To the Edge of the Forbidden Forest

Mikey kept up with Lillian, but his steps felt heavier than normal. He put his hands deep into the pockets of his robes, not because it was cold all though it was cold but because his fingers had annoying habit of fidgeting when he got nervous. He looked over at her, watching the way she walked with her head high and her shoulders set like she was trying to pretend the world wasn’t full of shadows and unknown noises. He had to admit, it was a good act.

But if Mikey had learned anything from books and he had learned a few things it was that when someone’s too determined not to show fear, they’re usually feeling it the most. And if he was being honest, he felt it too. Still, he wasn’t about to say that. Not now. Not when she was storming ahead like some kind of Gryffindor on a mission. He took a deep breath, as if he could pull in a little of her fire just by breathing the same air.

“So... do you do this a lot?” he asked, like he was trying to make a joke out of the whole thing. “You know, dare people into sneaking into the forest and definitely breaking the rules?” Mikey’s grin was small, just the tired kind of amusement that came when you knew you were about to do something that didn’t make any sense, but you were too far in to stop. His voice trailed off into a chuckle, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

^{@Ellie Randensmith}
@Mikey Forville
If Lillian was being honest with herself, she was getting feeling more scared and more worried, the closer she got to the forest. So her anger was slowly going away.
I wonder how skilled Mikey is at casting spells, she found herself thinking. Hopefully he is pretty good, if we run into some dark creatures.
Lillian then glanced at him, almost asked him her question. Then she realized just in time that she was angry with him and it was too late to apologize, or even to be friends. A small part of her wished that she liked Mikey better, because it would be better to do something dangerous with a friend than someone she didn't like. Misery loves company after all, though the saying should be changed to good company.
“So... do you do this a lot?” Mikey asked her, jerking her out of her worried thoughts.“You know, dare people into sneaking into the forest and definitely breaking the rules?”
"Only if they piss me off," Lillian said, in a way that made it seem that she had done it before. He didn't need to know that she was ninety-nine percent a nice, following-the-rules kind of person. And, he didn't need to know that she had lost control, and dared the first most dangerous thing she could think of. He also didn't need to know that she had never been in the Forbidden Forest before. And above all, he didn't need to know that she was regretting every minute of it.
"Well I guess we are about to see if you regret this as much as I do" she said, a very soft whisper not realizing that she had said the thing she most didn't want him to know aloud.

Mikey heard her last words slipping out. Not something she meant for him to catch. But he did. His steps slowed for a second, his head turning toward her, trying to read the flash of something she probably didn’t want him to see. Regret Maybe? But he didn’t call her out on it. That wouldn’t be fair. Instead he kept walking. Letting the quiet stretch between them for longer before finally speaking. He kept his voice steady like he was trying not to ruin the moment. “Well, I’m starting to think we’re both a little bit braver or a little bit dumber than we give ourselves credit for.”

He gave a dry little laugh, an acknowledgment of the absurdity of what they were doing. “You know” he trailed off, wrapping his robe tighter around himself., “If we get eaten by a giant spider or attacked by a troll, would it be your fault or mine?” There was the start of a grin at that, warm and just a little self-deprecating.

The forest ahead was dark and tangled. Mikey’s throat tightened at the sight of it. But he stayed in step with her, close enough that if she tripped on a root or needed to bolt, he could follow without question. The air seemed heavier here. It wasn’t the cold that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
He tilted his head toward her slightly, his voice quieter now. “Hey, we don’t have to go all the way in you know. We can stop at the edge, stare into the darkness for a bit, and call it a win.” He looked back to her. A question in his eyes, not a challenge. It was her call. He just wanted her to know she didn’t have to prove anything to him.

