« Deception » Book 1: City of Secrets

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." she said, getting up off the couch, and following Mark over to the ladder.

Mark clambered up and emerged back in the forest. He waited for Lilly.

Lilly exited the tree, and leaped into the forest next to Mark.
"Where to now?" she asked.

"No idea, where do you want to go?"

"Er, no idea. Like I said, I don't go out much, so I've really no idea where to go," she said uncomfortably. "Sorry."

"All right, back to my house, then. We can arch, or whatever."

"Sure. Mine's at my house, so we'll have to stop and get it, though,"

"Okay," said Mark, as they got back on the trail. "Lead the way."

"'Kay," Lilly said.
She led them through the forest, back to the street, and to the very back, on the right. "Here it is," she said, gazing up at her house. "You can come in too, if you like,"

"Okay," Mark nodded. "Do you live by yourself as well?"

"Yes."
Lilly opened the door, and walked into her living room, where three couches surrounded a large coffee table, which a bow and arrows were lying on. In front of the coffee table, and a flat screen T.V. "Well, this is it," she said, as she strode over, and snatched up her bow. "Ready?"

"Yep," Mark nodded, heading back outside and starting towards his house. "Nice house, by the way. Neater than mine."

"Haha, thanks. Oh, I'm sure yours isn't that bad," she smiled, as she exited her house.

Mark unlocked the door of his house and was greeted by a living room with throw pillows strewn across the floor and a half-eaten bowl of popcorn spilled on the couch. "Damn it, Rosco," Mark muttered, and a sheltie bounded out of the bedroom down the hall and practically knocked him over, jumping excitedly and sniffing everything.
"Meet Rosco," said Mark.

"Oh, why hello, Rosco!" Lilly said, leaning down, and petting the beautiful sheltie. "Wow. he's beautiful!" she exclaimed.

"Thanks," Mark laughed. "He's a ball of hyper, but he's great to have around. Keeps me from going insane of loneliness." He grabbed his bow and arrows from the kitchen counter, and slung them over his back.

"I should invest in a dog," she mused. Then, she saw the sling on his back. "Ooh, fancy!"

"Not really," he smirked. "Anyway, let's get going!" he shooed Rosco away from the door and headed back outside.

Lilly followed him out the door, and waved bye to Rosco.

They headed back into the woods, until they came to a spot where bulls-eyes were painted on several trees. "Here's my homemade archery range," Mark said, pulling an arrow out of the container, fitting it in his bow, and hitting a tree directly in the center of the bulls-eye.

"Ooh, nice! You've had lots of practice! Lemme try.." Lilly said, as she fumbled with an arrow, and set in on the bow. She aimed at one tree, and, like Mark, got an exact bullseye. She beamed at it.

"Nice!" Mark high-fived her.

"I've had a long time to practice," she said, returning the high five.

((Hehe, you know what would be cute, if she "accidentally" missed the next few shots and Mark had to help her. ))

Mark retrieved both the arrows, tossing hers over to her.

((Ooh, good idea!))

"Thanks," Lilly said. She aimed her bow, and, on purpose, slightly moved teh position of her bow, sending the arrow flying past the tree. "Oops," she said, biting her lip.