#kennaxval

“Curse my ill luck!” she shouted. 

One of her furry companions approached her tentatively, bopping her with his cold nose. She stared into the canines eyes, feeling an understanding pass between them and knowing what she must do. 

“I know what I must do!” she said happily, looking into the dog’s eyes. 

“Run like the wind, go forth and find me help!”

The dog stared into her eyes, an understanding passing between animal and master. He sniffed Julia carefully, making sure she was alright. Then he lifted his leg and peed on her stomach, marking her. Making sure she would be safe until he got back. Julia was HIS bitch and no one else’s.

The dog streaked through the woods, dodging rocks and scooting under low branches. Suddenly he stopped, ears pricked. He heard footsteps. The dog eased forward cautiously, but not cautiously enough. The clumsy human tripped over him, face planting into the ground.

Jesus Fucking H. Bi-peds were the most useless creatures. The dog began to nudge the human, whimpering and licking his face.

“Easy boy, it’s ok, I’m fine I just tripped,” Bryce said as he stood up and brushed the dirt from his butt. The dog barked at him, then turned to head further into the woods, stopping and barking again when he realized he wasn’t being followed. 

Bryce laughed and shook his head. “What is it boy? Did Timmy fall down the well?” He cracked up laughing at his own joke as he jogged after the dog. He followed the dog through the woods, becoming a little more hesitant as the woods became thicker and darker. 

He was just about to turn back when he saw her. And smelled her. Whew! Sprawled out at the base of a huge tree with gnarly, thick roots was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. He stood up straight and rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. He asked her name as he assessed her situation. Her voice was meek and soft. 

“I’m Julia.” He flashed her a megawatt smile. “I’m Bryce and I’m going to help you Julia. Do you think you can walk?”

“I... I’m just too weak”, she sighed dramatically, placing the back of her hand across her forehead like a damsel in distress. 

“Well don’t you worry about that ma’am, I’m going to get you all the help you need.” 

Bryce lifted Julia into his strong, muscular arms, careful not to hurt any potential injuries. 

“Wow, you’re so strong”, she gasped as he carried her through the woods with ease. 

“Oh no, not really”, he chuckled as he flexed his muscles. He then decided to show Julia just how strong he really was. He held her in one arm, then decided to pick his dog up with his other arm. 

Julia’s eyes widened in awe. 

“Oh no, this is nothing”, he smiled. 

Before she could respond, they had arrived at the hospital despite having been in the woods just sentences ago. The dog was also somehow safe at home now since he probably wasn’t allowed in the hospital itself. 

All of a sudden, everything became a rush. As soon as Bruce stepped through the hospital’s double doors, it was as if he were a new person. 

“QUICKLY, WE MUST GET THIS POOR WOMAN A BED IMMEDIATELY!” 

“But Bryce, I’m fine, it’s only a twisted ankle. Nothing is even bro-“

“Shhhhhh. It’s alright. You’re delirious but you’ll survive.” 

Within moments, Bryce laid Julia down into a hospital bed tenderly. 

“I’m going to hand you over to the care of an intern now Julia. She’s very capable. You’ll like Jackie.”

At that moment, a beautiful young lady came in with a very cheeky smile.

“So, you’re the woman causing the entire hospital to fall into chaos”, Jackie smirked. 

“I guess... but I don’t really know why. I was in the woods when I-“

“Fell from heaven?” 

“Errrr...”

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t flirt with a patient. Especially one in such critical condition.”

“Critical condition? I’m not even bleeding!” 

“Bryce warned me that you were delirious. It’ll be alright Julia. I’m going to wheel your bed onto a ward now, to prep you for surgery.”

“SURGERY?!”

But it was too late. Before Jackie had even heard Julia, she was already on a ward full of patients. 

On the bed next to hers lay a young sweet man, drinking a strange milky red substance. He turned to face her and was immediately taken aback.

“Oh... I hope you don’t mind me saying but... you’re extraordinarily beautiful. I’m Tom, by the way.”

Without warning, a screen popped in front of Julia that read “Say ‘hi’ to Tom for 30 diamonds or tell him you don’t like talking to people for free.”

Julia wanted to say “hi.” Tom seemed a friendly enough guy, but she knew she had to be careful with her diamonds and reluctantly told him she doesn’t like talking to people. 

Instead of a dejected face, which Julia expected, Tom seemed eerily ok with the exchange and a nurse quickly came to wheel his bed out into another room.

Just as Tom was brought out, two more bed were pushed in to either side of Julia. She waited a moment, curious to see if talking to her new companions represented another diamond choice before looking to her left to see a beautiful woman clothed in white silk with blood red eyes and dark skin and hair.

“Excuse me, I don’t know if this is allowed but…”

“Oh, it’s allowed. You may talk to me as much as you please, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up about us doing anything more if I were you. I’m Priya, and I can tell you that even if you spend every single diamond you have, I’ll never be your love interest. Sure, there will be options for us to flirt, but don’t get too excited or else, Adrian or some other forced male will swoop in to stop you from being able to make your own choices. You’d have better luck with your neighbor to the right.”

