“No thank you,” he nodded and sat down on a log about a foot away just watching me wash the clothes in the stream.

“How are you?” Jacob asks softly, his fingers twirling a piece of wood in his hand.

“Fine and you?”

“Good,”

“Good,” I respond not really up for conversation. Jacob sat there unsure of how to act so we just stayed in each others company listening to the birds in the trees and the rush of the stream.

“Um…do you like it here?”

“Its fine,” what more does this guy want I really don’t want to talk.

“My brother never liked it here,” and this matters to me how, I think as he twists his fingers together nervously, “Him and Spencer were close…”

Okay so he has my interest peeked, side glancing him trying to make my self seem unaffected by just the mention of her name, “Really?”

“Thought you might like that,” he chuckled earning a glare, “Sorry but…you really like her don’t you.” I didn’t say anything, he’s right I really really really like her but I’m afraid if I say it out loud Jacob would run and tell the villagers and I’d be strung up in a tree by early evening, “Don’t worry I’m not like Glen and his friends…I don’t mind.”

A breathy sigh escapes my mouth, “Why not?”

“Why not what?”

“Why aren’t you like Glen?”

“Not every one shares his views, after everything this world and our village has gone threw, I don’t see what’s so wrong with Spencer loving some one that isn’t a male.”

“Glad to hear,” a laugh escapes my throat but more from nervous than actually finding what he said funny.

“She’s okay you know,” locking eyes with him trying to find out what he meant by that.

“You’ve seen her?”

“Well no, but she does this a lot. She always comes back,”

I sat next to him so close our shoulders touching, “I just miss her…why hasn’t she come to see me or talk to me,”

“It’s nothing personal…okay maybe on your part it is,”

“What?”

“She likes you a lot Ashley”

“She does?”

Jacob nudged my shoulder, “Yes she does and it scares her I’m sure of it. Just give her time, she’ll show up.”

“Thank you” grabbing him in a big bear hug letting as much emotion into it as I could. With a silent nod of your welcome he disappeared into the forest again while I continued my thinking of Spencer while doing the laundry.

When I finished I packed up the wet clothes into the basket and headed back into town, eyes cast down in deep thought until I hit the path. Looking up I saw her, arguing with Madison at the end of the path up by her tent. A smile glued to my face I can’t help it, “Spencer!” I screamed out, she glanced at me a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips before it disappeared and she turned to leave, Madison grabbed her arm and said something hushed while my feet began to run hoping I’d get here before she left but she yanked away from Madison said something and ran into the forest before I got close enough to be able to chase her.

Madison stared at me sadly, “Finish washing the clothes,” she asked as if Spencer had never been here in the first place.

“What was that about, why did she leave again?”

“It was nothing you need to worry about Ashley, come on let’s hang those up to dry.” She took the basket from my hands.

“No Madison please tell me?” I begged.

“Just drop it okay,” she told me rather harsh before continuing to the close line that hung over a fire to help the drying process making all the clothes smell slightly roasted. Sighing I knew she wouldn’t tell me so I just followed her down there. One day I was going to catch Spencer off guard and give her a piece of my mind, she can not stay away from me forever.  I won’t allow it.

TBC.