30...one away from the horrors of age.

What I'm going to do/have done! (Section)

Mooooovvviiiiinggg! (Also I plan to do another Watermelon pic tomorrow.)

Things I wrote just for you (And the others here as well!...Section.)

I'd given Jefferson all the ingredients we'd need for our plan to be well-made.

A flashlight for the darkness.

A big roll of string that we could use as a trail to return safely.

An agreement to stop moving after half an hour or so.

Bear and bug spray.

A phone to call the ambulance if needed.

And enough water for a few days of travel in case everything else went wrong.

Nothing hard to find. But it became obvious we'd need to reschedule this for-

Jefferson: "Here it is!"

Huh? The items were correct but...I picked up the phone to confirm my suspicions.

Yup, an Ipone 3. That's over a decade old. Why the hell does Jefferson have this?

Jefferson: "Come on, don't give me that look. Just because it's a bit old doesn't mean it can't take a call. And that's all we need it for, right?"

...I guess...but-

Rachel: "When did you even get all this?"

Jefferson: "I just checked my pockets and found it hanging around."

Rachel: "And...that's not weird to you?"

Jefferson shrugged.

Jefferson: "I leave things laying around all the time. Oh! Maybe I DID have a plan...and just like...forgot!"

...I picked up the can of bear spray.

Rachel: "I don't doubt you could be that dim-witted."

Jefferson: "h-Hey!"

Rachel: "But I don't think I'd miss a can as big as this, no matter what pocket you put it in."

Jefferson: "It's dark Rachel, you're bound to miss a thing or two."

I stared at Jefferson, trying to figure out where he could even fit something like this. His jeans maybe?

Rachel: "...It's just...weird."

Jefferson waved his hands.

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Jefferson: "Woooooo! m-m-m-m-m-m-Maybe a spooooooky ghost gave me-"

I playfully punched him in the chest.

Jefferson: "Ahh, I knew it! This is all some convoluted plan to murder me! Please, meerrcyy-"

Rachel: "Oh stop it! We've already proven that YOU'RE the superstitious one. I was just hoping you weren't disorganized as well."

Jefferson: "Pff, way to kick me while I'm down. This night's already making me feel rotten like a candy boy's apples. I mean, disorganized, superstitious, AND a dumbass?"

He put the back of his hand to his forehead, sighing as well as any fair maiden.

Jefferson: "Where is the heroine that shall sweep me off my feet and ease my troubles with honey-sweet words?"

I rolled my eyes while getting up.

Rachel: "She probably gave up when she noticed how much of you there was to lift."

Jefferson shot to his feet.

Jefferson: "Hey! All of this is hard-earned muscle! Don't you dare de-mean my mass because you don't have GUNS like these!"

I ignored his flexing to grab the roll of string. I then buried both cans into my jeans and wondered if this is what having a dick felt like. It was annoying and distracting.

Jefferson took the rest and turned the flashlight on.

I was surprised by how little it did to challenge the forest's darkness.

Jefferson: "Ya ready?"

Rachel: "Of course I am, it's just a bunch of trees."

Jefferson: "And horrors beyond our imagination."

Rachel: "I can call daddy for you if you're getting cold feet."

Jefferson: "I AM DADDY!"

I slapped him in the arm a couple of times while fighting my smile down.

Rachel: "That is so inappropriate!"

Jefferson: "And your comment wasn't?"

I shook my head.

Rachel: "You can't compare the two. Their's acceptable levels of inappropriateness, but you? You crossed the line, Jefferson."

He clicked his tongue.

Jefferson: "How unfortunate, I've made a dunce out of myself again. Haven't I?"

Rachel: "Yes, but you can earn back your honor by braving the forest with me, Sir Jefferson."

Jefferson: "Hm, well that's what I planned to do anyway. So I guess it's no real issue."

Rachel: "Yup."

...

...

...

Rachel: "...Whenever your ready Jeffer-"

Jefferson: "o-Oh y-you want me to go first? i-I thought since we were on olden rules that...y'know...ladies first!"

Rachel: "Ha...well umh...I think some norms are better left in the past, Jefferson."

Jefferson: "Of course! I agree! Yup..."

...

...

...

A howling wind tugged at the forest's leaves, making a sound that faintly resembled groaning.

Jefferson: "...Okay to be honest...this forest creeps me out."

Rachel: "Oooh thank goodness! I thought I was just being a scaredy cat about how ominous this is! Like, 'Come on Rachel, it's JUST wood. Get over yourse-'"

Jefferson: "o-Oh no no I totally feel the same way! I mean, it just groaned at us! You can't tell me that isn't straight out of a horror flick!"

Rachel: "I know! Like obviously it's all in my head but like-"

Jefferson: "Y-yeah don't worry! I understand like...completely."

Rachel: "Yeah...okay...cool..."

The stiff air that seemed to loom around the forest had lessened, and I couldn't help but share a few timid smiles with Jefferson.

Jefferson: "You uh...still want to go?"

I nodded.

Jefferson: "Okay...do you want to like...hold hands for this?"

I felt my smile's timidness turn into something sweeter.

Rachel: "I'd like that a lot."

And so, with hands conjoined, we stepped into the forest.

The final section! (Section.)

The end of this chapter...and the beginning of the horrible ba-