Are we friends or are we more?

Chapter 17

The frosty ground crunches beneath our feet as we walk through the woods. Joe and I have ended up walking at the front of the group and far away from the others. I turn back to see if they are still there but all I can see is Zoe and Alfie walking along holding hands and giggling about something. The older people must be walking slower, I guess they are quite old now. John and Lisa especially. "Looks like we have lost the senior members of our adventure." I say turning back to Joe. 

"They are old." Joe says."By the time we get home they might of finally made it to the end of the street." 

I smile. "It's cold." I say breathing out to demonstrate that you can see my breath when I do so.

Joe breaths too. "Look at me! I'm a dragon!" He says. 

"No you're not Joe." I say smiling slightly when I remember how we used to always play this game when we were little. Joe used to chase me around for hours and I would scream so much. Life used to be so easy and simple.

"Oh, well who invited miss boring on the walk?" Joe teases me. I sigh and the air that comes out of my nose curls up into the air. "You're a dragon too!?" Joe cries. 

I try not to smile, I'm not in the mood to play a childish game like this. "Joe, I'm not in the mood." I say.

"But we can be dragons together." He says tugging at my hand.

I let him take my hand, after all I know he is just trying to cheer me up. What harm can there be in a little childish game? Joe grins as he takes my hand in his and then starts to pull me onwards so I walk quicker. I let a small smile spread across my face and when Joe sees that I'm smiling he starts to run, dragging me through the woods. "Quick." Joe shouts. "Before the dragon hunter gets us."

A laugh escapes my lips as we run even faster. For a moment I feel like we really are running from a evil dragon slayer who wants to kill us.  Joe laughs too and it gives me butterflies in my stomach at the sound of his laugh. I don't want to feel butterflies though, I want to pretend none of this is happening, that my family aren't arguing and that I'm not so confused about Joe. I start to slow down running a little out of breath. 

"I'm too old for this." I say as we both start walking again.

Joe sighs and lets go of my hand. "Are you alright Autumn?" He asks concern grows on his face.

I sigh, I guess I have been pretty moody today. I'm just tired and fed up of my family, the sooner I get away the better. I guess I miss Harper too. "Yeah, sorry I'm being moody. I've just had a crap Christmas to be honest."

"Well perhaps I have something that will cheer you up." Joe says shoving his hands in his pockets. "But first promise you won't kill me?"

"Why?" I narrow my eyes looking at Joe, his cheeks are tinted slightly pink and he looks embarrassed. 

"I know we said we weren't going to get each other presents, but I saw this and I thought of you. I just had to get it." Joe says.

I look at him, though we said we weren't going to get presents I got him one too but I had it ordered to the apartment and it didn't come on time. It will be there for when we both get home."What is it?" I ask, curious to what could remind Joe of me. 

He brings a navy blue box out of his pocket, it looks big enough to hold a bracelet. I feel my cheeks blush red at how romantic this all is. Joe hands me the box and we both stop walking. I take the box in my hands. Trembling slightly because of the cold and because I'm curious to see what gift he has got me. I open up my box and have to catch my breath slightly. Inside is a beautiful sliver chain bracelet with one single maple leaf on it. The leaf is bright orange and looks like they would in Autumn. "It's not much." Joe says shifting a little awkwardly in front of me. 

I look up from the dainty bracelet to Joe. A smile spreads across me lips and I throw my arms around  Joe's neck. "It's beautiful Joe." I say in his ear. "It's perfect." 

He smiles at me as I pull away. "Want me to put it on for you?" 

I nod smiling and hand him the box before holding out my left wrist for him to put it on. Joe takes the bracelet out of it's box and gently puts it on my wrist. He fiddles with it for a few seconds trying to get the latch in the hook but eventually he does. "There." He says smiling, he looks quite proud of himself. 

I smile looking at the bracelet on my pale white wrist. "Very romantic." I joke. 

"Call me Mr Romance." He says as we start to walk again. 

"Its a shame I didn't get anything for you." I say still looking at my wrist.

"It's okay." Joe shrugs. "We did say no presents." 

"I'm joking!" I say punching him playfully in the arm with my left hand. "I knew you'd probably get me something, it's just waiting for you at home." I say.

"How exciting." Joe grins.