[Here's My Story] And I'm Sticking To It

Here's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Walking along the creek, I almost fell in. Pulling myself up using a tree branch, that stretched in front of me, I sighed. It was unfair, or I thought it was. I'm not even sure. But I'd always been there for her, and now, being the greatest best friend she was, she left me alone in the middle of a forest. I was tired of walking, but I kept moving anyways. When I saw Ashley, she'd be getting an ear full. That much I can tell you. This was the last straw. I couldn't handle anymore of this. It's like I'm a puppy dog, and I'm being forced to follow her. Like I'm stuck on a lease and I can't pry out of it. Screaming as my foot slipped and I went flying into the creek, I looked up at the sky and asked, "Why? Why me? Why now?"

No one answered, of course. No one ever did. So, I pulled myself up and got out of the creek. What else could I do? Sit there and cry, feeling sorry for myself? No. I had to find Ashley and murder her. This whole camp thing had been her idea. She had wanted to go out on a hike, but then got a phone call, and left me off-trail. She knew where she was going, but she told me to keep going, she'd catch up eventually. I don't even know how she could've gotten a singal way out here, but it didn't matter. I trusted she'd be back. But then I went and got myself lost. I should've followed her back. But she told me it was no biggie. Just keep going. Why did I listen to her? I don't know.

That's at the point where my foot slipped into a pile of mud. Or, well, I was hoping it was mud. I was fed up with myself. But if I stopped walking, it'd get dark and I'd be out here forever. So, I tried to move away from the creek, but it was just easier if I followed it. I was already wet and muddy, and I was starting to get cold. I knew the sun was setting. I wish someone could hear me. I screamed like bloody-murder, but no one even asked, "You okay?" because no one was out here! Ticking off all the things I was pissed off at Ashley for, I moved slowly away from the edge of the creek. The trees were thinning now. Suddenly, there was a crack, a yell, and a tree falling down towards me. Screaming, I ducked--like it'd do any good, there was a tree falling on me!--and I ran. Please, I begged, don't be dead. Don't be dead. I have to kill the person who just tried to kill me with a tree. Don't be dead, I begged.

"What the hell was that?" a voice came. I looked up. Sighing with relief. The tree had not fallen on me, and I was still alive, I looked at the guy who held a chain saw. I know, I know, I shouldn't be checking out the guy who almost killed me with a tree, but oh-my-god. He was drop-dead goregous. I was about to scream at him for the whole tree-about-to-kill-me thing, but I couldn't speak. He set the chain saw down, and walked over to me, pointing at the tree. "You could've been killed! When someone yells 'Timber' you don't run under the freaking tree!"

Okay, the last straw today. I mean, his big green eyes, his dark hair, and his soft sort of stubbles couldn't protect him from the yelling he was about to get. I just poured my heart out, saying--sorry, I mean, yelling, "You can not get me in freaking trouble for almost being hit with a tree! How the hell was I supposed to hear you? I've been walking since early this morning and the sun's about to go down! I've been lost because freaking Ashley just happened to freaking leave me! And I don't know where my camp ground is! And I'm soaking wet, I think I stepped in mud, but I can't be too sure! I'm thristy and hungry, and I want to go to sleep! There is no freaking way you can yell at me for almost getting hit by a tree!"

Taking a deep breathe, I realized I was crying. Just great, that's what I needed. To cry. I tried to wipe them away, but there was no point.

"Hey, hey. I just didn't want you to get killed." the guy's voice came softly. I looked up at him and he said, "You can stay the night here, I'll get you some food and water, and you can change into some of my clothes, okay? Then tomorrow, when the sun's up, we can go and find your camp ground. Alright?"

Numbly, I nodded and about an hour later, after being fed, given water, and a change of clothes, I curled up in a spare sleepingbag of Lucas's. Thank god for him, I thought, I'd probably have died out there. I heard Lucas rustle in his sleeping bag beside me. He was a determind worker, I thought. Because when everyone else left, he still worked, and he slept over to get a head start. Apparently, he was breaking a rule, but no one cared enough to "tattle" on him. I fell asleep without another thought.

"Hey, hey." someone said, shaking me on the shoulder. I groaned, rolled over and opened my eyes. These big green eyes met mine. I sat up and remembered what had happened yesterday. I groaned again, and laid back down. "Hey, come on. Let's go get a head start at finding your campground."

"Do we have to...?" I mumbled, ready to go back to sleep.

"I made some eggs and pancakes." Lucas said, sighing. Okay, I thought, smiling, I'm up. I sat up, flashing a grin at him. I could smell the food. He held out a hand for me and I took it, realizing I was still hungry from the night before. Lucas asked, "Where was your camp ground, anyways?"

"Um," I said, thinking about it, "Park Enterance 17, I think."

He whistled, and motioned for me to sit down on the pinic table. I sat, eagerly waiting for my food. He put a plate in front of me, with two easy-done eggs and three medium-sized pancakes, "Well, we're at number one."

