Young Writers Society

James asked her again about the note, but Evaline fully expected this. They had to redo this whole conversation again, and although she had gone through a nervous breakdown the first time, she was now more prepared to avoid another one.

She didn't know if this was a loss or a gain. She felt like their trust levels had accelerated to a new stage, but how was she going to replicate that? Part of her wanted to buckle down and tell him everything, but she didn't want to do that. Not yet.

A sigh left her lips as she followed closely behind. "I've had it the whole time," she said softly. "I was going to tell you, but it hadn't come up yet. I'm sorry."

James nodded, and listened. There was a small pause before he replied.

“I forgive you. And it’s okay. When we first met, I didn’t even know you were from another world, and I can see why you might not bring it up right away. It’s not everyday you wake up on another world with a poem that tells you to be vulnerable or never go home again. Which, as good as it is to do that, no one should be forced some magical being or whatever - I have no idea what it is that brought you here - but it’s unreasonable.”

He paused, realizing maybe he’d said too much. It didn’t really matter how he felt about it. It wasn’t even about him.

He looked back at Eve, with his eyebrows drawn together in a look of compassion.

“I... I’m sure it’s even weirder for you,” he said quietly. “But I don’t want to assume.”

Evaline let out a small smile, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before looking back at the steps directly in front of her. Last time, she was so in over her head that she didn't really get to listen to what James was saying. It felt nice to listen to him ramble some compassionate words of advice.

"No, you're right. It is weird," she said, pausing just a moment before saying anything more.

"I'm working on it, though."

James watched Evaline out of the corner of his eyes, catching a glimpse of her smile.

"That's okay."

He was glad - that she didn't seem to be in a rush.

"The note only said what to do, but it never said right away. We've got time."

"Right," Evaline said solemnly. "We do."

She could already feel the pent up anxiety bubbling back to the surface.

She did have time. Plenty of time.

But how much is too much time?

James seemed serious when he previously said that she could travel with him potentially forever if it came to that, but at what cost? How much was she changing his future? How many more times will they have a close call because she slowed him down? How many more times will he have to suffer? How many more times will she have to suffer?

More importantly, how could she open up? Was it really that simple—just talk things out? Where does she even begin? What was she supposed to talk about?

And home. Was she really in a hurry to go home? Is time behaving the same way here as it is over there—so right now, she isn't anywhere to be found?

Even if that is the case, would she still be in a rush to go home?

So many questions swirled in her head, and it seemed obvious to her that she should stop and talk things out as the first step to 'open her heart' or whatever.

But not yet. She had to at least be a little strategic about this.

Instead, Evaline looked straight ahead, gritting her teeth and looking intensely focused.

James let the conversation fall into silence as they walked.

He noticed her hardened expression but didn't say anything. He had only known Evaline for a few days, and he didn't know if she was the type of person who needed a nudge, a push, or just a lot of space and time to move forward, but he was inclined towards the latter at the moment.

Eventually, they found themselves back at the water's edge, walking parallel to the river for a bit before James stopped and Elliot lap up the rushing water and rehydrate.

He looked up at the sun through the trees. It was early in the afternoon. They could still cover a good distance before they stopped for the night again.

Evaline bent over the river, dipping her hand in to feel the water rush through her fingers. This water's current always seemed to know where it was going, and nothing seemed to get in its way. She couldn't help but feel envious of it.

Right now, she felt a lot like a river with an obstructed path. Water rushes along a river bank with a clear path to follow, but something—or maybe someone—is obstructing it. The water pools by the obstacle, and at first it's okay; it's just deeper water, after all. But as time goes on, the water level will eventually surpass her height, drowning her. Or if it doesn't drown her, the water will eventually break down the obstacle, causing a catastrophe that will eventually, with time, return to the status flow of the original path.

How was she supposed to confess her vulnerabilities if she didn't even know what they were?

The answer was murky and dark, like she was already drowning.

