*Old Version* Running From Them, Running To You

Chapter 8-Running From Them, Running To You

"That will be included in our conversation later." Without leaving me a chance to ponder, she pulled us over to the tables. Grabbing a plastic cup, she held it under a keg and it filled with amber liquid. She held it to her lips and took a sip.

"Drink up ladies," she cried. Both Ashley and Morgan grabbed a beer too, but I followed Honor's lead and had a coke. Maybe later, I thought.

The music pounded in my ears as we danced around the fire. I held a cold beer can in one hand, half way finished. It was only my first, so I wasn't worried about it yet, but I had only had a few beers my whole life and I easily succumbed to its poison. Everyone but Honor was with me, and I wondered where she had gone. I had caught a glance of Will earlier so my guess was that she was with him. Sure enough, I soon saw her walking toward us, Will dragging at her heels. He seemed hesitant to approach us, and when he did, he made toward me.

"Can I talk to you?" He asked, looking pained. Nice to see you too, I thought grimly. I saw Honor give a small nod in my direction. She must have asked what was up with his attitude toward me.

I shrugged. "Sure." He pivoted and walked away, leaving me to sprint after him, my heels sinking into the ground.

He led me away from the crowd, until we entered the edge of the forest. Behind him I teased, "If your going to lead me away to kill me, tell me now; I could take these shoes off without worrying about being reprimanded by Courtney.

From behind, I saw his cheek rise. "Nah," he said and my heart gave a small jump as I realized he was going to talk to me. "That way you'd be able to run." I smiled, glad he was playing along.

Barely inside the wood line, Will stopped and sat down on a fallen tree. I stayed standing and he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm really not going to kill you," he said.

I shook my head. "There is no way I am going to ruin this dress by sitting on a tree."

"Why, is it new?" He asked.

"No, it's Courtney's." His eyes lit up with understanding. To my astonishment, he shrugged off the jacket he was wearing, and draped it next to him.

He motioned to it. "Better?"

Awestruck, I took the seat next to him. This wasn't what I'd been expecting.

He ran a hand through his hair. "So . . . " he started.

I waited. This was his problem, not mine. I wasn't going to start this conversation.

He let out a breath. "Okay, well, so we haven't been talking."

I gave him a disbelieving look and he revised. "Well, I haven't been talking to you."

"Or looking at me or acknowledging my existence," I muttered beside him.

Beside me he grimaced. "Yeah, that."

"So . . ." I mimicked him.

"Well so, I don't want to keep this up. Can we just be friends or something?" His voice gave way to his discomfort.

I shrugged. "Fine by me." I felt as if we were in kindergarten, resolving a simple argument.

He looked relieved, "Oh thank god. I think Honor would have just murdered me if you said no."

"Honor?" I exclaimed. "I don't think Honor could kill a fly, let alone her own boyfriend."

He gave a shaky laugh. "I didn't think so either until about ten minutes ago. She was livid."