We walked for a long time and I was exhausted but the promise of actually going to a home with food, water and a shower kept me going.

Luckily, Peter knew the way pretty well. He said that he had been to this part of town a lot. And yes, we were still in San Diego. It had changed so much in the past few weeks we'd been gone. The city was decorated beautifully with the orange trees and their leaves littered around at street corners, near the benches in the parks, beside peoples homes. The evening was cold and the air was humid. Winds of different strengths flew by constantly.

“I would never take the noise of human beings and cars and life for granted ever again,” Tanya said as we strolled through the city, gawking at everywhere like we were aliens that just landed on the planet earth. We didn't bother to acknowledge the stares of the passers-by as we walked. We were just focused on a destination.

We walked past a bakery and the scent of the pastries made me cry out in frustration.

“Can't we just like go in there and act like beggars or something?” I asked as I grabbed my stomach. “I mean we already got the look.”

They laughed.

“We're almost there,” Peter assured and picked up his pace. My arms ached, my legs ached. Everything hurt.

***
The looks on Tanya's mother’s face was priceless when the four of us stumbled into her home.

“Tanya?!” she shrieked and ran over to her, gripping her so tightly Tanya cried out. She gave a tired laugh after her mom loosened up. “The police stopped searching for your guys a few days ago. I was so devastated. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

She still held on to her, not wanting to let go one bit and sobbed quietly. Tanya was sobbing as well.

“Peter!” she said and beckoned him over with a small gesture. Then she froze as she finally saw Michelle and I standing at the door silently.

“Aunt Julie this is Larry and Michelle,” he said as he walked over into her embrace.

She hugged him quickly and then let go of both of them, curiosity taking over her completely as she stared at us.

“Who are they and…” she took a deep breath and ran her hands through her short, brown hair. “Can someone explain?”

“Yeah, sure, but first, where's dad?” Tanya asked as she looked around and peered into the kitchen.

“He's at work honey. I need explanations. Why are you all filthy and–?”

“Mom, food first. Then shower, then I tell all my friends I'm alive, then I'll explain everything,” Tanya said and rushed to the kitchen, leaving us three standing in the living room.

“Can I–?” I started, pointing to the kitchen with a huge smile on my face. “I might just pass out.”

“Of course!” she said, still staring at me with a creased forehead. She nodded at me to go on.

“And the little girl too,” I heard her say on my way to the kitchen.

I'd never seen someone so confused and lost before. I could only chuckle.

“Shouldn't I make something for you guys?” She said walking into the kitchen a minute later. I was already pouring an entire container of cereal into my mouth as it was the first thing I could get my hands on. “A proper meal?”

“Mom, maybe during dinner,” Tanya said before taking a huge bite of the apple in her hand. “Right now anything edible is alright.”

I lowered my box of cereal slowly as I stared at her.

“You could literally eat anything and you went for fruit? That was like fifty percent of what you ate in the forest!”

“Larry, you don't have the right to mock me right now. You're eating raw cereal from the container. You are–”

“Forest?” Tanya's mother asked, sounding horrified.

“Uh huh,” Peter said, stuffing almost an entire slice of pizza into his mouth. “With the trees and the lakes and the death arrows. The whole package.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“Mom, after we shower,” Tanya said, gulping down a can of soda. “You have clothes for them right?”

“Yeah, yeah…of course.”

***

We'd narrated the entire story to Tanya's mom after we'd eaten and gotten cleaned up and…after Tanya had told her friends that she was still alive. I had to tell them about the thing I heard before we left. The others screamed at me for not telling them that sooner and I just shrugged. We'd been through so much that I kinda forgot.

Her father wasn't around yet so only the mother had to bear the news. In the end we told her that we were fine and it was all a stupid clue hunt set by some weird strange men.

“You couldn't leave the forest no matter how hard you searched,” she pointed out to us. “There were no animals, too many strange things happening-how is that just a stupid clue hunt set by some stupid–and oh dear, I wonder how you must be feeling after that whole thing,” she said the last statement referring to Michelle.

“I'm alright actually,” she said and I looked at her with sympathy. Peter said that his parents might let me stay with them and I was really hoping for that. But they could also let Michelle stay too right?

Her dreads were packed up in a bun and she was wearing one of Tanya's t-shirts and jeans. She looked different, less fierce. But no matter how fierce she looked, she'd always have that shy, innocent face.

“I actually want to go now. Thank you for everything ma'am,” she said suddenly, getting up from the couch and walking towards the door.

“What? Michelle, wait,” Tanya said, getting up too. She stopped and turned around.

“Where are you going?”

“Home…” she said and I felt a tiny stab in my chest at the emotion in her voice. It was the same way she said it to me on my first day in the woods.

“Do you know where it is?” Tanya's mom asked suddenly.

“Yeah, it's actually not that far from here.”

“Are you sure?” I asked her.

“Yeah,” she said with a nod, her eyes hardened with resolve.

Tanya suddenly wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight.

“I'm gonna give you my number and you will text me everyday, got it?” she murmured and Michelle chuckled softly.

“Got it.”

Tanya pulled away and I stood up. Michelle looked up at me as I walked over to her.

Then she froze as I enveloped her in a hug. Just like the first time. And then she loosened up and hugged me back, tight.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I asked.

“For being my friend.”

I smiled.

“Thank you for also being here.”

We broke apart.

“Good bye Peter!” she said and waved at him with a smile.

“Ahh get in here,” he said and stood from the seat for his own hug.

***

She'd left for a few minutes and we all sat in silence. I had no idea what we were waiting for. Well, I had no idea what I was waiting for.

