Chapter 8 - The Last Chapter

Chapter 8 ~ Finally Home!

   Emilie jumped out of her bed and stared at her room. She was home! She couldn’t believe it! She was home! Emilie raced out of the room tripping over Katherine in her excitement.

   “Sorry Katherine!” She almost flew down the stairs in her excitement at being home. She skidded to a stop when she heard voices outside on the deck.  Emilie crept over to the door and peeked outside through the curtains. The door was opened enough to hear what they were saying.

~*~

   “Adrienne?” Matthew paced the deck in the peaceful morning air. Adrienne stood with her back to house, waiting patiently for him to say what he wanted to say. He turned towards her and burst out, “Adrienne I really like you; would you like to enter into a relationship with me?” Adrienne gasped and stared wide-eyed at him.

~*~

   Emilie gasped and almost fell over in her surprise. What?! You shouldn’t be seeing this, Em!

   “Go Matthew!” She whispered excitedly.

~*~

   “Do I?! Oh yes Matthew!!” Matthew’s face broke out into a huge grin and he picked Adrienne up in a hug and swung her about. Adrienne laughed and let her heart soar.

I hope you enjoyed reading my book. 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 ~ We’re Almost There.

   They continued the trek down the mountain. They were all incredibly tired, especially Matthew, even though the girls had slept for a reasonable time.

Emilie had gotten over her grumpiness and while they were walking she sidled over to Joy and whispered,  “I’m sorry Joy.”

   “I am too.” She put her arm around Emilie’s and squeezed her tightly. “I didn’t really think he would do anything to me, though I was really worried and nervous still from the shock of being lost.”

Emilie sighed.  “Mhm, I was a nervous wreck, but I think I’m okay now.”

In the dark, Joy could just make out the grin on her small thin face. Katherine wandered over.

   “Getting reacquainted, girls?” Katherine joked, laughing a little bit. Emilie and Joy joined in with her. Matthew looked over, shining his flashlight on them.

   “What’s up?”

   “Uh,” Joy looked over at Emilie who shook her head no, “just talking.”

   “Matthew, can I ask you a question?”

   “Um, what kind of question?”

   “Uh,” Emilie glanced over at the other girls. “A very personal question.”

   “I guess so.”

   “How much do you like Adrienne?”

   “Ahh, um, you want me to answer that, Em?”

   “Uh, yes, please.”

Matthew continued walking along the faint path that you could barely see in the dark.

   “Do you like her enough to marry her?” Emilie asked quietly.

   “My question for you; do you like her enough for me to marry her?”

Emilie paled and sighed.

   “Yes, I-I think.”

Matthew turned over to her, his face looked slightly tense.

   “Are you positive?”

   “Yes, Matthew, I believe so.”

A grin broke out on his face and his eyes lit up.

   “Thanks Em!” Emilie couldn’t help grinning, but the light suddenly left his face.

   “What if she doesn’t like me?”

The girls grinned at him and said at the same time,  “Oh I wouldn’t worry about that!”

He heaved a sigh and then the grin broke out across his face again.  “How do you know?”

They winked at him and said in unison, “Trust us!”

   “Um, is it worth it? To trust you I mean?”

   “Totally!” Katherine burst out excitedly, her grin as wide as can be. Emilie giggled and winked at the girls.

Matthew threw up his hands and exclaimed,  “Okay what is it? What do you know that I don’t?”

Joy playfully punched Katherine and whispered in Emilie’s ear,  “Great now he’s going to try and find out.”

   “Sorry.” Emilie whispered back in Joy’s ear.

Matthew put his hands on his hips and stared at them waiting for them to say something. Katherine jumped forward.

   “Um, we can’t tell! We promised!”

   “Hmm, fine well I…I’ll find out sooner or later.” He winked at them and their faces instantly switched to half innocent and half worried.

   “We should continue on.” Matthew said as he turned back to the trail and they continued on the long, tortuous walk.

~*~

   “AHHH!!” Katherine cried out in pain as she fell to the ground. Emilie and Joy were instantly at her side.

   “Are you alright?” Emilie gasped out, worried.

   “I think I might have twisted my ankle,” she winced as she touched it gingerly.

Matthew knelt down, took off Katherine’s shoe and felt her foot to make sure it wasn’t broken. He sat back on his heels.

