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"Iiiiii.... I don't know about this..." 

I swallowed, side glancing downward on either side of me while trying to keep perfectly still. My heartbeat was echoing in my ears with the anxiety that was building. 

"Relax, Red... You're doing fine. It's not that big a deal."

My brows furrowed a little, nose scrunching in irritation as I clenched my teeth together to keep myself from moving too quickly that would throw off my balance. That was the last thing I needed; was to lose my balance once more in front of Easton so that I can confirm that I'm a clumsy idiot. 

"E---Easy for you to say!" I bit back, wobbling a little that I had to regain my balance. "Whoa..." 

I glanced upward to see that smug look on that asshat's face. My eyes narrowed, lip curling as I muttered under my breath that this was the stupidest idea that I could have gone along with. I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to come up here and play this stupid game. 

I must have lost my mind from the moment that I was proposed this idea. I was an Advanced Human---not indestructible. 

Wincing, I slowly turned my head to glance downward again and I felt my stomach tighten from my nerves bunching together seeing the blurry drop. Shutting my eyes I faced forward, clenching my teeth together before snapping my eyes open and growled out, "I can't believe you got me to do this!" 

I glanced downward to the side again and then looked upward. A slow long breath was let out from my pursed lips. Again my heart was racing and I practically felt it hammering against my rib cage. 

"Stop looking down, Red. That's what throws you off." 

I glared over at the blond standing at the very end of the tree's roots that hadn't been completely torn out of the ground. 

That's right. I was standing on the side of a trunk of a tree that had somehow grown awkwardly outward from the cliff. 

The end of it was partly rooted into the ground that grass and moss had taken its opportunity to blanket over it. Its roots along the end that was sticking out of the ground were branched out in odd angles and there was only enough space to wedge between them in order to climb onto the trunk itself. The trunk extended off the cliff and out into the open. It went a pretty good distance where there were thick and thin branches with leaves that currently were going through the Fall season. 

But not even the vibrant yellow, red, and orange colors of the leaves could distract me enough from the fact that I was standing at almost the very end of the trunk out here in the open with my arms outward to keep my balance.

You might ask... 'What's the point?' 

I'll tell you: Torture. 

Apparently I enjoy it since I agreed to partake in this stupid game that the Six apparently came up with when they were kids. Easton told me that, before their move to Blood Moon Falls, they lived in a woodsy area like this town---without really the town---and had a similar tree as this one. 

The only difference? 

This tree was sticking out off a cliff and the other tree was not.

Easton was telling me that it brought back memories of when he and the Six had simpler times. He figured it'd be nice to relive that a little. He had said this when he was first telling me about the idea of coming up here, and I guess... well... 

Crap. Now that I'm thinking about it... I guess I realized why I agreed to this to begin with. To comfort Easton. 

Sonabitch...

"What's the point to this again!?" I practically squeaked, glancing worriedly to the side and squeezed my eyes shut, facing forward, from the hell-of-drop that was underneath me. 

This part of the cliff was more uphill of the woods. It was in a much deeper part that Thea had never ventured through as a kid, and so it made me wonder why the hell I agreed to follow Easton in here. 

Oh no wait... I remembered now.

Stupid me and my stupid idea to befriend Easton. 

With his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jean jacket that he favored so much, Easton tilted his head a little that made the fringe of his blond hair slant across his forehead. His blue eyes barely peering underneath it as he grinned, "There isn't." 

I groaned, scrunching my face and shook my head that this was insane. 

"I don't even think I can get back!" I whined, groaning that I was going to end up getting so tired that my sneaker would slip and I'll fall.

Easton told me to stop being dramatic.  

I shot the Were a look, sneering that this was his fault! His brows rose, disappearing under his fringe but there was that 'ghost grin' of his again. 

"My fault...?"

"Yes. Yours. You. The only Werewolf standing here."

Easton chuckled, shaking his head and sighed, "It's really hard to not be attracted to you when you do that."

I glanced up, lowering a brow and frowned, "Do what?"

"Get flustered."

"You somehow find that attractive!?" I snapped, throwing him a look.

He shrugged, "It's cute, Red." 

Shaking my head a little then stilled because of this God damn tree, I huffed under my breath that 'the old ways of the Society were done with' and that 'my Hunter Mode was tucked away and it should stay that way'. 

Mr. Moody happened to hear me because ya know, Werewolf hearing, and mumbled back that that would be a sight to see (me in Hunter Mode, apparently). 

