Safe

Chapter 2 - Marshmallows

"Ash, I'm serious! Give it back!"

"Nope"

"C'mon dammit!"

I was jumping as high as I could, trying to get my apple back that my best friend, Ash, stole. It's not that easy trying to snatch it when you're only 5"2 and he's not only a full foot longer than you, but also holding the apple out above his head.

He wiggled a finger at me, "Nah uh honey."

"Please Ash, I skipped breakfast this morning and I'm really hungry. Now give it you son of a blobber butt!" I kept jumping as a few stray hairs fell out of my messy ponytail.

"What the hell is a blobber butt?" He asked, bringing the apple down. I quickly grabbed it and took a huge bite.

"Hmmm. To be honest, I don't even know." I shrugged.

We made our way outside the school building and sat down under a tree.

"What's the deal with you anyway? You never miss breakfast." Ash plucked a little flower next to him and twirled it around with his fingers.

I looked around us at the scenery of teenagers standing in groups outside the school building. Some sprawled out on the grass and some simply just walking around.

"I overslept."

Ash frowned and gave me a skeptic look, "This has to be a first then. What did you do last night?" He chuckled.

I smiled, gave him a playful frown and looked down at my half eaten apple, "Nothing I...I just had a weird dream last night." The words came out a mere whisper as I started to play with the ring on my thumb.

Ash still heard me.

"Mind telling me about it?"

I looked up at him.

"I mean, you don't have to. Only if you want." He shrugged and shifted his position a little.

I looked back down at the ring and scrunched my nose, "It started like all of my usual dreams. I was in my room and-"

"Was Beyonce twerking on your bed again?" Ash laughed.

"Yes, but that's not the point."

He nodded, smile plastered on his face, "Carry on then."

"Well, I can't remember how it changed, but the next thing I knew, I was talking to a bird. He spoke back to me, it felt.... so... real."

"What were you talking about?"

I brought up my hand and showed Ash my ring, "This. I can't remember exactly what we were talking about, but I know it was about this ring."

Ash rose his eyebrows, "Hm, why would a bird talk to you about a ring? What kind of bird was it anyway?"

"I-I think it was a crow or something. All I know is that it was black."

"You have the weirdest dreams Jess." He laughed.

I frowned, "Actually, the more I think about it, the more I doubt that it was a dream. It felt too real to me."

"Are you listening to yourself Jess? a Crow. Talking. To you. About that ring?" He pointed at my thumb.

"Crows can talk."