By Your Hand

I stumbled back in the rain, groping at tree branches blindly, my thoughts racing around crazily in my head. Fog was clouding my vision to the point where I couldn’t see much of anything in front of me.

“Are you lost?” A male voice sounded over my shoulder.

“Aahhhmmmff.” I screamed, then had a hand clapped over my mouth.

“Geez, didn’t mean to scare you.” it laughed in my ear. I ripped myself away from the person, tripping over a tree root and falling again. This time, I felt searing pain in my ankle and ripped my hands open. I stared at the dark red blood trickling out of the gashed in my palms, trying to ignore my throbbing ankle.

“Are you okay?” The voice came closer, until I could make out a form, then an angular face. It looked like the new boy, Jem.

“I’m fine, thanks.” I muttered, hauling myself to my feet. It was unsuccessful, resulting in me falling again.

“I. SURRENDER. I give up. Luck is overrated ANYWAYS!” I yelled at the sky, hoping my mother could hear me.

“You’re not okay.” Jem’s voice held a tinge of amusement, gray eyes sparkling in the pale light of morning.

“I’m FINE.” I hissed. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I drew up my dirty legs to my chest, resting my head on them.

“Considering the awkward angle at which your ankle is bent, I’d say you weren’t okay.”

I glared at his annoyingly cute face. It was like trying to deny a puppy a pat on the head for doing something right.

“Okay, okay. I’m not fine. Happy?”

“Well,” Jem started. “You’re right. I’m happy. Fine. Great, even. You, on the other hand, look like hell run over by a truck.”

“Wow.” I laughed shortly. “Thanks.”

“You could be pretty, I think. Minus the mud and dirt all over your pale face.” He mused. “You have very nice eyes.”

“Ah. Of course.” I gestured wildly. “My eyes.”

“They’re a luminous hazel.” He sounded indignant.

“Thanks. I think.” I rolled my “luminous” brown eyes and tried to stand up. I almost collapsed from the pain in my ankle, throwing out a hand to catch myself.

“Need help?” Jem rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt.

“I’m probably going to fall again, there’s blood all over my arms and hands, and I can take care of myself anyway.” I retorted, stepping forward. Jem caught my arm as I fell forward.

“Exactly my point.” He steadied my body; then grabbed my shoulder. “I won’t carry you. I feel like if I offered, you’d stab me or something, but you have to let me help you.”

“I have to.” I stared at his face, surrounded by choppy blonde hair.

“It’s my fault that you fell, technically.” He shrugged.

“I don’t HAVE to let you do anything.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Pleasee?”

“NO.”

He pouted, eyes shimmering with mirth.

“FINE.” I relented.

“That’a girl.”

“Shut up, you.” I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Okay.” He slid an arm around my waist and helped my hobble the rest of the way to my desolate cabin.

Notes