A/n: EARLY UPDATE!
I will be having much more regular updates now that I am on holidays. I will be aiming to update once every three days, but that will depend on how quickly I can write the chapters. I hope you are all loving this story and actually like it. I try my best and can't wait until it is finished to see the final result!
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter! And check out that song ^^^^ that's my song of the day choice!!!!!!!!

Enjoy! TaylorLeFay

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AND DON'T FORGET TO READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER!
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Chapter Seventy Six:

"Hey, Bryce."

I groaned as I felt hands shaking me.

"Bryce, Princess, wake up."

I groaned again but when I registered the nickname I opened my eyes to find Lucas hovering over me. His face wasn't too far from mine and he blocked the sun above us so all I could see was him, everything else around was too bright to see clearly.

Suddenly, all these emotions and thoughts rushed into me so fast that I jumped upwards and heard Lucas groan as our heads clashed and made contact. Falling back down I groaned in pain as did Lucas although he was laughing.

"Bryce, nothing is wrong it's fine."

It took me a moment to process what he was talking about before I remembered we were in the final test. Feeling stupid, I forced a laugh as I looked round wildly to see Jaylen and Rebecca standing near the vehicle waiting for me.

"I was worried something was happening," I lied.

Lucas chuckled and Jaylen walked over grabbing my bag and helped me up as Lucas loaded a few bags stranded on the side into the vehicle.

I stumbled upwards and fell into Jaylen as he pulled me into a tight hug. Surprised, I just stood there for a moment before I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and clutched him tightly.

"You know, I did not do this before," Jaylen whispered to me as I relaxed into his embrace.

"Also," he added. "You, my friend, are in some serious shit."

"What?"

Confused, I pulled back to see him smiling down at me, but not in a genuine manner, but more of a smile that was laughing at me. I watched as he looked away from me and glanced over my shoulder.

I turned to see where he was looking and found him staring straight at Lucas who was helping Rebecca load the final things into the car.

"I don't know when that changed, but you are not doing a good job of hiding it."

I felt my heart beat speed up suddenly and looked back at him as he looked at me and naturally I shook my head in response denying whatever he was saying.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

He laughed at me and slapped my head softly.

"Stupid girl, you know exactly what I'm saying." I opened my mouth to deny it again but he cut me off.

"Don't even try to deny it," he smirked at me. "It is written all over your face."

And with that he walked away leaving me speechless. Before he got to far I walked up to him and grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

"I don't like him, not like that."

This time he really started to laugh and he reached up and grabbed his long hair pulling it as he howled. Lucas and Rebecca both stopped what they were doing and watched as Jaylen began crying from laughter.

"Oh, Bryce," he rubbed his eyes. "You are funny."

He walked away again and said over his shoulder, "Since when did I say you liked him?"

I glared at his back as I knew what game he was playing, "You are clearly insinuating it."

He turned around and began walking backwards as he wiped his face with the black t-shirt he had on. "You can try lie all you want Bryce, out loud, go ahead everyone will either believe or deny what you are saying is true. But, Bryce, you cannot lie to yourself."

He turned around and walked to Lucas and Rebecca who were both now in the vehicle.

"Stay quiet for a minute, if that is even possible for you, and for once and listen to what your heart is telling you."

He climbed into the vehicle as I was frozen staring after him. I could not help but overthink what he was saying. No, it can't be true. I was only thinking it cause he mentioned it. If no one said anything, this would not even be an option.

"Earth to Bryce," called Rebecca.

I refocused my eyes and saw her sitting in the drivers seat, she had one arm on the wheel and the other resting on the windowless door.

"Are you coming or what?"

Shaking my head, clearing it, I nodded and picked up my bag from the ground before climbing into the car next to Lucas. I made sure to put some distance between us and placed my bag between us.

From the corner of the eyes I swear I saw him frown but I figured I was now exaggerating and overthinking.

"About time," Rebecca commented and I swear I felt more than saw her roll her eyes.

. . .

We drove for a while before we were met with another hill. 

If anything, hill was an understatement. 

It was more like a largely spread out mountain. From where we were I could not even see the top, it just kept going for miles and rising higher the whole time.

We drove up the hill again for hours as we kept ascending. The four of us were mostly quiet, occasionally having times of small talk, but mostly we enjoyed the peace.

Even though we were in company and were happy to talk heaps yesterday. This was not exactly an ideal situation where you were excited and just kept talking. If anything it was quite solemn.

Where the past days were hot and sunny, clouds covered the sky and a cold wind had taken over the mountain tops.

