It's obvious that your prime years are done. All you can do is wait for the inevitable.

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

One more day...and the horrors of moving shall END!...Sorta. (Hopefully no more delays after that.)

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

Jefferson: "And the trees laughed as Mohegan's mother bled. All the while her child's tongue carved out her heart. Pulling it towards his new bark teeth to chomp down on the still-beating organ. And that is the tale of the tree child...and the heartless mother."

I couldn't help but giggle.

Rachel: "And you want ME to go in that forest?"

Jefferson rolled his eyes.

Jefferson: "It's just a story, Rachel. The worst will find in there is a couple of bees."

I leaned forward with a smirk.

Rachel: "Ah but you see I can take one story of horror as just that, a story. But an entire book's worth of tales? Now, that sounds like a warning."

Jefferson gave me the type of smile you'd give to a middle-aged man who still thought cooties were real.

Jefferson: "Well, I won't press you on it. But... in truth, I didn't take you as the superstitious type, Rachel."

I sighed and looked away from Jefferson.

Rachel: "You meatheads can't take...t-take..."

My eyes narrowed, my mouth gaped, and my body quaked like a bolt of lightning had run through it.

Jefferson: "Rachel?"

Finally, I screamed.

Rachel: "TREE CHILDREN!"

Jefferson shrieked as if he'd stepped on a needle, his body twisting itself to look at where my eyes had stopped.

I wasn't good enough of an actor to keep the giggle in...though I suppose it wasn't quite as ladylike as that.

No, it was more like the cackling of a kid who's been tickled by their parents.

Jefferson: "w...w-where are they?"

I covered my mouth to muffle my improper cackles.

Jefferson slowly looked away from the forest and directed his gaze back to me.

Jefferson: "There... there aren't any tree children...are there?"

I shook my head with a thin grin.

Rachel: "Now, who's the superstitious one again?"

Jefferson frowned. I scoffed.

Rachel: "I was just messing with you, Jefferson! Wasn't the whole point of this to cut loose?"

Jefferson signed, then took a seat right next to me.

Jefferson: "You shouldn't make jokes like that."

I quirked a brow.

Rachel: "No...no way!? You actually believe-"

Jefferson: "I don't! It's just...well...better safe than sorry, ya know?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes, though I had a better reason for it.

Rachel: "Seriously?"

Jefferson's shoulders slumped.

Jefferson: "I've got a musician's heart, okay?"

I didn't get it, but it seemed to ease Jefferson so I let it go.

Instead, I asked a much more intriguing question.

Rachel: "So here you are, scared out of your wits about tree children. Yet you want to go into that forest in the dead of night? That's fun to you?"

Jefferson looked down at his shoes, and I only now noticed how worn his clothing was. Like he'd had it on him since birth.

Jefferson: "Well...It's not just that."

I leaned closer to better hear his whispering.

Jefferson: "I figured it make a good song also...a song that would stand out. That would offer some light, y'know?"

Rachel: "Light?"

Jefferson looked at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Jefferson: "Yeah! You've heard all the stories! Each one a tragic death or mass murderer. No one does a 'They left the forest alive and well' ending."

Rachel: "...Huh."

Thinking back, I'd never heard a single good thing said about the forest. It was always described like a...dangerous monster. Even though I knew it was just a bunch of trees and oddly dark soil.

Jefferson: "See? It's true! And it sucks. Everyone's scared and worrying about even setting foot into that place. Don't you think that's awful?"

I shrugged.

Rachel: "It's just stories, and places like these are begging for creepy tales. I'm sure no one here is actually staying up all night thinking about the trees nearby."

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Jefferson shook his head.

Jefferson: "You're wrong. Dicker gets scared about it. My dad freaks out when I even mention it. You up-street folk are just too far away to give a damn."

Jefferson's toned rubbed me in all the wrongs way. After all, my family wasn't rich! Sure they had a bit of backup money and we could afford a few trips here and there, but to say I was some princess who didn't know anything about town life was absurd.

Rachel: "And what do you plan to do about it? Have one song from a no-name like you change the beliefs of thousands overnight?"

Jefferson: "Well...someone has to do something about it."

Rachel: "And your that 'special' guy?"

Jefferson turned his face to directly stare into my eyes. Our noses were brushing, so I could see the shine in his pupils. Pushing away the darkness and piercing my own like a spear.

Jefferson: "No, I know I"m not hot shit. But I'm tired of sitting on my ass and telling myself that, so..."

Jefferson shrugged, then looked to the sky.

Jefferson: "Here I am. Trying to fix a problem way too big for me to handle."

My mouth opened, and then shut. I looked around as if I had a chance of finding a damn sign to give me instructions. There weren't any.

