Our Forest

One

Our forest is the only home I know. The only place I'm safest.

I'm cradled by the cool air. Comforted by the midnight sounds. The crackles of the dying fire, and the feeling of my "family" around me. My family being my four best friends. We're silent as we gaze into midnight. We marvel at the cloudless sky, it's like we're all connected through the grid of nature. The wet autumn leaves underneath me make me secure, nature is like a reliable aunt. I roll to my left and stare at Oliver she shifts toward me her stringy brown hair dampened by our forest floor. She looks at me and we simultaneously break into ridiculous grins. It really doesn't get any better then this.

"Hey people it's getting late, we gotta head outta here" Stu drawls. I don't want go, but it is getting behind late, much past my curfew. I look down at my phone, it reads 12:36. Yep. Rachel won't be happy with me. I relax and tune out my brain. Perfect nights like these don't happen often. I'll enjoy this for now.

"Yeah I gotta go Cade" Daniel whispers to me, trying not to ruin the mystic atmosphere. He lifts up the old tin can and douses the no longer existent flames. One by one everyone gets up to leave, grabbing their sweaters and bags. Everyone except Olive.

"Okay okay, see you tomorrow!" I say. I feel a twinge of satisfaction that she decided to stay. I hear their footsteps grow silent, and I turn to her once more.

"Hey you" I say with a smile.

"Hey yourself" piquant as always.

"Why'd you stay?"

"To talk about stuff"

"You mean-"

"Yes." She means the plan. We've been planning this for ages.

"I think it's time." I feel the flutters the pulse of excitement. "Should we tell the others?"

"Probably.. and soon" She's right. I stand up and glance down at her. She lazily stretches her arms up. Delicate wrists slip out of her grey woolly cardigan. I grab her hands and pull her up. She grabs her satchel, slings it on her shoulder, and turns to me.

"I can't wait" She speaks in her usual rasp. Her voice is decadent and reassuring. I feel my eyes grow wide. The anniversary is coming up in a couple weeks. Enough time for us to work out all of the kinks, even though I know that our plan is flawless.She suddenly yanks up my shirt and stares at the marks. She touches the most recent red oval, I wince.

"This one new?" I only nod in reply. She gingerly rolls my shirt back down and smooths the wrinkles with her hand.

"When will she stop?" She rasps.

"She won't." I feel the tension in the back of my throat and I try to swallow.

"Once the plan is set in stone, you'll forget her. You'll forget all of this." She looks up at me from under her webby lashes, and I feel my breath hitch slightly. Only she can make me feel this way. Uncut. But I can't ruin what we have. It'll make things much more complicated, and that's the last thing I need.

"Bye Cade" She says with a smile.

"Bye.. Oliver"

We walk out of Our forest and go our separate ways. I follow the familiar path to the house and stalk up the stairs. It's quiet, that's a good sign. I spot Rachel passed out in front of the T.V an empty glass of brandy beside her on the T.V dinner table. I study her leathery skin, her old worn face. I want to despise her but I can't. I turn off the T.V and pick up an old quilt and cover her carefully. The last thing I need is for her to wake up.

I complete my nightly routine and go to bed. Tonight I dream of silver moonlight and delicate wrists.