Into The Forest

The Calm Before The Storm

Rick Peterson woke up to the sound of songbirds outside his window, chirping the arrival of a great day. Tossing off his blankets, the 15-year old giant of a teen brushed his sparkly white teeth, then changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He looked in his mirror, smiling. First day of summer break. He put his socks on, then skidded down the wood floor, onto the banister of his railing. He came downstairs, to an empty kitchen. His sister was backpacking in Europe, and his parents were on a plane to Australia. And Rick? Well, someone had to stay home. Honestly, he didn't fell like going to a faraway place. He had plans. He looked at his ever-present watch. 7:45. He looked out his window, expecting a good friend. He wasn't waiting long. A minute later, he saw a lone girl walk down his street. Tall, red hair, and beautiful green eyes with wit to match. She turned to his house and knocked on the door. He opened it without hesitation.
"Hey Crim."
Crimson Amherst gave Rick her signature glare/grin, then replied,
"'Sup. Ready for a great day?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
With that, the two friends went out for a walk around Moorsville, Florida.

It was a sunny day, with birds singing, just like their attitudes. School had just ended, and they were together. Just the two of them. They started off the walk on old habits from when they were young, going through the park, past the playground where they met ten years ago. Crim was talking.
"Remember when we met?" Rick nodded, then replied "I was right there, about to go down the slide..."
Crim continued the memory. "And I pushed you out the way, and went down myself!" They laughed at the memory. Turning, they walked to town lake, where the local alligators basked in the sun, while storks hunted fish for breakfast. Talking about random stuff and laughing, they took a wayward path to Crim's house.

The words LAP 3 flashed across Rick's screen as he decimated Crim in Mario Kart. "WOOO HOOO! First place, EAT MY DIRT!"
Crim was not exactly the best at Mario Kart. She was in last place, and crashing into everything possible. "AAAAAAHHHHH!" she yelled as she crashed into a wall for the billionth time. She glared at him like it was his fault she lost so bad. "Hey, it was your idea to play." Rick managed to say that much before bursting into laughter. Crim threw her controller in frustration. "I thought I was getting better. Thanks for ruining my hopes." Rick smiled. "Anytime, sunshine." Rick looked out the window. The sun was going down. "I gotta go home Crim. Promised I'd be home sunset." Crum smiled. "Well then, see you tomorrow?" Rick nodded. "How does 8:00 sound?" Crim smiled. "Meet you at the park." "See ya." With that, Rick walked out of his friend's house.

That night, the news stations were going crazy on TV. Apparently, the president of the U.S. deeply insulted the Russians, and there was a war. One source also claimed that America had assassinated a Russian official. Probably a joke, like the last 3 "wars" news stations claimed were happening. He went to sleep happy and unworried, unaware of the fighter planes, searing over the seas for war.