Evaline was glad that fate brought her to James. But now that she knew that the note was only meant for herself, she was now not entirely sure if it was fate or just a coincidence that they found each other. She'd like to think it was fate.

She drew little circles in the water with her fingers, eyebrows furrowed in thought as she tried to think of the right words to say right now.

"Hey. Thanks for... well, everything," she said, remembering that she'd have to repeat her gratitude. "For letting me travel with you. For sharing your food and supplies. Even paying for my clothes." She pulled her hand back and looked off to his side to offer a small smile. "I really do appreciate it."

James patted Elliot's side and looked over to Evaline. He didn't quite smile back, but his expression softened, and he nodded.

"You're welcome."

Evaline turned her gaze back towards the water, letting the comfortable silence sit between them. She tried to find some more words to say, but nothing came to mind.

Two hours passed and they gained more miles on foot. Just to make sure they had more distance from Butch, Evaline suggested that they ride Elliot for a few more miles. James didn't think it was necessary as they weren't in immediate danger and Elliot was still tired, but he did give her a quick riding second lesson, although she didn't really do anything herself. He basically taught her how to better balance herself on a horse, which was still good to know since it was such a disaster the first time.

Nothing else came to mind as they continued to trek through the woods for the remainder of the day.

And nothing still came to mind as they made camp and took turns sleeping.

James took the first shift to stay up, and although Evaline tried to sleep, she had a restless night. After he woke her up to take the next shift, she spent the entire time wondering what her plan was, if she even had any. For once in her life, she felt like she had no idea what the future held for her. The directions given to go back to Earth seemed simple enough out loud, but in reality, she had no idea what to say or what to do.

James must have really been serious when he said she could take her time to open up, because he was no longer asking her personal questions. Although she would normally be relieved of this, things were different now, especially since he already knew that she wasn't from Nye. She couldn't help but feel disappointed that he wasn't asking her questions to fuel the conversation.

Morning came and went, and they traveled by foot again. Like yesterday, things were fairly uneventful. They chatted a bit when a conversation topic arrived, which happened to be more nature-related most of the time, like James explaining which berries were poisonous when they foraged, or James warning her that there was a snake ahead on the path. But some silly frivolous things happened as well, like James having to help her pick the invisible splinters she got from carrying firewood, and James telling her to look closely in the shallow river for a small swimming fish, only to splash water on her face when she leaned in close to concentrate.

Although the incident with Butch happened just yesterday, Evaline was already starting to relax and gently fade away the perpetual anxiety. Maybe it was actually a good thing James was giving her space and time to process things. It was starting to feel more and more like she was his travel companion rather than some alien misfit who didn't know how to get home.

The both of them continued to follow the river, and it was rather nice to see with the sun setting and reflecting off the water. Only the sound of rushing water and Elliot's clops were heard, but as they continued to walk, a constant stream of white noise echoed in her ears.

It sounded suspicious at first, and although it became louder and louder the more they walked, James didn't seem at all bothered, so it must have been okay... Right?

Evaline tried not to make a big deal out of it, and she didn't want to break the long silence to potentially ask yet again a stupid question, so she kept her guard up while peering ahead of him due to the faintest hint of curiosity fluttering in her chest.

And when she saw it, all the anxiety melted away.

A waterfall. At least, she was sure that was what it was. She had only seen waterfalls in old paintings, and this was the spitting image of it, but even better. The water cascaded from the flat edge of a low cliff and into the mouth of the river, with the impacting causing the air to be misty and glowing at the end of the sky's golden hour. The water at the end of the waterfall seemed somewhat shallow as it wound its way across eroded flat rocks and small mountains of rounded rocks, flowing faster and growing deeper as it rushed into the river they have been following the past two days.

They weren't close to the waterfall as she would like to be, and although she had stopped walking to stare at it in awe, James didn't seem to give it the same attention she had.

"James," she called, briskly catching up to him until she was by his side. "Let's stop by here. Just for a second?"

