The Burn Our Houses Down Series: Burn Our Houses Down (#1)

Chapter One

Chapter One

        A twig snaps somewhere in the woods. I shoot up from my sleeping bag and reach out in the darkness.

        "Xavier!" I whisper. "Xavier, is that you?"

        He grunts across from me in response. I can hear him shift in his sleeping bag at my feet.

        "Is that you?" I call out again.

        "For Christ's sake, who else would it be?" he mutters. "Are you gonna sleep at all tonight?" He moves in his sleeping bag and becomes silent once more.

        I fucking hate nature. I chose to avoid being in it for a reason when I moved from Pine Bush, New York to Queens. But I couldn't let down the opportunity to camp out in the mountains with my best friend, could I? I've never been so masochistic.

        I stare at the blob of light in the darkness which I can only guess is Xavier's back and slowly let my eyes close again. This was supposed to be the trip where I confessed about my loving him. I was supposed to go to the mountains with him, be away from everything back in my hometown and tell him that I haven't stopped thinking about him since the funeral. Tell him that I didn't want him to let go after he hugged me in front of my sister's tombstone. But he let go because they loved each other. They loved each other, and I loved him.

        I guess I should've known better than to plan something like this, but he's been my best friend even before my sister and him started dating. I needed him now more than ever.

        "Xavier? Are you awake?" I call out.

        He rolls over in his sleeping bag, "I am now," he mutters.

        "What's up?"

        "Just restless, I guess."

        "Thinking about Cassie?"

        Not exactly. "Yeah," I lie. "It's been hard adjusting. I miss my twin, you know?" I barely hear Xavier get up before he's wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Yeah, I understand," he whispers. "Believe me, I do."

       Before I can stop myself, I'm sobbing into my palms. Xavier's hand runs gently across my shoulders, his touch sending goosebumps up my spine. "I know how much it hurts, Hayley. But we'll all get past it," he whispers into my ear. He takes a sharp breath inward, and I feel his body shudder. "We will."