The Runaway

Chapter 43

"I want to tell you..." he says, staring at the ground as clouds move out the moon's way, letting light shine onto us and the grass.

"Tell me what?"

"Everything. I want to expose it all- I cannot..."

I lean my head on his shoulder as we watch the water move under dim moonlight. "Why not?"

"It's the only truth I couldn't speak."

I trace the cracks and splinters on his horn, the sharp edges and all the spots where the jewelry chains attach. "It's okay. We have time."

He wears the faintest smile and sits down with his knees to his chest, edges of his shoes touching the tips of the water. I sit beside him and watch the water turn the stars into dancing spots. It is so pretty here.

"Do we?"

"Yeah. We have our whole lives to talk and figure things out."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Really?" He faces me, mischief in his eyes.

"Yes, really."

"Reallyyyyyyy?" He seems amused with himself, happy with all the pain and agony he's causing me.

"Yes! Why wouldn't I be sure?"

"Because you're dumb sometimes."

"No, I'm not."

"Really?"

I suspire. "Oh, my goodness. Stop your shenanigans right now, mister."

"Really?"

I pinch his arm. He gives me a dirty face and pinches the end of my ear.

Owww. "You're being rude."

He somewhat smirks. "Really?"

I lay on the grass and let it tickle me. How could a single person be so bothersome? Especially in times of suffering, like now? Does he only enjoy annoying me? Not proper of him.

The moon is especially beautiful, the light she stole shining down on us. The soft moonlight makes him glow. The strands of grass face the water as water ripples meet the grass. Frogs move about the pond, not showing any concern of our presence.

I then remember the book; it has been a few days since I've seen it. "What else happened to Mariam?"

He faces the beautiful sky. "She kept talking to the guy. She would sneak out, spending her nights with him, showing him her home and her pets. They would go around the kingdom, show each other spots the other hasn't seen. After some time of this, they fell in love and all that corny shit."

"What corny stuff? I love corny stuff."

"They went to a corn field and Mariam was brutally murdered by the guy."

"Oh my." I'm in shock, who would do such a horrible thing?

"I'm joking, princess."

My heart stops rapidly beating. "What a horrible joke."

He lays beside me, but rolls over onto his stomach, facing away. I roll onto my right, facing him and give my back the mercy it begs for. The ground is mushy, cold and moist. It smells of fresh grass, bringing pleasure to my nose.

When will I be in my bed again? The warm comfort and safety of my room? All I want to see are very light pink walls, crystal windows, the giant carpet. Even to just take a bath in warm water. Listen to the crickets every night or smell hordes of flowers at once. The land we have been traveling on is beautiful, but it is not home. It does not capture the beauty of home.

"No. It was a great joke," He defends his demonic sense of humor.

"You have a bad sense of humor."

"You're jealous."

I poke his shoulder. He rolls onto his left, facing me and taps his stupid boot against my shin.

I do the same to him. "Stop being evil."

"I'm not." He scratches behind his ear. "You're weeeird."

"How? I'm perfect."

"No one is perfect."

"Yeah, me. I'm the best."

He groans and rolls back into his stomach, face to the ground. Is he eating the grass? He can't be comfortable. I get on my hands and knees and crawl the four steps closer.

"Hi..."

He only stays rigid. I crawl over and lay on top of him, aligning my limbs with his. "Hiiiii," I whisper in his ear. My skin is burning, my nose itches and all of me is tingling. It feels like I'm in a hot, muggy room but there's no sweat. It's the summer sun. What has possessed me to lay on his back? My mind is broken.

"What are you doing?" He mumbles, probably through mouthfuls of grass. He's showing his true cow self.

"I don't know. Am I hurting you?"

"No. Why are you doing this?"

"I have free will." I put my ear against the top of his back, right below his neck and listen to his heart beating. It is as consistent as him being tense. "You should relax, you will feel better."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"My back hurts."

I get off of him and sit in the tall grass. That didn't last long. All the burning is gone, feels the same as getting out of a hot bath and freezing. "I asked if I was bothering you. You should have said so."

He sits up and rubs his temples with his palms. "You didn't hurt me, dummy."

"Was it the burning? I didn't know it was going to be li-"

"No."

"Then why does your back hurt? Is it the ground?"

He shakes his head. "I have scratches."

"Who scratched you? No one is around." I look around us, and indeed there isn't anybody in the near or far distance.

"They're old."

"How old?"

He shrugs.

The open land of grass in the field ahead beacons me to it. To where grass meets sky. Is that why it's so tall? The grass and flowers want to be in the sky? That would be fun. There are a few birds going around and an owl somewhere. There are crickets hiding on the ground and frogs behind us in the water. This place is absolutely lovely.

"Who scratched you?"

"It's cuts, not scratches." He holds his face in his hands and stays hunched over.

"Then why did you say scratches?"

"I don't know... I don't know why I do anything... Let me sleep... for I'm too tired to speak," he says a bit harshly and strained. He avoids looking at me, only staring at the ground.

I feel bad, making him annoyed over something he doesn't want to talk about. My chest feels heavy, clogged. I lean over and wrap my arms around him. Sideways hugs are awkward hugs, but they're still hugs and will make him feel better. "It's okay, I'm sorry."

He watches me, his overgrown hair in the way. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"I think all this traveling broke us."

He nods. I pull him closer and rub his arm, since this position is so awkward. "We should sleep."

"Yep."

A/N: I like this chapter. It's cute. How are you guys?