ForestFic Evak

We will sing a chorus

"The rain," Even says.

Isak nods, slowly.

"It's like..." Even pauses, searching for the word.

"Crisper," Isak says.

"Exactly," Even says, nodding.

"Almost like..." Isak frowns, "red? Maybe?"

"Mostly," Even says. "With a hint of orange."

"Orange, right." Isak points at Even. "That's right. I keep forgetting that one."

"A lot of things are orange, though," Even says, frowning.

"Not where I'm from," Isak says darkly. "Everything's just blue-black there."

Even winces. "I can't even imagine that."

"Don't," Isak says firmly. He shakes his head. "Don't even try."

Even shudders a little. "Believe me, I don't want to."

Josh nods. "Good." He sits up straighter suddenly, cocking his head.

"My mom coming?" Even asks. Isak nods, standing up.

"Keep it short, yeah?" Isak asks as he closes the closet door.

"Okay," Even replies to the now-empty room.

There's a soft tap on the door before his mom pokes her head in.

"What are you doing, Even?" Even's mom asks, looking in.

"Talking to Isak," Even tells her. He immediately regrets saying anything.

"Even," his mom says, sighing. "Isak isn't real, remember? We've been over this before."

"Right, Mom," Even says, nodding. "I'm sorry."

"Even, I..." His mom pauses, looking unsure. "Don't apologize, okay? It's just that Isak doesn't exist."

"Okay," Even tells her, waiting for her to leave so Isak can come back.

His mom looks at him, something yellow-blue-red in her eyes. He forgets what other people call it. Isak would know.

"Even, you have an appointment tomorrow, remember?" Even's mom says. "With Dr. Paulson."

Dr. Paulson has lots of markers, a checkerboard, and a liberal use of a drawer full of candy so Even won't tell anyone about the one time everything tasted like metal and soap and magenta dipped in candle wax.

"Okay," Even says, nodding.

His mom bites her lip. "All right, Even," she says. "Remember to eat, okay?"

"Okay," Even echoes, and she closes the door.

Isak immediately opens the closet door.

"Dr. Paulson," he says with a tone of distaste.

"Why don't you like him?" Even asks as he watches Isak settle himself on Even's bookshelf.

"He sounds so..." Isak bites his lip, searching for the words. "I would say purple-green, but I'm missing something, aren't I?"

"Pink," Even says immediately.

"Right, right," Isak says. He makes a face. "I don't like it when you go there."

"Would you rather I go back to Dr. Craig?" Even offers.

Isak recoils the best he can while perched precariously on a bookshelf.

"No!" Isak exclaims. "No, no, never!"

"I was kidding," Even says as he sprawls back onto his bed.