Rae awoke to a spearow’s song; her
lids fluttered and finally opened fully. She pushed herself up, and her tangled
hair fell into its tussled place. She looked around the wooden room, and then
sighed happily. Her nightmares hadn’t come true.
She stood and dressed herself
quickly, before brushing her purple locks. She stopped in front of a mirror,
and looked thoughtfully at her reflection. She slowly pulled up her bangs and
studied her face. She pulled a face and dropped the bangs so they fell over her
left eye again.
She stepped out into the main room
of the cottage, and found Butch at the table eating some of Pidgey’s eggs. He
looked up and nodded his greeting to her. She smiled back and sat opposite him,
pinching a slice of his toast.
“How much food do we have left?”
She asked him as she munched on toast contentedly.
“Not much,” Butch answered
huskily.
Rae tugged at the purple bangs and
swallowed. “Well, I’ll go into the town on the outskirts of the forest and get
some more.”
“Good idea.” He swatted her hand
as she moved to steal some more toast. She poked her tongue out at him and
smiled.
“I’ll go now then if I’m not
wanted,” She said with good humour. She stood up and pulled a coat from her
room, blue faded denim with red buttons, which made her eyes stand out. “I wont
be long I expect,” She told him as she shrugged it onto her shoulders.
“Want some breakfast before you
go?” Butch asked her. She quickly grabbed another piece of toast.
“Got some,” She told him cheerily,
before scooting out of the door.
Butch smiled after her, she seemed
to have always had that effect on him. Making him smile for no apparent reason.
Or maybe it was for an all too apparent one.
He sighed, and moved his empty
plates to the small sink. His eyes felt heavy, he’d been having trouble
sleeping. Something was haunting him, and he knew all too well what it was.
Memories that haunted him, because he needed to get it off his chest.
But he couldn’t tell her, and who
else was there to tell?
He sighed, and shuffled to his
room, and lay on the bed. All he needed was some sleep, some well deserved
sleep.
How long he slept for, or if he
slept at all, wasn’t really what his mind wanted to work out, when the quiet
was disrupted by the opening of the front door, signalling Rae’s return home.
He pulled himself up, just as Rae walked into his room.
“What’s up?” He asked, seeing her
visible worry.
She didn’t answer him, but held
out damp, soiled newspaper. He took it from her, and unfolded it. He found
himself staring at both himself and Rae.
“My father’s told the papers,” Rae
said softly. “All of the papers. Everyone in the country will probably be
looking for us.”
Butch checked the paper, “This one
is from two towns over, some traveller may have brought it, the people near
here may not even know about us.”
“I still didn’t think it was safe
to go into town,” Rae said softly. She looked up at him, “I don’t want him to
find me!”
Butch put him arm around his
friend consolingly. “I don’t think he will.”
“Butch, look at what he told
them!” She exclaimed, pulling the paper from his hands. “He’s made out that you
kidnapped me, and the story about the fight has come up again, people will
think you’re…” She trailed off staring at the paper in her hands. He knew what
she was going to say though. People would think he was a criminal, just like
they did in their home town.
“People are all to quick to judge
Rae, but we don’t need to be. That news may only be small fry, maybe the people
in the nearby towns don’t know about it.”
Rae tore her eyes from the paper,
and he saw abject fear in her eyes. “I still don’t want to go into town Butch.
And please don’t you go, I know it seems silly but… But I can’t help but feel
scared. Since they died my dad hasn’t been himself at all. I don’t know him
anymore, and I don’t know what he’ll do…”
“I understand Rae,” He said
softly, he reached out for the paper. “We can get by fine with foods from the
forest. Don’t worry, he won’t find us.”
She looked troubled, but then bit
her lip and forced a smile onto her it, “Okay, I trust you Butch.” She heaved a
sigh, and then wandered from the room, and soon he heard the door to her room
close.
He also let out a deep sigh, and
stepped back to sit on his bed. He’d realised something just now, he didn’t
care what happened to him. In fact, it was fair to say he was only here because
of her.
He felt slightly shocked at this
realisation. He knew he liked Rae, hell, he liked her a lot, but the fact that
he may truly love her hadn’t crossed his mind before. He’d always assumed that
he just had a typical teenage crush on her, but now he found himself thinking
otherwise.
He wondered what he would have
done if, instead of embracing him that day they had both met after the fire,
she had spurned him. Even the thought of it made his chest tight, and he knew
he wouldn’t have been able to live like that.
