Friend? Or Enemy?

He reaches to pick up his arrows. I help him. I pay close attention as he sticks his hand into his pocket, and pulls out a handkerchief. He wipes the arrows on it with out getting the gooey insides on his hands.
"Your lucky I came along when I did." He says.
I seem to ignore his question with my own anxieties about the strange snakes.
"What were they?" I ask.
"Those were Drapers. Nasty little critters, aren't they. They have poisonous fangs that kill you in 3 seconds flat."
My heart races. They could have killed me. He could have killed me, I think. But he didn't, he saved you, said the crystalized voice. There is still a chance he will, another part of me argued.
Before I'd realized it, Byron was done and was staring at me.
"I should get going." I say uncomfortably.
I turn to leave, pack in hand.
"Wait. You should come with me. I mean I would enjoy your company." He says.
"I don't think I should, I'm rather busy at the moment."
"Please, join me. It looks like your terribly exhausted. You could use some rest. Can't you do your important thing tomorrow morning after some well earned rest?" He asks.
I ponder this for a moment. I am very exhausted, I think. It would be rude to turn him down on such a generous offer. He did just save your life to. Plus, he's very handsome and it looks like he fancies you, the crystal voice came as a cool summer's breeze. Shut up, I told it. What about Ash? I asked it.
What about him, he's never made a move on you or told you he likes you. But what if he does? What if he just hasn't got around to telling me yet? If he really does have feelings for you, then why is he so scared to show it? What is he afraid of? Rejection? That you will return the feelings? If you ask me, a guy like that isn't worth the wait. He should just express his feelings with out help.
But I didn't ask you. And Ash is different.
Whatever, I just don't want you to get your feelings hurt. Besides, what are you afraid of anyway? If you are willing to criticize him, them you have to be willing to criticize yourself too.
I don't know what I'm afraid of.
"Alright," I say.
He grins.
That night, as I sleep in Byron's hammock,(because Byron's sleeping on the couch), I can't help but think of what the crystal voice said.
What am I afraid of? Rejection? No.
I think I'm afraid that Ash will feel the same way. But why? I slip into a painfully slow sleep.


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