Smoke And Steel

• Thirty One - Blanket Fort Adventures •

Avery

Princess turned at the Roux's house this morning and said, "get in loser, we're going on an adventure." If that's not the right way to start the day then I don't know what is.

"Come here," she said, tugging me by my shirt. "I want to show you something."

"Really, Princess?" I said, gesturing to the trees. "You want to go in there?"

"Yes I do. Now, you can lean on me while we walk if you want, I'm stronger than I look."

"It's fine, princess. I'm fine." I started off at my labored pace, still trying to get in the hang of walking with this silly stick.

"Okay, well it's not very far." She said, turning back to hold a branch out of the way.

"Remind me again why we're in a forest. I do hope it's so you can use me as a human sacrifice."

"Because I want to show you something that's special to me." She said, giving me a smile as she walked ahead. "Now stop joking and walk."

"Is your naked body special to you? Because I would not mind seeing that," I said, earning myself a smack in the face from the branch she let go of.

"I see being in a coma and then hospital did nothing to curve your perverted tendencies."

"If anything it made them worse," I said honestly. It seriously had, all I wanted to do was make out with Princess every waking moment of the day. I didn't tell her that, of course.

"You're trouble, you are."

We walked for a bit more, me hopping along while Princess held back branches, before she ran behind me and covered my eyes with her hands. "I'm sorry but for the last little bit you're not allowed to see."

"Really? How am I meant to walk?"

"It's what they always do in the movies, so I'm sorry but I have to as well. And it's only for a few feet so quit your moaning."

A few feet actually turned out to be more like 100.

"Ta dah!" She exclaimed, giving me back my sight so she could hold her arms out dramatically.

I looked at where we were and saw that we were in a clearing - there was this picturesque little lake ringed by towering pines, and a little shelter made out of what looked like blankets.

"What is it?" I asked, still not really sure why she brought me here.

"It's my secret place that I have decided to bring you to. Truth be told I actually forgot about it, but I don't know, I remembered it and now I'm bringing you here. It can be our secret place, I don't know."

"Oh wow, that's actually pretty cool. When did you make that?" I asked, gestering to the shelter.

"Oh no, I didn't make that. The hobo who lives here did."

I looked at her with wide eyes, "are you serious?"

"Yeah, his name's Jack. He's quite nice actually. Only tried to murder me once."

"And you brought me here?" I asked, clinging to her arm. I didn't want to be murdered by a hobo named Jack.

"You are so gullible sometimes, did you know that?" She was laughing at me. "I borrowed dad's car early this morning, came here and made it, then drove to Tate's and picked you up and brought you here."

"You're mean, Princess. So what made you want to bring me here?"

"I don't know, something just told me to, so I did." She took my left arm and led me to what I realize now is a blanket fort. "I just felt like chilling with you today."