I suddenly got up and felt everyone's eyes on me.

“I uh…I should go,” I murmured, running my hands along the length of my trousers.

“Hey you don't– wait for my uncle. Remember?” Peter told me with a brow raised.

“Why?” Tanya asked, looking up at me, her eyes soft.

“Um, aunt Julie,” he began nervously. “Larry's been through a lot. And when we found him in the forest, I thought initially that he was also a lost hiker but I learnt that he actually ran away from home. His foster home and…he really hates it there and he just wants a place to stay because he doesn't want to go back and he wants to be happy. So…I was hoping you and uncle Miles let him stay here, he could go to school, he's almost done with highschool, he could get a job, he could actually live a lot better. So…yeah.”

“Oh, dear, I'm so sorry about that,” Tanya's mom said, placing a hand on her chest. “Or course you can stay for as long as you want. Well…not forever of course haha.”

We all laughed at the joke and I felt my heart swell at her kindness.

“Oh my god, thank you so much!” I said, clasping my hands together, my heart racing with joy.

“Not a problem at all,” she replied smiling. “We just need to inform my husband once he gets back home. Which he will be soon.”

“Wait so Larry would be living…here? In my house?” Tanya said, her eyes gleaming. I think I was the only one who saw the faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

I smiled to myself inwardly. Now that things were possibly getting better for me, I was actually considering getting close to her.

The front door suddenly opened and a man I was sure was Tanya's father walked through the door. He had her hair, I noticed. But it was her mother who gave her those beautiful eyes.

“Tanya…? Peter?” He mumbled, evidently dumbstruck at the sight of his daughter and nephew and…some random guy in his living room.

Tanya and Peter rushed over to him and almost knocked him down with hugs.

When the hugs were over, we explained everything to him and at first he looked like he believed we were messing with him but then I remembered the clues in my backpack and the arrow was still in there and everything else too. We told him not to worry about it, that we were fine. He advised us to be careful and never wander off into the woods ever again. He seriously didn't need to tell us twice. I couldn't explain the happiness I felt when he agreed straight away to take me into his home. I hadn't been that excited about life in a long time.

“You even play soccer?” he asked, his eyes lighting up.

“How the fuck did I forget that detail?!” Peter said suddenly.

We laughed at him and his uncle cautioned his use of words. He apologised.

“We're gonna spend some good times together then!” he said with a short laugh and draped his arm over my shoulder. Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt so welcomed by these strangers I barely knew. It felt so nice.

“I've always wished for a son who loves soccer as much as I do but man…Peter is like a son to me but he has no interest. He's more of a…what do highschoolers call it, a nerd?”

We all burst into laughter.

“Hey! Can y'all stop bullying me?” he bellowed indignantly.

“Alright, make yourself at home, what's your name?”

“Larry.”

“Make yourself at home Larry. Let me go and change, have something to eat and during dinner, we'd talk about the important things.”

“Alright. And thank you so much, you have no idea how much it means to me.” I had to hold myself. The tears were threatening to spill.

“It's nothing son.”

***

I was sitting on a chair on their porch writing in my journal with Louie's pencil. It was my happiest entry in a while. I had a lot to say, so many feelings to describe. I was so engrossed with it, that I jumped when someone called my name. They were standing just beside me.

I shut the book immediately and looked up to see Tanya staring down at me with a teasing smile.

“Even if I tried I wouldn't read anything,” she said. “Your handwriting is horrible.”

“Oh shut up,” I said, a smile pulling at my lips. “Have you come here to insult me now?”

“I wish I had more of that energy to be honest,” she said with a chuckle. “I came to ask you how you were doing.”

I raised a brow at her as she sat down next to me. I tensed up. I never imagined us talking or even acknowledging each other's existence outside of the forest. I hadn't thought of it. It felt so weird. And the whole drama that happened there in the forest only made my uncomfort worse.

“I'm…doing as okay as possible.”

“That’s nice to hear,” she said. She smelled so nice. I could smell the scent of lavender from her shampoo probably. And the scent mixed with the scent of the fall and the breeze got to my brain and began to mess with my senses.

“Why are you really here?” I had to ask. I looked at her. She looked away. My stomach churned. I didn't like the feeling.

“I just wanted to talk to you but…if that's not okay with you, I should probably leave then.” She suddenly got up and surprisingly to me, I reached out and pulled her back.

She was also surprised. But definitely not as surprised as me.

“Woah,” she said with a nervous chuckle, blowing her hair out of her face.

“Sorry, I didn't want you to go.” My hands were still on her arm. Her skin felt as soft as a silk pillow. I noticed that she didn't yank it away from my grip.

We were silent now. Speak! My brain shouted at me. My mouth wasn't working anymore. I don't know what came over me. I slowly snaked my hand down her arm and she shivered from the touch. When it got to her hand, I don't know where the bravery came from. I intertwined my fingers with hers. She didn't take them away.

“What's going on?” she whispered.

“I don't know.”

I looked over at her. She looked at me. I really wanted to but I just couldn't take my eyes off hers. I wanted to stare into it forever. My heart fluttered in my chest and a weird sensation ran through my body. But then her eyes moved downward.

Are you in your right senses? My brain asked as I leaned in. I thought you didn't want this? It asked as I leaned in more. I noticed that she was leaning in as well.

My heart beat halted. I was holding my breath, I noticed. Larry pause and think.
My heart didn't let my brain function for that moment and then it was too late. Our lips met and my brain stopped working for a split second.

+_+_+
A/N

YEEEE
FINALLYY
Do ya like them together?