"Why, you pervert?"

Easton threw his head back and laughed; that smile of his back again for the moment. He then looked over at me and shrugged again that he wasn't even thinking of anything close to sexual about me in Hunter Mode. Then the asshat paused, smirking with a raised brow and tilted his head a little. 

"I am now, though."

Grumbling under my breath, I kept shooting daggers his way then shouted over that I was done with this stupid game. That since there was no point to it, that I shouldn't be risking my neck out here to begin with. 

"I have that little shit swimming around my room who's going to wonder why I didn't feed him if I fall off this piece of crap!"

Easton laughed again, saying something but I wasn't paying mind to it. I was too busy looking down (at my feet on the trunk---not the blurry drop underneath it) and carefully lifted my foot to step it forward. Then I lifted my other foot to place in front of the other. This seemed a hell of a lot easier when I getting out here, now it felt like the trunk had grown longer in the amount of time that I stood out here.

Biting my lip, I noticed that I was wobbling too much and my mind was prodding me to look down again. I resisted as much as possible but then that distracted me and I wobbled a little too much. Gasping, I halted with my foot awkwardly placed in front of me. 

"Shit!" I panted out, then glanced up. "Ease! Ease, I think I stepped too far ahead!"

With the space that my feet were parted in, I could possibly stumble if I raised my leg to step forward. I could lose my balance pretty quickly. And c'mon... we all saw what happened with a fuckin' puddle of water on the safety of the ground! 

I looked up, swallowing as Easton's scowl was on his face and had already removed his jacket, climbing up onto the trunk. He twisted himself a little to walk side ways slowly towards me. His brows furrowed as he inched closer, holding his hand out at me.

"Stay there, Red. I'll help you." 

Swallowing, I (stupidly) did a side glance and leaned a little too much because I wobbled and when I stiffened to straighten, it wasn't quick enough. 

"W---whoa! Argh!" 

"RED!" 

My body fell sideways, twisting around and I felt my back hit and crunch the thin branches off. In my panic, my hands extended outward and my legs bent over a thicker branch to catch me. I grunted from the few times I hit my head until I was hanging upside down. 

Blinking a few times, I frowned as I looked at how I was hanging then looked down. 

"Fuck! Holy shit!" 

I couldn't even tell what was the ground and what was the trees down below. It was that far up and I could just imagine the impact I'd have if I fell. 

"Easton!" 

"Hang on, Red! Hang on..."

Raising my brows, I held out my hands and huffed, "Sure! Already am!" then shut my eyes to slow the dizziness I was starting to feel. It was a full minute before opening my eyes and seeing that Easton was hanging over the outward branches that could hold his large figure. His scowl still in place as he gripped onto the branch with one hand and then extended the other to me. 

"Take my hand, Red."

I glanced at it, scrunching my nose as I told him that he was a little too far. 

"Just try!"

Huffing out a curse, I lifted my arm but there was a full two feet from being able to touch his fingertips. A groan escaped, and I shook my head before grumbling out for him to wait while I tried something. He was giving me a strange look before I swallowed and started swinging myself a little back and forth. I made sure that my legs still had a good grip on the branch they were clamping onto then swung a little harder.

With a little more force, I was able to reach a little closer. So I kept up the swinging. But theeeeeen the branch started to snap. Yes. It really did.

Easton stretched himself out more, clenching his teeth as he was reaching further out towards me. I took one last swing before letting my legs let go of the branch. I reached outward and clasped onto Easton's hand. The Were grunted, leaning back to pull me upward. 

Once I managed to grab hold of a branch, I pulled myself up and allowed myself a few seconds to catch my breath. My heart was pounding again and I scrunched my nose as I glanced at the Were beside me. He glanced at me, this look in his eyes that I couldn't decipher before I huffed, shaking my head. 

"Let's get of this thing..."

He didn't say anything but nod. He turned, climbing onto the trunk and then looked at me until I got on the trunk too. Easton frowned that maybe I should go in front of him; that it would be easier to catch me if I slipped again. I shot him a look  that I'd be fine. The Were growled, telling me that he wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer.

I rolled my eyes, grumbling, "Moody ass Werewolves..." then gestured to the limited space and questioned on how he'd like me get in front of him that way. Easton looked around for a second before he stepped backwards and started falling downwards. 

My eyes widened as I cried out, "Ease!" and went forward but the asshole was hanging onto some branches that were extended outward from the trunk. 

