UNHOLY DESIRE

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“Do you know hiking boosts the immune system and reduces stress, amongst other characteristics that it has?” Leslie said.

I groaned, pushing myself up the hills. I wasn’t feeling any of the boost; rather, my legs ached, and likewise, my hands, even though I was barely using them.

Perhaps it was because I had swung them around; that was why they ached.

“Spending time outdoors allows you access to fresh air and vitamin D, and it increases your white blood cells. It even reduces your cortisol level because, hey, you are spending time in a natural environment and not being holed up in that room.” Leslie said, and she turned.

She shrugged, “Hey, don’t look at me like that. I might be blonde, but I am not ditzy.”

“Hey, I wasn’t saying you were,” I said.

“You don’t need to say; your expression says it all. Just so you know, I got my mother’s features as well as her brain,” Leslie grinned.

“I see,” I muttered, continuing forward as she started to speak again.

She was really enjoying this. It definitely wasn’t a first for her, and she had labelled herself as the hike queen, so it meant she had taken a lot of hiking.

But it didn’t even look as much fun as she was making it. I wouldn’t deny the beautiful scenery. We had passed by many areas that seemed surreal, especially the trees. I had seen some variety, the Deciduous Conifers. They shouldn’t be beautiful because if I were to see them in the real world, I wouldn’t have taken a second glance, but my gaze had lingered on them.

I presumed it was the colouring of each tree differing from the others that made them even better.

“When we get up there, let’s take a break,” Leslie pointed above.

I could barely see anything except for rocks. Nevertheless, I continued walking with her because I desperately wanted to rest my limbs.

Eventually, we got to the top, and it wasn’t as bad as I had thought.

It was even more lively than before, and I realized we weren’t alone.

I could count ten other hikers around, and they sat, forming a circle with three large baskets behind them filled with food.

“Hey, Leslie,” A blond called out, waving. He grinned, standing from where he sat, dusting the red pants he wore before walking towards us.

“It’s been a while,” He said.

I turned in time to see Leslie’s face break out in a grin. She rushed towards him, meeting him halfway, and jumped into his arms, “Yes, Jared, it’s been a while,” She affirmed.

They stayed wrapped in each other’s embrace for a while, and I thought they wouldn’t let go until Jared’s toffee-brown eyes locked on mine.

“Oh, hey,” He said, “Who’s your friend, babe?”

Babe? I mused, watching Leslie go red.

Narrowing my eyes at her as she avoided eye contact, I nodded, reminding myself to bombard her with questions later.

It was a first for me, seeing her all red and being shy. She acts silly most of the time, but right now, she seems to have suddenly lost her silly side.

“She’s Deirdre, my best friend,” Leslie added with a wide smile, then she turned to me, “Meet Jared. He’s my frie…” She started but winced, perhaps realizing what she was about to say.

Jared cocked a slender brow as she turned to stare at him, and he shrugged.

Then he stepped towards me and extended his hand, “I’m Jared; I’ve known Leslie for a while. It’s nice to see she relates with another woman other than guys.”

“Hey!” She glared at him. “I do have female friends. Kate and Kendra are my friends, too.”

“Maybe, but they don’t count when you see them only once in a while,” Jared said.

“It’s not my fault they live on the other side of the island, and I can’t take a day trip just to see them all the time. It’s quite demanding, you must admit that.”

“I see how thoughtful you are about us; good to know what your stance about our friendship is.” A brunette chimed in.

From the tone of her voice, she didn’t sound as though she was furious. Instead, she sounded playful, and Leslie rolled her eyes.

She didn’t seem to give a fuck if she offended them with her choice of words.

“I missed you both,” Leslie said, walking towards whom I presumed to be Kate and Kendra. The brunette was joined by a dark haired woman.

They looked somewhat similar, with their pointed chin, olive skin, big almond-shaped eyes, and pearly white teeth. Their hazel eyes were of the same hue, and their smile was very much similar.

The only difference was in their hair, except for that, they could be mistaken.

Without asking, I believed they were twin, and one had purposely dyed her hair for easy identification because, from the dark hair, I could see brown roots.

“We do, too, you silly girl,” The dark-haired woman smiled, and she and her twin wrapped their arms around Leslie as they did a group hug.

“It’s a good thing this was organized because I was already getting sick of not being able to see you,” Brunette-haired said when they broke the hug.

They went further to discuss what they had been up to.

While I just stayed watching them. I looked like the third wheel, and it wasn’t a very comfortable feeling.

Everyone seemed to know each other, while I, the stranger in the group, seemed to have come to disrupt the peace; that was what I felt.

Leslie nudged me, and I jumped. I realized the others had returned to their previous seating place, only Jared, that was still in front of me. And then Leslie.

“Sorry about that; I should have warned you I was coming to see old friends,” She smiled sheepishly.

“Well, you have a lot of explaining to do, Leslie, and I won’t take no for an answer,” I replied sternly.

Leslie rolled her eyes, “Fine, whatever you want to know, just don’t ask me about Jared,” She whispered his name.

“And that is exactly what I need to know,” I whispered back.

“Ugh, no,” She groaned.

“Ugh, yes,” I mirror her expression, scrunching up my face and pushing a hand through my hair, “That’s for bringing me here without letting me know what to expect, and I am curious as well.”

“There’s nothing to be curious about,” Leslie murmured.

I knew she was trying to talk me out of having the discussion with her, but I doubted anything she did would work.

“Leave me to be the judge of that,” I said.

Leslie shook her head, “You won’t let this go, would you?”

“Absolutely not,” I said.

“Fine, just know it’s a boring tale, and I can only narrate when we are returning,” She said, “Right now, we need to join them to play whatever game they are into.”

“That’s fine by me, and I am always up for boring tales,” I grinned, earning an eye roll from Leslie.