By the Waterfall

You Didn't Have To

Gracie takes a deep breath as soon as she leaves the cave. 23:14 

Jo: You okay? 23:14 

Gracie nods. "It ... went better than expected, I guess. My worst case scenario was that he'd kill us both, so..." 23:15 

Ember spits out the piece of cupcake and runs to some grass. She starts chewing on the grass 23:15 

Jo: That's why I brought Ember 23:15 

Gracie smiles at Ember and glances back at the cave, realizing she left her cupcakes, but she thinks she's had enough of Cameron for one night and instead starts walking back to the tree house. 23:16 

Jo: Do you want those cupcakes? 23:17 

Ember wags her tail at Gracie 23:17 

Gracie shrugs. "Nah. They weren't the best batch anyway." 23:18 

Ember runs over to Gracie and wags her tail 23:19 

Jo walks after Gracie 23:19 

Gracie pets Ember and keeps walking. 23:19 

Ember wags her tail and licks Gracie's hand 23:19 

Gracie rubs her hand on her pant's leg. 23:20 

Ember chases a butterfly 23:20 

Gracie: Well, he doesn't seem like he's going to do anything... He seems ... nice. Of course, he pretended to be nice to me before and then... 23:21 

Gracie gulps and touches her neck. 23:21 

Jo shrugs "We'll keep our eyes open for anything suspicious. If you want Ember will probably stay by you" 23:22 

Gracie shakes her head. "I think I'll be okay. You know, hopefully." 23:23 

Jo: We'll keep you safe Gracie. Don't worry 23:25 

Gracie: I won't. If he wanted to kill me, I guess he's had plenty of opportunities. That doesn't mean I trust him, of course. I just don't think he'd be after me even with our weird past... 23:27 

Jo: Probably not, but better safe than sorry. He can't get into you treehouse at least 23:27 

Gracie: Yeah, and for now that's where I'll be spending most of my time. Not even because I'm afraid or anything, but just because I have a lot of food to cook and gifts to get ready before Christmas. 23:29 

Jo: Christmas... I have a ton to do for that 23:29 

Jo pulls her notebook from her pack and flips through the pages 23:30 

Ember rolls around in the grass 23:30 

Gracie: Really? Like what? 23:30 

Jo: I'm trying to make some presents that I can send when no one's around. But I'm having trouble coming up with ideas 23:31 

Gracie: Hmm. I suppose if you knew the technology behind those parachutes in the games, you could send them that way. Of course, that might make a few people here uncomfortable since they've been in the games or have had relatives in the games... 23:32 

Jo: I think I'm just going to wrap up gifts and put them in people's rooms or something, but I need gift ideas first. I can't make everyone a personal gift either 'cause I don't know everyone very well 23:33 

Gracie: Well, remember those watches we discussed that we could use to communicate with each other? You could do that. Although it'd be hard to make many of them, at least they're all the same thing. 23:34 

Jo: I could. I still have personal gifts I want to make too. I already finished yours and I'm almost done with the design for Wolfe's if he comes back. I still need ones for Nina, if she comes back, and Talia. I thought of Anna's, I just need to make it. 23:36 

Gracie: Hmm... I have a few ideas on what to get you and Lilly too. 23:39 

Jo: Me? You don't need to get me anything. I think Lilly would say the same. 23:39 

Gracie sees the fallen tree across the long and hops onto it, holding her hands out to balance herself as she crosses. 23:39 

Ember follows Gracie 23:39 

Jo walks behind Ember 23:40 

Gracie: I know I didn't. I wanted to though. Not only are you my friend, but you've done so much for me and so did Lilly. 23:40 

Gracie hops off the fallen tree when she gets to the other end. 23:41 

Ember hops off and trips 23:41 

Jo steps off the tree 23:41 

Jo: You really didn't need to 23:42 

Gracie: I know. 23:43 

Gracie sees the tree house not too far away and walks along the trail leading to it. 23:43 

Ember races ahead 23:44 

Jo: Thank you 23:44 

Gracie smiles. "You're welcome!" 23:44