╰☆╮Racquel╰☆╮
From my hiding place at the base of a decaying pine tree, I strained to catch every single word of Ayre and Jett's somewhat agonizing conversation. I occupied myself by pulling damp pine needles out of the hem of my skirt. For a moment, it sounded as if everything had gone completely silent- but wait. Sobbing, then the sound of leaves and twigs splintering under a heavy and quick-paced tread.
I rose slowly from the ground, fearing that Jett was coming this way, but the sound of footfall grew further and further away until I could hear no sign of the first Digit. The same was not of Ayre- a flock of ravens burst into the air from their perches in a panic as a few agonized shrieks pierced the night. Man, that girl had a pair of lungs on her. But I already knew that, didn't I. A small gasp of laughter escaped my lips, and I raised my compact up to my eyes. To my surprise, they were teary and solemn.
Why did I feel this way? Had it been the reluctance I had noticed during my kiss with Jett? Or was it because I knew no one could love Jett more than Ayre, not even me? I chuckled bitterly, and, acting upon impulse, smashed the face of my mirror on the rock-solid bark of a nearby tree. Shards of glass littered the forest floor, each reflecting a distorted and muddy face. I could barely recognize the girl that stared back at me, with ashen skin and dead eyes.
It didn't matter to me anymore, though. The only damn reason I had ever carried around that stupid mirror was because I had wanted to impress someone who I thought might notice me. How stupid of a girl I was then. Even now. Whatever. I was done with chasing after a person whose heart belonged so obviously to someone else.
For good measure, I crushed the shards of glass with the toe of my shoe until they were reduced to a mere pile of glittering fragments. Stardust.
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"Saracen, it's me, Racquel. Let me in," I hissed into the seemingly empty darkness before me. To anyone watching this scene, it would have seemed as if I had gone mad, carrying on a conversation with an invisible person. I stamped my foot impatiently. "Sara-cen!"
Inches in front of where I stood now, the air became misty and translucent. On the other side of the haze, Saracen's weary face peered back at me. Past her, I could see the inviting glow of lanterns, hanging from a rope strung through the tent poles.
"How do I know it's really you?" The blonde questioned me hesitantly, backing a couple steps away from me.
I clenched my teeth together in annoyance, fighting to keep my voice level. "Obviously it's really me, because I knew. Where. CAMP was, you stupid girl!" My hands twitched, yearning to grab Saracen by the shoulders and shake her back and forth, but I resisted the urge.
With a blank look, the fifth Digit blinked a couple of times at me. "Oh. Of course. How silly of me," she m uttered, and released her power over the reality that was preventing me from entering the camp.
As I pushed past her, I dug my elbow into her forearm, and could have sworn that she had rolled her eyes at me. Ignoring this, I made my way over to Greyson cautiously, who was pacing back and forth in front of the tent, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and his head low.
As I approached him, he glared up at me with steel eyes, making me feel as if I had just been doused with ice water. I fount Jett, I whispered in my mind, feeling as if I even opened my mouth to speak, Greyson would find an excuse to beat me up.
Silence, then the third Digit removed his hard stare and resumed his relentless pacing.
I'll take that as a 'Thanks Racquel, you're so good at doing everything I tell you to, I thought haughtily in response to Greyson, then slunk away into the tent, where I was greeted with the unpleasant sight of a shirtless Rhys, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts that shouldn't be acceptable on any guy. My hands flew up to cover my eyes, and I gagged in repulsion.
"For the love of everything that is holy, Rhys, cover that up!" I wailed. My eyes might have burst into flames after witnessing that.
Flabbergasted, Rhys looked down at his bare chest, then back up at me, who peered at him through the spaces in between my fingers. "Cover up what?"
"Tha-at," I gasped at him, gesturing to his entire body in general.
There was a rustle of movement as the tenth Digit struggled to pull a shirt over his head, then an exasperated sigh. "There, you happy?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, I nodded, removed my hands from my eyes, then collapsed onto my sleeping bag. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rhys staring at me questioningly, but I ignored him and curled up into a ball. Might as well try to sleep. There wouldn't be much time for it later. I was aware of Greyson and Saracen entering the tent a while later, and settling into their own sleeping bags, then everything was perfectly still, except for the gentle patter of rain outside, which lulled me into a dreamless sleep.
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The smell of burning firewood outside woke me. An amber glow lit up the darkness. I rolled over onto my stomach and checked to make sure the other Digits were still fast asleep, then carefully crawled over Rhys's snoring body to the tent entrance. As silently as possible, I unzipped the flap and exited.
The light emanating from the spitting fire cast shadows across the ground, and drew my attention to the black-haired figure sitting on a tree stump, his head in his hands. He did not look up.
I coughed quietly and moved to stand behind Jett. "Um. Mind if I sit down?" After receiving a small shrug from him, I seated myself on the stump beside his.
We sat like that for what seemed like hours, neither of us peaking. I glanced over at the Digit, then noticed that his back was heaving, and his shoulders were shaking slightly. Somewhat shocked, I reached out and patted Jett on the back awkwardly. "Can I give you some advice?"
He said nothing, but lifted his head up and looked at me, his wet hair falling into his tired crimson eyes. Never before had I seen him look so weak and defeated.
I cleared my throat and looked at him straight in the eyes. "Never lie about love." Feeling I needed to clarify this simple statement, I swallowed pointedly then began again. "You can tell lies about anything else in the world, but never about love. Because... Because..." A lump formed in my throat. "Because if you tell someone that you don't love them when you really do... They stop... Uh. Believing in love." I shook my head. I was really bad at this advice stuff, wasn't I. "Never mind. Sorry. I was supposed to be making you feel better, not worse. Forget what I said."
Jett leaned over suddenly, and kissed me on the cheek. I knew h e didn't mean it as anything but a thank you, but my heart still pounded painfully in my chest.
I brushed my fingers where his lips had met my skin, and left them there until my heart slowed.
The sound of the tent unzipping behind us snapped me out of my daze, and I turned to see Greyson looking at Jett with disdain.
"I need to talk to Jett," he announced, ice in his tone, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"Oh feel free," I mumbled sarcastically, motioning for the third Digit to join us by the fair, but Greyson shook his head defiantly.
"Alone."