Butch lay back on the bed and
rubbed his forehead with his palms aggressively. Even just the thought of Rae
made his heart pulse faster. He would do absolutely anything for her, anything
she asked he would do, he knew this now.
When had it changed? When had it
gone from a crush into this, this feeling he was so sure was true love.
And why now? Why was he in love
with someone who may love him, but not in then way he loved her.
He sighed and closed his tired
eyes, it all seemed so complex to him now, so incredibly complex.
“I didn’t think sixteen year olds
were troubled with things like this,” He breathed to himself softly. His
thoughts continued to whirl around his head, his troubles and feelings mixing
together, heavy on his heart and mind.
He opened his eyes, and Rae was
bent over him, “Finally.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Butch
asked, sitting himself up.
“Butch, you’ve been asleep for
hours,” Rae said with a small smile.
“Asleep?” Butch rubbed his
forehead with the heel of his hand, true he didn’t feel so tired as he had
before, but had he really been asleep? He checked his watch, yep, it was six o’
clock.
“Sorry about waking you,” She said
apologetically, “but I’ve made dinner, and I didn’t want you to sleep through
it.”
“Oh, it’s fine really.” She
smiled, assured he wasn’t angry, and he found himself smiling back. “What did
you make?”
She smiled, “Well I went out and
got some herbs and vegetables from the forest, and ermm…” She blushed,
“Remember when we went camping as kids? And we learnt how to trap?”
“Oh yeah. But I thought you
thought it was cruel and disgusting,” Butch said thoughtfully as he pulled
himself up from the bed, and followed her into the main room of the cottage.
“Yeah, but needs want, what needs
must,” She muttered.
Butch looked at the meal on the
table, “Looks good… Spearow?” She nodded, then grimaced.
“Next time, you’re catching and
skinning the meat,” She told him, before laughing. He grinned at her and they
began to eat together in the quiet room, with the slowly dimming light. The
bird Pokémon began to sing, in preparation for the evening chorus, so they ate
in silence.
Then just as they where finishing
their meals, the skies dimmed considerably, and the sound of rain began. Slow
to start, and then it quickly began to beat down quickly with a hard pounding
on the roof on the cottage. The winds began to rush and beat against the sides
of the cottage, driving rain in through an open window.
Rae leapt up and pulled the window
shut. “Wow, looks like a storm’s coming.”
“Sure does,” Butch agreed. He
glanced over at the small fireplace, it had a good pile of wood in it. “Shall I
start a fire?” He asked.
Rae looked at the fireplace, and
nodded. Then she walked into her room, Butch picked up some matches and
crouched by the fireplace.
“Here.” He was almost startled by
Rae’s voice, he looked at her as she stood beside him, handing down the
newspaper she had brought home that day. “Let’s burn it and hope all our
worries go up in smoke.”
“Sure thing Rae.” He lit a match
and held it to the paper. As it caught fire he placed it in the fire place, and
soon the flames where licking around the wood, a delicious warm fire starting.
“That’s so odd,” Rae said softly.
Butch turned and found she had sat beside him on the floor, taking comfort in
the flames. The soft light highlighted her delicate features, and made her the
wine red eye that wasn’t obscured by her bangs shine from it’s depths.
“What?” He asked her.
She stared into the flames for a
moment. “Well, of all people, you would have thought you would have been afraid
of fire. But you seem to like it all the more.”
He shrugged, “I try not to be
scared of anything. I did grow up surrounded by guys.”
“Yeah, so did I.” She gave him a
playful shove. “But I had to be scared so you could all protect me.”
“Are you telling me you were never
really scared all those times?” Butch asked, gladly revelling in the memories.
“Well… Maybe only half the time,”
She grinned at him. “Are you saying you’re not scared of anything?”
[I’m scared of losing you] “Hey I
only said I try not to be scared.”
She looked at him, inviting him to
explain further. He picked up a loose twig and poked at the flaming wood. “I
can’t think of anything at the moment.”
“Okay.” She pulled at her bangs,
and loosened her collar, in an attempt to cool herself slightly. “You don’t
have to tell me.”
They sat in silence for a moment,
the fire crackling and the rain and wind beating down. Rae’s fingers began to
interlace around the locket around her neck, she seemed lost in her own
thoughts.
“I tell you something though,”
Butch began huskily, breaking the near silence. She turned to give him her full
attention. “I don’t like talking to people anymore.”
“Why is that?” She asked gently.
He shrugged.
“I suppose it’s because they look
at me like I’m lower then dirt, or grimace or something.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Oh come on Rae, my voice isn’t
exactly pleasing to the ear!”
