She went along with it, her hand flying to her mouth. "No! They'd dethrone me. I'm going to need you to keep this under wraps. Top secret!"


Rylan rolled his eyes at the boy's dramatics. "Don't die. We'll find a place to shelter ourselves in the area. Call if you need anything, I guess."

"Alright then, Mr. Comedian!" Taylor had already walked off, wrapping her arms around herself as she did. She regretted not wearing her jacket over her tank top, but there was nothing she could do about that now. "Let's go before the mountain lions appear!"

"Depends. How much is my silence worth to you?" He asked, chuckling quietly at how she had played along.

"Agreed," Jack replied, following Taylor. He had a hoodie on, but hadn't bothered to offer it yet.

"Where should we start looking?" Oliver asked

Her hands traced an X over her heart. (We take this secret to the grave. I can repay your silence by....) She couldnt keep the charade up for too long, and burst into laughter. (... by teaching you how to do the splits? Is that payment enough?)

(Have you ever built a fire out in the woods before? You know, when youre not busy laughing at other people?) Taylor asked as they walked. She couldnt seem to keep silent for long- a habit that was likely due to the fact that her friend group was an entire group of rambunctious boys who never seemed to shut up. Besides, it took her mind off the cold.

(We should stay close so the other two dont get separated from us.) Rylan scanned their surroundings. (Somewhere dry and shielded from the wind, but not completely blocked off from the outdoors. The fires gotta grow.)

"Yeah, no. That's not happening," he said flatly. "Never in a million years. No. I don't do that."

While true, Jack didn't seem to mind. "I've built a fire before but not out in the woods. I don't live anywhere near rural places or anything like that."

Oliver also looked around. "I don't think being dry will be too much of a problem as long as it doesn't rain tonight. As for the wind, maybe somewhere with a lot of brush...like a clearing maybe?"

(Never too late to learn,) Izzy teased. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she let out a dramatic gasp. (Wait, have I actually discovered something that youre scared of trying, Ian? Is this your weakness?)

(Me neither. But hey, at least well know what works best as kindling.) She paused near a fallen tree, eyed the log for a second, then shrugged and continued walking. Itd be too heavy to carry anyway. (Wow, its windy.)

Rylan nodded. (Sounds good. I think we passed through one on the way here...)

"No. It's not a weakness, it's just that I refuse to ever try it. Ever. Because it's stupid. Obviously." He would've said that cheerleading wasn't a sport, but he figured he would get slapped for that, so he kept quiet about that.

"You think so?" He asked, only now realizing that she was only wearing a tank top. "Here, take this. Maybe you'll stop thinking that it's windy outside," he said, pulling his hoodie up and over his head and offering it to her.

"Okay, sounds good. We should start looking so we can clear a spot."

(Well, since its so stupid, I expect you to be able to learn quickly.) She grinned, clearly unwilling to let this go. (Or we can go for a lesson on tumbling instead.)

(Yeah, I-) She was replying, when he pulled off his hoodie. Her lips twitched into a grateful smile, and she took the jacket from him, but didnt put it on just yet. (You sure you wont be cold?)

(We should search as a group.) He nodded to Oliver and Victoria. (The other two are already somewhere else.)

"Yeah, still a no. I don't do cheerleading. I'll leave that to you."

"I'm sure. You don't have to worry about it, trust me. It was getting a little stuffy with it on anyway."

Oliver looked to Victoria, who nodded. "Okay. Let's go, then."

(Are you sure?) She gave him an exaggerated pout, one hand reaching up to twirl a strand of her golden hair. (Cause to me you just sound scared.)

Taylors smile widened, and she pulled the hoodie over her shoulders. The feeling of warmth was comforting. (Thanks. That was sweet of you. Let me know if you get cold, Ill give it right back.)

Rylan turned to the direction theyd come from- or at least, what he hoped was the right direction. (My cousin owes me after this. I didnt even want to be here.)

"Yes. I'm sure. Why would I be scared of doing some frou-frou girly stuff? I mean seriously. Come on now," he said, rolling his eyes at her.

"I actually dressed for cold nights, so I think I'll be okay," he replied with a chuckle.

"Your cousin dragged you into this?" Oliver asked, dragging Victoria along behind him as he began to walk.