THE BLAME

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Light conversation between Mirah and Asher were shared as he supported her weight by holding her legs, her arms hugging his neck. Asher filled her in as to what had been happening at camp: people being interrogated, camp leaders going frantic, and not doing the very obvious.

"I think that by now they'd finally go in search of you," Asher mentioned.

"Why did you come to look for me?" she asked quietly, relieved for the apple he had brought which had satisfied her hunger for the time being. He took a moment to reply, perhaps thinking about his answer.

"Because I love you," he then said, making it sound like an unquestionable answer. This was the first time she had heard him tell her this and it caused butterflies to ignite within her being. 

For some time there was silence between them, only the joyful chirps from the birds audible. The sky had cleared from dark ghostly clouds after a slight drizzle had fallen, making the leaves all around them smell fresh. They neared the campsite quicker than what it took Asher to get to Mirah, chattering about whatever came to mind. There came a point where Mirah questioned the love Lucas claimed he had for her if he didn't come to save her as Asher had.

"You're awfully quiet," he noted to the girl clutching onto him, able to feel her heartbeat against his back.

"I'm just thinking," she replied carefully choosing her words. He insisted she elaborated to which she humbly did. 

"It was the first time you ever said you loved me...Lucas says it all the time. How come he didn't come for me?" she voiced her thoughts into simpler words. Asher flinched at this, at how naive she could be. "Just because someone is telling you they love you, doesn't make it true if they're not showing it to you," he replied. "Actions speak louder than words, Mirah."

For some odd reason, everything made sense. She never knew what Lucas' intentions were, whether he really loved her. She loved him with everything she had, his sweet words always convincing her he felt the same.  This reminded her how Asher barely gave her any compliments, doing whatever he possibly could to please her.

"Why do you love me?" she asked him, trying to understand what it really means to love somebody so much.

"Well, you're home. You're where I want to be, I can't imagine my life -life- without you. I want to hold you, keep you safe and never let you go. Don't you understand that I want to be the one you need, the one you want," he told her. Passion and love and concern had filled his voice all at once. If she could have looked into his eyes, she would have seen the soft sparkle and the comfort she gives him.  She blushed deeply, feeling safer with Asher than what she ever would with Lucas.

Lucas... I kissed Asher...What now?

"Asher..." she sounded uncertain, not of her feelings but of what to do next. He motioned for her to continue through a gentle "Mhm?".

"What, uh, what now? We kissed." Asher halted to a stop at this, realizing such a serious matter needed to be discussed face to face, not face to back. He placed her down gently, heedful of her injuries. He seated himself in front of her, mesmerized by her eyes resembling their surroundings of greenery.

"Well... what do you want?" he asked her, already knowing the answer from the way she kissed him.

"I-I... want you."

He felt the weight of a thousand bricks being lifted from his chest, his love for her overwhelming. Too overwhelming. He leaned forward, not withholding anything, kissing her gently at first, then pulling her in for more, craving her touch and her lips. She seemed to enjoy it, however, limited by movements from her pain. She moaned quietly under her breath, caressing his face, and deepening the kiss. Asher broke the kiss, knowing that he could continue for the rest of his life, the need thereof growing. With a deep sigh, they returned to their conversation.

"I've never wanted anything or anyone in this life more than I want you," he said in reply, giving her a soft look along with a heavy tone. He seemed so peaceful within that moment that Mirah had almost lost her breath, inhaling quietly to retain her composure.  

Unable to think of what she should do, she asked Asher his opinion to which he replied with a "You know what I'd prefer" and she did indeed. 

"How do I explain something like that to him, though?" she sounded concerned, not wanting to look like a bad person. Asher caught onto this.

 "I know I was the one to kiss you, but you kissed me back. You didn't stop me." Albeit hurt to tell her the truth, she had to hear it and her eyebrows drew. "How are you this contradicting?" she thought aloud. 

"What do you mean?" It was his turn to appear obscured by her statement. 

"You say the one thing, and the next you blame it on me," she threw her hands up in the air puffing out her cheeks as she did, "and don't tell me it's because I am the one at fault. If you're going to kiss me after I've been left in the woods alone,  longing company, I am sure to kiss back instinctively." Her rambling came to an end as she locked eyes with Asher, still not fully comprehending his argument point. 

He kept quiet for a moment, processing all she had said. After a few seconds of silence had passed between them, he noted "You kissed me back because you longed for companionship?"

Taken aback by his judgement and accusation, she searched her mind for a defense but could think of nothing, her mouth slightly agape. At her stillness, he took it as his cue to continue.

"You know, I've had these feelings for you for such a long time. First, you ignore them completely. Second, you choose someone else who could never love you the way I do," he turned his head in a quarrelsome manner. "Thirdly, you kiss me back - very passionately, might I add- only to tell me you yearned for anybody's touch? You're leading me on here, Mirah. If you really don't want me, then leave me...but if you do...leave him," his reckoning eased with a lowered head and a murmur, peering at her through hair falling over his eyes. 

"But you don't understand, Asher," she replied quietly and conserved as possible. He pretended he didn't hear, too stubborn to argue about his love for her. The tension between them eased as she clung to his back, making their way to the campsite where proper first aids and medics could assist them their injuries.