But she didn't exactly wait for his permission as she trekked on ahead, eyes shining with wonder.

James paused, and then followed behind Eve with a small smile. The sun was already setting, and they would have to make camp soon, so he had no objections. They could afford to let her enjoy the beauty of the waterfall for the night, in the few moments before darkness fell.

He let her hurry ahead as he started scanning the area for a place to rest by the water. There was a bed of grass, mostly clear of twigs and rocks that would be suitable.

He found a tree in the vicinity to tie Elliot to and started working to build a fire pit while Eve looked around.

It was even more beautiful up close.

And noisy.

The waterfall torrented from above and crashed into the water with a steady boom of white noise. It was just the right size that it wouldn't hurt if she were to stand underneath it, and that was when it occurred to her: she could use a shower. Like, an actual shower with pressurized water. What better way to do this than nature's very own waterfall?

She looked back and saw James tucked away behind some trees. "I'm getting in the water!" she said loudly in his direction, but she had no idea if he could even hear her while she stood so close to the roaring waterfall.

Being impatient while also trying to respect his boundaries, she hid behind some rocks to quickly undress before jumping in the water to wash away the accumulated dirt and sweat from the past several days.

While Eve left to go jump in the water, James kept himself busy.

First, he started a fire. And then he brushed Elliot down, and took off his saddle, to give him a break. Once Elliot was cared for and by the water, where he could drink up to his heart's desire, James finally took the time to care for himself.

He washed up by the riverside, scrubbing away dirt and grime, and then sat by the fire as he re-wrapped his wounds.

The whole time he didn't even glance in the direction of the waterfall and let Eve have her privacy, and some time alone.

When he finished rewrapping his wounds, he went to the river to wash out the old ones. Slowly, rubbing them between his hands, and using his small bar of soap to make sure they were sanitized.

Evaline sat at the end of the bone chilling waterfall, letting the water hit her back. It had been, what, a week since she appeared in this world? It felt nice to wash up with actual pressurized water, although she didn't know how often this will happen, especially since she was convinced that at this point James was a wilderness man who permanently smelled of nature.

She tilted her head back and combed through her hair with her fingers, letting the water wash away the grime on her face and hair. She thought about asking James if he had soap she could use, but he did say he didn't have much money, and the water was clear anyways, so she didn't want to burden him some more.

Her hair was a tangled mess, but luckily the water could straighten it out a bit -- for now, anyways. Maybe she should cut it so it's shorter and easier to take care of. Long hair plus living outside does not make a good combination. But would her hair be short when she returned to Earth? The others would think she had gone insane if she woke up with short choppy hair. Wait, why was she even thinking about cutting her hair? She wouldn't be in Nye that much longer, right?

The water was numbing her skin, so she quickly rinsed out any remaining grime on her body and sat on a flat rock, wringing her hair out and trying not to shiver. It may have been cold, but it was strangely relaxing to feel the shocking iciness.

Once dry, Evaline tied her hair up into a bun and slipped back into her clothes. James had set up a fire nearby but he was currently further down the river washing some things. She noticed that he didn't glance at her the entire time, and although she had different boundaries than he did and wouldn't have minded, she found it weirdly sweet.

When ready, she headed towards the fire he made, sitting in front of it to absorb its heat.

James returned to the fire, where he found Evaline warming up again, clean and clothed. He sat across the fire from her and let out a deep sigh as he leaned back, trying to find the most comfortable position by shifting his shoulders and lower back ever so slightly.

"Feel better?" he asked.

Evaline nodded, leaning back with her hands set on the ground behind her. "I've only seen waterfalls in picture," she said, her gaze falling back to the waterfall area. "I'm glad we came here."

She paused then looked back at James, noticing that he also freshened up. "Maybe you should consider taking a dip too. It might help with your wounds."

She was eyeing the bandages near his chest, but she was really picturing the burned 'B' on his back.