The Unlucky Five {1}

08 Fourth Of July

"We look like a bunch of stalkers," Em said as she leaned back in her seat. They were parked right outside the Roxborough entrance which was not the place everyone went in but it was close enough.

"Well, I mean we kind of are," He said which caused the both of them to laugh. "Does Mark know we're here?"

"No, I didn't tell anyone. Like you said, no one would believe me anyway," Em said. Her whole mood changed after she said that.

"I believe you and I'm going to help you with everything. I promise," Aiden said as he leaned over to hug her.

"Do you want to go in now?" Aiden asked as they pulled away. They both agreed that they would go in and check on her. The sun was already going down, the sky was a mixture of pink and orange.

"Might as well," She said as she got out of the car. The sky was getting darker and darker by the minute. More kids go in when it gets dark anyway. Both of them walked over to the trails.

"This one," He said as he pointed to the sign that read 'Devil's Pool'.

"They're at Devil's Pool?" Em asked as they began their journey down the trail. Everything was quiet around them except for the loud chirping coming from the birds. It felt ten degrees hotter in the woods than it did out in the parking lot.

"No, they're a little passed that. If they went to Devil's Pool they could easily be caught," Aiden explained.

"Where even is this place?" Em asked.

"Lover's leap, we still have a little bit to go," He said.

The strong smell of murky, dirty water filled the air. The air was even more humid the closer they got to the lake. The sound of the Wissahickon Creek was loud. They continued down the Orange Trail instead of going towards the lake.

"I wonder how many people have died in there," Aiden said randomly. Em's face was full of worry and confusion which caused Aiden to burst out in laughter. Em rolled her eyes and stomped off down the Orange Trail. Aiden laughed as he followed her down the trail.

"Em, I was just joking around," Aiden said as he put an arm around her.

"I know I'm just nervous," Em said. The last time she had a gut feeling about something, her dad was dead. She was more than nervous.

"I have a question," Em said out of no where.

"I have an answer," Aiden said laughing.

"What's wrong with Adam? He came to my house for five minutes and left. It was so weird," Em asked. She knew what was going on but wanted to hear what he said. well, she was worried about Adam too.

Aiden's whole body tensed up at the question. Em looked up at him. His eyes were glued in front of him and his face turned a shade of red.

"He's fine. Why?" He asked. He spoke with no emotion. If he didn't look so angry, Em would have never thought he was upset.

"He's been acting weird and I was wondering why," Em said.

"Well, I'm not on speaking terms with him. So why don't you ask him or Sami if you care so much," He said as he took his arm away from her and walked away. She sighed as she jogged up next to him.

"I'm sorry I brought it up. I won't talk about it anymore," She said softly. She shut up and continued quietly.

"I would tell you everything but I don't know if it's the right time," He admitted quietly. In a way, he was right. They were currently out in the woods on a secret mission with too many problems.

"I'm sorry," She said.

"How do you not see it?" He asked as he stood in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders as he stared at her.

"See what?" She asked. He rolled his eyes as his hands flew up dramatically.

"Are you kidding me? Adam has been drooling over you since the eighth grade. It's only a matter of time before you both confess your secret feelings for each other" Aiden said angrily as he began to walk further down the trail. The sound of loud music could now be heard in the distance. They were close and Em was running out of time.

Em, feeling confident, stomped over to Aiden. She stood in front of him, grabbed his shoulders, and stood deeply into his eyes. She took a deep breathe before she said the words she thought she would never admit to him.

"Are you kidding me? How have you not noticed that I've been drooling over you since seventh?" She asked loudly. His eyes went wide. He didn't say anything, he just stood there staring at the ground. He went to say something but stuttered so bad they he just shut up. Em's heart felt like it broke into a million tiny pieces. She sighed as she dropped her arms down to her sides. She turned around and walked down the trail, trying so hard to control the tears that were running down her face.

"Wait!" Aiden yelled as he ran to her. She turned away from him the second he got there, she didn't want him to know she was crying over him. He looked at her with sad eyes.

"I love you, Em," He whispered. She laughed out loud as she wiped away her tears.

"I know you do, AD," She said. "You love me as a best friend, as a sister."

"No," He said. "That's how I love Lee and Sami. They are my sisters but you're different. I have never felt the way I do with you with anyone else in this world. Why do you think I hate that Adam wants you? In my eyes, you're mine. Not Adam's or anyone else's. I'm in love with you."

"I don't have feelings for Adam because I'm in love with you and I have been since seventh grade," Em said with a laugh as she finally stopped crying. Aiden smiled at her as he grabbed her face. He gently placed his lips on her and let them linger there for a few seconds.

"I think we should talk more about this after we know Lee is safe," Aiden said with a smile.

"I agree," Em said with a smile. Aiden put his arm back around her as they walked towards the commotion.

***

"Looks like she's fine to me," Aiden said. They were currently hiding behind a bush right outside of the huge party. Lee was sitting on a log right next to Jordan with a cup in her hand.

"Maybe I was just overeating," Em sighed as she turned around. She began the walk back towards the parking lot.

"Em," Aiden said as he caught up to her. "It's better to be safe then sorry."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Em said.

A sound of a branch breaking made both of them turn their heads. A man stumbled out of a bush, a man who looked very familiar. He was in a work uniform, with a name tag on his shirt. The closer he got to them, the more Em was able to make out the name. Matt.

"Emercyn?" Matt asked. Matthew, the man who once worked with her father.

"What are you doing here?" Em asked the older man.

"My sister thinks my nephew came here for the party. He is supposed to be at a friends but she thinks he's lying. So I'm here to see," He said with a laugh. "I got a little lost though."

Em and Aiden laughed at him. His clothes were dirty and his hair was a mess.

"Well, you found it now," Em said laughing as she pointed toward the party.

"Yeah," He said with a smile. "It was nice seeing you. Take care."

"You too," Em said with a smile. They watched as he walked off toward the party.

"That was weird," Em said as they walked down the trail.