We drove on, like a bunch of ninnies, through the thick and twisted woods as we chased the lengthening shadows of the setting sun.

"I don't know how you even talked me into this," I scoffed as the blond devil dragged me along by the arm through another bush.

"Shush," He silenced with a dainty finger to his lips, "We must find the beast before sundown or we will be eaten alive."

He glanced around quick and alert, a devious smile on his face as he found what he was looking for.

As he handed me a narrow stick, that was taller than either of us, he also picked up his own that was around the same size and called them our spears.

The weapons we would use to slay the beast.

The beast; an animal monstrosity with the head of a boar, the mane of a lion with claws to match, a body of a goat, and the tail of a rattlesnake that was no such thing to laugh at.

Especially for young kids like us, that it would usually have for a snack. We didn't even rank up to the lunch category!

Again, I pondered the thought of how this boy could take so much authority over me, especially since my "weirdness" always frightened people off.

One glance was all it took for people to say "Stay away from her. She must be troubled!" It always seemed to have somewhat of a correlation with my over-exaggerated imagination.

My fantasies were my friends.

I didn't need anything or anyone else. . . . Or so I thought.

Then I met him.

A boy with as much dedication to his fantasies as I.

Sweet, funny, and courageous—he was always taking charge even when he was alone by himself.

We were two peas in a pod, as the saying would go, and we never left each other's side.

While I would be dark, he would be light.

When I was fast, he would be slow.

Both of us complemented each other in our own respects of personality.

And our favorite things to do—our common grounds—were all we needed to not completely tear each other apart.

We loved to explore, and create our own adventures. We understood and comforted each other in times of need.

As well as vice versa, when one of us would want to be alone.

Every morning, we made it our responsibility to fill the day with an exciting or perilous story that we had to find a solution to . . .

Or a way to survive.

It seemed like there was no limitation to how much or how many times we would get into trouble.

"Bess, get your head out of the clouds and come help me with this!" The boy yelled from a distance.

Somehow, he had escaped me and had gone farther up the path.

I made my way through the trees and other obstacles to a clearing where the path sloped down a steepish hill.

"Took ya long enough," He teased in a playful manner.

Scowling back at him in my silent retort, I began to pull the leaves out of my hair.

"Johnny, I can't help it that I get trapped in my thoughts!" I spat in defense, resting my hands on my hips.

"I know, I know!" Raising his hands in surrender, he gave me a look of complete understanding even if his mouth was curved in a goofy, satisfied grin.

"So, what did you need?" I asked, curious again and ready to get on with today's story.

"Well, since you haven't noticed, my shoe is stuck." He pointed to his foot and I then realized how awkward a position he was in.

"Serves you right, for running through the woods so carelessly!"

Murmuring a bit to myself, I found the problem to be so much worse than what it had first shown to be.

No matter how hard we pulled, his foot wouldn't budge.

Puzzled, I went over any other possibilities.

Then, a revelation came to me and I sprang into action.

Grabbing one of our "spears", I lifted up and pulled out a few of the rocks that his foot had slipped between when he wasn't paying attention.

Yet, there was one that still refused to budge.

This also happened to be the one his foot was mainly trapped under.

Grimacing and making sounds that a human generally never made, I used the spear with full force and all the strength I could muster.

Suddenly, it broke loose. Sending him and I—without the spear—tumbling down the hill as if we were growing snowballs in an avalanche.

Next time I opened my eyes, I was partially lying on top of him.

For some odd reason, my cheeks began to heat up. So much so, that I had to turn away in hopes that he didn't notice.

Before I did so, however, I found him doing the same thing as he groaned and rubbed the back of his head.

For a few moments, we sat there in silence, uttering not a sound as the crickets began to chirp louder and steadier in rhythm.

All at once, our heads turned towards one another. Nervous grins crossed our faces until he finally broke the silence.

"So, uh . . . Thanks for helping me . . ." He gestured around in a fidgety sort of way until his hand rested upon mine.

I gasped as he immediately took his hand away.

Again the silence returned and we barely spoke to each other for the rest of the evening.