Alex and Bianca to the Ranger Station

"Break-ups suck," Bianca said trying to break the long silence .

"Hah," Alex replied with a short laugh, almost admiring how awkward the normally smooth Bianca had brought up the topic.

"I'm sorry, I know this is sudden for you."

"Yeah.... crazy week, huh?"

"Yeah," Bianca replied thinking about her own mess with Brian and Pitt.

They walked in silence a little longer until they reached the ranger station. They paused outside and Bianca turned and faced him.

"What I'm saying is... it can be hard when your friends are her friends and you don't feel you have anyone you can talk to. If you need to talk, you can talk to me," she paused a moment, then added, "or Gina, or... the point being, we may not be best friends, but I'm, we're here for you."

She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks," he replied, mustering up a weak smile.

As they entered the ranger station Alex froze. She was slightly shorter than him, with fiery orange hair, certainly dyed, and crystal blue eyes that must put his own to shame. She was petite not as much as Makayla, but more toned, like she worked out or that hiking around the park had helped build her up a little. To top it all off, her tight brown ranger shirt with the park logo in the upper left corner helped accentuate the two amazing breasts contained underneath. Certainly not larger than Bianca, but slightly moreso than Makayla, and on her tiny frame, impossible to miss. Alex didn't think she looked a day older than him, but as a ranger she had to be.

Having missed Alex practically drooling, Bianca approached the woman and handed her some paper work. The woman looked it over and stamped a couple of the pages.

"Looks like everything is in order. The name's Quinn by the way," she said, reaching to shake Bianca's hand, "but they call me 'Taz.'"

"Bianca," she replied, shaking her hand.

"Alex," he replied shaking her hand and looking into those eyes. "Raz and Taz," he mused almost under his breath, but when he looked up he saw a cold stare in return. She looked back down at the paper then back up at him.

"Alex, huh? So you're the asshole that forgot to check the weather before going out hiking at night, causing us to have to waste time and resources to save your dumb ass?"

Bianca's jaw had dropped almost as much as Alex's had when he first entered the cabin, though for entirely different reasons. Alex gulped hard.

"Yes, that would be me," he replied, looking straight into her eyes, feeling both shame and repentance.

Taz held his gaze for a few moments before turning and throwing the paperwork in a basket and sitting at her desk and making notes in a log. Bianca and Alex stood silently for a moment before turning and leaving. When they got outside it was Bianca that spoke up first.

"Wow, that was... something."

Bianca looked to Alex, who hadn't responded. She could his face seemingly jumping from emotion to emotion, anger, sadness, shame.

"Look I know you need help but..." he started to stay.

Bianca took his hand, interrupting him.

"I know you want to run and hide and just disappear inside that head, I've been there. But, please, help me get the supplies, then I'll leave you alone if that's what you want."

Alex nodded and they made the short walk to the trading post.