Lie To Me

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

As Caleb and I run through my yard I can hear Aidens and Michells counting getting quieter and quieter. Based on the direction we're running in, I think Caleb is leading me to a big tree on the woodline. It's a super fat, tall tree we could both easily hide behind but I think Molly and Alex are already hiding there and even if its a big tree, four people would be obvious.

"Slow down football star not everyone is as fast as you!" I whisper shout at Caleb as we near the tree. 

I hear Aiden and Michelle yell '36' and I know they're almost done counting. "Sorry!" He whisper shouts back and I stop for a moment, still holding his hand he notices my sudden halt and turns around. "We gotta keep going, I know you're tired but we're almost there." 

I shake my head, "Molly and Alex are already hiding there." I gesture to the tree and he looks up to see Molly laughing at something Alex said.

"We can go over there and get behind that bush." I point to a bush near a little creek in the woods and start running, hoping Caleb is following. 

We jump behind the bush just in time to hear Michelle yell 'ready or not here we come!'.

I start laughing at the way Caleb jumped behind the bush like he's batman and he covers my mouth. "Shh Audrey." He laughs while I grin behind his hand.

It's a small bush so Caleb and I are squished together so we're not easily seen. I'm sitting on my knees and he's crouched over me, peaking over the bush to see where Aiden and Michelle are. I look around and see Michelle standing still like shes scared so Aiden reaches out to take her hand and they begin walking together, trying to find their seven friends. 

He's so gentle and sweet with her, like he's never seen anything more pure and has genuine interest in the twins that makes me wonder where he got his love for kids. Does he have a younger cousin he babysits?

Suddenly, I hear a crack and look over to see Alex tripping over a tree root. Instead of standing up he just lays on the ground and hopes Aiden and Michelle doesnt't see him. I check to see if they noticed and Alexs plan to lay on the dark ground seems to be working because Aiden is looking for the source of the noise but doesn't seem to be able to find it. 

Molly's laughing really hard so Alex starts laughing, giving away their hiding spot. "Run!" Shouts Michelle and her and Aiden take off running to Alex and Molly. They both start running towards base which is the porch and Aiden stays beside Michelle the entire time, his hand never leaving her tiny one. 

When Molly and Alex finally reach the porch Michelle was too slow to catch them so her and Aiden just turn around and start looking again. 

Michelle walks over to the shed with Aiden following. They look around the wheel barrel and old trailer, not finding anyone.

I look up at Caleb, "Wanna make a run for it?"

"Do you think you can keep up?" He smiles and takes a step back so I can stand up.

"I think I can try." I laugh and take off running to the porch.

Aiden and Michelle turn around and see Caleb and I's shadows running in the dark. Knowing Aiden is faster than I am, I try to speed up but fail miserably and trip over my own feet. I'm almost to the porch so I half run half crawl the rest of the way since I don't have any time to waste standing up.

Aiden and Michelle are running as fast as her little legs can take her before Caleb lets them tag him. 

"Gotcha!" Michelle shouts and laughs.