I narrowed my eyes at him grinning up at me with a lowered brow. Easton tilted his head, his hair moving in front of his eyes again. 

"Don't worry, Red. I'm still here." 

Scrunching my nose, I glared at him then grumbled, "Whatever..." before twisting to the side and started moving across the trunk that way. I glanced back to see Easton had climbed back up and was now moving the same way I was. Facing back around, I frowned the whole way until I was at the roots and then leapt off, hitting the grassy ground pretty hard and let myself roll away. 

Once coming to a stop, I kept my eyes shut and let myself pant heavily from the scare I had back there. 

My brows furrowed the moment I felt something beside me and slowly opened my eyes tot he blue sky. It was cloudless, which was unpleasant to look at really. Kinda boring. I slowly turned my head to find Mr. Moody lying beside me. He was staring up at the sky with that scowl on his face. 

I glanced at how his chest was breathing heavily as mine was. Stupid Werewolves. 

He must have felt me staring because his eyes shifted towards me before his head did. 

I'd like to pause here and inform you that I never paid attention to someone's eyes before, but Easton's weren't just blue. Because of the close proximity, I could see that there were fibers of white in his irises. It was what made his eyes so light to begin with. 

Lowering a brow, I continued to stare at their color, and I couldn't help it. I wasn't sure why. It was just a moment thing where I wanted to linger on the mixture of those two colors to make the one that Easton's eyes were overall. 

"Red..."

I blinked, frowning, "Huh?"

Easton's eyes narrowed a little, not moving other than shaking his head slowly for me to stop staring at him like that. 

"Like what?"

He sighed, frowning that it was hard enough as it was to be friends with me---who was straight---but that with me staring at him and laying this close was not helping matters. I lowered a brow, glancing to the side and frowned back that I wasn't doing anything. I was just laying here.

"That's my point!" Easton groaned out, sitting up and threw his fingers into the front of his hair. 

His back was to me now so I just stared at him. I bit my lip, looking back to the sky and sighed out that I was sorry. 

When he didn't say anything, I figured I'd clarify. 

"I don't do it on purpose. Tease you, I mean," I frowned, concentrating on the blue color of the sky. "I don't even know that I'm doing that. I'm just trying to be friends, Easton, and it makes it a little difficult because of your preference for guys." 

I paused, taking a deep breath. 

"I'm trying not to tease. But I don't know when I'm doing it, so if... well, if you rather us not hang out anymore than that's fine too." 

I heard him shift around suddenly but didn't look at him. I kept staring at the sky. 

It wasn't until he huffed out, "That easy, huh?"

I frowned, turning my head to look at his narrowed eyes. Dammit. What'd I say now?

"You seem to be looking for a way out of this friendship so easily, Red," Easton sneered. He shrugged, "What? Your homophobia kicking in again?"

I frowned, twisting around to sit up and shake my head, "I'm not homophobic..."

"Yes you are," Easton snapped back. He scoffed, shaking his head that from the moment we met I was a squirmy little guy who couldn't get away from him fast enough. He claimed that this whole friendship idea must be the hardest thing for me ever since I didn't like being near him to begin with. 

"Hey..." I started, but he scoffed again. 

"You know... I didn't ask you to be friends! You were the one who approached me!" 

Easton growled under his breath, shoving himself to his feet and I looked up at him as he was dusting his backside off and then stomping over to grab his jacket. He shot me a look as he was placing it on.

"You're right. I guess I'll go with your second suggestion since you so easily want to worm your way out of hanging out with me!" Easton grumbled something before looking at me. "You don't have to worry about me trying to make moves on you or anything. I'll be sure to step back and stay out of your way."

I frowned, watching him walk towards me to walk past me. "Easton..."

He ignored me, shaking his head as he continued to scold me. 

"I guess it was too much for you to get out of your comfort zone then. You seem to be up in your bubble a little too much, ya know? Clearly you have fuckin' issues that are making you incapable of a simple friendship." 

He turned away a few steps then glared back at me, "You know... this is what Leo was talking about..." then turned away again. 

I sat there, blinking a few times as I frowned. What the hell just happened?

I was letting his words sink in to my brain before I started to feel my confusion turn into irritation which turned into me getting pissed off. 

Shoving myself to stand, I shot his back a glare and shouted, "You've got fuckin' problems, Easton!" 