   “Nothing broken,” he confirmed. “Can you walk?” he asked her patiently.

Katherine shrugged.  “I don’t know.”

Matthew helped her gently up and Katherine took a small tentative step.

“Oh!” Katherine gasped in shock at the pain that shot through her foot; she fell backwards and Matthew caught her before she landed on the ground.

He sighed. “Okay.” He thought for a moment. “I guess I’ll just have to carry you, then.” He picked her up and cradled Katherine in his arms. “Shall we continue?”

“Yes the sooner we get started, the sooner we can get back the camp site.” Emilie said and they continued on down the mountain.

~*~

   Adrienne was heading down the street to her house when she suddenly she changed her mind and turned around and headed back the way she had come. Her thoughts were muddled, but she was trying not to think about what had just happened in the Cherveaux’s living room.  But the scene kept playing in her head.

“So you’re telling me they are lost???”

“Yes, I’m sorry Mrs. Cherveaux.”

Adrienne tried to block the scene again and again, but it wouldn’t work.

   “I trusted you! I told you to take care of her! Of them! Adrienne, you said you could do it!”

“But!”

“How dare you! Leave this house at once!”

   Adrienne quickened her pace. If someone had looked out of their window at exactly five o’clock they would have seen a girl walking rather fast up the street and might think she was angry and determined. She was determined, but not angry.  Adrienne hurried back to the Cherveaux’s house, and hopped into the car again. She turned the car up and back out of the driveway and headed back the way she had come about a half an hour ago.  she opened the door and walked into the cool dark narthex of the large church. Adrienne paused for a moment to catch her breath.  Please let Father be here!

She walked slowly to the door to the main part and pulled it opened. The church was still and dark not a noise could be heard. She looked at the candles; their flames licking away at the dark, making the church feel like safe haven from the dark world outside. Adrienne jumped and turned around.

   “Father?”

She turned, nervous, and hurried back out of the church.

~*~

   “What time is it?” Joy groaned from exhaustion.

Emilie flashed her light on Matthew’s wrist and stared at his watch for a few seconds.  “It’s four twenty  AM.  Are we almost back Matthew?”

Matthew glanced around and up ahead he saw the tent peaking through the tops of the trees.

“It’s right there.” Matthew pointed up ahead. The girls, though tired, broke into a run. In the clearing they pretty much collapsed on the picnic table. Matthew followed behind them.

“You three should get some sleep it’s been a long day.” Matthew told them right away. The girls stood up slowly,

“Okay, Matthew.” Joy said as the girls headed to the tent and ducked in. They flopped down on their sleeping bags and were asleep in minutes. Matthew followed them in a minute later.

~*~

Adrienne, tired from the long day, flipped the radio on. Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You” came on. Adrienne smiled, she loved this song. Adrienne sped a long the highway listening to music and thinking. She made sure she wasn’t going too fast but fast enough to get there quickly. Every once in a while she would check her speed.

The miles seemed to fly away behind her. Adrienne’s thoughts were filled with Matthew and his mother. I really hope getting them back safely will change her mind. I mean if it didn’t I wouldn’t know what to do. Her thoughts changed to Matthew. He’s so sweet and kind, he sure takes care of his sister well. She is pretty young but she is such a sweet, pretty girl.

Before she realized it she was heading up the mountain about a half hour away. She slowed down a bit as the roads got bumpier the higher she went. Soon she knew she was close by.

~*~

The sound of an engine woke Matthew up. He sat up and left the tent to see who it was. The car light’s cut through the trees as it pulled into the clearing and stopped. The driver’s side door flew open and Adrienne jumped out and hurried over.

“Where are the girls? Did you find them?” She looked worried. Matthew smiled and nodded his head.

“They are sound asleep in the tent. I was also, but when I heard the truck and came out to see what it was.”

“I’m sorry I woke you up, Matthew; I would have anyways.” Adrienne smiled and winked at Matthew. They heard a rustling from inside the tent. Katherine peeked out of the tent, stretching.

“Matthew, who are you talking too?” Matthew turned around and replied,

“I’m talking to Adrienne.” Katherine almost tripped out of the tent at Adrienne’s name. She smiled,

“Hi Adrienne!”

