Chapter 9 A Kiss?

A little walk through the forest, how about a stumble?

I tried to struggle with the hold securely behind me. Whoever it was was trying to clasp my arms by my side, tough luck when I was flaring them around like an idiot.
         I felt my blood run hot through my veins, my mind rushing with options and images of who it could and couldn't be. I was scared and I was defenseless, not unless I could act fast.
         I lifted my heel and brought it down hard on their shin. They grunted and released hold of my waist, I quickly acted and spun and catching whoever it was in the face.
The moonlight casted a light on Bradley.
I gasped.
           He was laughing.
I stood, annoyed.
           He was holding his cheek where I got him. He was laughing like he really found it funny.
 "Thats not funny you idiot!" I huffed. I turned and crossed my amrs like a little child. "I could've really hurt you and--" I trailed, not hearing him laugh but felt him close. "You really scared me."
I looked among the wild bush that lined the outerskirts of the school and the beginning of the big bad forest of the dark.
           "I was just playing," He didn't sound amused anymore. "You just looked like someone out of a fairytale." He came closer, I felt his warmth close and heard his footsteps skid the dry dirt.
He was beside me.
            "You were coming out here to see me, right?"
I suddenly looked at the ground and had both arms down by my side.
             Crap!
I was caught out.
             "Hey," He nudged my arm. "It was out of line what she did." I felt him tense from how close he was. "I felt like--" He looked at me startled. I seen his sparky blue eyes look fierce for once. Full of light and danger. He looked away, making sure his hair covered his eyes. I smiled and giggled.
              I did something completely impulsive. I moved toward him and was in his personal space in front of him. I gently looked at him with a warm smile and moved his fringe from his eyes.
              "You look lonely when you put your fringe like that." I seen his mouth gape open, I couldn't see his eyes until I moved his hair. When I did, I seen his soft expression.
               I gulped.
My heart felt heavy, like I wasn't breathing. I felt my eyes widen. I was having an uneasy feeling.
I let his hair drop as well as my head, pointedly embarrassed.
               I looked up to see Bradley still looking down on me with that soft stare, hidden behing his locks of brown hair. He tilted his head futher down and walked past me. Into the dark forest, the thin trunks blending with his body from the dark. I ventured after him.
               I felt my heel squish through the mud and damp leaves. I tripped a numberous of times. I tried to walk on the front of my feet. I stopped and looked at Bradley then back at the school. We haven't gotten that far. I undid my heels quickly and placed them near the entrance of the path next to a flat smooth rock based near a large trunk with carvings, probably from students.
               I still heard the parting of branches and stamp of dry and damp mud from shoes. I turned to Bradley who was still walking. I ran after him, the clearing becoming easier to trudge through, the feel of the squichy mud felt playful to my now dirty feet. Then I felt my breath catch in my throat as I struggled.
              "Bradley-" I wheezed. Still running in the dress I could barely run in. I was being careful.
              I seen Bradley's hands deep in his pockets and his head still down. Then he stopped and looked at the sky.
              I suddenly stopped, nearly head butting a tree trunk.
His face was casted in a bright light like an angel in the dark. His mouth partly opened and eyes sparkled ever so lightly. He looked like a knight, an angel.
              My mouth was parted like an idiot, staring unblinking at him like I was some sort of pervert.
He looked at me, I squeeked and looked away, embarrassed. I pouted my lips like a duck and made noises from my nose like I wasn't looking in the first place.
              I heard Bradley move again, quicker, but in my direction.
I looked up to meet Bradley's face near mine. His eyes hollowed in shadow now, his hair mingling with mine, hands by his side and his breath low.
             I felt my eyes grow wider and my legs back up.
My heart beated all the way up my throat, I closed my eyes and felt and heard my throat trying to push my heart back down. I flashed my eyes open, he was still there.
"What?" I breathed.
             He closed his eyes and brung his face closer, his nose now touching mine. I felt like little poof's of smoke would come from my ears and a hooting noise like a kettle whistle from my head like the cartoons. But I wasn't angry, I was scared and worried. I didn't know Bradley. At all.
             His eyes flashed open, from where I was, his eye lashes where really long.
I stepped back and (like in the movies) my back came in contact with a trunk.
Bradley laughed.
             "W-What's your problem!?" I hushed my angered voice. He was teasing me.
He came closer, again.
              "I can't help it." I seen a confuse look on his face reach his eyes as he placed his arm behind me on the tree, keeping his body close. I felt hot, the dress suddenly not keeping me cool. I didn't break the look we shared.
               "Yes you can." I spoke softly. I moved sideways, he smiled slightly and fully turned so his back was to the truck. I felt calm, for once. I went beside the trunk and leaned near him. Feeling the harsh bark feel familiar and rested my head on the green/brown bark. I smelt the dank trees smell waft around us slowly.
                The low midnight light masking the bumpy ground in circles.
I walked into that light, feeling the mud beneath me prick at my sensitive skin, feeling the low and tall grass tickle my feet. I twirled towards Bradley, smiling. He looked amused and stood, so he wasn't leaning on the tree.
                His smile was for once filled with something else. Not hatred and anger or just plain moodiness. He seemed genuine. I could tell by his eyes, also. They looked softer and easier to deal with.
               I twirled and didn't see a little drop off to the side...
The edge dotted with some brush so it was unnoticeable, but the sheer darkness looked deadly in the night.