Julia turned away, discouraged. But even more, once she saw the man next to her. He appeared to sweat grease out of his pores, had a reddish hue to his face, but more of an “I’m constantly angry” red as opposed to an “I get a lot of sun” look. He had a badge on his chest that read “Walsh.” Julia turned back to Priya.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

The vampire shrugged. “I don’t make the rules, I just follow them. Do you really think I’d be attracted to the likes of Gaius Augustine?” Priya gagged. “All I can say is that I’m glad fic writers exist or else I’d never get any proper action.”

Julia watched Priya carefully, a feeling of confusion washing over her.

"What on earth is going on?"

Before anyone could answer, Julia found herself sat in the hospital canteen. On one side of her sat the man from earlier, Tom, sipping away at his strange tomato milkshake. On the other side of her sat a pensive looking man with a hat on. 

Opposite the trio sat two more people- a handsome man holding a large sword (where the hell was security in this place?!) and a stunning young woman with purple hair and glasses.

"So... can I speak without paying diamonds or...?"

Tom chuckled. 

"Sure you can. Well, to some of us at least. By the way, this is my buddy Noah", he said, giving a nod to the quiet man on the other side of her. 

"And this guy here is Jax. He likes to cook and slash things with his sword."

Jax gave an eye roll. 

"You can talk to any of us for free. But next to Jax is Lily. It'll be 17 diamonds upfront if you want to converse with her."

Julia exhaled in frustration. 

"But I only have 21, and you can't do anything with 3 diamonds!"

Tom shrugged.

"I don't make the rules." 

"Okay, fine. I'll pay the diamonds. Where do I pay exactly?"

Without warning, a screen above Julia's head appeared and subtracted the 17 diamonds. 

"Hey girl, I'm Lily", the woman opposite her smiled. 

"Okay cool. So, now that I can talk to all of you, I wanted to ask what the hell is going on?!"

"What do you mean?", Tom asked, sipping away at his thick, red milkshake. He slid a bottle of the goop over to Julia, which she took hold of absentmindedly without drinking. 

"Well, I was just in the woods, then I tripped. And this surgeon Bryce found me. But he got all weird and dramatic, and said I needed surgery. But I'm not even that hurt! What's happening?!"

All of a sudden, the entire canteen froze in place. A white screen popped up above Julia's head. It read: "What could Bryce possibly want with you? Find out in the next chapter of "She Trips In The Woods: Open Wound." 

Julia reached up to the white screen and touched the tick. She was immediately rewarded with 2 diamonds, before another screen popped up. It read: "Watch ad to gain reward". 

"Might as well", Julia thought with a shrug as she ticked the box. 

For the next 45 seconds, Julia sat and watched an extremely boring advert for Homescapes. She drummed her fingers atop the canteen table waiting eagerly for it to end. When it was finally over, she reached up and pressed the "tick". 

"Sorry. Reward could not be collected. Try again later."

With an irritable groan, Julia found herself taken to another screen. This time, her own story popped up before her. 

"The next chapter", she gasped with excitement. She hit to play the next instalment, only for ANOTHER screen to pop up. (Seriously, what the hell is up with all these screens?!)

It read: "To buy a key, pay $1.99 or wait 1hr 58m for your next key."

"Oh my god, what the fu-"

***

Julia sat up and looked around. She was safe and sound in her bed. She glanced at her phone and it was only 3am. She sighed with relief before chuckling to herself. 

Madison laughs, hopping onto the counter dragging her fingers along the smooth marble. “I was bored,” She admits, “And spending time with you makes me happy!” She takes her red solo cup off the table throwing back the last of her drink, before turning towards the frat boys with a sweet smile handing off her cup to them to throw away. Becca feels a ping of jealousy in her chest, prying her eyes away from the flirty smile and the batting of Madison’s lashes at the frat boys, it’s bad enough she had a crush on her in the first place, must she flaunt herself to guys in front of her. Becca groans stepping away from the counter pulling open the fridge doors finding her hidden chocolate bar in the butter drawer.

She tears open the wrapper closing the door behind her heading towards the back door of the Kappa house, sliding out into the cool night air disappearing from the party towards the bench swing towards the end of the property. She settles into the seat thinking to herself as she watches the stars shoot across the word settling on the shooting star.

“I wish Madison liked me back..” She says softly, her voice vulnerable and weak as she glances over her shoulder to make sure no one followed her or was watching her. Using one foot she pushes on the ground to start rocking the chair, taking a bite of her candy bar.

“Have you seen Becca?” Madison whispers in Chris’ ear, getting a few looks from passersby. Her hands resting on her shoulder for support as he whispers back to her.

“No, I think Logan said last he saw she was slipping out the back door, why?”

“No reason, silly!” She boops him on the nose, before pushing off of his shoulder walking towards the backdoor. A spring in her step as she grabs two cups on the way out of a frat boy’s hands giving them a sweet encouraging smile. He smiles back before stepping out of the way, a hand running through her raven black hair.

