Chapter 5

Alice’s POV:

            It was still dark out, and we were still walking the trails. It’s amazing how much your life can change within 5 or 10 minutes. One minute you feel completely empty inside, wishing you had something that you’d lost a long time ago, and the next you’re completely giddy, on the verge of doing snoopy dances because one person has made you feel so alive. I sighed and let out a yawn.

            “You’re tired?” Dana asked, taking my hand and swinging my arm with hers.

            “Yeah, kinda. It’s not even light out yet. I don’t do this very often” I said through another yawn.

            “You should come running with me more. It’d be fun.” I stared at her blankly.

            “Okay, but make sure you’ve got your cell phone with you so that you can call the ambulance when I accidentally jog off a cliff or collapse from exhaustion.” I said with a sarcastic smile.

            “I wouldn’t need an ambulance. I could carry you.” I shook my head.

            “Nuh uh. You could not.” She nodded insistently.

            “Yeah I could. Here, get on my back.” She knelt down and waited.

            “Wow, Dana, right in the middle of the trial here?” I joked.

            “Well if you really want to… No, come on!”

            “Yeah? Okay.” I hesitantly climbed onto her back, thinking that she definitely couldn’t carry me, but to my surprise, she started walking with me on her back like it was no big deal. “Holy shit, Dana!” I clung to her shoulder, thinking how much it would hurt if I fell, and knowing my clumsy self, I would.

            “I told you!” She laughed.

            “Oh my God, please don’t drop me! Or fall. Falling would be bad.”

            “I’m not going to drop y- whoa!” She let go of my legs for a fraction of a second, letting me think she was dropping me. I screeched and leaned forward, almost knocking her over.”

            “Don’t do that!” I laughed, hugging her around the neck.

            “Do what? I didn’t do anything.”

            “Oh, very funny, Miss Innocent. You can put me down now.”

            “I thought you liked being on top, Al.” She smirked.