Flux (NaNoWriMo 2014)

Chapter Five: Identity

Lucas

I was well underway in the path to becoming a convict.

That statement may have been a slight over-exaggeration, but you do get the point I’ve tried to make. I was traveling down that road at an uncomfortably fast pace, and unsurprisingly because of Zoe. She promised that we wouldn’t get in any sort of trouble if we were fast, silent, and sneaky enough; which considering the kind of group we made, was quite a lot to ask for. Regardless, I was doubtful that sneaking into a supposedly sacred volcano would be an easy feat we could complete before dinner.

I generally disagreed with Zoe’s suggestions because of their wild nature; the fact that I am as stubborn as they get probably also contributed to my dubious nature. It was an obvious clash that resonated throughout every single one of our interactions.

“Are you sure you can get us back in time even if we do reach the volcano?”

“Do you not freaking trust me?”

“No, not really?”

“What! Why not?”

“You had us aimlessly wandering around throughout the whole afternoon, when we could’ve climbed up the trees and found your stupid gazebo faster.”

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise! Plus, it’s not like the gazebo can be seen from any random point up in the air. That would render its secrecy usele-“

“Pointlessssssss. Like everything else we’ve done today. You should’ve just told me about the volcano when we were at home. That way we wouldn’t have wasted all that time in the forest.”

“Ugh. Lucas you’re so damn frustrating. You literally complain about everything I do. You have not done anything useful ever since I cut you off that little piece of shit tree that night. I have tried to help you out, teach you how to be a part of us, even taken you out to try to find out who the hell you actually are. If there’s anyone you should trust in this freaking world, it is me, because I’ve spent basically all of my time to make sure you don’t just lay around and dream about how pointless or useless life can be. And how do you repay me? You annoy the living crap out of me when I’m trying my best to get us to that volcano and back home before Kai notices we’ve gone past curfew and reprimands us.

“I never asked you to do that for me.”

“That’s it. I’m completely done trying to help your ass.”

I had driven Zoe to the point that she decide to jump off the gazebo and ignore me. I noticed my mistake almost instantly, but it felt like the sort of thing that couldn’t be fixed just with a lame apology and a promise to be better. She seemed legitimately hurt.

I dropped right after her to try to amend my horrible mistake. She just shrugged me off and began to walk towards the volcano.

“Zoe… I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care, go on back to The Nest before you get in trouble with Kai. And while you’re at that, shove a rock up your ass.” She kept walking forward without even glancing back at me.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily. We’ve already come all the way here, might as well ride out the plan no matter the consequences.”

She still didn’t turn to face me, but did stop on her tracks for a few seconds to take a deep breath.

“The volcano is very close to us. We should be able to reach it before the twilight reaches its climax.” She paused. “But, you’re not talking to me on the way there or anytime after that. Especially after your shitty attempt at an apology.”