Katherine went back into the tent and woke Joy and Emilie up. They hurried out of the tent and back to Matthew and Adrienne. Emilie stood sleepily before Matthew and asked him,

“Can we go home?” Matthew laughed at her and replied.

“Yes we can go home as soon as we pack everything up.”

“Alright, let’s get to work!” Joy said.  The girls began to take down the tent as quickly and efficiently as possible. They packed up the sleeping bags, pillows, and food.

Soon everything was packed and in the trunk of the truck. Emilie climbed into the back seat of the truck and sat down. Joy and Katherine got in and sat down on either side of her. Adrienne got into the front seat and turned off the radio since she had forgotten to do it before. Matthew walked around the clearing just to make sure that they had gotten everything in the truck. He headed back to the pickup and got into the front seat and shut the door. He took the truck out of park and circled the edge of the clearing and headed down the mountain. The car was silent for most of the ride since the girls were sleeping most of the time.

At about a half an hour away from home the girls woke up feeling excited for being home after such a long stressful day, yesterday. Emilie leaned forward and tapped Matthew on the shoulder and asked him,

“Matthew may I please have my cd from the player?” Matthew leaned forward and popped the disc out and handed it back to Emilie. She placed it in it’s case and tucked it into her purse. The three girls were almost bouncing in their seats waiting to get home. Matthew pulled onto their street; they passed the Haleys’ house and the Larks’ house. Up ahead Emilie could see her house coming into view. Only Adrienne dreaded going to the Cherveaux’s house because of that episode earlier. Matthew pulled into the driveway and parked the truck. The three girls flew out of the truck and ran for the front door.

“MOM!!! We’re home!!!!!!!” Emilie screamed out excitedly banging the door open. There came a thundering of footsteps on the stairway. Emilie was enveloped in a huge hug from her mother. Her brothers stood on the bottom step grinning. Her father smiled and said,

“You all must be tired. Why don’t you girls go into Emilie’s room and lay down. Adrienne you can have the guest room.”

“Oh that isn’t necessary.” Adrienne said quickly glancing at Mrs. Cherveaux. Mr. Cherveaux nodded,

“Yes it is.”

The girls went upstairs to take a nap. They kinda just lay down on Emilie’s bed; somehow they all fit. Soon they were all fast asleep.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 ~ Where are they?

   “Matthew?” Adrienne stood up and paced around the edge of the campsite, “They aren’t back yet and it’s…” She pulled her watch out of her pocket and glanced at it. “It’s four o’clock and they have been gone since nine o’clock this morning.”

Matthew looked up.

“They’ve been gone that long?!”

Adrienne sighed and nodded.

“Okay,” he sighed” We should go look for them now; do you have a flashlight?”

Adrienne nodded quickly and hurried to the truck to get it. Matthew pulled his flashlight out of his pocket and they headed up the trail. Matthew flashed his light around the trees looking to see where the girls were. Mom’s gonna kill me for letting them get lost. He glanced over at Adrienne  who looked rather worried and was fiddling nervously with her brown hair.

“You sure you want to come with me to look for them? I could send you back home.” Matthew stopped and looked at Adrienne, waiting for her answer. Adrienne shook her head.

“I’m staying with you; besides your mom would find out sooner, so let’s keep going.”

She spoke with such confidence Matthew was surprised; if it had been light out you would have been able to see the prideful sparkle in his hazel green eyes. His eyes to some people would be considered gorgeous and kind, but to others they might only see the prideful sparkle and not the kindness. Adrienne on the other hand was the kind of person who noticed the gorgeousness and the kindness first and the prideful sparkle later on. Adrienne’s brown eyes, at this point, were very nervous and almost shy still, even though she had spent the whole day by herself with Matthew. She glanced hesitantly over at him, but all she could see was his brown hair that had grown slightly longer than usually, making it curly. She smiled softly, reflecting on the fact that Matthew liked her. The thought was too much to comprehend.