Madison makes her way outside, shivering to herself as the cold of the night blows against her. “Becca!” She starts to walk towards the patio holding the bench swing, knowing it’s Becca’s favorite place to think or be alone. She bounds up the steps, her heels clicking every step of the way before sliding up to the swinging bench where Becca sits reading a book under the light of the streetlight. “Becca! I brought you a drink, Chris said you were out here.”

“Madison, I’m out here to be alone,” Becca replies, placing her bookmark into the book. She turns her head to look at her, “Can you leave me alone?” She asks, Madison looks in thought for a moment before summoning a smile to her cherry red lips.

“Of course!” She hands the drink to Becca, “I love to be alone too. We can be alone together.” Madison walks around the length of the swing bench before taking her seat right beside Becca, bringing her cup to her lips taking a sip. “It’s nice to be alone, you can think.”

“What do you even have to think about?” Becca asks absently, as she closes her book. “Also, by alone I meant by myself, you being here defeats the purpose.” Becca drags her fingers over the cover the book in her hands and Madison looks down catching the title. Introduction to Law Studies. Becca quickly tucks the book next to her out of Madison’s sight.

“Why would you want to be alone when you can spend time with me?” Madison asks earning a blush from Becca that she hides digging her face into her knees, Madison leans forward placing the cup onto the ground before turning her attention back to Becca, settling her legs under her body. “I think about a lot of things. The earth, you, home, Logan sometimes.”

“Are you still seeing Logan?” Madison couldn’t define the way her voice came across, almost relieved? But not relieved at the same time, she pushes her lips together in a pout before fixing a smile to her face. “Shouldn’t you be with him, right now?”

“I don’t need Logan, I’m here with you Becca!” Madison snuggles up to Becca, wrapping her arms around Becca’s slender form, leaning her head against Becca’s enjoying the warmth of Becca’s body against her own in the coolness of the night. “This would be a perfect date, huh?”

“What?!” Becca nearly chokes over her words shooting her gaze to Madison. “What did you just say?”

“A perfect date?” Madison’s forehead wrinkles with confusion, as she cocks her head to the side moving her hand to Becca’s cheeks that are burning red under the light of the stars and moon. “Are you feeling okay? You’re really warm and acting weird.”

Becca bats away Madison’s hand grabbing the drink Madison gave her and taking a long drink of it. Madison watches her with concern, her eyebrows raised as she scoots away from Becca her hands falling on her knees as she looks down from her.

“Are we okay Becca?”

“I...I don’t know Madison. I have to tell you something,” Becca takes a deep breath. “I think I’m in love with you.” Her mouth falls shut and silence follows her declaration, Madison’s face lighting up in shock and Becca’s with a shame she’s never felt before wrapping her arms around her body. The stare at one another, Becca’s eyes filling with tears that she dares not to let spill from her eyes. “I’m sorry I had to tell you, it’s been eating me alive. Fuck.” She growls to herself, running the back of her hand against her eye.

“I don’t know what to say, Becca, you’re my best friend,” Madison whispers.

“I know.”

“How long have you liked me?”

Becca recoils from the question, her mind thinking back to the day she met Madison. She remembered being moved into the dorm room that her family’s money let her pick out hoping to god her roommate wouldn’t suck and two seconds later the door opens and Madison steps in carrying a large stuffed elephant, a gift from her mother when she was a kid, Madison could never live without it. She remembers the nervous laugh Madison had when she explained about the elephant and placed it neatly on her bed, patting the top of its head. She remembered when Madison’s parents left and she cried saying goodbye and so did she, she wondered why her family didn’t care. Alexis didn’t seem bothered, her mom told her she was proud of her, and her dad said don’t blow through the money he gave her.

She remembered that night when Madison laid in bed crying, her sniffling kept Becca up before Becca finally snapped and asked her what was wrong, she remembered Madison crawling into her bed with the elephant and snuggling up to Becca and the two girls spent their first night in a dorm sharing a bed cuddling an elephant.  She knew from that moment, that she had a crush on Madison. Two years of hiding it finally caught up to Becca’s repressed emotions.

“Since the night we laid in my bed cuddling Mr. Topsy,” Becca whispers.

“That’s a long time.” Madison states.

“Do you hate me?”  Becca asks.

“Never.” Madison shakes her head, “I could never hate you. Becca, look.” She grabbed both of Becca’s cheeks in her hands forcing her to look at her, the pair pause for only a moment before something came over the both of them, Madison’s lips found Becca’s the two sharing a long kiss, Becca’s hand falls onto Madison’s back.

“BECCA! Someone Darrien smashed our TV! Get your dad on the phone we have to sue him for property damage since he’s refusing to pay for it.” Claire’s voice broke Madison and Becca apart as they awkwardly step away from one another.

“WAIT, BECCA! I’LL PAY FOR IT! DON’T CALL YOUR DAD! PLEASE.”

“I need to deal with this.” Madison nods in response to Becca’s statement. “But, we should talk tomorrow when we haven’t been drinking.” She stuffs her hands into the pockets of her black jeans, her eyes on the floor before finally meeting Madison’s eyes, a hidden emotion behind her gaze fills her heart with hope for the both of them as she flicks her tongue over her lips. “If you want to.”