𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬━𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡

Ⅺ

THE TWO STOOD IN THE WOODS FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE ANYONE SPOKE. "I..." Reagan had no words. What she said, she didn't even know where that had come from. She hadn't even admitted it to herself and she was telling to other people? What was going on?

Reagan turned and slid down the side of the car. She just stared out into the woods for a moment, ignoring the dead bodies that were sitting near her. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" She mumbled to herself as she stared into the trees. She hadn't even noticed the boy get out of the car and begin looking around for something.

"Reagan..we gotta go." She heard being said from behind her. Reagan stood up and stared at the two bodies for a minute. "Maybe now daddy can rest in peace."

She followed loosely behind the boy as he walked to her car. She could feel some of the pain for her father lift as she walked away from the crime scene.

Reagan got in the car moments after Arvin did. She sat there quietly, still trying to process. "Are we not gonna talk about it?"

Reagan just stared ahead. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"It don't matter to me."

"God. I am so stupid. I haven't even said it to myself, and I said it out loud." Reagan complained into her hands. She could feel his eyes staring over at her every now and again. She rubbed her face and looked up. "The only time I have ever told someone that I loved them...well, that was my mama. And...this is gonna haunt me until I know what to do."

"Stop beatin' yourself up about it. Everyone says things they don't mean."

"Except, I didn't not mean it."

Quiet. The entire car was quiet after she had said that. Reagan looked over at him, trying to read his emotions. The car came to a sudden stop.

She turned back and stared out the window. She knew exactly what he was going to ask. "You wanna know the truth or what I've been tellin' myself?"

"Does it really matter which one I hear?" He asked Reagan. She looked down to her hands. "Not really..." She felt him look over at her. "Well, I've been tellin' myself only a few months, weeks even. While, in reality, it's been....almost ten years."

The car ride was quiet for a few minutes after that. "Ten years? Reagan, we've known each other for ten years. Even then, we were kids." Reagan scoffed and looked out the window. "I know. But believe me, there is a lot that I haven't told you about me."

The boy chuckled a little and looked back out the windshield. "Oh yeah like what?" Reagan smirked and began messing with the ring on her finger. "The ring that I always wear is my mama's engagement ring. It reminds me of what love was and is. I never take it off. Uh....when I was seven, I had a dog named Rebel. He was my best friend. I got nicknamed the town rebel because one, I didn't go to church most of my life, I shot a couple people—not like killin' 'em shootin' but like mildly injurin'. And uh....the most disrespectful thing to do in Coal Creek, one of the most religious towns in West Virginia, I...didn't save myself for...uh...marriage.." Reagan practically whispered that last part.

"You mean...you're not a..."

"Yes, Arvin. I mean I'm not a virgin." Reagan chuckled a little and the whole car burst out in laughter. "You think we could stay somewhere for the night? I'm kinda tired, Arvin. We can head to Knockemstiff in the mornin'."

He nodded and the two drove for a little while. It was quiet again, except for the faint sounds of the radio. Reagan looked down to the ring and glanced over at Arvin. She took one of his hands—the one that was closest to her—off the steering wheel and intertwined her fingers with his. She smiled and the rest of the car ride was absolutely amazing.

Whatever was going on in Knockemstiff, could wait until the morning. For right now, this was enough for Reagan.