~*~

   Emilie lay on the ground, thinking about her family. I wonder how Christopher and  Mairead are doing? I wish I could visit Ireland and see Mairead’s parents. It’s so cool that Mairead was born in Ireland!  Mairead Kathleen Maureen O’Callaghan Cherveaux her name is beautiful! Much prettier than mine: Emilie Clare Rosalind Cherveaux. Mine is so very simple compared to Mairead’s. She stuck her tongue out. But I guess if my name was different I wouldn’t be Emilie Clare Rosalind Cherveaux, I would be someone else, like Jane or Anne. So I guess that means if Mairead wasn’t Mairead Kathleen Maureen O’Callaghan and she hadn’t married Christopher, I wouldn’t have two adorable nieces and two adorable nephews!  Oh I wish I could see Liam and Chase and Alaia and Caitlin! Especially Caitlin and Chase, they are so cute!  Emilie sat up and began taking twigs and.  Oh! And Becca! And Devon and Stephan. Henry and Amelia and Dominic and Elodie…oh I miss them so much!  Emilie burst out crying. I mustn't let Joy hear me! Emilie scrunched herself up into a ball, trying to silence her sobs. A hand ran up and down her back. She got the feeling that it was Katherine.

   “Shh it’s okay.”

Mhm, it’s Katherine, was Emilie’s last thought as she fell asleep.

~*~

   “Okay honestly, really?” Matthew muttered. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. Midnight!  He kicked the dirt. Adrienne placed a gentle hand on his arm; her look asked the question she didn’t dare breathe for fear of what he might do. He smiled grimly and walked to one of the  trees a little bit away.  His whole body shook with the sigh he heaved as he turned around and stared at her.

   “Adrienne, I’m sending you home. You need to tell my mom.”

   “But...”

   “You have no choice.” He sighed again. “I’m sorry.”

Matthew handed the keys to her and pointed back the way they came. “If you head back that way you’ll hit the campsite. Just follow the road down. Be careful, Adrienne. I –“ he paused,  “want you in one piece when I come back.”

Her breath caught in her throat.  He turned and headed quickly into the dark, his flashlight flashing up and down as he disappeared in the trees. Adrienne took a deep breath and turned around, heading back the way they had come.  He said he wanted me back in one piece! Did he really mean it? Of course he did, why wouldn’t he have? Adrienne quickened her pace as she hurried along in the cold dark.  Her flashlight glowed dimly, the light bouncing up and down in front of her as she jogged along the path. She was almost there, she could see the glowing embers from the campfire creating a hazy glow up ahead.  She could see the flashlight glinting on the pickup truck. She broke into a run and pulled open the door on the driver’s side and hopped in, started the engine and was soon racing down the mountain before she realized it had started pouring rain. The truck felt uncomfortably chilly and damp, forcing her to turn the heat on, which seemed absurd in July.

‘I want you in one piece when you get back.’

Adrienne slowed, slamming her foot onto the brake pedal.  The wheels screeched as she tried to stop it, but it kept sliding down the mountain. She bit a scream back and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. The pickup truck finally came to a stop; she was breathing heavily. Okay calm down, Adrienne Annmarie  Lesching. She sat silently listening to the rain pouring down in torrents, and thought of Matthew, Emilie, Joy, and Katherine out there in the dark and pouring rain. She sat up straight, determined to get home and to the Cherveaux’s mom by morning. She hit the gas pedal and shot down the mountain barely going more than sixty.

~*~

   “OH!” Emilie shot up from the ground and yelled at the sky, “COULD YOU KEEP THE RAIN TO YOURSELF UNTIL WE GET FOUND?!”

Joy laughed sarcastically at Emilie. Katherine shot her a look that showed fear, but Emilie appeared to not hear her. Katherine sighed and turned back to Emilie.

   “Calm down, Emilie. Please?” she pleaded.

   “Fine.” She went and stood underneath the shelter of the weeping willow.

~*~

   Matthew hurried blindly through the rain; he looked everywhere, but he still couldn’t find them. He thought of what he had said back there to Adrienne.  Had he really said that to her? Honest? What had come over him that would’ve made him say that? Was it true? Yes it was. A small voice in his head told him, Yes it was true and you know that. He continued his slow meditative pace playing the flashlight about the dark, damp, and cold forest. All of a sudden he heard a voice yelling something about keeping rain to itself.

   “Is it?” He broke into a run. “EMILIE!! KATHERINE!!! JOY!!!”

~*~

   Joy paused from walking in the other direction.

“Matthew?” Emilie perked up and separated the curtain of leaves and stepped out.