As I turned back in my seat I peered behind us to find no sight of the flat land and instead just saw hill. The hill was not to steep as it stretched widely outwards but as we neared the top it began to become much steeper.

A few times Lucas tried to start talking with me but I mostly avoided the conversation as I could barely look at him right now. My head raged with hundreds of thoughts. For a time being I worried about not being able to make it out back to my family and that I wouldn't survive.

The wound on my arm was a constant pang that reminded me of how close I was to dying. But even though the bullet did not kill me immediately, I was not out of the woods yet. I still risked developing infection and could just as easily die from that.

Shaking my head, I stopped worrying about that and instead began overthinking my situation with Lucas. Or, more like my non-existent situation with Lucas. I was just making a situation so I could distract myself.

Everything that I have been feeling has been logical. No food and water can do crazy stuff to a person.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes and saw him staring out his window. His gaze was distant and his hair sat bunched as a wavy mess on his head from washing it. His head was propped on his hand and I could not help but admire him. Appreciate him.

There was no denying that he was not good looking, he was quite the opposite. And the strong emotions I was feeling was only because he is one of my closest friends. In fact, I would consider him my best friend.

I have never been so close to someone in my life. Not only just emotionally, but in all aspects. He has saved my life multiple times and I have for him. I would not even hesitate in trusting him. I trust him with my whole life.

I would quietly happily hand him my soul to keep safe and would not even worry in the slightest about him destroying it or fail to save me. 

I trust him like I have never trusted anyone.

I suddenly felt guilt creep into my as I thought about Carter. I missed him so much, there was not a single day where I did not think of him. Even if it was for just a moment. He too I would trust with my life and I missed him so much.

But as I glanced at Lucas, I remembered how when I first met him I truly thought that I would die and that was it. There was no hope for me, or us. He was so cold, hated me, and avoided me at all cost. But then, I don't know when, where, or how it changed, but it did.

And there was no one on this Earth that I wanted by myside.

I loved him.

There was no denying that. He is my best friend. Of course I loved him. But was I in love with him?

Of course not.

I'm just confusing those strong feelings of friendship for love.

Suddenly, I was broken out of my thoughts as the vehicle slowed down. I turned my gaze from Lucas and peered out the front window to see we were near the top but still had a bit to go. I turned to Rebecca to see her slam her wheel.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

She continuously slammed her wheel and Jaylen reached out to stop her. "Whoa, what's happening, calm down."

From beside me Lucas got off his hand and looked at Rebecca.

"Why did we stop?"

Rebecca groaned and turned back to look at the three of us. "We are out of gas."

I leaned back in my seat and groaned realising that we were now going to have to walk the rest of the way from here. "Great."

"Well, it was great while it lasted," Jaylen rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag before jumping out the vehicle.

We all followed suit grabbing our stuff and joining him outside the vehicle. I slammed the door behind me and slammed the door shut before strapping my backpack to my back and ensuring that my machete was strapped in place. I lowered the strap so it was not restricted my bag, but could grab it from my side in case I needed it.

Jaylen leaned over and kissed the hood of the vehicle, "You will be missed."

"Idiot," muttered Rebecca as she secured her holster and checked that her gun was fully loaded.

Lucas slammed his door and strapped his scimitar sword to his side and swung his backpack on his back. I watched as he pulled his black long sleeve shirt down, tightening it on his body. You could clearly see the shape of his muscular torso through the shirt.

He was now wearing a pair of green cargo pants with the long sleeved black shirt and I could not look away. I never noticed he had changed this morning. Suddenly, I saw his lips pull into a smirk and he looked at me.

Fuck.

As quick as he looked at me I looked away and prayed he did not see me checking him out.

Who am I kidding. 

He knew exactly what he was doing the whole time.

"Alright, lets go," I said and did not wait for anyone to respond before I started walking up the steep mountain.

"Keep running," I heard Lucas mumble behind me. 

But maybe I imagined it.

"She's losing her mind," said Jaylen before they all began to follow suit.

It took much longer than I expected to reach the top. My legs heaved in pain as my calves and thighs burned from forcing myself to walk and at a fast pace so we could make it to the top just afternoon.

After an hour or two we finally reached the top. I almost fell to my knees in relief but refused to be that weak as I walked forwards.

There was about twenty metres wide of flat land that circled all around us. The twenty metres ended with a cliff edge. Walking slowly, I made my way to the edge as I heard Jaylen groaning in relief behind us and Rebecca slapping him for being annoying.

