Somewhere in Alaska

Chapter Nine

After walking for an hour in complete silence, David couldn't help but to think about what was wrong with Stephanie, he wasn't used to the constant silence. He grabbed a hold of her arm,

"Stephanie stop a minute please."

"What's wrong? Are you feeling ok?" she asked whilst looking concerned.

"I'm fine, I just I don't want to nag, but I saw you and Amber talking. I noticed that it wasn't your usual type of conversation, you looked angry. Now you don't seem to be talking to her at all and you've gone very quiet."

"David please,"

"I'm sorry, I am, but something is wrong with you, I can tell."

"She's just being a bitch that's all," she said as she went to walk ahead again.

Surprised by what Stephanie had said, David grabbed her arm again,

"Now I know something is wrong. I've not heard you talk about anyone like that, what did she say to you? Is it because of having to search for Leon? They don't have to help, did you tell her that?"

"It's nothing to do with Leon. Do you really want to know?" she asked in a fed up tone.

"It's bothering you, whatever she has said has upset you and yes I'd like to know. Please?"

"Ok well I'll tell you. We need to keep walking though, time isn't on our side after having to go back for those lot."

"Ok well walk and talk, please try to calm down." replied David as they started to walk again.

As they continued to walk, Stephanie tried to think of a way to word what Amber had said, she didn't want David taking offence. The way she saw it, no matter what she said, it would still make David look bad, so she just came out with it.

"Amber doesn't think it's a good idea for me to get involved with you."

"Well I think it's a little late for that, don't you?"

"Well yeah, but she thinks that your emotions are all mixed up. She said with everything you're going through you are probably vulnerable."

"I see," said David as they continued to walk, he was a little shocked so didn't really know what else to say.

"I couldn't even work out if she thinks I'm taking advantage of you, or if it's the other way around, she gave mixed opinions."

"Why would she even think something is going on between us? Did you tell her what happened last night?"

"No, of course I didn't, but she saw you kiss me at the camp, that's when it all kicked off, and she can just tell anyway. She's known me for years, she can see that I have feelings for you. From what I can gather, she thinks that you're only close to me because you're lonely, and that you'll clear off as soon as we've found Leon."

David took hold of Stephanie's hand and stopped walking, he looked into her eyes,

"Stephanie, listen to me. Yes I'm going through a lot, yes I'm worried about Leon, he's my brother, my only brother. He's all the family I've got left, but it doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm feeling here," he said as he placed his other hand on his chest, "we both know we have something, we know how we feel about each other, isn't that what matters?"

"Of course, I just, I'm mad at her for what she said. She doesn't even know you, and if she thinks I'd take advantage of you then she doesn't know me either."

"She doesn't think that of you Steph. It's me, she doesn't know me and she doesn't trust me, which is understandable really. We've known each other for less than a week, she's your best friend and she's just concerned that's all, it's what friends do."