“Did you say Matthew?” Katherine grinned.

“Yes!” Emilie nodded and looked all around,

“Which direction?” Joy asked. They heard the tramping and thrashing of someone trying to get through the forest at breakneck speed. Emilie broke into a run heading towards the direction of the footsteps.

“MATTHEW!!!!” She saw him break through a group of trees and she flew straight into his arms. “Oh, Matthew!”

He hugged her tightly and rubbed his hand up and down on her hair.  “Mom’s gonna be so mad when she hears you got lost.”

Katherine and Joy came up.  “Where’s Adrienne?”

Matthew stood up.  “I sent her back home.”

Emilie sighed, “So we have no way of getting home? I see.”

A grinned spread on his face and he laughed and gave her a one armed hug. “Oh we’ll get home alright. Do not worry. Come on.” They began the long hike back to camp.

~*~

Somehow miraculously Adrienne made it to the Cherveaux home in four hours without getting pulled over for speeding half the time. She breathed a sigh and turned the engine off and opened the door to find the rain had stopped. She barely gave it a second thought and hurried up to the front door. The glass window glinted in the moonlight as she pounded on the door. She pulled her watch out, checking the time. Four fifteen in the morning.  Sighing, she pounded again.  Come on! Someone wake up and answer the door! She heard footsteps approaching on the other side and Mr. Cherveaux opened the door. He stepped back in surprise.

“Adrienne? What are you doing here? Where are Matthew and Emilie and the girls?”

Adrienne sighed.  “May I come in?”

Mr. Cherveaux stepped back, out of the way.

“Yes, sure, come in.”

He looked confused as he led her into the large, but comfortable family room. Adrienne sat down, but then stood up and walked flustered around the room. Mr. Cherveaux looked at her, confusedly, .

“Are you alright, Adrienne?”

“Could you get Mrs. Cherveaux, please? I might as well get it over with.”

He nodded as he headed out of the room and upstairs to get his wife. They were back in a few moments; there was a worried look on Mrs. Cherveaux’s face.

“Is everything alright Adrienne? Where’s Emilie?”

Adrienne sighed and fumbled with her hair.  “It’s all three of them, Mrs. Cherveaux, not just Emilie.”

Mr. Cherveaux stood up.   “What happened?”

   “Well, they went on a hike. Matthew said it was perfectly alright if they went by themselves; so they did. But we didn’t really think about it until I realized it was four o’clock so we set off to look for them.” Adrienne sighed and sat down on a flowered couch. “Finally Matthew sent me home though, I know he- I mean I didn’t want to go. So he went on and I came home.”

Mrs. Cherveaux stood up and paced the room, then she turned to Adrienne.

   “So you’re telling me they are lost???”

   “Yes, I’m sorry Mrs. Cherveaux.”  Adrienne’s face was so very pale, almost as pale as death.

Mr. Cherveaux patted his wife gently on her shoulder.  “But I trusted you! I told you to take care of her!  Of them! Adrienne, you said you could do it!” Mrs. Cherveaux yelled at her.

Adrienne gasped. “But!”

   “How dare you! Leave this house at once!” Mrs. Cherveaux’s voice trembled with remorse, sadness, and anger. Mr. Cherveaux tried to calm his wife down, but she wouldn’t let him.

   “Go Adrienne Lesching!”

Adrienne was breathing heavily and excitedly, she had never seen Mrs. Cherveaux like this before. Adrienne hurried out of the house as fast as possible. She ran down the sidewalk.

   “Wait! Adrienne!”

Adrienne stopped and turned around and saw Aden standing in the doorway.

   “What?”

   “Don’t worry, my mom doesn’t mean what she said. Honest.” Adrienne shrugged her shoulders.

   “It’s fine, I deserved it.” She turned and walked off down the street.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 ~ ‘Could This Get Any Worse?’

   Her eyes roved across and around the tent when all of a sudden she pointed her finger at the roof.

   “AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”” the scream broke the incredibly cold and foggy silence of the tent.

   “What?! Who!?” Matthew yelled, sitting up fast; everybody sat up quickly and stared at Emilie. Her face went bright red as she realized that all she had seen was the shadow of tree branch cast over the tent from the early morning sun.

   “Sorry I thought it was a real spider.” Emilie stared at Matthew who looked about ready to kill anything in sight. He slapped his face.

