The Unexpected

Chapter 18 (Part Two)

I'm baaaaack!

This is actually semi-edited, for once. :)

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Chapter 18 (Part Two)

I scrunched up my forehead. "In these? Surely you have something else, I mean your locker alone has four changes of clothing in it." I poked my finger in a hole tearing through the side of the white tee and wiggled it around. "Now, I'm in no way a fashion expert, but I'm pretty sure this mustard stain clashes with my shoes."

"Picky, picky." Tia rolled her eyes again before digging through a plastic sack in the back seat. I wondered if her eyes would eventually get stuck looking up.

Suddenly she threw something at me. I caught the fabric right before it had a chance to hit my face. I looked down to see I was holding a black lacy tank top and dark denim shorts. Odd attire for a trek through the woods in the freezing temperatures of night, but much better than a prom dress. I would still have my heels, though.

"Thank..." I trailed off when I realized Tia had left to stalk into the trees, "you?"

"Just get changed," she called from somewhere in the woods, "or something. I don't really care."

I raised my eyebrows but, after making sure Tia wasn't coming out of the trees anytime soon, pulled the shorts on under my skirts.

By the time Tia emerged I had folded my dress and stowed it away in the backseat. She was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and black jeans, both of which were too big on her, a strange contradiction with my outfit that left me shivering in the cold.

"Finally," I sighed when I saw her, anxious to get back, "I thought you had gotten eaten by a bear or something."

To my surprise she shot me a fiery glare before hooking a bag around her shoulder. "You wish," she muttered, so low I could barely make it out.

Um, okay? What was up with her? One minute she's apologized and feeling guilty and the next she's back to normal. Tia then suddenly smiled at me. I drew my eyebrows together in confusion.

Talk about serious bipolar issues.

She adjusted her bag, looked me up and down, and her lips tipped up again. "That'll do."

I tugged at the hem of the shorts, trying to cover more of my goose-bumped thighs. "These are pretty short for the middle of April."

"It's better than a dress." Tia shrugged, looking me over again before searching in her backpack . She took out a flashlight before scooting the bag further up her shoulders. "C'mon."

I followed her into the woods. The dark, scary, probably axe murderer infested woods.

Oh boy.

................

"Tia?" I said, trying to get her attention.

She sighed, running her hand through her short black hair and making it stick up a little. "What?"

"So, where are we headed exactly?"

"Somewhere."

"How long do you think it will take to get to 'somewhere'?"

"As long as it takes."

"How much far-"

"Oh, my gosh!" Tia cried, spinning on her heels to face me. "Would you shut up?"

I flinched.

She turned back around to continue walking, apparently in the direction of 'somewhere'. I stood still, watching her turn deeper into the trees.