Shape Shifting Love

Chapter Eleven

Chapter 11

Michaela

It has been 10 minutes since we left the blanket, about 25 since the event in the woods. It doesn’t seem like we will be stopping any time soon which I am relieved at so I can have some time with my thoughts.

My feet trudge along the wood floor, kicking pieces of wood and stones when they appear in front of me. But all the time I’m here with Mason; and after her kissed me, I am overwhelmed with warmth. I don’t know why, I’ve never felt this way about him or in fact about anyone else before. He makes me feel so; complete I guess that is how I would describe it. Ever since he kissed me I have felt complete with him around and when he isn’t I’ve felt as if I am missing something, someone.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts by Mason tugging me away from a fallen tree.

“Whoa, watch your step there,” he playfully says with a wide grin on his face.

“Thanks Mason,” I reply, my voice a little more cheerful than I intended but what the heck I am happier. I give him a small smile in return for his and tighten my grip on his hand.

After another 10 minutes of walking I get lost in my thoughts again. So lost that I trip on an unearthed root and crash to the floor.

“Oh my gosh, are you ok?” I look up to see Mason’s worried face above me.

“Yeah, I just tripped that’s all.” I begin to push myself up using my hands and then Mason helps me up. When I am eventually standing a shooting pain fills my ankle and I wince at the pain.

“You ok?” Mason asks me.

“No actually I think I’ve hurt my ankle,” now hobbling on the spot Mason looks down to my feet and then back up to my eyes.

“Can you walk?” I can see the worry in his eyes again, I try to put my foot down but quickly pull it off the floor when the pain returns. Shaking my head in response to Mason a tear seems to have escaped down my cheek.

The next thing I know Mason has lifted me up so he is carrying me in his arms. I bury my face into his t-shirt and let even more tears escape my eyes.

“Shhhh, everything will be fine.” Mason hushes to comfort me which to my surprise works. I look up at him through watery eyes, he looks so strong. And now I wonder if he really mean that kiss, at first I thought he did but then I talked myself out of it. But now I’m convincing myself that he did all over again. Hayley finally stops after about 30 minutes of walking. Mason settles me down on the floor besides him.

The small opening we stop in is surrounded by foliage of green leaves which also covers the sky, only allowing small patches of light to enter. When the others enter the opening Catherine sits beside me. Kate and Leo surprisingly have been collecting wood on the go and dump it into the middle of the circle which has now formed. Once they have placed the wood into a tent like shape Kate sits next to Mason and Leo next to her. Hayley sits opposite me clutching her notebook tightly to her chest.

“Ummm, does anybody have a lighter or matches?”

Kate pulls out a lighter from her back pocket which doesn’t surprise me one bit. She leans over towards the pile of wood and sets it alight.  Hayley then takes out the necklace from her pocket and places it on the floor in front of her.

“What’s next then?” Mason turns to look at Hayley as she flicks through her notebook before finding the correct page.

“Errr… there’s a song that someone needs to sing while everyone holds hands and imagines their umm…. Family.” Hayley swallows and then her eyes dart between the five of us sitting around the fire.