Oak down High

"Awesome," Joe smiled humbly, then started walking. This time, instead of over-exaggeratively swinging his arm up and down, he just let it sway slowly and subtly, back and forth. He faced ahead, but couldn't help but look over at her every so often.
"I'm really lucky." He said after a few moments, looking ahead. His eyes looked distant. "You know, to be with you... Thanks for everything." His gaze returned to her after a few short moments, and a smile came upon his face. He only hoped that she'd been feeling the same way

I laughed and walked on towards the forest, looking over at him as I felt eyes on me. Then I was curious as to why he was thanking me and listened closely. I felt a faint blush fill my cheeks and looked down, pursing my lips thinking about what to reply. "Well, don't think you're the only lucky one." I then said and looked up meeting his gaze. Not noticing the small camouflaged root that stuck out of the pine needles my foot caught in it and before I could get a better grasp on Shane's hand to help me balance, my hand was torn from his and I was falling towards the ground, I clamped my eyes shut and landed face first in the pointy needles. I could hardly control a small yelp that released itself and pushed myself to my knees. Then I looked back and glared at the innocent looking object. "Stupid little.." I muttered and calmed myself a little, I pulled my knees up to my chest and saw that all I had was a little scrape, Pssh, that was nothing. I laughed a little and began pushing myself to my feet.

Joe had smiled at her remark, and he wandered aimlessly... His gaze became distant once again, and he stared up at the tops of the trees.
He was slapped back into consciousness by feeling Pepper's hand rip away from his, and before he could remember how to use his arms, she'd fallen to the ground.
"OHMIGOSHI'MSOSORRY!" His voice slurred as he spoke too fast for his tongue, and he fell to his knees on the dirt to help her back up. "Sorry!" He yelped again, then tried helping her to her feet. His eyes were wide, alarmed.. But thankful that all she had was a little scrape.
"Does it hurt? You we need to run back?" He asked quickly, without giving her much of a chance to answer to anything he said.

I heard his immediate response to the whole situation and looked up at his shocked, sorry face. I smiled a little and giggled. "It's okayyy. Shane! Calm down! I'm fine! Nooo We don't have to run back, I'm fine trust me!" I laughed and reached up to touch his cheek with a raised eyebrow, a half smile pulled on my face and I felt like giggling again. "I'm okaay!" I said again exaggerating the a and smiling again. I withdrew my hand and brushed off my knee standing up and reaching down to him and smiling. My knee stung, but I just ignored it, I would clean it when I got back to the dorms.

"Are you sure?" Shane clarified, keeping a hand on her arm as she stood up. His eyebrows tilted up, and his face showed a little less shock, a little less concern... But it was still there. Though it was't bound to last for very long.
"Sorry, I freaked... It wasn't my fault, was it? What did you trip on?" He started glancing around the ground, trying to see anything that might've made her fall...

"Positive. No problem. A little stinging but I'm fine!" I said and smiled. "It was not your fault!" I clarified with a small laugh. I watched as he looked around for the object that caused me to trip. "I tried over that stupid root." I said pointing to it and glaring again with a laugh. Then I shrugged. "All good though." I said.

"Okay," Joe breathed, then all of the concern wiped off his face. His usual bright-eyed, grinning face returned. "Well then, remind me to teach that root a lesson later.." He joked, offering his hand to hold her's once again. [Short.]

I laughed. "Will do!" I looked around as if to memorize the area we were standing in then I took his hand. "Anyways, thanks for worrying..." I shrugged and smiled. I took a step forward and tugged his hand playfully, taking another step. "Heyy, are you coming or do you just wanna stand there?" I giggled and looked up at him.

"I'm coming," SHANESHANESHANESHANESHANESHAANNNEEEEEEEUHHH grinned and started walking along side her, subtly swinging his arm once again. He looked over at her, and couldn't help but smile wider. "So, what you said before..." He paused briefly. "You really think that you're lucky, too?" He asked with a weak smile, looking away for a few seconds. But he returned his gaze to her face quickly.

(SHANESHANESHANESHANESHANESHANE LOL)

I smiled and added a little to his subtle swinging smiling as I did. I breathed in deeply as the smell of lush moss, and pine reached my nose, and the distant singing of birds reached my ears. The forest was a wonderful place, I don't care what anyone says, I love it, and if I could I'd live in a homey cottage right in the center of a huge forest, away from everything.. Well maybe not that far from everything, I still need shopping centers and Starbucks, all that good stuff. I then heard Shane's voice rang in my head and I was jerked from my pleasant little thoughts, I smiled up at him and listened. "Pfft!" I laughed lightly as he looked embarrassed when asking me if I really thought I was lucky. "Of course!!" I said and squeezed his hand a little tighter, smiling more brightly now. "Why would I say it if I wasn't?" I asked with a small smirk and giggled.

Shane smiled and glanced away again for a few moments, just to hide looking flattered. "I don't know," He looked at her again, warmness showing in his eyes. "You're polite. How do I know you're not just humoring me?" He teased, hoping she knew he was just joking.
Their feet crunched faintly on the leaves and dried dirt... They were getting closer to campus, the time blew by way too fast for Shane.

I scoffed playfully. "I would never do that! And you know it Shane Grey!" I stated matter-of-factly and poked his side. A smile pulling at the corner of my lips and gave way for a half smile. I leaned up quickly in mid step planting a small kiss on his cheek, then looked away blushing a bit, I would never not blush.. Even if it was the most normal thing ever. I would still blush.

