Ch 3 lost

                                    

                                          
Skyler reached a clearing in the middle of the woods, breaking the ominous cover of undergrowth and climbing her way frantically up a rising hill. Suddenly realization hit her and she whipped her head around.
   By now Skyler couldn't even see the school's football fields anymore. In her delusional state, Skyler couldn't even tell which way she had come. So the sun is th-that way.... So this way must be South! Wait no... doesn't the sun rise in the east? Or does it set in the east? Or was it west? 
She was beginning to panic. Why was she so disoriented?
 "Where am I? How will I go home?" She was on the verge of a panic attack, knowing no one would hear her. Though she didn't exactly want to go home any time soon. 
Kash is right... my mother was....well I wouldn't know... Skyler had no one to go home to. She wasn't really allowed at school... and neither of the other orphans were. Heck, she didn't know half of them in the orphanage!
Curling up in a ball on the forest floor, the orphan cried into her hands.
She stayed like that for a while, sobbing uncontrollably.
Finally, Skyler's grief began to ebb down.
She uncurled herself to sit upright.
Her thoughts swam. I should be used to it by now... Kash is a jerk. Why did I run? I am lost now... I should have stayed and let Jason and Ella comfort me. Then I wouldn't be in this mess...
She sighed.
Why did I lash out at Jason? She hadn't been thinking straight. But that wasn't fair.
Jason may get on my nerves but he didn't do anything. It's my fault for starting the fight. But at the same time no one could have predicted that the situation would escalate like that.
I'm sorry Jason.
She frowned, remembering how concerned and gentle the boy had been. For a moment he was her childhood friend again, the boy who wasn't popular and didn't care about what others thought, who she always ran to for support. But he was gone. That was probably just her imagination.
She sighed. The dark haired girl watched the sun sink slowly.
"I bet he hates me now..." she whispered. 
Suddenly the bushes rustled in front of her.
And a brown-haired boy's head poked out.
"Who hates you now?" He tilted his head.
Skyler jumped back in surprise. "Jason?" 
Her brown eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?" 
Jason winked. "Could ask you the same thing, Sky." He smiled.
Skyler's cheeks felt warm. She shivered at the feeling and folded her arms stubbornly.
This isn't the Jason you knew in elementary. Focus Skyler!
"I asked you first, you know." She looked at him curiously. 
Crawling out of the bushes, Jason sighed. "I know. But I'm more worried about you at the moment." He hesitantly sat down next to her.
Skyler shivered at the sudden closeness. She blinked in confusion. Why was she acting like this? The boy he had become wasn't her type! He never used to show off to her every chance he got or be obnoxiously clingy in the hallway. After only a few months apart he had become a different person, way too much of a chick magnet for her liking.
She missed their carefree lives back when it was simpler. Back when I had parents. She never let herself think like that otherwise she would end up spiraling into depression.
Jason could sense something was off. He blinked slowly at her. "Tell me what is wrong." He prompted. Skyler released a breath she didn't know that she had been holding.
"I....why does Kash hate me?" She choked out, determined not to cry in front of him. Although she didn't know why that mattered so much.
Jason's blue eyes softened. "Hey I'm pretty sure that Kash hates everyone." Skyler didn't look convinced, so he continued.
"If it makes you feel better, he isn't too fond of me either." Jason smirked.
"Which makes no sense! Because I am totally awesome!" He boasted, striking a ridiculous pose. 
Skyler laughed. "I'll let you believe that. I wouldn't want to pop that enormous ego of yours."
     She frowned. "But he defended you from me," he argued.
Jason shook his head. "Nah, I think he was just trying to throw a barb at you, princess." 
He winked sarcastically, making Skyler laugh softly. "Who gave you permission to give me nicknames?" She demanded. Jason blushed slightly. "You did, in elementary remember?"
She stared. He remembers that? Maybe there's still some of that young boy left in him after all. 
 Skyler and Jason gazed at each other, both in deep thoughts of their own.
They sat in silence for a few moments,
before Skyler spoke, breaking the stillness.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you..." she sighed, looking at the floor.
Jason gazed at her fondly. "Hey, it's ok Sky. I can take it. Don't worry about me." He reassured her.
Skyler was overwhelmed with gratitude for the boy's considerate gesture.
"No it's not ok for me to blame it on you. You didn't do anything. I get irrational when iI'm upset." Skyler insisted.
Jason gave a look of surprise. It was unlike her to be so vulnerable and he was trying to be more sensitive in this moment. He shrugged. "Well I did make you mad, so technically I deserve it." He lowered his gaze guiltily. 
Skyler's gaze softened. "Well not really, I took it too far. It takes two to tango." She winked.
Jason's eyes sparkled playfully. "Are you suggesting that you want to dance with me, Skyler cat?" He smirked.
Skyler laughed, shaking her head. "You'd like that wouldn't you." She smiled.
Jason looked at her, surprised that she hadn't directly denied the statement as she usually would.
Skyler couldn't help observing the boy sitting there. Jason had a soft expression on his face illuminated by the sunset, a light in his blue eyes that seemed almost warm, a breeze slightly rustling his perfectly groomed hair. Everything was just like she remembered, But there was something missing. 
Skyler scooted slightly closer to the brunette.
At this, he shyly looked down. 
She smirked. "You use a lot of product on your little mane don't you?" He didn't know how to respond.
Almost on autopilot, without thinking Skyler bent forward and softly ruffled his brown hair. A messy brown clump that stuck to his forehead and covered part of his eyes.
She smirked. "There, that's better."
Jason flinched at the touch and blinked up at her in wonder. 
"Seriously why do you care so much about your hair?" Skyler laughed nervously.
Jason scratched his neck nervously. "I try to impress you."he mumbled.
"What?"  Skyler flinched, his response had taken her by surprise. "I didn't say anything," he insisted.
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before Jason stood up.
"So uh... it's getting late." He glanced at her, blue gaze nervous.
 Skyler tilted her head. For some reason she was sad at the thought of him leaving.
"Won't you stay with me for a while longer?"  She pleaded.
Jason blinked at her in surprise.
"Sure I can, but shouldn't we take this inside?" He suggested. "You can't sleep here."
Skyler blinked, bewildered. "Inside?" She questioned. They were in the middle of the forest! Where would they go?
 Jason nodded.
"You somehow ended up in my backyard."
Skyler frowned. "I wonder why?"
She asked herself.
Jason shrugged, holding his hand out. "Shall we?" He could barely hide his excitement when the pretty girl took his hand and let him help her to her feet.
"So what way?" Skyler convinced herself that she didn't notice the fact that she was still holding onto his hand.
Though Jason definitely did, cheeks reddening.
He turned around so she wouldn't see. "This way."
Skyler smiled. 
She was seeing Jason in a new light, or rather an old one, one she used to see. Maybe he's not so different.
 She remembered the fact that they were holding hands and Jason noticed that Her eyes widened, but she didn't pull away. For some reason Skyler wasn't uncomfortable this time. 
To her disappointment, Jason released her hand anyway, when they made it to the driveway.
They shared a nervous glance, both blushing.
"Come on!" Jason grinned, quickening his pace.
Skyler laughed, running after him. She felt young again. "Wait up, smart guy!"