Find Taylor.
Yes, that's what she had to do, but for what exactly? What was she going to say? She had no idea, the upper thought in her head was just find her, see blue eyes and blonde hair and hope for the best. Her legs carried her to Taylor's cabin, the air was unsettlingly still, and the wood structure appeared somber in the leaves' vault shadow. She climbed in a swift motion the three steps and planted herself in the front door, just to find it locked. Karlie checked it again, moving the old crank a couple of times, which offered just a crack and more silence.
Karlie grunted. She was not there.
"Hey there" A familiar male voice made her turn around, messy blond hair and warm brown eyes greeted her.
"Christoffer" Karlie smiled genuinely at the boy's easy grin. He had her hands deep in his pants pockets, shoulders relaxed and his head slightly tilted to his side, questioning eyes looking back at her "I'm searching Taylor, have you seen her by any chance?" Karlie responded to the silent question, too impatient to wait for the blond to formulate it.
"Actually, I have" Karlie's eyes pecked up at that, relief settling in her chest "She seemed in a hurry tho, she was going to the west side" He pointed with her thumb at the direction, shrugging.
"Thank you so much, Christoffer" Karlie sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead absently, maybe it was for the best to leave Taylor alone, give her personal space, she would come whenever she wanted, but Karlie wanted to make sure she was okay. The boy chuckled, probably at her aggravated expression.
"How many times am I going to have to tell you that you can call me just Chris?"
Karlie smiled sheepishly, coming down from the cabin porch to stand next to him with a shrug "Sorry, old habit" Her face dropped the tight smile, a frown coming back. She didn't know what she should do. You're doing a bigger deal than it is, just find her and ask her if she wants ice cream.
"Problems in paradise?" Christoffer- no, Chris- asked. He had an eyebrow raised, and the hint of a smug smile in the corners of his lips.
"Huh?"
"Taylor and you" Karlie frown deepened as confusion spread in her and stared blankly at the boy "You know" He trailed off the words helplessly "... aren't you two together, like, a couple?"
"W-what? Of course not"
"What?" Now was Chris the confused one.
"What?"
"Eh- What do you mean by 'what'?"
"No, what do you mean we're together?"
"Aren't you?"
"No"
"Ah- sorry, I just assumed- because- well, ehrm, you know" He trailed off again, gesturing with his hand in the air with clear discomfort. Karlie continued with her blank stare, and the boy shrank in himself at her glare "Ugh, I- just forget I said that"
"Uh- yeah, whatever" Still ridden with confusion, Karlie decided to let the topic drop, she didn't had time for this "I'm going to find her" She gestured to the direction Chris pointed before the conversation turned a weird turn "Over there, right?"
"Yeah" He relaxed once more "I can go with you and help, I'm not doing anything better anyways"
"Really?"
"Sure"
"Okay" Karlie smiled again. Christoffer was as sweet as always and his company useful as well, two pairs of eyes were better that just one. They walked and talked about trivial things, and Karlie welcomed the distraction, complain about Kim and guess which team were you going to be was way better than let her alone with her thoughts. They roamed the west area, asking several tenants about a tall grumpy blonde, but none seemed to have noticed her, and she was nowhere. Just as they were about to give up, Karlie saw the traces of a long forgotten path, a barely visible line that went into the woods and diverted from the main road, and with no sight of something better or more fruitful than that, they decided to check anyways. The trail was sinuous, but not as long as they imagined as it ended rather abruptly in a small clear.