I bit my lips, munching down on what words to use to convey the mixture of things I wanted to say.

Sorry.

I get it.

I fucking hate it.

I'm tired of big problems.

Just give up already.

I tell myself the same things.

Keep trying.

And those were just the ones I could put into words.

In the end, I settled on what was the least painful option.

Avoidance.

Rachel: "...Will it be fun?"

Jefferson smiled, all the thoughtfulness thrown away at the mention of a good time. God, I wish I could do that.

Jefferson: "How could it not? We're adventuring in a forest full of 'monsters'! The slightest sound will get our hearts pumping! Could you even IMAGINE anything MORE exciting?"

I tried to smile back but winced like I was lifting something a bit too heavy.

...Goodness, has it really been that long?

Rachel: "Well, as long as it's a fun trip I'll tag along. So...how will we go back when we're done?"

Jefferson: "We head back."

I paused, waiting for more. Jefferson kept smiling.

Rachel: "...I...I mean how do we do that?"

Jefferson chucked.

Jefferson: "By walking silly! Look-"

He got up and walked a few feet.

Jefferson: "When you've gone straight, you can turn around and-"

Rachel: "But...the forest is dark."

Jefferson: "Pff, we don't need to see to walk."

I decided not to point out how dangerous that was and moved on to the other obvious reason.

Rachel: "And the trees will force us to turn and shift and-"

Jefferson: "Just remember all the shifts you did!"

I REALLY wanted to facepalm. But I managed to hold myself back.

Rachel: "Do you perfectly remember all your steps?"

Jefferson scratched his cheeks.

Jefferson: "I mean...no but we just need the general gist for-"

Rachel: "The general gist? Jefferson that forest goes on for dozens of miles! We could die if we get lost! And that's not even accounting for stuff like...us going off to the side to explore or an animal-"

Jefferson: "b-But we can just move ba-"

Rachel: "THAT WON'T WORK!"

I groaned into my hand. Had this idiot really done NO preparation for his trip? What, is he's brain made out of rocks?

Ugh, Despite how stupid it all was, I wasn't truly mad. He had told me he was a dumbass after all.

So after a few deep breathes I mumbled out

Rachel: "Sorry....look, we need a better plan. Just...turning around won't work, okay?"

Jefferson timidly nodded.

Jefferson: "Alright. I'll... um, I'll try not to say anything stupid."

And that made me feel like horse shit.

By the time Jefferson sat back next to me, the atmosphere was appropriately tense. Now, Jefferson from what I could tell was good at fixing that sorta thing. So I waited for him to say something like 'Ugh, I hate this vibe.' and impart the lax nature we'd need to discuss this crazy plan.

...

...

...Fuck, he's looking at me. I guess his being really cautious about the whole 'not saying something stupid.' thing.

...

Yup, that minute-long silence confirmed it. I'm going to need to say something.

Okay, okay, no biggie. You got this Rachel. Just say...

FUCK!

Tongue-tied at the worse moment, a real Rachel move! Man, just...yeah of fucking course!

...

Wait. I don't need words. I've got something JUST as good.

Physical contact. I need to be careful though, the last thing I want is to send mixed signals.

Alright, let's think this out.

Biceps?

No, too suggestive.

Face?

Wayy too personal.

Back?

Perfect.

A back pat!

A few pats and he'll get that I was just a tad...frustrated.

Alright, slow and steady.

...

Pat 1 is complete!

Though, from the way he flinched it must've been too sudden. I'll need to slow it down.

...

...

Pat 2 is complete!

But...his face! He's looking at me like I just licked the floor.

Is...is my patting still too fast?

I'll...I'll need to go even slower.

...

...

...

Pat 3 is complete!

Disengage!

W-wait!

Not too fast, that might make things awkward. Like 'Oh she patted at me and then quickly moved her arms back because she must've found patting me unenjoyable and discomforting! Noooo, my male pride!' or whatever!

Just...slow....reaaaal slow...sloooow-

Jefferson: "What are you doing?"

Rachel: "A...back pat?

Jefferson took a deep breath from his nose, making his cheeks expand. Then it boomed out of him.

A howling and thunderous full-body laugh.

He pointed at me, the beginning of tears in his eyes.

Jefferson: "Sss-So even Mrs.Know it all can m-make a jackass out of herself! HA! HAHAHAHAH!"

My entire face must have gone red, as Jefferson began to joke between snickers about me looking like a strawberry girl.

Soon enough, I started to chuckle a bit at my own ineptitude. Jefferson joined in on my chuckles. And together, we laughed so loud that both are voices were coarse and weak by the end.

It was the first time I'd ever laughed at making a fool out of myself...

It felt relieving.

The final section! (Section.)

Tick-tock, the clock will now stop...the chapter's done.