“Oh I see.” Rae looked thoughtful.
“So… in theory you’re afraid of people misjudging you, or disliking you because
of your voice?” She shifted from the fire slightly as it was making her too
warm, and then pulled off the long denim shirt she was wearing over her T-shirt.
“I suppose so.”
She sighed, “Butch, your voice is
fine. It breaks my heart because I can remember what it sounded like before the
fire… It breaks my heart because I can’t even imagine what it must have been
like in there before you escaped. But other then that I don’t think there’s
anything wrong with it.” She flashed him her gorgeous smile.
He smiled back, but he still felt
slightly uneasy. Not everyone was like Rae.
She looked at him and then sighed,
“Look at you. You’ve still got that lost, unsure look in your eyes.” She looked
into the fire again, and he watched the flames dance in her eyes. She smiled
softly, “You’ve always had that look of a lost child.”
He grinned at her, “Really? No
one’s ever said that before.”
“I only just noticed myself,” She
said softly. Her eyes were locked with his, she was looking warmly into his
deep brown eyes and Butch found himself unable to pull himself away.
There was a loud bang, and Butch
tore his eyes from hers to whirl around. The cabin door was wide open, wind and
rain blowing into and around the cottage, the fire spluttering to stay alight.
A damp, figure was leaning, slightly hunched, with one hand against the door,
seemingly fighting to stay upright in the fierce winds.
“Please help,” The figure panted,
sounding greatly fatigued, before moving forward from the door, and collapsing
to the floor.
Butch somehow found himself
pushing against the wind to shut the wooden door firmly, before locking it for
security. He turned to see Rae helping the figure to sit at the table. He
walked across to stand behind her, bracing himself in case this person tried
something. You could never be too careful.
The figure was a man, with
midnight blue hair that was plastered to his face, all his clothes were in a
similar state. His breath was rushed, as he has been fighting the storm, one of
his hands was clenched around an army green bag which was also soaked.
“Are you alright mate?” Butch
asked, as the man’s breathing began to regulate.
“Jeez, that’s one hell of a
storm,” The man spoke as if he’d never heard Butch. “I just got caught in it, you know? Thank God I came
across this cottage.” He glanced at Rae and Butch, then at the fire, and then
back at them. “Sorry, I seem to have interrupted you both.”
“Ermm, that’s alright,” Rae
assured him. She shifted back, perhaps a little uncomfortable with how the man
was looking at her, and her back gently hit Butch’s chest.
“I’m sorry to burst in on you two
like this, but the storm caught me out… Do you think I could spend the night
here? Do you have a spare room or something?”
Rae nodded. “I don’t see any harm
in it,” Butch told the man.
“Thanks man, thanks a lot,” The
guy enthusiastically exclaimed. “Listen, I’m kinda wet, do you…” He trailed off
and moved his arms in a wordless articulation.
“We do have a shower, the water
won’t be very hot, but it’ll be good to get the damp off you and dry off
afterwards,” Rae said helpfully.
“Great, fantastic!” He stood up,
keeping tight hold of his bag. Rae pointed to the door leading into the
bathroom. “Really sorry to disturb you both,” He said walking in a slightly
stumbling manner over to the room.
“He thinks we’re a couple,” Rae
said softly as the door closed.
“I know.” Butch found it difficult
to believe they looked that much older then they were.
Rae looked over to the fire, the
paper burnt to a small pile of ash around the wood. “Maybe we should go with
it… What’s more believable? Two kids in the woods, or a couple?”
“Good point.” Butch thought for a
second. “Hang on…”
“Yeah?” Rae asked, as she picked
up some of the empty dishes from the table and moved over to the sink.
“If we’re a couple… we wouldn’t be
sleeping in separate rooms, would we?”
Rae paused, “Oh no… Do, ermm…
shall we…”
“It’s okay,” Butch said thinking
quickly. “I’ll move my stuff into your room and sleep on the floor.” He paused
and then rushed quickly, “If that’s okay, that is.”
“Great idea Butch,” Rae grinned at
him.
“Well I’ll go move my stuff while
that guy’s in there,” Butch gestured to the bathroom, and then walked into his
room to gather his belongings together.
~*~*~*~
Butch threw his empty can to the
floor, and checked his watch by the dying fire embers. He walked over to Rae’s
door and knocked lightly on it and then pushed it open.
Rae was wearing an overly long
T-shirt and a small pair of soft shorts. She sat on her bed, cross legged,
reading a book. There was a large duvet on the floor, along with some blankets
and pillows.
