, yes." Grayson said

"Figuratively?" I asked

"No. It was Ethan's plan the whole time. I've told you this before." Grayson said

"But this time I'm finally ready to listen." I said

There was a pause.

"I miss him, Grayson." I said as I watched a single tear fall and land in the dirt beneath me

"I do too." Grayson replied

There was another pause.

"You're right." I said

"About what?" He asked

"About us being a team. We have to start acting like one." I said

"And how do you suggest we do that?" He asked

"There are a lot of unanswered questions with you which makes me not want to trust you. But, from now on, the past is in the past, and we have to start focusing on the future. I don't care about what you did to me in the past, it's gone now, deal?" I asked

"Deal." Grayson said as he reached over the fire to shake my hand

Another team member. Good plan, Olivia, because the first time worked out so great. Because the first one didn't end in tears and pain. I could feel that this time would be different though. I willed it to be different. It had to be different.