^{@Ellie Randensmith}
@ Mikey Forville
When Mikey had said his statement about being braver or dumber, Lillian smiled. But she didn't want him to see so she turned her head. But the more she thought about it the more she agreed to the dumber part, not that she would admit it, especially to him.
Then he interrupted her thoughts by saying that he wondered whose fault it would be if they got eaten by a giant spider or attacked by a troll. Well, your fault for making me dare you, and my fault for accepting your comeback dare. Lillian thought-answered him. But she wasn't sure if it was a real question, because she thought she might have heard a smile from him when he said that.
But what she said instead was "That's a good question." Lillian wasn't lying. It was a good question. He really made her think.
The forest was getting closer and closer. They were so close to the dark, scary, forest. What if they got caught? What if something truly happened to one of them?
Lillian did a sharp small shake of her head. She mustn't think like that. It would only make things worse.
Interrupting her steadily worse thoughts, “Hey, we don’t have to go all the way in you know. We can stop at the edge, stare into the darkness for a bit, and call it a win.” Mikey said softly.
Lillian hesitated, then took it. After all why make them do something they both didn't want to do, if she was right in thinking Mikey didn't want to do it either. She caught his gaze for a few seconds, so he wouldn't think her scared then said, "Well...We both proved that we were brave enough to show up and do it, so I guess we don't have to." Lillian said that quietly as well.
It didn't make much sense, but hopefully he got it. It wasn't really an apology. It took Lillian a second to realize what to call what she said. Then she got it. It was a truce.

Mikey’s chest eased just a little when there eyes met. He saw something change in her expression. like maybe she didn’t want to do this any more than he did. When she spoke there was a kind of quiet resolve in her voice not an apology exactly, but close enough. He could work with that. He nodded feeling somewhere between agreement and relief, and exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for the last ten minutes. “Yeah” he said, voice less of the forced bravado from before. “We showed up. That counts for something, right?”

Mikey shifted his weight as he looked out toward the dark. The gnarled trees that loomed just ahead. The branches twisted against the sky like claws. And the wind stirred the leaves with an eerie rustle. His stomach gave a little flip, but he stayed where he was. His hands still tucked deep into his robe pockets. He wasn’t about to admit he was scared, but he also wasn’t about to push Lillian into going further. He looked sideways at her again. Catching the set of her jaw the tension in her shoulders. The same tension he felt in himself. “Guess we’re both too stubborn to back down completely, huh?” he added with a little smile, almost like a secret between them.

The quiet hung between them for a moment. The weight of it shared. Mikey let it sit. his eyes fixed on the forest ahead. Then, with a small halfstep backward he tilted his head toward the castle in the distance. It was just barely visible through the trees. “Come on,” he said, “let’s get out of here before a teacher or, a centaur shows up and decides to give us a lecture.” His voice was light and there was real relief in it. He waited for her to move first though. If she wanted to walk back, he’d be right there. If she wanted to stay. Well he’d stay too, even if his heart was hammering in his chest. For now, though, the edge of the Forbidden Forest felt like far enough.

^{@Ellie Randensmith}
@ Mikey Forville
Lillian stared at the forest. It was still dark, and scary. She thought she saw bats fly out. She also thought she heard a grunt that could have been a troll. But somehow it wasn't scary anymore to her. Now that she didn't have to go in she could stand here all night, out of relief.
But that wouldn't be wise. Any number of things could happen to them. Most likely, some meddlesome teacher or a overly proud prefect could catch them the longer they stayed here, like Mikey just said.
It was a minute or two before Lillian answered him. She was just savoring relief. "Yeh, I guess you are right, we do need to head back," she said in a normal voice, not a mad or even slightly mad one.
She looked back to see if he was following as she walked back normally. It wasn't a mad sharp walk like when she first got here, it was more like a leisurely, I-took-a-short-run-and-now-I-am-moving-slower-than-usual walk.
It was pretty interesting how she had been extra mad a little while ago, and now she felt normal like she just had a chat with a friend. Funny it would be if the easiest way to make a friend was to dare that person to the Forbidden Forest with you, when you were overly mad at that person. No one would ever believe it.
Lillian has left the thread.