I walked to the edge and stopped a few metres before it. I could see so fare from where I stood. Looking out, all I saw was forest and sky that was covered in clouds. If I was in any other situation, I would find it rather beautiful, in fact, I still did. But it was hard to appreciate it when I knew that for tens of miles ahead this was all I had and nothing less, if anything probably more.

I turned around and could not even see the desert behind me. Spinning back around to the forest before us and far below us I could not even fathom to think just how big the are we are in here. If I did not know it was like we were just in some random country and were making our way across it.

It was miraculous I was still alive.

I heard soft footsteps trailing behind me and I did not even have to turn to see who it was. As he came and stopped beside me I heard him let out a low whistle.

"Damn," he whispered.

"I know," I replied in shock.

We stood in silence next to each other. I strained my eyes to try and see further out but unfortunately all I could see was trees. Taking a half step forward I tried to peer below. I leaned a little more forward and suddenly I felt a hand grip my arm.

It was strategically placed on my elbow, making sure to miss my bullet wound and I felt grateful to feel his strong grip and support to make sure I would not fall.

The trees were at the very least fifty metres below where I was and that was only the very top of the extremely tall trees.

The edge was very rocky and uneven. I felt the rocks below me begin to move slightly and rumble under my weight. Warily, I jumped back as the large rock beneath me became loose, and if it was not for Lucas's stable grip I would have fallen down along with it.

"Shit," I whispered as I fell back into Lucas's chest.

I felt my heart beat flutter before he grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face him and placed his arms on my shoulders, grazing my neck. 

"Are you okay?" He asked frantically looking up and down.

"I'm fine," I insisted, well tried to. It more came out breathily and unclear and he frowned in response. "Seriously."

He nodded cautiously and maintained eye contact with me as I heard Rebecca call out from behind him. "You okay?"

"All good," I yelled back but did not break eye contact with Lucas's heavy gaze.

He hesitated for a bit before he leaned down a bit and whispered with wariness in his eyes. "Are we okay?"

I frowned confused and nodded frantically.

"Of course we are, why would you think we are not?"

"I-" 

Before he could finish what he was going to say, he was interrupted and paused as Jaylen and Rebecca walked up to us.

I turned to look at them and saw Jaylen wiggling his eyes. Confused, I looked down to see Lucas's hands were still on my shoulders, resting in the crest of my collarbones.

As of realising and remembering where his hands were, Lucas quickly pulled back his hands and folded them across his chest. We both simultaneously turned to the siblings as I felt a blush suddenly raise on my cheeks for no given reason.

Rebecca rolled her eyes before looking at the view before us and knitted her brows as she thought about something.

"That's a lot of forest," commented Jaylen and I rolled my eyes in response.

"Nice observation, did not notice that before," I quipped.

And I saw Jaylen look at me with a deadpan look as I smiled. But suddenly his eyes lit with mischief and my smile faded as wariness grew.

"I seem to have many good-," he inconspicuously glanced at Lucas as he wasn't paying attention, "observations actually."

I glared at him and turned away as I heard him chuckle silently. 

Lucas gave me a questioning look but I shook my head in response letting him know that it was nothing.

"So, what now?" Asked Lucas.

We were silent for a moment before Rebecca unstrapped her bag and began looking through it. We were silent as we watched her and watched as she pulled out a long rope which I found difficulty believing that could be in there.

"We scale it."

"Rebecca," warned Jaylen as he frowned. "It's too dangerous."

She looked at the cliff side and shook her head. "It'll be fine."

"The ground isn't exactly stable," I frowned remembering how moments before it crumbled beneath me.

Voicing my thoughts Lucas commented, "Bryce's rock crumbled beneath her."

Rebecca snorted and pointed her head to the right where there was a larger boulder that was sitting atop the cliff side. "That part is stable there, completely rock solid. We'll be fine."

"We can't risk it," countered Jaylen as he stood up straighter and the laughter and joy left his face.

"Well, what do you suggest? Because we have lost the vehicle, by the time we go down the way we came then circle around... its not happening, it will take days just to get down let alone go around. Look-" She gestured to the right.

All we could see was the hill that just kept going and going.

"We can't even see the end of it, that's how far it keeps going, we can't risk losing that much time. And, Jaylen, we always go climbing this will be easy for us."

He continued to frown but none of us could argue with her logic. It would take us way to long to make our down and around.

"We are making the decision as a whole," Jaylen said and glanced at me, Lucas, and Rebecca.

No one disagreed at that. 

Whatever we do we are doing it together.

"Are we scaling or going around?"