COUNTRY GIRL - The 7th summer

Chapter 26 - Tom

Haz comes out of the tent while Amelia is taking a look at my face. I glance at him but he looks away. My head hurts like hell but I think I remember everything about last night. I surely remember him punching me! I remember Amelia calling me Tom...and hugging me...and I know when I said I wanted to hug her, I was actually thinking about kissing her.

But it's just because I was drunk, right? I mean, I'm just trying to make friend with her, it's not like I am crushing on her. My feeling got mixed up because I miss Elle- Oh shit! Elle! I forgot about her!!

I sit up too fast and it makes my head hurts even more. I almost lose my balance but I manage to stay up and grab my phone. Shit, 11 unread messages...The last ones smells trouble for me

/E/ answer me!!

/E/ u better have fall asleep

I think about calling her but my headache is still throbbing and I don't think I can handle her coming at me. So I just text her quickly. Too quickly, cause I mention Amy and...

/E/ who's amy?!

/T/ just a friend of haz

She doesn't answer so I add "his girlfriend". But I still get nothing. Great, she's mad and she wants to give me the silent treatment? You know what, I don't care. I just want food and some painkillers right now!

When I look up from my phone, Haz and Amelia are in each other arms. He is whispering to her and even though I can't really make out what he's saying, I can tell he is apologising again. She kisses him gently so I guess she forgives him for what happened last night.

He doesn't deserve her...

What the hell am I thinking now?! I shake my head, which makes me wince because it hurts. I sit back on the log and grab a bottle of water. I feel a hand on my shoulder and lift my eyes up.

-- For the pain, says Amelia holding out a white pill.

-- Oh thank god, I mutter and swallow it with a big sip of water.

Haz and her sits too and we start eating breakfast. We talk about random things and it feels like Amelia is finally acknowledging me as someone worth talking too.

I mean we talk before but...It always felt more like she was talking to Haz and I happened to share the conversation. Maybe it was just me imagining that but she didn't seemed to really pay attention to what I was saying.

But now she actually looks at me and asks me about my stuntman career project. I don't even thought she knew that! I guess my drunk self asking her to be my friend must have had a positive effect on her...

The awkwardness of last night memories disappears at some point and my headache is gone too! We pack up and start heading back. I smile as Amelia step in between Haz and me, taking his hand. That's rather unusual too, but I like it! I take a glance at Haz but he doesn't seem to mind it.

As we reach the rope bridge, I see Amelia slowing the pace.

-- You did it once, chuckles Haz, you can do it again.

She makes a face and we both laugh. Like yesterday, I cross first to show her it's safe. A few rocks falls down from the edge but I don't think it's a big deal.

Haz kisses her before pushing her gently and she slowly makes her way on it. She keeps glancing at me and I reach out for her with my hand. Just when she's about to take it, I hear a loud crack and suddenly she's not there anymore.

-- Kitty, screams Haz rushing from the other side.

One of the wooden board just collapsed under her! Kitty managed to get a hold on the ropes and her left elbow is stuck on the remaining boards. She is clinging on the rope so hard her joints are white. Her face is pressed on the board and I can hear her making little squealing sounds.

I'm the closest so I get to her first and grab her by the armpit to lift her up. She's so freaking out that she won't let go of the rope!

-- I got you, I say tugging at her and she eventually open her fist.

I pull her up and she throws herself in my arm, sobbing. Haz has reached us but the hole in the bridge prevents him for getting closer. I wrap my arms around her and she presses harder against me, clinging at my hoodie. I lift her and walk back to solid ground.

-- Well, Amy Pond, I say trying to sooth her and me at the same time, it seems that I keep saving your life! You should call me doctor now!

Even Haz chuckles a bit as he leaps over the hole and met us on the edge. He puts his hand on her head and stroke her hair but she keeps holding me tight. I know it shouldn't make me feel the way I feel right now, but it does...I like having her in my arms.