Page 73 of Withered

“Jake!” I shout.

I walk further into the woods, but everything appears the same.What if a wolf finds me?

I keep shouting Jake’s name, but all I hear are crickets or my feet crushing the ground.

I hear rustling noises. I look around, but everything is pitch black. “Oh, my god. I’m going to die today.”

“Yes, you are.” I hear someone say this as a shadowy figure emerges from between the trees. I look closely and notice Jake.

As he walks closer, I do the most unpredictable thing ever: I run over to hug him, and his body stiffens.

“You idiot. Why did you have to come here? You could have gone to a park or something.” I keep talking.

His familiar smell floods my nostrils, calming me. God, I can’t lie. I missed this so much.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” He says this, holding me at arm’s length.

I gaze up at him, bewildered. He’s got to be kidding me. “I came here to find you. Everyone is worried sick.”

“So?” Jake states. Even in this darkness, I can make out his sharp features and those deep forest-green eyes that are now staring at me. His eyes look scarier than this dark forest.

“So, stop acting like a jerk.” I raise my voice. I step back, and his arms drop to the sides.

“I’m going to be whoever I want to be. What does it matter to you?” He states.

“Fine. Act like a jerk or whoever or whatever you want to be.” I say, throwing my hands in the air, “But unlike you, people around me matter. I am not the one to back down when my friends need help.”

“Friend?” Jake asks.

“Yes. Tyler asked me to find you, and here I am,” I tell him.

“Well, keep helping people. I’m not your charity case,” he declares.

That’s it. “Okay. It’s not his fault; it’s mine. I’m the idiot that drove all the way here, just for this.” I point towards him. With a huff, I turn around to leave.

“I am sorry.” When he says it, I halt.

I snort and turn around. “What? You mean that?”

“Yes,” he states.

“You should be,” I say.

He approaches me and takes my hand. His touch is gentle, almost like a feather, and I don’t try to pry it away.

He starts walking and leads me back to our cars.

He opens the door for me. “I think you need some explanation to do it.”

“I know.” He nods. “But first, let us get out of here.”

I get in the car and buckle up. Jake’s every move has my attention. He walks to his car and gets in.

My earlier anger toward him vanished the moment I saw him in the woods. His body is lacking his usual confidence and cockiness. Whatever his mom told him must have struck a nerve.

Even though I hadn’t seen him for a day, I am glad to see him now. After what happened yesterday, I am still relieved to see him here beside me.

I’vebeendrivingforthe past fifteen minutes, quite slowly. I’m feeling a bit queasy; my palms are sweaty, and my hands are trembling, making it harder for me to drive.

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