Red and Blue: A Crankiplier Story

Chapter 17

Ethan's POV

"Ethan!" Someone called. They were right below him. It sounded like Mark. It was his red haired best friend in fact.
Why did he come for me? He asked himself.
"Ethan please come down, Iv been looking for you for hours." Mark said.
Ethan's eyes filled with tears as he stared down at the red haired boy under him. He didn't think anyone would come looking for him let alone Mark. Ethan slowly climbed down his ankle throbbing, he collapsed on the ground from the sudden contact to it. He felt arms wrap around him and he heard sobbing. Mark must be crying. They stayed in this position for a few minutes crying into each other's shoulders. Mark looked into Ethan's eyes.
"I was so scared for you." He whispered.
"I was scared for you." Ethan replied softly.
They stared each other in the eyes. Ethan wanted to pull away but at the same time he wanted to stay here forever.
I want to kiss him so bad, but I can't. He wouldn't accept it, would he?
"We'd better get back." Mark said.
Ethan nodded but remembered his ankle.
"How am I meant to walk?" He asked.
"You don't need to."
Mark picked Ethan up with ease. Just being in Mark's arms was better than anything he'd felt. He snuggled himself into his best friends' shoulder.
"Tired?" Mark asked.
"Yeah..." Ethan yawned.
"Rest, I'm gonna try to retrace your steps."
Ethan fell asleep in Mark's arms in an instant. He was so tired. He drifted into the darkness, into a deep sleep. Soon he woke up to Mark next to him. Mark was fast asleep breathing on Ethan's neck. They were by the lake and the sun was rising.
Mark must have fallen asleep. I shouldn't have let him follow me. Why is my life so dumb and meaningless. My parents don't give a shit, my friends ditched me, everything is falling apart. But Mark cares... Does he like me in that way, do friends do this? Do friends cuddle or does one always want to kiss the other. Does Mark want to kiss me?
Ethan shook the thoughts out of his head. He felt Mark stir behind him and yawn.
"Hi..." Ethan whispered.
"Hi." Mark replied.
"Can I tell you something?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan you can tell me the world was gonna blow up and I'd still care what you'd have to say."
Ethan took a deep breath. "Last night when I ran away, I was so scared that you were gonna come after me and get hurt. I was scared you would injure yourself if you came for me. I did to want you to come for me. I felt like absolute shit after Tyler said those things so I bolted. I wanted to be held and cry with someone. I wanted to pick up the pieces after I met you. You bring me those pieces of me that have been lost for years... Mark... I have feelings for you..."
Mark stared at him for about two seconds -awestruck- before leaning in and kissing him sweetly. Ethan kissed back, his whole world lit up. Ethan sucked in every bit of it. He wanted to remember this. Soon they let go of each other's to take a breath.
"I have feelings for you too." Mark whispered.
Ethan let the light turn into a smile. He threw himself into Mark's arms who hugged him tightly.
"I think we should head back to the cabins." Mark said letting his arms lie next to him. Ethan let go too and looked into his eyes.
Everything seems beautiful again. Mark's eyes are one of the most beautiful chocolate brown ever.
Ethan nodded and Mark picked him up again. They walked up the path and to the cabins. They entered their cabin as silently as they could but Dan, Phil, Joey, Daniel and Robert were there with worried expressions. Joey looked over to the sound.
"You're back." He sighed.
"You're okay." Daniel said.
Ethan nodded. "I was angry and sad and I was having flashbacks that I couldn't bare, I panicked and bolted."
Mark sat him at a table and he sat down at a chair next to him. They squeezed each other's hands under the table.
"What happened?" Phil asked.
"I ran deep into the forest and climbed into a tree." Ethan answered.
"I found him somehow. I don't know how, I just came across him." Said Mark.
"How did you get back?" Robert asked.
"I learned a skill in Boy Scouts, it was to find the way back from where you came from or retrace your steps. I retraced Ethan's steps." Mark replied.
"Nice. Are you okay Ethan?" Asked Dan.
"Yeah I'm just shook." Ethan answered. Mark smiled at him.
"Lucky no one checked on us, the camp would be in a fit of panic." Said Daniel.
"True." Joey joked.
Ethan tapped Mark on the shoulder. "I'm really tired can we go up and sleep?" He asked. Mark nodded.
"Is Tyler up there?" He asked lowly.
"Yes." Phil answered.
Mark went upstairs with Ethan in his arms. Mark warily checked Tyler, he was sound asleep. Suddenly he opened his eyes and turned to Mark. Tyler glanced at Ethan, Ethan shot him a nervous glance.
"Oh so the pussy's back." He sneered.
Ethan whimpered softly and Mark put him into his bed.
"Stay here okay?" He whispered.
Mark turned around to Tyler. "You put him through so much stuff he's trying to forget!" Mark roared. Ethan hugged his knees to his chest.
"What so the weakling needs you to keep him stable." Tyler shot back.
"We need each other." Mark retorted angrily.
Tyler laughed. "Oh so you like each other." He sneered.
"No, we just really trust each other." Mark growled.
"Fag." Tyler said.
"Says the one who was dating guys in the first place. I only just recognised my sexuality an hour ago. Take a good look at yourself asshole.!" Mark yelled.
Tyler obviously decided not to talk back. He shut his mouth and shoved Mark's shoulder as he walked downstairs. Ethan heard low angry voices before he spoke again.
"Are you okay?" Mark asked.
"I'm fine." Ethan answered.
Mark yawned tiredly. "I'm gonna go to sleep."
Ethan nodded. "Me too."
Ethan lay his head down on his pillow. He drifted in and out of sleep for a while before finally falling into a deep sleep.