"What?" I asked, smiling at the food. "Looks good."

"Thanks, and seriously. They've closed of the parks 1 to 10 because we're cleaning up the area. Dead trees and stuff. If you were around seventeen, that means you covered around seventeen caming areas." Lucas said, getting his own plate and sitting down across from me.

See, this park was this huge forest, and it was separated into sections, "parks", where you just went in and found some place to set up. There were no real marked campgrounds. It was a total-wilderness place. Which is why I'd been so iffy to begin with. But Ashley "convinced" me. More like, she told me I was going or I wasn't her friend. Sighing, Lucas and I chatted a bit more.

Suddenly, I found myself wanting to know more about him. He was really interesting. I learned that he didn't live with either parents because his mother was a drunk, and his father was a drugie, so he left them and when to live on his own when he was 16. He was mature and respectful, fun and easy-going, thoughtful and had strong opinions about things. He didn't know what he wanted to become, being only nineteen, I could've swore he was about twenty-three. And I learned that he had an awesome, make-girls-go-gooey chest. Oh, and on top of all that, I learned he was a really good cook.

Around ten o'clock, or at least, that's what Lucas's watch said, we got into his truck. I held my dirty clothes, and smell the masculin scent of Lucas around me. I felt totally comfortable with him, as we drove around the park, I wished we couldn't find the camp ground.

But when he pulled up into the park enterance number seventeen, I got out. Thanking him for the ride, the clothes, and everything else, I shut the door. I stood in front of my enemy. The forest. I was a total accident-prone type of girl, and the forest and me don't mix. Then I heard the engine die, and a door shut. I looked up, to see Lucas standing beside me. He smiled and said, "Couldn't let you face the forest alone. Apparently you have no sense of direction."

I laughed and looked around. Taking a deep breath, I walked in the forest. It was only a matter of minutes, before I found the camp. But I was having fun with Lucas, and I didn't want it to end. But when I looked closer at the camp ground, I realized there was only one tent. Not two. Where the hell was Ashley's? As I walked towards it, I tripped over a tree root, and went flying forward. Lucas raced over, laughing. I sat up, and looked at him.

"Shut up!" I said, smiling myself. Lucas held out his hand, and I stood up with him. I looked at his shirt. There was now a big rip across the chest of his shirt, which exposed something I'd prefered he not see. I squealed, and clamped the shirt together.

"I didn't look, honest." Lucas said, laughing all the same. I swatted him with my hand, and looked around. I sighed.

"She left." I simply stated. There was a piece of paper on my tent. I walked over to it and read it out loud, "Sorry about leaving you, but my mother's in the hospital. I called your cell a million times. You really ought to have that on more often. I couldn't wait, I really couldn't. Sorry, --Ashley."

Lucas said, his voice soft and really sweet, "That sucks. Now you know why she wasn't looking for you."

I didn't say anything for the longest moment. I was going to end my friendship with her. I was going to tear away from the lease, except, well, I couldn't. Not now. Not when she needed me. I sighed and looked at Lucas. He was sitting on the log beside the fire pit I'd made. I said, walking towards him, "Guess she should learn that my cell phone hasn't been working in almost a year now."

He smiled and said, "Well, it's not her fault, really. She was probably..."

I looked at him, and he trialed. I said, sighing, "I was...I want to go home."

"I'll help you pack up and I can drive you home." Lucas murmered.

So, I'd wait until everything was okay with Ashley's mom before I'd stand up to her. My rage died and all I could feel was guilt for feeling that way. Not good, I thought, sighing. But, I made a new friend out of it. Lucas smiled at me, and I smiled back. We were packing up my tent, and of course, I realized that he was so hot, and I was so not. But whatever the reason, he seemed to like me.

---

Two months later, and I still have yet to tell Ashley how I felt. Note the past tense. Ashley's mother died, and ever since, she's been depress, quiet, and following me around. I don't force her to do anything, or bug her to move on, I just talk to her softly and hug her when she needs it. She thanks me all the time for always being there. But she's in a dark pit--something I can't get her out of.

Lucas, on the other hand, is always there for me, and even Ashley. I was so happy when my best friend and my boyfriend actually liked each other. Which makes it easier for me to be with Lucas and be there for Ashley. So, I never told Ashley how I felt, I don't think it even matters now. But I'm always thanking her for leaving me alone that day in the woods, because she might have lost her entire world, but she gave me my entire world; Lucas. Although she doesn't know it yet, she'll be smiling once more, because Lucas has this really totally-perfect-for-Ashley friend...who can make anyone smile. So, I think my story ends here. It doesn't, really, end here. It goes on for a long while, but, I think you can only picture what happens next.

Maybe I'll never tell Ashley what I wanted. Maybe I'll never stand up to her. But if I could do it all over again, I don't think I'd do a single thing different.