But You Love Her (Alexheed)

Chapter 2

The next day, Alex went to school alone and came back the same way. The house was dim and dark just as it's always been and his room is one less bed filled. The inventions that littered the ground were all gone and everything that held a trace of Aaron had been eliminated. His parents had depleted every sign of his brother away.

Glancing at the clock, Alex knew they wouldn't be back for another four hours, and the void inside him kept eating away at him. There was nothing for Aaron for him to grasp on too at home.

He was only nine but knew the town through the back of his hand. He knew the square center park and the ice cream van that hung right by the edge of the street. There was one thing his parents couldn't take away from him.

Shoving his shoes back on, and pulling the strap of his backpack over his shoulders, he rushed out the door and ran down the gritty pathway. The curls of his dark brown hair flew past as he climbed up the park steps and into the center region.
As any other person in this town, they would immediately be greeted by the silver marbling of the fountain in the smack center. Benches encircled the area and large lush fields of green encompassed the park. Tall trees parked the fields, but Alex's favorite part was the beautifully large willow tree at the corner of the park, it's large roots planted carefully around the pond. Trees grew thicker here and in the brush, Aaron and Alex would create a small shelter of a hide out with scraps of branches and peeled bark.

At first, it wasn't pretty. However, the excitement of building one led them to come again the next day and continue to add to it. Aaron worked on the structure and Alex worked on it's appeals. It was stunning by the end of the year, especially pretty work for kids as young as them. It was their own little secret accomplishment, creating a stable sort of den through long thick wooden scraps. The willow's long leaves covered the entrance, and the inside was smoothened out neatly.

Alex made his way to the Willow Tree, hopping across the grimy stones and examining how the place had changed in these two weeks he hadn't visited. They were too busy with the news for Aaron to dedicate time to visit their hideout. He entered the brush of the trees, the air light and minty.

He paused.

Light guitar strumming came through the clearing he was heading to. The clearing with his hideout and pretty work. It was more plucking and tuning than a smooth song. Alex hushed and quietly made his way through, then hiding behind a tree. The familiar building came into a glimpse at the corner of his eye. He almost reached out his head entirely if it wasn't for the tuff of brown hair that came into view. Then, tan fingers laid delicately on a wooden guitar came into view as well. Soon Alex could piece together a person.

He held his breath, but didn't go away. Instead, he continued to watch the boy pluck the strings of his guitar and walk into the entrance of the hideout.
Alex's hideout.

The boy on the other end heard Alex shift and glanced into the trees. They met eyes for a solid second before Alex turned around and back behind the tree. Naturally, when the troubles of the world were still as small as someone stealing your hideout, Alex rushed out of the brush and joined the Willow Tree.

Someone was interfering with his territory which he and his brother had developed for over a year. But, Alex still sat on the bench by the pond. Perhaps the boy will be gone tomorrow.

He was still there tomorrow.

Alex once again sat on the bench by the pond, awaiting the boy's departure but he never left. Infact, Alex carried a small loaf of bread to pretend to feed the ducks while his eyes searched the brush for any sign of the boy's disappearance. He noticed more features through that time being, his skin a wonderful brown and eyes bright and calm. He looked about the same age as Alex, despite being significantly taller. What a jerk. Couldn't he have realized someone built it, making it their property?
For one, Alex had lived in this small town since he was born and knew the entire place by the back of his hand. Even the entire people. As his mother had a social job, Alex tagged along occasionally and observed almost everyone. This boy-- Alex had never seen him.