The Tree [On hold]

Three

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"First of all, that makes no sense. You're leaving, but yet you're going back?" Mark says. "It makes perfect sense! I'm going back to get some.. Cash.. Maybe.. Well, if I can find any that is.." I say as I look down at my feet. "A- anyway, I'm still going to run away! Nobody listens, so it's just best if I escape from this hell- hole town."

I turn around again but I feel Mark grabbing my wrist. I smack his hand away. "Sorry.. Anyway, I have cash! You can't risk getting hurt again, Seán." "Don't call me that." "I guess running away isn't the best way to cope with this, but if it's something you really want to do.." "I am positive that I want to do this."

-

"When should I leave?" I ask as I pull my phone out to check the time. "First thing in the morning?" He proposes. "Yeah.. Where should I go for tonight?" "Oh shit. Sorry I forgot. You can crash at my place. I can pack all the money you need." "Okay thanks. I am so fucking glad I have my wallet with me. I only have a few twenty dollar bills and a couple fives.." I say as I look through my wallet.

"That's perfect." "I wish I had some more crap from my house.. Are you sure I shouldn't-" "I am one hundred percent sure that you should not go back." "Fine.. So where do you live anyway?" I ask. "Across town.." He sighs. "You have a car or.. Somethin..?" I trail off.

He nods in response. "Yeah, well not exactly.. I just have a bike.. and it's for one person.. Heh.." He puts his hand on his neck awkwardly. "So where is it?" "I think I left it in the forest.." "Seriously?" "Yeah.." "Well, let's go get it I guess.."

-

"Is it deep in the forest?" I ask as we enter. "A little.." A squirrel runs in front of us and Mark jumps. "Haha. You're scared of a squirrel?" I tease. "No! Shut up! Just keep walking.." "Hehehe.."

"Oh my god! Look at what I found!" Mark says enthusiastically. "What?" I ask walking to him. "I found a stick! It is now my walking stick!" He smiled as he walked ahead. "Wait fer me!" I say, running up to him.

"Jack..?" Mark asked. "Hmm?" "Are you still running away? You could just live with m-" "Yes I'm sure. I don't want to live in the same town as him.." I gritted my teeth. "Okay.. I.. I understand.." He looks down as he walks.

"Are you oka-" "Can I tag along too?" He asks. "Uhh.. I gu-" "I jus- hey! There's my bike!" Mark runs to it, dropping his walking stick. "Well that was fast." I chuckled.  Mark turned around. "W- what?" I asked, confused.

"You laughed! You smiled!" "So?" "Sorry. I just haven't seen you do that before." I shrug as I walk to him. "So how are we both going to fit on this thing?" "Well, umm we're not." He says awkwardly. "What do you mean?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "One of us is going to have to walk.." "All the way across town!?" Mark nods slowly in response.

"Okay well who will be riding the bike and who will be walking?" "I can walk." Mark offers. "No, it's fine." "I can walk." Mark repeats. "You sure?" I ask as I raise an eyebrow. He nods in response. "Okay.." I sigh. I get on the bike and Mark and I start to make our way to his house.

-

"It's nice out." Mark says, breaking the silence. "Yeah.. hey do you want to have a race from here to that corner?" I challenge him. "I bet I can beat you." Mark smirks. "Then what are you waiting for?" I stop the bike and Mark comes up to where I stop. "Ready.. set.. go!" I call before I pedal as fast as I can. I look ahead and see Mark far ahead of me. A few seconds later, I put my breaks on so fast I am practically falling off the bike.

After I get balanced, I look at Mark and he isn't sweating very much. "How did you.. do that..?" I pant. "I was always this fast. When we ran laps in elementary school I was never the second one to finish before everybody else. I was always the first. I guess I can still run just as fast." He remarks. "Whatever.. should we do this the entire way?" I pant. "Well if you're panting that hard after that, I think it's a bad idea if we do that the rest of the way." Mark laughs.

"Okay fine.. We would get there a lot faster, but I understand." I say. Mark notices that I am still trying breathe. "Do we need to stop..? Or not..?" "Can we stay here for like another minute..? I just need to catch my breath.." I say. "So uhh how long have you lived here?" Mark asks. "I have been here for about ten years. Yourself?" I ask "I have only been here for six years." He replies. "Okay, I think we can go again." I say. "Okay.. let's go!" Mark said before going off in a sprint. "Wait for me!"

-

"We made it.." Mark managed to say through his panting. "Ho.. rr.. ay.. I'm dying.." I say as I try to catch my breath. "Anyway, let's get some water or somethin." We walk into the air conditioned house and I run to the couch. I turn backwards and fall back on the couch. "Ehhhhhhhhh it's so hot out..!" I complain. "Well, I can't control what the weather will be like." Mark says as he hands me a glass of water.

I sit up and take the water. "The glass is cold.." I smile before drinking it all. "Jesus.. Are you actually that thirsty?" "Yes! I was riding a bike and all you had to do was walk! I had to ride up hills!" "Okay okay I get it." He chuckles.

"Don't judge me..!" I say into the cup. "I'm so judging I right now, Becky!" Mark says in a snotty higher pitched voice. "Are you sure about that, Miranda?" I say in a similar voice. I snap my fingers in a 'Z' formation. "I am totally sure, girl!" Mark says, copying the same formation I'm doing. "Are you really?" "Yeah!" "Why you copying me?" "I'm not!" "Ugh! Yes you totally are! How. Dare you. I can't even with you right now!" I say as I put my hand up.

We both break character and laugh at how stupid we are. "What time is it?" I ask. "It's 11:45.. I should probably show you your room and crap. Come on!" Mark puts his glass on the table and tells me to follow him upstairs. "Your room is on the left," Mark points to a blue room, "and over here," We walk down a hallway. "here is my room. If you need anything, I'm right down the hallway." "Thanks." "You're welcome." "No but really. Thanks for all the stuff you did for me today. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be alive right now. So thank you." I smile. "No problem." He smilies back.

I sigh as I look behind me. "Okay, so I should probably go to bed. Set an alarm for 6:45 in the morning." "That's a bit early, don't you think?" Mark asks. "Night!" I ignore him, turning around and walking in my room. Because of how tired I am, I don't bother taking anything off like I usually do. I just go under the covers and go to sleep a few minutes later.

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Word count: 1,296
Author's note -
Hey! So this chapter kinda sucked. I am going to try to write two chapters a month so yay..! :D I literally have two minutes to post this until it's my birth month, July! :D Have a good rest of your day!

:3