“I’ll sleep on the floor if you
want,” Rae told him, looking up from the book in her hand.
“Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m not,” Rae protested. He shook
his head and she sighed and put her book down and snuggled between her covers.
Butch pulled off his boots, socks and top, and settled down onto the floor.
“You asleep?” He asked a few
minutes later.
“Nope,” She said, sounding as
fully awake as him. She turned to her other side to face him, “That newspaper
article has gotten me a bit shaken up... And well…”
“That guy?” Butch asked, hitting
the nail on the head.
“Yeah, he’s… I dunno… Maybe I’m
over-reacting as usual.”
“I’ve never known you over-react
over anything,” Butch said.
“Thanks Butch.” He could hear the
familiar smile in her voice. She giggled, “I have over-reacted… Remember the
first time David called me your girlfriend?”
Butch chuckled to himself at the
memory of the frustrated five year old Rae, and at the memory of his own
reaction. Then he felt her silence, and, because he knew her so well, he could
actually feel her fingers twisting around her locket.
“It still hurts doesn’t it Rae?”
The silence held, but he felt the
tightness in it. Then finally, “I thought I was over it… but somehow…”
His own heart felt heavy at the
terrible memory, but worse was what he felt as he could practically see one
tear fall down her face. “Sometimes we can never fully get over these things
Rae,” He rasped helpfully.
Tears fell down Rae’s face,
catching in her purple bangs, although she tired to stop them. It was some
emotional flood she couldn’t stop. She felt alone, a failure and full of pain.
She slipped out of her bed and lay beside Butch, cuddling into him.
He automatically pulled the duvet
around her as well, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Her silent tears finally subsided,
and his own pain went away as they eventually fell asleep in the same position
they had been in so many nights ago when they decided to leave home.
~*~*~*~
When Butch woke in the morning, he
realised it was the best sleep he’d had for a while. The images and thoughts
that had haunted him for so long hadn’t been in his dreams during the night.
[Probably due to the fact I wasn’t
alone] He thought to himself, as he stretched his arms above him head.
He looked at Rae, still sleep,
resting her head on his chest, as she curled into him. It’d probably been due
to the fact that he found it incredibly comfortable with her beside him as
well.
Butch found himself wishing he could
lie with her forever, however she’d wake up soon enough and then… Butch sighed heavily and slowly moved so Rae
fell lightly to the duvet covered floor.
He picked up his shirt and walked
into the main room of the cottage. He picked up an apple and thoughtfully bit
into it. He knew that as happy as he felt being with Rae, having in a way saved
her from something that was causing her great distress, he was incredibly
troubled. He was troubled with his strong feelings for Rae, he was troubled
about the memories that were haunting him and he was really troubled with self
hate.
Butch was finding it difficult to
cope since his entire home town thought of him as a criminal, and in some cases
a murderer. Even his own parents seemed to view him differently since the
incident. And he couldn’t shake the feeling they were all right.
He slowly finished his apple,
trapped in his own thoughts. Not long after he finished, Rae walked over of the
bedroom. “Hiya,” She said softly, walking over to the small pile of fruit, and
selecting one for herself. She swept the bangs from her face, and the fell back
instantly. “Isn’t he up yet?” She asked, gesturing with her tussled head
towards the other room.
“No,” Butch glanced at his watch
and noticed it was later then he had thought. “Do you reckon he’s alright in
there?”
“He should be,” Rae bit into her
apple. “Wanna ask if he wants breakfast?”
Butch pulled himself up and walked
over to the closed door, he knocked on it twice. “Hey, you alright in there?”
There was silence, and Butch exchanged a glance with Rae, he pushed the door
open and looked inside.
The bed was unmade, and obviously
slept in, but apart from that there was no evidence of the man they had given
the room to the night before. “He’s spilt,” Butch informed Rae, as he stepped
fully into the room, feeling somewhat uneasy.
Rae looked cautiously around the
room, feeling equally unsure about the sudden departure. Something just visible
from under the bed caught her eye and she walked over and picked it up.
“Butch?” He turned and saw her
shaking slightly as she looked at something in her hand. He walked over to her
and took it off her. He looked down at the newspaper he now held in his hand,
showing an article that was too familiar to him. The pictures of Rae and
himself circled by a pen, and where the article had numbers to call with
information there was a section torn out.
“Butch?” Rae sounded scared, as she would be. She was terrified of the man
that her father had become. Butch himself felt burned up with anger.
“Get your stuff,” He told her
gruffly. “We’re getting out of here.”