   “Emilie, could you please make sure next time what you see is real and not fake before you wake us up?”

   “Yes, Matthew.”  Katherine began to giggle and Joy joined her.

I would put this part before Katherine and Joy begin giggling.)

   “Sorry Em!” They tried to stop themselves, but then realized that she was also giggling with them.

Matthew made his bed and stood up.  “I guess the girls won’t be letting us sleep any longer.”

Adrienne smiled at him and much to her surprise he walked over to her and held out his hand; Adrienne took it and stood up. The girls broke into a fresh round of giggles. Joy waved her hand to Adrienne.

   “We’ll do your bed, Adrienne.”

   “Thank you, girls.”

Matthew opened the grill and turned it on.

   “Girls what’s for breakfast?”

   “Pancakes!”

   “Bacon!”

   “Pancakes and bacon it is.” he began to get the ingredients out. Adrienne ducked back into the tent.

   “Are you ready to head to the bathhouse?” Adrienne asked.

Emilie, Katherine, and Joy jumped up and hurried out of the tent and over to the truck where they were keeping their duffel bags. When they had their stuff, they took off down the path followed by Adrienne who hurried to keep up with the girls.

   “First one to touch the door is the winner!” Emilie cried out as Katherine pushed ahead of Emilie and Joy; Joy, with her long legs though, was soon ahead of both of them and just as she was about to reach out and touch the door Emilie came running with her hand outstretched to reach the door first. But much to their surprise, Adrienne won.  Emilie gasped for breath and stared at Adrienne who was also being stared at by Joy and Katherine. Adrienne laughed at their startled faces.

   “Didn’t think I could do that? It’s not like I’m an old lady or something.”

   “You’ll never been an old lady, Adrienne.” Emilie laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were ninety and you’ll still be doing the stuff you do now.”  Emilie grinned crazily at Adrienne who laughed at her.

   “Well I can’t exactly say that will come true,” she said thoughtfully, “But maybe it could be true.”

Joy came out from getting dressed wearing a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeve purple shirt underneath a gray sweatshirt with a red heart on it. Katherine didn’t take much longer and was wearing a pair of jeans that looked almost white and a brown sweatshirt pulled down so low that you couldn’t see what shirt she was wearing; on it, it said “The Lark Family”. Emilie wore a pair of green jeans and a mint green shirt over a matching tank top with lace on the edges.

   After they were all dressed and had eaten breakfast, they lounged around the campsite. Emilie suddenly remembered what Katherine had suggested last night when they were talking in the tent. She jumped up and ran over to Matthew.

   “Matthew, may Joy, Katherine and I go hiking right now?”

   “Um...” Matthew thought for a little bit and then looked over at Adrienne who nodded her head slightly. “Yes you may.”

Katherine started jumping up and down in surprise. He had actually said yes!

   “Yippee!!!!!!!!!”

   “Honest, Matthew, I didn’t think you would say yes,” Joy told him with an honest look on her face, he laughed in surprise.

“Why not?”

“Because of what you promised your mother,” Joy replied honestly.

“Don’t worry, Joy, nothing will happen to you girls.” Matthew responded. Emilie came back from the pickup truck.

“I’m all ready!” she grinned excitedly, slinging a backpack onto her shoulder.

Matthew stood up.  “What’s in there?”

Emilie rifled through her backpack and pulled various things out of it.  “Um...I have three food bars, one for each of us, and also some water bottles. Aha! My special!” she held up a crumpled and rather soggy map. “The map!”

“Why is that your special, Em?” Joy wrinkled her nose at the soggy map.

“Uh ‘cause it helped us get here.” she shrugged.

“How did it get wet?” Katherine took it in her hands and stared at the blurry paper.

“Uh, that I do not know!” she grinned, “but who cares! Let’s go!” She loaded everything back in and re-tied her sneakers that were slightly tight because of her fuzzy pink socks that she was wearing. Joy picked up Emilie’s backpack and headed onto the path. Katherine and Emilie hurried after her. They waved goodbye to Adrienne and Matthew who both looked sort of uncomfortable being left behind at the campsite by themselves. Katherine began to giggle as she looked back over her shoulder at the campsite and Matthew and Adrienne.

