Page 2 of Doesn't Count

“Whatever. Fine.” I huff, still slightly annoyed.

He smiles, the dimple in his right cheek prominent, showing off his boyishness. “Sweet. Let’s go.”

We leave my room the disaster it is and clamber down the stairs. We pass through the kitchen where my mom is unloading groceries.

“Where are you guys going?” She stops us before we can even step foot in the hall.

I look to Oliver, not really sure what the answer is.

“Just going around the block to get some exercise.” He pretends to jog in place.

My mother squints in disbelief, but Oliver and I have never given her a reason to distrust us. She continues to stuff the fridge with food.

“Sure you are.” She goads. “Just be back by five.”

“We will!” I call back to her as we race through the hallway to the front door.

The August heat clings to us instantly, hugging us tightly like a heavy winter jacket. As we start shuffling along the sidewalk away from my house, I tie my blonde curls into a high ponytail.

“Wherearewe going?” I ask.

“Around the block to get some exercise.” He laughs.

I chuckle too, “I buy that as much as my mom did.”

“Whatever. You’ll see.” He nudges my side with his, pushing my feet past the edge of the sidewalk and into the grass.

“Dude!” I shout, shoving him back, both of us now breaking out into hysterics.

When we’re both on the sidewalk again, Oliver slips his arm over my shoulder. It doesn’t escape me that it’s the firsttime he’s done that in a while, but I decide not to make it a big deal. At some point as we got older, the little things we used to do became less innocent. Like sharing drinks or holding hands. Those little meaningless gestures of friendship now have a deeper meaning, especially at thirteen. We’ve stopped touching all together whenever we’re at school because of it, but when we’re alone, it feels like we can be ourselves again.

He maneuvers me toward an open field at the end of our neighborhood where houses have yet to be built, ushering me through the grass towards a large, looming forest.

“What the hell?” My voice comes out high pitched and filled with uncertainty.

“It’ll be fine. I want to show you something.” Oliver reassures me.

I stare into the alcove of trees and the dirt path that leads into the unknown. We’ve passed this forest time and time again, but I’ve never ventured inside. The daylight fades away the second we step foot under the arms of branches that hang above our heads. Even though the sun still shines brightly, it’s as if the woods are always cursed with the darkness of night.

“What are you scared or something?” He asks me when I don’t say anything.

“No.” I snap at him, annoyed that he thinks I’m afraid.

Because I’m not... There’s just a weird vibe in this forest that I can’t explain. It’s just something I can feel infiltrate my being, scratching at my soul. There’s a darkness in this forest that isn’t just a void of light. It’s more than that, like an evil lurking behind every tree, an eeriness that lies in the dirt beneath our feet. An entity, embodying this forested land that invites you in and tricks you into never leaving.

I may be working myself up a bit.

I take a deep breath, shaking off this uncomfortablefeeling and continue following Oliver down the path deeper into the woods.

“You look like you know where you’re going.” I accuse.

“That’s because I do.” He shrugs as he reaches his hand out, brushing the bushes as we walk.

“Since when?!” I question in disbelief.

“You do know I do things without you, right?” He laughs, looking back at me.

I narrow my eyes, “I know that. I just didn’t know you were into wandering around a forest like a weirdo.”