The Treehouse [BxB]

three

The temperature continued to rise each day as summer crept up on the small town of Axminster. There were less clouds in the sky and more birds in the trees. This was River's favourite time of the year; the awkward shift between the seasons, where the air was always still, and the leaves had regrown on the crooked trees that surrounded the town.

River woke up early on Saturday morning, his parents still sleeping soundly in their bedroom as he silently pulled on a thin sweater and a pair of socks. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as he grabbed his keys from the hook by the front door, and whistled softly, "Marly." He called, though his springer spaniel was already at his side, wagging her tail in anticipation.

He smiled, leaning down to pet her, "C'mon, girl." He murmured, opening the front door, and stepping out into a world that was still asleep.

He didn't bring a leash, and instead, let Marly trot along beside him, her ears bouncing happily as she walked. The sun was rising quickly now, its orange rays spilling through the gaps between the chimneys, basking the world in golden flames that kissed the concrete beneath him. The roads were quiet, aside from the sound of his dog's paws beating against the pavement, humming like a distant rhythm in his head. It was times like these, in the lonely deserted roads, when River liked to pretend that the neighbourhood around him wasn't real. That none of it existed at all.

There were no chirpy mail carriers, tired milkmen, noisy toddlers playing under the lampposts. There was no nagging reminder that his perfect suburban neighbourhood was so full of life, and yet, so lifeless. So ordinary.

When it was quiet, and he had room in his messy mind to think, he could imagine something entirely different. A city. Loud and busy and rude. Where someone's business had nothing to do with yours, and you could walk through a crowded street without seeing a single familiar face. A city. Full of noise and smoke and traffic. Where you could buy a coffee from a different place every morning and never run out of cafes.

Or maybe a little place hidden in the country, or on the cliffs, or by the sea. Somewhere isolated. Serenaded by the sound of the birds, or the waves, or the rain pattering against old windows. Somewhere far away from Axminster, where the sun shone on him, and not the houses that lined the same suburban streets he walked every morning.

When they were kids, he and Mickey used to dream of running away together. Not because their life was bad, but because they craved adventure. Pirate gold and fairy dust and hidden treasure maps. Magic that lay dormant beneath their fingernails and nestled in their bones, itching to escape. They never got round to actually leaving. The world wasn't ready for them yet.

But it was almost summer. And once summer was over, they would enter their last year of school. And then they could finally run away. Perhaps attending university wasn't the most exciting route of the town - it certainly wasn't the adventure they once dreamed of - but it was a way out, nevertheless.

It was five AM when River reached the 24 hour petrol station that sat just outside the borders of his sleepy neighbourhood. It was the only place open at this time. And when River walked in, Marly trailing behind him, he recognised the face at the register.

"Casey?" His first kiss. Sweaty locker rooms, sharp braces, the smell of hair gel and chlorine.

Casey looked up from his book, his brows furrowing, "Hey." He smiled, "River." The name was sweet in his mouth, tasting the blurry memories of that day at the swimming pool. Casey had grown out of his awkward dorky stage; the limbs that were too long for him, and clothes that were handed down from older cousins. He was tall, muscular, clean. Wavy caramel hair, straight white teeth - the braces had clearly worked on him - and the same stony grey eyes.