“What?!” Emilie asked for the third time and finally got Katherine’s attention

   “I just was laughing at how awkward they both look.” She pointed over her shoulder. Emilie snuck a look and broke out laughing. Soon both Joy and Katherine were laughing along with her.

~*~

   After hiking for an hour, they came across a very silent part of the forest, and began to explore the area. They separated, but stayed within calling distance from each other. A scream split the air and made Joy stand up real fast.

   “What was that?” she called to Katherine. Katherine stood up as well.

   “It sounded like Emilie.” Katherine began to run to where they had left Emilie with Joy “Girls!”

   “Where are you, Em?” Joy called out to her.

They caught a glimpse of Emilie’s green shirt and ran faster. They were soon by her side, but Emilie wasn’t looking at them. She was staring petrified at a small opening in the trees.  Emilie pointed and they both looked quickly to where she pointed. Joy screamed loudly, Katherine jumped up scared and grabbed Joy and Emilie’s hands so fast that they didn’t have time to react. The girls sped far into the woods until they figured they were far enough away from the bear. Emilie began to cry Katherine hugged her tightly. Joy looked slowly about the circle.

   “Um, guys?”

Katherine looked at Joy. “What?”

   “I think we’re lost.”

Emilie screamed.  “Oh my gosh!” she yelled as she panicked, which wasn’t good. For when Emilie panicked she went hysterical.  

   “Calm down, Em,” Joy said nervously as she shifted from one foot to the other. Katherine looked scared, but there was also an excited glint in her small blue eyes.

   “I’ve never been lost before, but I’ve always been petrified of being lost, and now I am!” Emilie threw her hands up in the air as she exclaimed to no one in particular. She screamed again, making Joy jump and swat at her to stop so she could think.

   “Well....” Joy thought real hard, “What if we turn around and head back the way we came from?”  Katherine sat down on the slightly damp, grassy ground to think about what Joy had suggested. She stood up again.

   “Let’s try that.” She decided; she clasped Emilie’s hand in her own and pulled her along, afraid that if she didn’t, Emilie wouldn’t come follow them. Emilie raved on and on, repeating everything she said, but she was so scared she didn’t realize it.

   “Ya know we’ll probably run into that freakin’ lion again and we’ll be fried meat.”

   “Lion?” Joy glanced over at Katherine who shrugged and smiled back. They walked on and on until Emilie stopped and looked about.

   “Uh, guys?”

   “What?”

   “We’re still as lost as CAN BE!” Emilie screamed and kicked a towering elm with her knee. “Ouch!” she quickly pulled it back. Joy began to pace around the trees agitatedly and chastised herself.

   “What is Matthew going to do to me?”

   “What do you mean what is Matthew going to do to you?” Emilie stopped panicking long enough to ask.

   “I’m the oldest! I should be watching where we’re going! And we didn’t even use your soggy map.”

   “Shut up!” Emilie came out of her trance and stared at Joy who looked taken aback.

   “Why? Why do I have to shut up, Missy?” Joy stared stonily at Emilie. Katherine stared at them and wrung her hands and moaned.

   “Because I said so! You are the meanest person in the world.”

Joy gasped.

   “How dare you? Sometimes I really wonder why you’re my friend, Emilie Cherveaux.” her voice dripped with disdain. Emilie looked as angry as a lion when his lunch was taken away.

   “Girls…” Katherine moaned. Emilie looked over at Katherine.

   “Please stay out of this, Katherine. I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”

Katherine slapped her forehead in frustration. Why oh why?  Where’s Matthew when you need him?  Katherine pushed back her shoulders, took a deep breath and stepped forward.  She put a hand on each of their chests and looked at them both.

   “Okay, girls, listen.  Nothing’s going to happen if you argue, nothing at all! So until you stop arguing and we figure out what to do, we’re stuck. No one will benefit from this argument except some very angry people.” Katherine cringed as Emilie and Joy both glared at her.

“Unless- Unless you want to argue loud enough for Matthew and Adrienne to hear you and come and find us then do so, but I’m going to bed.”

She walked over to a tree and plopped down with her back to them. Emilie grimaced and marched over to another tree and lay down.  Joy stomped, muttering random things, over to a weeping willow and crawled underneath the leaves. Soon they were all asleep.