Shane waited until after she'd pecked him on the cheek. "Yeah, I know." He bashfully said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips in return. He tucked his free hand in his jean pockets and exhaled softly, wishing this moment wouldn't ever end. I mean, it didn't get more perfect... A beautiful girl who he loved, just so happened to love him in return. Her hand in his... He could swear it felt like a movie. A fluffy romantic scene of a couple walking through the dimly-lit forest together, holding hands. He couldn't recall the girl tripping over an ugly root being in any movie, but hey. Stuff happens.

I laughed gently, and as I realized he'd came down for a quick kiss on the lips I returned it then he pulled away and I smiled. I let out a contented sigh, I swear this was more and more like a movie every second. I giggled lightly and saw something shining in the leaves, I tilted my head in question and looked at Shane. "Hey do you see that?" I asked, slowly, reluctantly releasing his hand and crouching down to reach for the shiny object.

Shane tilted his head a little to the left, squinting his eyes to see it better. "Uhm. Yeah." He said, watching as she crouched down to retrieve the object. His mind was elsewhere, but he still never took his eyes off of the odd shiny object.

I reached my hand over and touched it, it was cold and dirty, I picked it up with my thumb and pointer finger. I held it gently in the air, it was a silver necklace, a heart locket to be exact, with tiny intricate little swirlies decorating the outside. The chain was the thinest most delicate chain you'd ever seen. Truth be told it was quite beautiful, simple, but beautiful. I automatically reached my other hand to it and easily fit my two thumbnails in the small crack on the side, carefully pulling it open. Inside it was engraved. 'To my love...' And had nothing else in it. I stood up straight and looked around. Wondering who had lost it. I then voiced my thoughts. "I wonder who's it is..." I murmured and held it out for him to see.

Shane sucked in a deep breath, watching silently as she picked up the delicate piece of jewelry and examined it in her hands. "Lemmi' see." He said in a quiet voice as she held it out to him. He put his face closer to it and used his right hand, holding up the locket with two fingers, while still leaving the chain in Pepper's hand.
He rubbed some soil off it with his fingertips, then pulled it open again, reading the engraved words. "To my love...?" He said out loud, placing it gently back in her hand, then standing up straight again. "I dunno," He shrugged and tucked his hands back in his jean pockets. His eyes shifted from the locket, to Pepper. "Looks like it was done for some time... Whoever lost it is probably long gone." He stated, but then shrugged again. ".. But I could be wrong." He grinned. He usually was.

I watched as he examined it, waiting for him to say something, then he finally did. I nodded absently and examined it again, gently rubbing dirt off with my fingertips, it was soon nice and shiny once I used the corner of my sweatshirt to shine it up a bit. "Well.. I'm not going to leave it here... if anyone at school mentions it, or there's an add in the paper or something." I shrugged. Slowly I passed it from one hand to another and looked back at Shane. I reached over and clasped his hand in mine. "Well, we'll soon see." I added and smiled.

Joe watched her, then smiled as she spoke a second time. "Guess we will," He promptly replied to her, flashing a eye-to-eye smile. He tightened his grasp on her hand just a little bit, then started walking again, playfully tugging her along with him. "Watch out for roots," He lightly teased her, looking back with a smirk.

I smiled and let him tug me along through the forest hearing his comment I pretended to sound offended and gasped lightly. "I'm not THAT clumsy!" I said and came up behind him, I released his hand and ran jumping up slightly and clamping my legs around his back and my arms hung over his shoulders and clasped loosely around his neck. I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulder. "Now you must piggy back me all the way back.." I said half seriously and giggled.

Shane laughed, 'huffing' loudly as she hoisted herself up onto his back. "Oh really? If this is punishment, maybe I should call you clumsy more often." He joked, placing his hands over her lower legs to ensure she wouldn't fall off. He repositioned his weight and stood up straighter, turning his head slightly to look at Pepper. "Ready?" He asked in a daring tone.

I laughed lightly and tickled his neck with my fingertips then smiled over at him. "Don't you dare!" I said playfully, I really didn't care if he called me lazy, I just felt like getting a piggy back ride. I automatically nodded when he asked me if I was ready, "Yep!" I laughed and smiled at him. (shortness xD)

"Sure, sure." Shane smirked, tightening his grasp on her feet just slightly. He pushed his toe down into the soft soil slightly, twisting it as if he were killing a bug, or getting gum off of his shoe. Once a small indentation was made in the dirt, enough to get a good footing to start running.
So he kicked out of the sturdy footing, starting in long strides across the forest floor. He had perfect footing with every step, perfect balance, though he went faster than any car could go. While weaving trees and dodging large rocks, he glanced up at Pepper. "You okay?" He asked with a grin, having to speak loudly over the wind that rushed past them.
[Fail. Little muse. :p]

I laughed, I knew he was going to run, I just knew it. I laughed lightly and enjoyed the breeze as we made our way through the forest. He was lucky to have the speed power. It was so fun to be able to go faster than cars and all. I smiled and watched the forest floor fly by. Soon he looked over at me and asked if I was okay. I nodded enthusiastically and smiled. "Yes!" I said. (Ahhhggg my muse is low on this too! xD)

Shane turned to face in front of him again without saying another word, but a grin was still stretched across his face. Deciding just to have a little fun, and to see if he could scare Pepper any... He ran to where seven trees were placed almost evenly apart, in a line.
He started at the first and sharply turned in, going slightly faster as he began to weave between all of the trees. He looked at Pepper without turning his head, then looked forward again as he left the trees behind. Soon, he could see the open section of cut grass... It was the far end of the Campus property. Once he'd gotten out of the forest, he slid to a stop. His shoes left two long skids in the grass, right down to the soft mud underneath it.