The Treehouse Club {On Hold}

Chapter Four // Johnny

JOHNNY

I stayed in the clearing for a long time, until the air became thick with smoke and the back of my throat burned from inhalation. The light in the sky was just beginning to dim when I made my way out of the clearing, but I couldn't go home yet. Mom doesn't fall asleep early, and I have no desire to talk to her about the letter tonight.

So instead I wander. I don't really have anywhere to be, so I just walk in no particular direction, letting my feet lead me. I can hear the woods awaken around me. People may tell you that the forest is only active during the day, but anyone who tells you that has obviously never been in the woods after dark. In fact, if it wasn't for the dimming sky, I wouldn't even be able to tell that the night was on its way. I end up getting kind of lost in the noise, so much so that I don't even realize that I've closed my eyes.
Not until I run straight into a tree, that is. That wakes me up real fast.

Groaning, I rub my forehead and lean against the tree I ran into. I only made it a tiny bit away from the clearing. I recognize that tree over there. It's the one Sam and Emmy carved their initials into last year after prom. It's the same one Sam asked me to burn down after they broke up. Yeah, I know where I am. The abandoned house isn't far from here; neither's that old treehouse I came across once. It's gotta be somewhere around here, because I know it was in between the abandoned house and my clearing. Unconsciously, I find myself searching the trees around me for any sign of the old house. I've got time to kill, and the place might be a scrap of fire wood. Wouldn't hurt to check it out. Right?

Only problem is I have no idea how to find it. It's around here somewhere, I know that much, but that could mean anything. This place is not small.

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I search for an hour before I actually find the treehouse. Turns out it was a bit more secluded then I thought. It's a bit more rickety then I remember too. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid. Just standing here looking up at it's not gonna get me anywhere though, so I might as well test it out. Let's hope it doesn't collapse under my weight.

After cursing and nearly killing myself several times, I finally manage to pull myself through the small opening on the side of the box. I stand up, dusting off the dirt that's gathered on my jeans. The floor creaks violently under my feet as I walk over to the only window. Once I reach it, I lean my head out, taking in the peacefulness around me. The forest really is beautiful at night.

Snap

I hear the snap of a twig underfoot and quickly duck under the window. Who the hell is stupid enough to wander the woods at this time of night? Besides me, I mean. But seriously, why on Earth is someone out by my clearing this late? I've never seen another human anywhere close to here, not even in the daylight. So why now?

Snap

I peek my head up over the windowsill, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person snapping the twigs under their feet, but I see no one. I was just about to give up when a small, dark shape moves out from behind a tree not far from the one I am currently perched in. The shape moves a little closer, and I realize with a start that it's a girl carrying a really big backpack. What is a girl doing out here? And what is she carrying that huge bag for? I watch as she spins on her toes, suddenly jerking her head so that her bright blue eyes are staring directly at the window I am looking out of. Those eyes, I know those eyes.
I duck my head as fast as possible, unsure if she had seen me or not. What is she doing out here? Of all the people I could've guessed Jess Aristole would be dead last on the list. I never would've expected her to be out here. Especially not after dark, and definitely not dressed like she was going to a death metal concert. Never once in the six years we'd been going to school together had I seen her in anything but expensive skirts and pigtails. And what's with that backpack she was carrying? I'd never seen her with it before.

Whatever, it's none of my business anyway. She obviously wants nothing to do with anyone from school right now. All I can do is hope that she didn't see me. I don't need anymore trouble right now.
I wait a while longer, but I don't hear anything else, so I quietly make my way down the ladder. I think I've created enough chaos for one day. Mom should be passed out by now, which means its time for me to head home.

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When I reach my house the lights are all off, which is a good sign. That means Mom's probably already asleep.

I enter through the back door, making sure I don't make any loud noises. I reach the stairs without a hitch, and I'm about to step up when I hear the creak of a floor board from upstairs. Great, somebody's up.

"Johnny?"

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Its only Ella. I tiptoe the rest of the way up the stairs until I reach Ella's room, second door in the hallway to the right, directly across from mine. I stand in the doorway as a small shape moves out from under the covers and pads her tiny feet slowly across the wooden floor. She drags her favorite teddy bear behind her and tries to rub the grogginess from her eyes. She doesn't notice me until she tries to walk out of the room. The look on her face is adorable.

"Johnny!" She exclaims, "You're home! Mommy was worried but she said if I fell asleep then you'd be here when I woke up! So I did! And you're here! Hi!"

I chuckle softly, carrying my little sister back over to her bed. She clings to me as I attempt to lie her back down, pulling me into the small bed with her. I curl my legs under me so that I can fit, cuddling the little girl beside me. She grasps my shirt tightly with her little hands.

"I missed you, Johnny." She yawns out, her eyes trying and failing to stay open.

"I missed you too, Ellie. Now go to sleep, sweetheart, I'll see you in the morning."

She yawns again, finally shutting her eyes. I feel her tiny body relax beside me, her breathing slowing until it was very faint. I wait awhile a longer before I slowly detach myself from my sister and make my way to my room, right across the hall. I strip my shirt off and toss it into one of the many piles on the floor surrounding me. I shed my shoes and flop onto my bed, stretching my legs that have cramped from being curled up in my sisters miniature bed for so long.

I'm already exhausted and on parole from my school and its only Tuesday. Yup, looks like it's gonna shape up to be a pretty good week. Groaning, I flop my head into my pillow. I really am tired, so it's no surprise that it's not long before I feel myself drifting into the blackness trying to consume me.