Young Writers Society

"I'm ALIVE!" reached Colt's ears. He instantly took off in that direction. As he passed a cave he heard a soft whimpering echoed out.

"Pippa?" he asked into the cave.

A soft gasp. He went inside.

"Pip?"

"Go away!"

"I can't do that, it's torture being away from you. Especially out here, I'd go completely mad with worry."

"Please, just leave me alone!" She cried.

"No, Pippa I love you. At first it was just a bet and all, but I would take it all back if I could." He said.

"That's likely." SHe replied pulling her knees closer to her chest.

"It's the truth!" He said. "I swear it is."

"I'm not a bet, what was I worth, $20?" She said tears slipping from her eyes.

Colt looked at his shoes, "a bit more than that..."

"How much?"

Colt couldn't understand her obsession with it but he answered anyways. "Over a hundred..."

"A hundred? You have that much money to just bet?"

"Against Brent, yes...Pippa, let me make it up to you! Words cannot describe how sorry I am about all of this. Let me prove it to you. Please."

Pippa stood up, "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. Goodbye Colt." She walked past him, out of the cave, and disappeared from sight. Leaving Colt, shaking and having trouble breathing. He couldn't remember when this had happened, when had she become a necessity? He wanted her more than anything, but not until now had he realized that he actually needed her.

Pippa slipped into one of the stalls and took a deep breath as she sat down. "Did I just screw up?" She whimpered. She rocked back and forth as tears rolled down her face.

"Hey, Pip girl, Where are you?" She heard a deep voice call.

"DADDY!" She gasped jumping out of the stall and hurdling down the aisle towards her father who had his arms streched out. She leaped up into his arms and burried her face in his neck.

"Whats wrong, sweetie?" He cooed rubbing her back.

**He is only back for a week or so. **