On The Run

Lets Run Away Together

(WARNING: VIOLENCE TO BOTH LB AND PB AHEAD.)

Paintbrush's POV:

I sat on her bed and waited for her to come back in. Lightbulb, of all people, cuts? Now I know what she was acting so rudely to her sister earlier! She's a total jerk! But I'm sure it's not true that she has no friends... right..? She came back in with the bowl and jumped on the couch, as if nothing had happened downstairs.

"Hey Painty, so you like BBQ chips right? Because that's all I could find." I nodded. "I love BBQ! They're my favorite!" "Mine too!" "So, who have you been hanging out with lately? You seem like the type of girl who'd have lots of friends! You're so energetic!" Lightbulb scratched the back of her head as she quietly said, "Well... people like you! And my sister! And... my sister's mini dog Roxie!"

I suspiciously looked at her and gave a small laugh. "Anyone from school?" She started to scratch her neck faster. "Uhhh, you! And... and... umm..." She was thinking hard now, and finally thought of someone. "Oh yeah! My aunt is a teacher there! I talk to her sometimes!" I looked at her with a look that said, 'seriously?' and said, "No, as in a KID, silly!"

She looked down and said, "Oh I give up. No one, really. I'm a huge loner. I have a case of ADHD, and no body wants to deal with that." I could tell by the way she kept tapping her foot on the bed. "Hey, anyone can deal with that! If I can, trust me, anyone can. And you're sure? No friends at all?" Lightbulb started to tear up a bit and blushed. "Yeah I'm sure. Sorry, I'm usually so happy and hyperactive! I've just been a bit down lately..." "How so?"

Lightbulb got up and sighed. "Everyone pays attention to my sister and thinks that she's the absolute greatest thing the Earth has to offer and I'm over here with so many things wrong with me I can't even count them on my own 2 hands. I'm sorry, we should probably move on to another subject, after you are my super duper amazing guest!" She giggled and jumped after saying that, and I replied, "No, no. I'm a bit concerned. You see... I saw what happened downstairs when you were making that bowl."

Lightbulb denied, "What do you mean? Nothing happened down there." A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek as she sat there waiting for my answer. "You know, your sister acting like a total jerk and stuff..." Lightbulb looked away and asked, "Oh... you saw that? All of it?" I nodded. "All of it...I didn't realize that you...you know..." She suddenly jumped over and hugged me tight. "I'm sorry. It's just...*sniff* I'm just a shadow of her. No one really talks to me about me. Everything's about her now. My parents barely pay attention to me anymore, and if they do, it's about Sugar Drop's dances and stuff, like, 'Have you seen her practice? You could've done that stuff too if you tried.', and I'm their only REAL daughter by blood. I can't think straight either. You see... I've got this crush...this person used to never talk to me, and now they do just recently. Weird right?"

I looked at her, and asked, "Who? That is weird." She again looked away and said, "I can't say..." That's really weird... why can't she tell me? "Ok I understand. But I didn't know-" She finished and interrupted my question, "That... I cut... yeah, I do. It makes me feel better, and makes me a bit happier." I gasped and said, "But Lightbulb, you really shouldn't do that! It could be bad for your health and skin! It's alright now, because you have me!" Lightbulb looked at me, still embracing me tightly and laying her head on my shoulder. "It's not all right. It'll never be alright. I'm sorry Painty, but I can't just pile all my worries on top of you! You have no worries in the world and I don't want to start something that get you in trouble!"

I held on to her tighter and said, "Trust me, you have no idea what I worry about. I have too many worries..." Lightbulb pulled back and looked straight at me with her expression showing how shocked she was. "WHAT? YOU have worries? Like what?" I sighed and decided it was only fair that I told her mine. I know hers now after all. "Well, I'm worried that more people will think I'm a girl..."