13 Setup

Avril's pov

"So I stepped on the brakes and crashed right down into the garbage can..." The whole camp was filled with laughter as Alex told ridiculous stories of his rather unfortunate events. It was such a delightful evening with the weather just right and the moon sat lazily in the sky as though it watched us from up there.

We definitely still had a long way to go, I mean the cave of wonders was right in front of us as we camped at its feet but all the same, we had to have a bit of fun once in a while considering everything that had happened.

Alex was done with his comical show and the camp split into two, each based on its gender, talking about...well…stuff.

I, for one, chatted cheerily with Monica and Olivia. Surprisingly, Olivia wasn't all that bad to talk to. Infact she was actually kinda fun to talk to. I had seen a side of her that I'd never even dreamed of seeing before; fun, cheerful and not tryna get it in my face.

".....My mum nearly had a panic attack that night," Monica said and they all laughed.

"Mums!" The three lasses said together and laughed on it.

-----

Meanwhile...

At the boys side

"You know if someone had told me days ago that I'd find myself stranded in a fantasy land, I would have paid his psychiatric bills myself," Miles said and the boys laughed.

"Like for real man! I thought I was gonna be locked up in that tunnel for ages but what do I say now?" Alex laughingly said.

"I wonder if those chimps at your school miss y'all lot tho," Alex said sipping a bottle of soda.

"Chimps?!" Miles wasped choking in laughter, "oh come on bruv but...I do know who they miss though... their very own Prince Charming."

"Oh yeahh Kyleee," Alex said, "Yo Kyle heard what he said?"

"Kyle??"

Though Kyle was seated amongst them his focus and attention weren't with the boys but towards the group of the girls chatting away, especially at one particular girl....

"Oooh I see my guy's pretty hooked up there," Alex chuckled.

"Kyle!" Miles called out and tapped him.

"Hmm," he responded abruptly finally looking away.

"You know if you like her you should just tell her," Miles said.

"Um I don't remember saying anything like that," Kyle replied with a pretentious gaze.

"Bro we're young adults not little kids skating at the rink aiit?" Miles said.

"You don't make it obvious but we see through you and we see your moves.. you're into her, my man," Alex said.

Kyle gave out a long sigh.

"Fine.. you got me but what if she doesn't like me? What if I'm just aiming for what I'm not gonna get?" Kyle asked.

"I know Avril, Kyle. Besides all that's left for you to find out," Miles said.

"Yeah but even if I want to find out how?" Kyle asked.

Miles looked at Alex and the latter looked back and they smiled.

"Leave that to us," Miles said.

Alex without grabbing the girls attention took out some wood from the fire making it reduce its flames.

"Well would you look at that?" Alex said loud enough that the girls heard, "looks like the fire's going off."

"Yeah and if we don't get some right now we'll freeze to death when this firebruns out," Miles said bluntly.

"Oh that's not good," Monica said.

"You got that right baby," Miles replied.

"But now the only question is which duo is gonna get it for us because definitely one person would have a panic attack out there," Alex said.

"So who would that duo be?" Olivia asked.

"Brilliant question Olivia," Miles said, "Well it can't be me because I'll be hanging out with my bae."

Miles winked at Monica and the latter smiled.

"Yeah yeah let the singles breathe," Alex said, "All the same can't be me. I've got some important questions I'd like to ask Olivia."

"You do?" Olivia asked surprised.

"Yes I do ," was the reply.

"Since when?" Olivia acquired.

Alex halted for a second.

"Since today. No more questions hun," Alex said.

"So which means we're down to two people who seem pretty idle to me," Miles said.

"Oh yeah, Avril and Kyle..." Alex pronounced.

"Yeahh I did not see that coming," Kyle said with a hint of sarcasm on a straight face.

"Where are they going to find wood from by this hour?" Monica asked.

"Oh just from those bushes over there," Alex replied pointing over to a dark landscape of trees.

"You mean the forest!" Monica exclaimed, "isn't that dangerous?"

"Yeah Avril things could be out there," Olivia said.

"It's alright.. it's just to grab a few sticks and we're back," Avril said calmly.

"Are you sure?" Monica asked concerned.

"I am. I don't know about him," Avril turned to look at Kyle.

"Oh uh definitely whenever you're ready," Kyle said and stood up.

"I'll be fine Nika," Avril said standing up too.

"If there's anything raise an alarm," Monica said.

"Monica," Avril laughed out, "it's just the woods not the Civil war."

"Umm okay then.. just be careful," Monica said, "Kyle take care of her alright?"

Kyle nodded and turned to Avril.

"Shall we?" He said.

"Ofcourse we can," Avril replied.

They walked out of their camp and into the dark abyss of the night, into the woods dark as it was.

Kyle's heart raced a million tracks per hour. He was going to tell her the main idea but he was terrified of her reaction. What was she gonna say? How was she going to react? Would she laugh and scorn at his words? Nahh Avril wouldn't do that, he was positive.

They walked deeper into the night. Neither of them uttering a word. Each with their thoughts.

Both were anxious; that's one thing I can leak to you. They both had thoughts running through their minds, emotions racing through their hearts just concealed like pressured gas molecules waiting to be free. Still none said a word even though both were well aware that it was a setup.