MCSM: The Forest Temple

Part 10 (Jesse)

"I think she's waking up!" A deep voice called out.

"LUKAS!" Jesse sat straight up, but saw her brother standing beside her instead. Carson and Petra walked towards her, "Where's Lukas?" Jesse asked. Everyone averted their eyes and Jesse noticed that Jess and Petra had red rings around their bloodshot eyes. "It wasn't a nightmare?" She muttered and stood up off of the rock they set her down on while she was out. She jumped into her brother's open arms, "Why? Why did he save me? Why did we come on this dumb trip in the first place? Why did this have to happen?" Jess rubbed her back, "I don't know, but it must've happened for a reason. He saved your life."

"No," Jesse pushed her brother away, "My best friend is gone because of me!" She turned around and walked into a corner of the cave and flopped onto the ground. Carson approached her, "I'm sorry-"

"Leave me alone." Jesse interrupted him, "Sorry doesn't bring back the dead." Carson dipped his head, "Let me know if you need anything." He looked hurt as he walked away. Once he was gone, she pulled out the crutch that Lukas carved for her. She traced her fingers over it thinking about her friend, "Rueben, Ellegard, and now Lukas?" It sounded so unreal. She stood up and clutched the crutch. Now I'll hold onto his promise and get us out of here. Sitting here wasting time isn't going to bring Lukas back. She wiped tears from her eyes and approached the others, "Let's go." The others nodded and they walked slowly, grief taking over three of them.

Petra approached Jesse, "Hey," Jesse didn't respond, so Petra continued, "You were Lukas' best friend. He told me that he had no idea what he would do without you." She laughed at the memory, "I was a little bit jealous at first since I knew him longer, but I saw a bond between the two of you that in unbreakable."

Jesse smiled slightly, "Thanks, that's nice to know." Tears started to roll down her cheeks, "Dang it Petra, you're breaking the dam!" She fake laughed. Petra stopped and hugged Jesse tightly, "I know he would've wanted you to know that." They continued to walk.

"Remember that every single time we fell into a hole, Axel would land directly on Lukas?" Jesse smiled. Petra laughed, "Yeah. I'm surprised he survived that! He was really strong." Petra started to cry too, "Remember when everybody thought that Lukas was the White Pumpkin? They wanted to lock the poor guy in a closet! You weren't about to let that happen." 

Jesse nodded, "I remember." They continued to talk about Lukas and his crazy life when Jess approached and asked if he could talk to Jesse for a little bit. Petra nodded and started to walk away, but Jesse had one last thing to say, "Thanks Petra. It helped a lot to talk about him." Petra smiled, "Same to you." She left the twins alone. Jesse turned to her brother waiting for him to speak. Her brother put a hand on her shoulder, "I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling? Nobody was closer to Lukas than you were. I can only imagine how you must feel."

Jesse stared at the ground, "To be honest, I feel as if my heart fell into that pool of lava. I just don't know anymore." Jess shook his head, "I could tell you two were close, and it was almost suspicious." Jess wiped a tear, "I'm an overprotective brother and all, but I kinda feel bad." Jesse looked up at him, "About what?"

Jess continued. "I would always tease him saying that he liked you, but I didn't realize how much he truly liked you until he died to save your life like that." Jesse shook her head, slightly blushing, "He was my best friend." Her brother tried to read her gaze, "If you don't mind answering... Did you like him more than a best friend?"

She sniffed, "Yes, I should have told him." Jess gave her a sad look and grabbed her hand, "He knows. If you feel it here," He said placing a hand on his heart, "You will be just as sure as I am about it. He's still with us." Jesse thought about what he said, "Thanks Jess, I'll do that." They hugged each other and Jess glanced at Carson, "Not saying that I like this guy or anything, but you kind of offended him earlier. I think you should go talk to him." Jesse didn't really feel like talking to him, but her brother was right. She was a huge jerk to him earlier. "Okay," She agreed.

She approached Carson, "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, I was just trying to soak it all in." Carson smiled, "Thanks princess. I understand how you feel. I've had the same thing happen to me." He stared off into the distance for a moment. Jesse glanced up at him, He really must understand how I feel. I shouldn't have assumed that he couldn't relate to how I feel. He continued, "My fiance and I were going on a walk through the woods one day, just like every other day, when a mob of zombies snuck up behind us. I tried to save her, but I was too late." Tears rolled down his cheeks. Jesse frowned as he continued, "I have two scars from it and now I always wear this hoodie so that I don't have to relive the awful experience." He took off his hoodie and Jesse saw a mid-healing piece of skin on the left side of his neck, and another on his stomach. Jesse lightly touched the injury on his stomach and he flinched. 

"Sorry," She apologized, "Does it still hurt?" He put his hoodie back on, "A little bit." He turned to Jesse, "Can I ask you a personal question?" She nodded and he asked, "Were you and Lukas... together?" Jesse shook her head, "No, but I wish I just told him how I feel. That is by far my biggest regret."

Carson's eyebrows raised, "That surprises me. He did not like it at all when I flirted with you, but I can assure you that even though I hardly knew him, he felt the same way that you do about him." Jesse sighed, "That's what everybody keeps telling me. I wish I had realized it sooner."

Carson grabbed her hand and squeezed it, not sure what to say to comfort her.