The Dark Side

Chapter 21 - Sunset

"I'll go get firewood." I say as Vincent sets up the two tents that he and Zachary had gotten from Sector 6.

"I'll go with you." Drew stands up from beside Zachary halfway through the conversation he and Zachary were having about the IX. Zachary wanted to know more about the IX from us since he wants to find a way to kill it.

I nod and he catches up to me as I make my way into the forest, picking up good pieces of wood for the fire. "Hey, so, what were you going to say?" I ask him.

"About what?" Drew asks, confused.

"Remember the night that the Stranglers got us? Before they came. You were halfway through saying something when they came." I simplify, glancing over at him.

"Uh- I don't think I really remember. It's fine anyway. It wasn't that important." He says reaching his hand up to the back of his neck.

"But, if you forgot, then how do you know it 'wasn't that important'?" I urge.

"Jess, it wasn't that important. It doesn't matter." He says.

"Well, it must be since you want me to forget about it so bad." I continue, desperate to know what it was. I hate when I know someone else knows something so important, but I don't. It's just a thing with me.

"Hm. That's strange. I completely forgot it just then." He holds a hand up to his chin.

"Mm. How strange." I say.

"I know right." He acts surprised, but I know he knows what it was.

"Drew," I say, annoyed.

"Jess," He says in the same annoyed way.

"Just tell me. You know you can tell me anything."

"It's stupid anyway!" He exclaims.

I raise an eyebrow at him and he copies the face I make back to me. I giggle as he does so, but really exaggerated and strangely. "Guess what." I say.

"What?" He asks.

"You're still an idiot." I finish, before laughing as he holds a hand to his chest.

"Oh, my heart. I don't think I can take it anymore! I'm just so offended!" He exaggerates. I giggle at him. He looks up at the sky and something seems to catch his attention, "Quick, c'mere!" He exclaims and takes my hand.

"Oh my god, it's a repeat of yesterday!" I laugh.

"No, cause this time the Stranglers wouldn't be able to get to us." He smiles at me and gestures to the tree, "Ladies first." He says.

"Seriously?" I say, before climbing the tree. I hear him follow quickly. He taps my shoe before I can move it to the next branch, "Stop!" I laugh.

"Go faster then, you old lady." He says.

"Hey! I'm going slower now." I say, stopping for three seconds before grabbing the next branch and stopping for three seconds again.

"Okay, I'm sorry!" He laughs, "This tree will grow ten times it's size before we get to the top if we keep going at this pace!"

"Good!" I giggle as he taps my foot again, "Stop it!" I laugh again.

After a minute or two we finally make it close to the top, "Finally!" Drew exclaims, before climbing up another branch and sitting down with his legs hanging. He pats the spot beside him for me. I sit down beside him and find we're facing the sunset. I smile.

"So, this is why we went up here. Not just so you can complain." I say.

He tickles my stomach, "I do not complain!" He chuckles.

"Yes, you do." I state between my fit of giggles.

"Take that back." He demands.

"No!" I giggle.

"Yes!" He exclaims, still tickling my stomach.

"Never!" I exclaim.

"Fine." He says and jabs my in the back of the neck.

"Okay, okay!" I manage to say between giggles, "I take it back!"

"Good." He says and let's go of me.

We continue to smile at each other for a few seconds, as the sky turns a warm orange, mixed with a pink sort of tint. He leans his forehead against mine and I let out a breathy laugh. He does the same. "I like you, Jess." He mutters suddenly, surprising me a little

I don't know what to say, or how to answer except for, "I like you too, Drew." I mumble quietly.

"Like a lot. Like... More than just a friend." He says quietly.

"I-" I'm cut off by Zachary's voice as he yells through the forest for us.

"Jessica! Drew!" He yells.

"They're fine." I hear Vincent say to him, from camp.

"I told you." I say to Drew.

"Hm?"

"We're reenacting what happened yesterday." We both laugh quietly. "Somebody gets interrupted while they're saying something important." I laugh.

"What was the important thing you were going to say then?" He laughs, as we continue leaning our foreheads against each other's

I glance at the setting sun, then back to Drew, "I do too." I simply say.

He leans closer to me. His eyes flick down to my lips, before they flick back to my eyes. Our eyes seem to automatically close when our lips make contact. The kiss lasts quite a while and it makes me feel very different to Jake's kiss. In a good way. I feel his hand touch my cheek as he brushes my hair out of the way, while we move in a perfect motion with each other. Once we pull away from each other, his cheeks go a light tint of pink, and I feel my own cheeks heat up a bit too. I look away a bit to hide it. A small smile appears on my face.

After a minute or two I lean my head against his shoulder and he leans his head on top of mine. We watch the glowing sun as it disappears over the horizon and the stars appear in the sky. Millions of stars appear to be scattered across the sky like glitter, each one glinting and shining bright in it's place.

Today was definitely something else.

~-*-~