(no subject)

[everyone_takes]

Kate's done feeling sorry for herself.

That's a total lie, but she's determined to try and if trying means that she has to lie to herself and others, then that's what she's going to do. She is not above lying in order to feel better. At this point, she isn't sure if it's helping at all, but she thinks it might be. She's out, anyway, out of the hut. There's a towel slung over her shoulder and she has a bathing suit on under her shorts and tank top, lunch and a book in her little bag.

She looks like a totally normal girl ready for a day at the beach. But that isn't where she's going. As she got ready that morning, that had been the original plan, but now that she's actually outside, she's found herself walking toward the waterfall instead. It's big and it's loud when she gets right up close and there's a little part of her that wants to try jumping off the top. Other people have done it, it can't be that dangerous, but it feels a little less normal than going to the beach.

She might be done feeling sorry for herself, but she isn't ready for normal.

"Hey," she says when she sees Harley on the boardwalk up ahead, then hurries to catch up with him. "Hey, come to the waterfall with me, okay?"

Comments

[everyone_takes]

It's sort of nice, having someone worry about her. Half the time it seems like the adults in her life are just trying to teach her how to be an adult -- which she appreciates, since she has no clue -- but none of them really worry about her. Not like her parents did. And it's not like she expects Harley to start treating her like a kid, but it's still kind of nice. It makes her feel a little bit better.

"I will," she says and rather than looping her arm through Harley's this time, she reaches out and takes his hand. Just for a second, just long enough to squeeze lightly and climb up onto the top of the path, hearing the rumble of the water getting closer by the second. "Thanks."

[bloodycrescents]

It's a skill worth having and one she's going to need eventually, so I don't mind about her learning to use the gun. It's just the idea of her not knowing how that makes me jumpy. It's too fucking dangerous. We grew up with guns in the house, but we all learned young how to at least handle the safety.

"Come on, right up through here," I say, pushing past some brush so that we come out near the edge. It looks a lot higher from up here.

[everyone_takes]

It's weird, now that she's up here, the jump doesn't seem so strange or scary or even that necessary. The things Harley has said, even if it wasn't his intention, it's all made her feel a little bit better. For a moment she just stands at the edge of the waterfall and looks down at the pool of water below, reminding herself that there are still people here who worry. There are still people who care.

Still, she looks over at Harley and grins. "Ready?" she asks. They've come all the way up here, even if it doesn't feel as necessary as it did down there, she isn't going to let this opportunity go by. She might never feel the need to do this again. "Count of three?"

[bloodycrescents]

I nod, glancing down at the water, and take a deep breath. I took a leap months ago with Effy and it all worked out. It looks like a hell of a fall, but it's not as dangerous as all that. Knowing that doesn't make it any less of a thrill.

"Count of three," I echo, looking over at her. If she's up here, dangerous or not, I'd rather it be with me anyway. "Three, two, one."

I jump.