It’s not like she was doing anything important, unless netflix by herself with pint of mint chocolate icecream was important, but June was still completely taken aback when she got a call from Lewis Goodman. The guy was about as sociable as a hobo, and frankly, she had forgot she even had his number.

“Hey Lewis,” she set begrudgingly paused her Parks and Rec episode to pick up the phone.

“‘Hi, June, whats up?”

“Mm… The ceiling.”

“Right. Haha. Actually I’m calling because I need a favour.”

A favour, huh?

“Uh,” she rubbed her temples and glanced at the clock. It was a little past twelve, but it’s not like she had any plans anyway.

“Ok? Sure what is it?”

“I need a ride to the forest. Just for like, some fun.” The hesitancy in his voice when he said ‘fun’ was a warning bell. But now June was intrigued.

“Sure. Ok. Where are you right now?”

“The park. I’m with Sam, you know, Rutherford, don’t worry, he has permission. And uh, Eden.”

She felt something tug at her stomach.

“Eden, as in Eden Sanchez?”

“Yeah. Is that alright?”

In hindsight, she really should have expected it, Eden and Lewis were somewhat of a package deal. She could say no right about now, but- She glanced at her empty house. Dust was settling on the dining table, take out boxes piled high in the bin. She really ought to get out.

“It’s fine. Just don’t call the cops on me if the other Rutherford does some batty shit there.” She heard him laugh from the other side of the receiver, “I’ll be there in ten.”

“Ok, thanks a lot June.”

She hung up and set her phone down, before scribbling a quick sticky note, leaving it on the dining table.

“I’m out with some friends. I’ll be back by dinner.”

She didn’t know why she left it. No one would read it anyway.

But she hoped they would.

***

When she pulled up next to the park in her battered blue mitsubishi, the trio were already there, Lewis looking intellectual as always, Sam practically bouncing with excitement, and Eden avoiding eye contact with ferocious blatancy.

“Hey, June.” greeted Lewis cordially.

“Hey guys. So we’re going to the forest?”

“Hell yeah we are!” exclaimed the boy she thought must be Sam. He looked so vibrant in the sunshine, freckled and short, and June felt an unexplainable urge to smile. He also looked about ten years old, a cute kid, though she knew must be the same age.

“Ok,” she gestured to the car, and bowed like a butler, “Welcome to your luxurious ride. Hop in.”

“I call shotgun!” Cackled Samuel, racing to the front.

Lewis and Eden crowded in the back of the musty back seats, Eden tucking her skateboard under the seat, as June revved the engine. They didn’t say hi.

“Do you know where the forest is?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. I’ve been there on school camps before. Just the outskirts thought.”

“Did you like it?” His eyes practically gleamed.

“It was pretty nice, yeah. Really peaceful.”

“It’s fascinating.” He proclaimed.

The drive out of Rosewood town and into the forest was pretty scenic. The buildings became scattered, concrete replaced by fields of long stalked, yellow wildflowers. The sun cast a warm, sepia glow over everything, making the green scenery amber. In the distance, the looming shadows of the Rosewood birch trees, thin and rustling, lined the horizon.

It was beautiful now, but it was easy to imagine it in the spring, foggy and curtained in mist.

Easy to imagine it mysterious and dangerous, grey skied, perfect for a little boy to get lost in.

“It’s pretty out here.” Commented Samuel, his arm stuck out the window, tracing the streaming wind. His words had a hint of nostalgia. “We used to come out here all the time.”

“Yeah, I agree, it’s nice.” Eden said. She didn’t look up as she gazed out at the fields. She didn’t seem preoccupied, just purposely avoiding looking to the driver's seat.

When she had first met Lewis at the Rosewood interschool UN, she had found a sort of respectful admiration for him. He was intelligent in a way that was quiet his brow always furrowed, nose stuck inside that little notebook which he always carried. Though they were from different schools, they became friends. It was that simple. People with intelligence were hard to find, but people with intelligence that always sought to keep learning, they were even better. Fascinating. Only, when you became friends with Lewis Goodman, it was a prerequisite that you would also know Eden Sanchez.

She recalls the first meeting. Eden shaking her hand, gripping it a little too hard, holding a stare a little too long.

“She’s kind of… Intimidating at first,” Lewis had warned her, “But don’t worry, she’s just like that with everyone.”

June was not the kind of person to be pushed over like that. Not with this punk, anyway. So she glared equally as hard, icy stubborn, and just like that, there was tension.

June guessed this was new to her. Eden seemed like the kind of girl that would hold on as hard as she could to what she wanted,and wouldn’t let go until it was hers.

Something Eden should learn; June was tougher than she looked.

She was kind of a lonely kid, completely independant, lots of acquaintances, no friends. Tall and gangly, with a blunt but polite personality and little interest in school,or anything, really. She was pretty good at sports, made the track team every year. Her grades were okay. The thing about her was that she was pretty much the same on the inside as she looked on the outside. A little sharp, a little bored, stubborn, but doing fine. Maybe she’d be different around people she cared about. Maybe.

But Eden really- She rea-a-a-lly, rubbed her the wrong way.

The air turned cold as they reached the forest, birch trees, white and thin as bones hushing in the breeze.

“Ok,” June said, pulling up on a small gravel parking strip, empty and out of place amidst the trees, “We’re here. What’s the plan?”

Everyone turned to look at Samuel. He beamed, although this time it was less of a sweet smile, and more like a wild teenager ready to do something stupid.