Perpetually Dreaming

Chapter 9-Sneaking Out

((1532 words))
Chapter 9-Sneaking Out

Everyone went to sleep around nine, exhausted from waking up so early. I stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep, thoughts of guilt consuming my mind. Will really just wanted to hang with his friends, I shouldn't be getting in the way of that. Plus, it's not like I really want to be here, I would rather be in my own bed with my laptop, playing a game with H.

I turned over and found myself staring at Liam, unaware that he was awake as well. Ignoring the initial creepiness of the situation, I found myself completely content in his gaze, the problems from before no longer bothering me in the slightest. Bringing my hand to his face, I swept away a few loose curls that had managed to scatter themselves across his forehead in the few minutes we'd been trying to sleep.

We shared a small, wholesome kiss, the entire world melting around us, my woes of not being good enough for his friends melting away. I rested my forehead against his and smiled, nothing seeming to matter anymore. There was near nothing that could move me from this moment, finally feeling safe on this trip.

But it got too hot, the air too stuffy to breathe in. Pulling away, I sat on the top of the ladder, staring off into the darkness. I felt Liam come over and rest his head on my shoulder, his arms wrapping around me. A thought crossed my mind, too extra to actually follow through with, but I did it anyways.

Hopping down the ladder, I opened my hand to gesture Liam to do the same. As soon as he did, I took his hand, slipped on my flats, and walked out the door, Liam following suit. I sprinted down the stairs and walked out into the field. Liam gave me a quizzical look and asked, "What exactly are we doing out here?"

"Well," I begun to say, stopping in front of the forest line. "I mostly came here to hang out with Ally, and I wasn't really expecting the tagalongs of all your pals. Like no offense, but I'd rather it be just me and her. But since you're here too, and Ally is pretty caught up in Zach, me and you are gonna hang out, just us, to make up for it."

He smiled and looked down at me, towering over me by half a foot, tucking some hair behind my ear. He seemed to want to say something about what Id said, but didn't. Rather he broke his gaze from me and stared up at the sky, smiling like a fool. I looked up to see what he was smiling at and noticed the night sky. Without any light pollution or clouds to dilute it, the moon and stars shining brightly down on us.

"See the big dipper?" He said, pointing out at the skies. I followed his finger and noticed the formation taking up the sky. He explained to me how to find the north star, A bright blue circle that formed the handle of the little dipper. Liam explained to me the constellations making up the starry night sky, his right arm around me and his left pointing to the stars.

I sat on the edge of the whale, not comfortable standing for so long, Liam doing the same after finishing explaining the history of Ursa Major and Minor. Something about Hera being jealous of Zeus cheating on her and Zeus trying to protect his two kids. The well seemed steady enough to be sat on by the both of us, so he joined me, putting his arm back over my shoulder. I leaned into him, not necessarily dressed for the weather and craving more warmth.

We sat together in that wholesome moment for a bit, when I heard a rustle in the woods. I don't this California has wolves, but bears are definitely a problem. I found myself clutching Liam's shirt, praying to whatever deities are out there that I don't die tonight. I gotta at least get my degree before I kick the bucket! I don't want to die with all this debt! Or live with it! ... actually, hold on, I might just need to drop out from college entirely.

Not the point.

A shadow crept through the moonlit area, casting itself to be a large beast-like creature. I held my breath and locked my eyes on where the creature should be, judging by its shadow. As much as I know he wanted to, Liam couldn't provide much help to me. Love the guy, but two gamers face to face with a bear is not great odds. Taking in the last breaths of Liam's shirt I might ever get, I turned around in hopes to brave the bear head on.

The shadow grew larger and larger as it approached us, taking up at least a ten by ten-foot area. I clutched Liam's hand as I stood up, refusing to let myself die sitting down and not even putting up a fight, but at the same time, I think I might pee my pants. Leafs crushed and twigs broke under the weight of the beast, striking more fear into my heart than you could possibly know.

Finally, it arose out of the woods. Solid black fur, eyes iridescent like snake venom, and a whole, towering, unbe-freaking-lievable...

Foot tall.

Twas but was a cat.

The small creature purred as it walked over to us, unaware of the terror it caused the both of us mere moments before. I buckled at the knees and collapsed to the ground, adrenaline no longer holding me upright. Liam rushed to my side and helped me sit up, him being way calmer than I was in the moment. I let out a sigh and buried my head into his shoulder as the small cat pounced onto his lap.

Liam kept his arm around me, taking deep breaths as he realized what nearly happened, saying to the cat, "You coulda killed me, buddy! But you didn't and I'm forever grateful to you for that. Yes, I am! Aw, your such a g--" he momentarily paused as he realized that calling cats good boy is weird. "Pretty kitty! Awe the prettiest of kitties! Yea buddy! Wait-- no, don't do-- OUCH"

The cat had gotten fed up with the obnoxious amount of attention and decided to bite him. Huh. Maybe it really is a dangerous beast of the night, who needs bears anyways? Well except Wojtek, the Swedish war bear, I mean (the Swedish war bear). We need him. Without acknowledging what it had done to H, the cat pranced back into the woods like it hadn't even been here.

I took Liam's hand to make sure that he wasn't bleeding, and, thank the goddess, it was hardly a scratch. The wound probably needs to be flushed to keep from infection, but the moment was perfect around us and we can take care of it later. I let his hand drop from where I was holding it in the moonlight and returned my head to rest on his shoulder. The air was crisp feeling, with a little bit of a bite from the wind around us; it was perfect weather to die in if it really had been a bear in the woods.

Although I wanted to stay like that for a few more minutes at least, but I was in pyjama pants and a tee shirt. Not necessarily the proper outerwear for the weather. Liam stood up, pulling my hands to help me, before walking back to the hut and up the stairs. I paused for a moment before going in, causing Liam to halt and stand beside me. Looking through the window, I noticed a light on by who I could only assume was Shelby's bed.

I crouched by the window and listened to see if she was awake or not when I heard multiple female voices conversing in the house. I don't want to pry, but one was Shelby's and the other was definitely not. I waved Liam over to where I was and had him listen to their conversation, but only Shelby's words could clearly be heard.

"Yea yea, it's a date. I guess I'll see you tomorrow around noon? Yea." A pause. "My friends are probably all going off to do their own thing anyway, you aren't intruding on anything." More pausing. "Okay, goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow." She hung up the call and soon after turned off the light, seeming to go to sleep.

Liam and I shared a look of confusing about what just happened. Does Shelby already have a date this soon after Parker? And, on top of that, I always assumed she was straight? Whack. I support it, just didn't know that about her. Then again, I don't know very much about her in general.

Waiting until we knew for sure she was asleep, Liam and I crept back into the cabin, up to the ladder, and crashed into the bed, not even taking the time to cover up with a blanket.