I felt my feet slip.

I heard harsh movement.

I felt my heart suddenly drop....

I was falling, but before I was falling, I seen the light moon shining, then a shadow. Bradley's face covered in worry and concern, his teeth set in determination. Reaching out his hand. I felt that familiar feeling of his hold around my waist like before, then his chest protecting my back as we fell.
Then we where rolling through bushes and over rocks. Bradley held me close, his arms wrapped tightly around me. My heart skipping beats as we continued to roll, a rock deaded my arm, pain flashed like snapshots in and out of my mind, I held my eyes tight shut, squeeks escaping my mouth.
We stopped.
          I moved slowly from his grip, he was sprawled on the dirt. He looked up at sky, smiling. I sighed.
          My body now aching and hurting, I quickly looked down and moaned to the sky.
The dress now not black but masked in light brown from the mud and leaves hanging onto the dress. My hair now falling from its grace around my face. I'm sure my make-up would've been terrible too.
          Bradley sat up, I turned to see him. We were both sat, looking at eachothers looks.
          I burst out laughing with him.
My guts then turning and cramping from laughing. But his disheveled hair and his black suit now also brown. Then I stopped laughing, feeling the pain in my arm taking affect. I winced as flinching pain flared across the top of my left shoulder.
"Are you okay?" He lightly touched my bare elbow where it was grazed, dotted blood showed.
          "Yeah--" I gasped. Seeing blood dribble down Bradley's forehead. I felt my chest plummet to my bottom. I felt sick and angry. I caused this!
           I went to his forehead and looked around, searching for something, anything! My heart racing.
His head must've banged a rock when we were rolling.
          I gwaked at him as he realised what I was worrying about.
"Ahh..." He said with a sigh. Then looked at me. "Don't worry, just a simple bang, it'll be a tiny cut."
           "That doesn't hlep!" I screeched. He gasped, shocked, eyes widening.
Was I crying? No, I was just letting my emotion show, worried, suddenly, I stood. Feeling an automatic dizziness.
             I wobbled and Bradley anchored a lock grip on my wrist, steadying me. I watched his face turn from amused to annoyed. I lost my smile, I caused this pain!
I felt like hitting myself for doing this. I hated what I have done, if I didn't act like an idiot this wouldn't have happened.
             "I'm sorry!" I looked around, looking up at the hill we rolled down. Steep and dark, the trees lining perfectly at the top. I was about to walk then Bradley pulled me down, legs buckling beneath me.
I was met with his steely gaze.
             "Don't worry, Jade." He said my name so serious. I had never heard him say my name so serious like that. I felt trapped in a bubble, our breaths mixed and my head was so scrambled. Probably from the mix up of being rolled down a hill and head banging with Bradley's head and rocks like a football. I did my duck face again and looked worried straight after, now wasn't the time for playing.
              I seen the blood dribble down between his nose and eye. Slowly, I watched it, his grip tightened, his blue eyes looked grey in the shadow. I wasn't looking at them, but the blood that continued to fall. Intimidating me to cry, I sucked in a breath.
              "I can't help it." I seen Bradley's face change again. Softer.
I let my head fall, my legs beneath me, felt all cut up and itchy. Nettles?
               I felt my tears run slow.
Great.
              Not just my make-up, but I was crying in front of Bradley!
I felt drops hit my fist that encircled the dirt and I stared mockingly at Bradley's hand on my wrist, that slowly he raised.
              Lifting my chin, he came closer. My chest rising and falling faster and faster. His head became more higher as he sat on his feet. I seen him wipe the blood away. He looked like he came back from War or something. Smudged mud across his face with blood marked along his cheek and forehead.
              I closed my eyes to the light that looked blinding.
I felt his lips come close to mine. If I pouted, our lips will touch!
             I stayed the way I was. Feeling my neck pulse beat uncontrolably. My hands stretch in the dirt like sand, all we needed now was the music.
             Then I heard him slouch back down. I looked bewildered at him, his face again in shadow. He looked haunted. "Sorry." He breathed.
             He smiled while looking at me. "Lets go back." I sat for seconds, eyes wide with shock and other emotions I couldn't decipher. I was breathing rapidly.
              He stood, the wind swirling his suit and kicking up dust. My tears ran dry and I felt my face was heavy from the make-up that ran. He held out a hand to me.
              I took it and he swiftly lifted me like I was no heavier than a feather.
"Don't tell anyone that I was kind to you." He smirked. His eyes black with the help of his hair shadowing his look.
              "That's it?" I exclaimed.
"Yeah." He looked at me, dumbstruck, then realisation spreaded over his face. "Oh, the near kiss?" He smiled, a sweet innocent smile, I smile with a smile I couldn't help but share with. I dodged glances and started to feel my feet again after that late tumble. Then feel of my cheek muscles stretching I felt the run down make-up crack and flake.
                "Let's go," He placed his hand on the small of my back, and we headed back up the sloped hill.

Author's Note

I tried to make it sound a bit funnier but it failed :P anyway, hope you enjoy :3