Sunshine On Earth

Chapter Three

The fog cleared overnight. I stayed up the entire night, making sure no one got to Jasper. All the delinquents were fed up with his groans.

We didn’t see anyone from outside until the next evening. They must’ve walked a fair distance to be that late.

Clarke and Bellamy arrived, bringing the plant to help Jasper, and a dead body. Octavia was pretty torn up about Atom. He never made it to safety in time, and the fog got to him.

Clarke explains what needs to be done to help Jasper, and we quickly rush into making some sort of a tea as medicine to help.

“You got it?” I ask as soon as Clarke’s head pops up. She nods and tosses the bag to me. She orders Monty to go boil some water, which he quickly returns with. Clarke mixes the ingredients, and forces Jasper to drink. I really hope this works. We are all out of options if it doesn’t. We can’t lose another person, but I can’t watch Jasper be in pain anymore. I’ve seen too much pain in my life.

I sneak out of the drop ship and past the newly forming fence. I saunter over to the tree I’ve claimed as my own. It’s a nice place to get away from everything that’s going on. Earth is so beautiful now. It makes me wonder what it was like before everything happened. There could have been people walking everywhere, possibly eating ice cream, or drinking hot chocolate. The buzz of traffic would be heard when they walk downtown, and the constant clutter of bikes annoying parents and adults alike. Kids would’ve been frolicking on the playground, trying to get their parents attention to see something.

“Blade!” My head whips over to camp, looking for the source of the shouting. I turn too fast, getting slight whiplash. I rub at my neck easing the pain, even though it goes away in seconds. Octavia, Finn, and Monty wander around camp looking for me. With the sun going down, I can barely see that far. I’m not ready to go down yet. I want to stay here, and watch the sunset that never gets old. I want keep away from the constant buzz of teenage lawbreakers.

Finn walks out towards me. As reaches my tree, I climb down to jumping distance and leap. I land perfectly with my legs crouched and feet shoulder width apart. I look up to see Finn slightly shocked at my sudden appearance.

“What’cha need, Spacewalker?”

“Should I start calling you Treeclimber now?” he teases. I smile slightly, and shrug my shoulders. I shove my hands in my pockets, and lean against the tree. “Jasper’s awake. You should go see him, Treeclimber.”

I nod, and quickly make my way through the sea of delinquents. Most clear as they get a glimpse of me, so the walk to the dropship is even quicker.

Jasper sits against the wall, holding what I assume is the tea.

“Hey, Jasper. How’re ya feeling?”

His eyes shoot to mine, and he gives that stupid grin. “I’m feeling much better.” He motions for me to sit next to him. “So, I hear you helped save me.”

“Did you now? Well, I didn’t really do anything, but if that’s what you want to think, go ahead.” Clarke never really let me leave camp. I wouldn’t let him know that though; he has enough on his chest as it is, no pun intended. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, JJ,” I admit.

“JJ?” he chuckles, confused by the new nickname. He grimaces after, in pain.

“Yeah, Jasper Jordan. JJ,” I explain.

I notice a bottle about two thirds empty, a few feet away from Jasper. My head tilts in confusion: I hadn’t seen that there before. Picking up the bottle, I read the label that has begun to wear off. I open the lid and take a sniff, only to pull back at the strong scent. It must be some hard whiskey. The only question is where it came from. I shrug my shoulders, and take a few large gulps of the liquid. It burns all the way down my throat, yet it’s refreshing.