from the first story roof | purpled x oc

chapter 4

"so you're telling me, your making this hike barefoot," the tall boy asked her about a mile into the walk.
she shrugged. "i don't see why not."
"doesn't it like, hurt?"
she shook her head. "i mean, at first, but once you get used to it, you just feel more connected to the world," she grinned at him. he didn't think someone could be so perfect.
"maybe i'll try that," he said, a small smile playing at his lips, looking down to the ground.
"you should," she said, nudging his shoulder.

his heart fluttered at her touch.
"so uh- you seem to be alone a lot," he said. "what about your mom? does she work a lot?"
the girl seemed to tense up.
"oh- i'm uh- sorry if i overst-" he said, before she cut him off.
"no, don't worry," she chuckled. "it's fine." she took a shaky breath. "she's a great mom, and she loves me, but she can't really look at me ever since..." she trailed off.
"sorry, i'm over sharing," she said, flicking her eyes up at him.
"it's ok," he assured her. "i wanna hear, only if you wanna say it."
she grabbed his hand, swinging it back and fourth. "my dad passed away in a car crash, almost a year ago," she began. "i was, i was in the car. when he saw what was happening, he uh- swerved the car. i was supposed to get the full blunt of the impact... but he did." she sighed. "therefore, i think my mother blames me. she avoids me at all costs, and works. a lot. she just finds ways to get away. and i understand, honestly," she shrugged earnestly. the words at the tip of her tounge could tell him that she blamed herself too. except, she couldn't run from herself.

the boy looked at her, holding her hand harder. "i'm sorry. it wasn't your fault, you know," she looked up at him.
"yeah," she exhaled. "i'm just like, an omen of death to her. both of my best friends took their lives as well a year ago, hence, the move. my dad was taking me to counseling when he died. i mean, maybe i am an omen of death, but that serves my mom right for naming her witchy daughter salem," she let out one of her laughs, the one that sounded like bells.

"it suits you," he blurted. "it does."
she looked up at him. "thanks."

as they walked in mainly comfortable silence, with the occasional small talk, grayson couldn't get over how she was so positive after all of the loss she had been through. for someone who loved the universe so much, it had wronged her quite a bit.

a few miles and a few conversations later, the teens had made their way to the lake, and began scoping for trees, until they found one, swooping out over a cliff and into the water.

"one sec," she called. she stripped off her pants and tee shirt, diving into the water. his heart skipped a beat at how beautiful she really was. when she reached where she thought one would land if they jumped from the tree. she held her breath, and dove down.

he stood watching her, dumbfounded, and anxious. that was until she surfaced around thirty seconds later. "i'd say around 15 feet, so the swing should be safe!" she called, her braids sticking to her back and bangs pressed on her forehead. she treaded water, holding up a thumbs up. he laughed at her as she left the water.

she pulled her skirt back on for warmth, and began climbing the tree. she maneuvered gracefully, the tall boy watching from below as she made her way to the edge, deciding on a branch to tie the rope two. he was entranced by her. she looked like a fairy, or a nymph, or a forest spirit, as she sat on the top of the tree. he only broke from it when she called out to him.

"hey gray, can you pass me the rope?" she asked.
"sure," he said, reaching into her bag, and tossing it up. she caught it in midair. she began kneeling on the branch she picked, bouncing to make sure it was sturdy. she used her hands to wrap a tight knot around the branch. this wasn't her first time doing this, so it was easy for her to figure out which knot would be able to hold people. she continued tying and wrapping, the boy below her watching in awe as she tugged on it.

perfect, she thought. she stood up, before leaping from the tree with no hesitation.
"salem!" grayson called after her, clearly worried about the girl. she plunged into the water, and surfaced, laughing and sputtering.
"worried, are we?"
"you can't just jump off a cliff and expect me not to be worried, dork,"
"well technically, it was a tree on top of a cliff," she swam to the edge of the water, stepping out. her flowey skirt was wet, and stuck to her legs. she pulled it off, and grabbed the boy next doors hand.

"are you coming or not, dork," she mocked the last part in his voice.
he scoffed, feigning offense. he pulled off his shirt, and followed her up to the swing.
"shall we?" she smiled, raising her eyebrows.
"ladies first."
"hah!" she exclaimed. "scaredy cat," and with that she was gone, with a whoop and a splash.
he grabbed the rope swing as it swung back.
"come on!" she called from the water.

his feet left the ground as he jumped, the girl in the water cheering. he landed near her with a splash, and she high fived him when he came up. the two teens made their way to where they could stand. as soon as they were waist deep, grayson hit her with a blast of water. she scoffed, jumping on his back, trying to force him under. he flipped her off of him, into the water, were she sat below him. he reached his hand out to help her up, but she caught him off guard, yanking his feet out from under him.

they were face to face.
"i knew that one would get you," she grinned. "simp."
"okay," he rolled his eyes, shoving her under. the two laughed in the shallows, bonding and talking. jumping from trees, and swinging from ropes. before they knew it, the sun began to set.

"we should probably get back," he sighed.
"yeah," she agreed.
"i'm planning on streaming tonight anyways."
"streaming?" the girl with green eyes looked up at him, eyebrows narrowed in confusion.

shit.