Puzzles

Questions with two meanings

We decide not to stay in the same place for too long. Janet is already packing up the tents by the time I've come back from collecting water from the river the next morning. Woods aren't her thing. She was tossing and turning all night last night. She is pale in the morning and greets us with-

"We need to get moving." including a couple of yawns.

Janet walked ahead a lot. She also kept looking behind her and all around. Because of her fast walking, I am almost always walking with Luke. Awkward. We don't really know what to talk about. We would look at each other and smile.

To be honest, I find it sad that I no longer have that "friend" thing with Luke. Where we could just talk normally, without it being...well...awkward. Times change I guess.

By nighttime, we are still walking through the forest. Janet comes running back to us.

"Guys! Come! I've found the perfect place to stop!" She leads us to the edge of the forest, right on the edge of a cliff. If you look over the edge, you can see a beautiful city. All it's lights shine in the darkness. Cars move around and posters flash advertisements.

"It's beautiful." I manage. Janet seems to be pleased too.

"Yes! And look! There's a cave we can go in if it starts to rain." I turn around. She's right, there is a small cave. But I  instantly think of all the spiders and the things that will have thought hiding in the cave wouldn't be such a bad idea too, maybe even living in there. I imagine waking up and sitting on an ants nest.

"You know, I think I might sleep out here, it's a beautiful view." I say.

"Yeah, me too." Luke says. Oh great. More awkwardness. Janet rolls her eyes.

"Suit yourselves!" She goes into the cave to set up a place to sleep. Luke looks at me. I avoid making eye contact and lie on a small patch of grass, staring at the stars.

"I'm guessing you were thinking of the bugs as well?" He asks me. I nod.

"Um, yeah." I can tell he is lying

"My mother always used to say that the stars had a pattern and once you figured it out, you could see Jupiter." He says.

"A bit like a puzzle?" I ask.

"Yep." Awkward silence.

"Thalia, there's something I have to ask you." I know what's coming. I didn't want him to say it, I'm not sure if I'll like it or not.

"Are you going to be Queen is Sebastian won't be king?" Oh. I didn't expect that. I feel slightly let down by that. I won't ever know what I would of felt like if he had asked me out.

"I-I don't know, I'd just be killed by my own people." I say miserably.

"And, after this is all over, do you wanna meet up?"

"Well, yeah, after all, you guys are my friends." I say, completely oblivious to what that really means.

"Right. Friends." He says slowly and sadly. "Well, I'm gonna sleep. Night." Before I can say a word he gets up and lies down on a separate patch of grass, far away from me. I suddenly realise what that means. But I don't want to choose between Asher and Luke.

Boys, I think, too confusing! I roll my eyes, roll onto my side and shut my eyes, blocking everyone out from the world.