The Were halted, stiffening at my simple words, but I went off on him anyway. 

"You're pretty shitty for making me feel bad about my openness to telling you that I'm trying not to be intentional with how I act around you! You managed to overlook the fact that I'm one of the few people who is trying to be friends with you! I'm not even trying to press into your business, just more trying to be able to do something as simple as talk!" 

I glared at him, shaking my head. He was frowning at me by this time, actually spinning around to look at me.

"You've got some fuckin' nerve, you know that!? I'm over here having to feel bad because you have a stick up your ass around everyone and everything around you! The world doesn't revolve around Easton Quinn as you'd like!"

My jaw tightened, narrowing my gaze further. I pointed at the trunk behind me.

"You were the one who suggested us to play this fuckin' dangerous ass game! If I didn't want to hang out with you... If I didn't want to be acknowledged as your friend or associated with you---period!--- then I wouldn't have fuckin' been up here!"

Breathing heavily, I shook my head, "I wouldn't have been a fuckin' moron to come up here with you of all people to think that maybe---just maybe!---that we were progressing! And for someone who has a knack for pointing out shit towards someone who is apparently homophobic, you forget that you've intentionally done some shit that purposely made me uncomfortable over the years!"

I saw the way his face scrunched a little at this realization but Mr. Fuckin' Moody wouldn't admit it I was sure. 

Glaring at him, I leaned forward and shouted, "You fuckin' kissed me, Easton! You kissed me and then acted like it wasn't supposed to affect me! Like I was just supposed to be okay with what you did knowing how I am starting to open up around your sexuality!"

I held out my arms to the side, "You think this is fuckin' fun for me!? That I get to stand here and let you say shit like that to me after I've been trying to put effort into being friends with you!? What efforts have you put in!? Huh!?"

My brows rose, "Cuz all I've seen from you is jabs at me! You make fun of me for shit that shouldn't make me feel bad, but they do! Because it's from you!" 

I stopped, huffing and shook my head as I looked away. My jaw slanted to the side, shaking my head again. 

I looked back at him, narrowing my eyes and scoffed, "You know what...? What makes this better is that you apparently trust your fuckin' Favorite Flavor more than me. Obviously you agree with his thoughts about me and Thea apparently---" 

I saw his eyes widen, probably remembering those days ago when Leo mentioned that some Weres didn't trust us Ex-Hunters or liked us to begin with.

"---So it's fine. I'll save you the trouble. I'll just make sure that I leave you the fuck alone because that's what you want apparently. Other than fucking Leo a few times a night, you'd rather be alone and miserable."

Shaking my head, I started forward and scoffed as I was closing in. 

"You've got some fuckin' nerve, Easton. And I hope this works out for you. Being this way! I just know better now not to fuckin' try with you. Or anyone for that matter! I'm so done with this shit..." 

Walking past him, I stopped to turn around and frown, "And you don't see me throwing in your face something about hanging out with Thorton," though I saw the way his eyes darkened at the mention of the guy. "Because I know that the guy rubs you the wrong way! I'm not a fuckin' dick like you, Easton! But please, don't act like it bothers you since you know... I'm apparently looking for a way out and shit." 

I shook my head, "So thanks, I guess. I'll just be on my way now. And I'd say I'll see you around, but let's face it... we both know that you rather not have that."

I turned away, throwing up a hand, "Enjoy time with your Favorite Flavor, Easton! See ya!" 

Probably about halfway towards the treeline, I heard Easton shout, "Red! Red, wait!" 

Shaking my head I grumbled before flipping him off without turning. 

"Fuck you, Easton!" I shouted as loud as I could. "Go talk to Leo!" 

To be honest, I don't know why I was mentioning Leo so much. It was irritating me that it irritated me that Leo was brought up to begin with. But I think it was more disappointment that Easton would actually put blame towards what I was when this whole time he acted like he liked me. Not in that way... well that way too but you know what I mean.  

Looking upward, I sighed heavily and started my way down the tall mountain in a different direction than Easton had brought us. I didn't want to talk to him or see him. It was making me pissed that he brought up that I was homophobic. Here I was trying to not be and it just didn't seem to work. 

It wasn't even that I cared that he was gay, I didn't care. Good for him. What pissed me off was that he made it out to be that I was bothered of him liking me. 

I frowned, shaking my head and muttered out loud to myself something that I would think about for the next few days until Maddox's birthday party.

"It doesn't even bother me anymore..."