¿ɪꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀʟʟ ʀᴇᴀʟ? ✰𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩 𝕋𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕣 𝟙-𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕥𝕤

✰. 24

Up on Melancholy Hill

✰

Alex dropped his bag down on the fresh and healthy grass beneath a large tree. He sat down next to his bag and let out a large sigh that he's been holding in the entire day. He was tired, to say the least. From nagging teachers to annoying kids at school, he was exhausted.

He ran a hand down his face and fought back a yawn for the millionth time today. His eyes were trained to the scenery in front of him. A small fountain shooting up water from the middle of the park's lake brought the reflection of the orange sky to the buildings around him. His skin was a glowing coral color, and even the grass seemed more vibrant.

The gentle breeze brought droplets of water on his face and brought leaves down from the tree. He closed his eyes and let his back hit the ground under him. He felt relaxed in this moment of solitude. Breathing in, he put his hands behind his head and exhaled as he was on the edge of sleep. Surely, nothing would bother him.

...right.

His nose scrunched up as he felt small pieces of wood fall on his face. He brought his hands up and wiped away the chips of nature, and brought his hands to lay on his stomach. It only took another second, and more chips of wood and leaves were falling on him. Annoyed, he opened his eyes with a scowl, but what he didn't expect to see was a girl around his age dangling from a branch in front of his face.

His eyes widened, and he sat up in a rush to get away from underneath her. Doing so almost caused him to smash his head into hers, "What in fucks name are you doing?"

The girl tilted her head at his rude words, "I can't hang out in a tree?"

"...nevermind," He let out a loud sigh as he flopped back onto the ground. He took a good look at her and saw how she went back to sit normally on the branch. "What are you doing up there?"

"I thought it was a lovely day outside," the unknown girl spoke as she swung her legs from side to side. "Plus, I'm bored."

"Can't you be bored somewhere else?"

"This is a communal park you dumb nut," she scoffed and peeled off the back of the tree and flicked it at him. "Besides, the view is nice."

She wasn't wrong there. The view was pretty. The recreational area was built dipped down into a small pond which housed some ducks and little turtles which families fed from time to time.

He sighed and tried not to let the girl get the best of him, "I haven't seen you around before. You new?"

The girl in the trees shook her head, "I've always been here."

"You live in the tree?" Wow.

"No, idiot," she huffed in frustration which fueled his frustration. "I've always lived in the area."

"Then mind telling me why I haven't seen you around."

"I don't want to talk to new people. I don't want to make new friends-"

"So you're a loser?" Nice! He slapped his hand over his mouth as he blurted out that question. "I apologize, I didn't mean to say that."

"...okay." The fucks wrong with him. "Um... so... what's your name?"

"Alex," he responded with a toothless smile. He hesitated even with his name in hope he wouldn't fuck up again. "Yours?"

She gave him a side glance and didn't answer the question. She only stared into the sky as she hummed a mix of random songs.

Okay... so no name.

Alex made no plan on moving away from the tree. He, in fact, liked the silence. He didn't have to worry about a name to forget the next day if he saw her again. Maybe this place could be his secret haven. Perhaps he can share with her his deepest secrets or opinions. All he wanted this year was a good listener.