42nd Country Road

I Like Playing with Fire

"I want Mark back!" I screamed. Mark approached me.

"You get what you get," He said. The heaviness was so thick in his voice.

"And you don't throw a fit," Jack finished.

"Mark please!" I said, "Jack, come on!"

"What do you want from us?" Mark asked

"What do I want?" I said, "I want My Mark and My Jack and My Ethan to stand in the same room together, but that can't happen, you know why?"

"Why? Jack said, laughing at my anger.

"Because Ethan's dead and you two are like children who killed birds at the playground!" I screamed. They changed back. Mark fell into my arms and I caught Jack's shirt directing his limp body onto the couch. I held Mark burying my head into his shoulder, whimpering in my own silence. Why was I like this? I thought. I started to hum a song my mother taught me. I was humming it for Mark, but he would never hear it. I sat there humming and stroking Marks black hair all afternoon. Suddenly Mark started to silently hum with me. I curled up beside him on the floor and hummed with him until I fell asleep.

I woke up to a soft light skimming off my eyelids. I was still on the floor. I looked over to the couch, Jack was gone. I heard shifting footsteps upstairs. I sat up looking around me for Mark. He wasn't near me. I started to panic. Where was he? Was he safe? Was he okay? I felt a cold spot hitting my collarbone. I moved my hand up to find a locket. Mark's locket. I opened it and the picture of us was still there. I closed it and stood up. I was so dizzy. I started to walk up the stairs. I saw Jack staring out the window.

"Morning," I said

"Morning," he replied

"Where's Mark?" I asked

"He's out back," Jack said

"Okay thanks. You okay?" I asked.

"Ya, I'm fine," he said, "Steven was asking for you,"

"Okay, I'll be back," I said. I walked down the hallway to Steven's room. I knocked on the door. Steven's young face peeked out from behind it.

"You're normal, right?" He said

"Yes," I replied.

"I-I have to tell you something," He said hesitantly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I might have hit Mark," He said. I had to try and keep my head. He was still a kid.

"Where is he?" I asked again

"He's out back," He said. I ran down the stairs, sprinting out the back door. I saw Mark using one of the water bottles to wash his bloodied cheek off. I ran up to him.

"Are you okay?" I asked pulling his face gently into my hands. His hand went up to mine and smiled.

"I'm okay," He said, "I'll be the first to say, that kid has some muscle," I laughed. He dumped the rest of the water bottle onto my head.

"Mark!" I giggled. He picked me up and spun me around like a little girl.

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" He laughed

"Well, no" I said in return. He set me down.

"Well, you look beautiful," He said kissing the tip of my nose. I laughed and kissed him back.

"Do we still have canned food?" I asked

"I think so,' Mark said

"Then I'm going to go and make dinner," I said walking back into the house. I grabbed some soup and opened a can.

"You can use the stove, you know," Steven said, "We have solar power,"

"Oh, thanks," I said, turning it on.

"So, you and Mark?" He said.

"Ya, he's my special someone," I said smiling and blushing. I looked out the kitchen window looking at him.

"I've always wanted a girl to look at me like that," He said

"You'll find someone," I said stirring the soup.

"Not these days, all the girls are either dead or crazy," He said

"I went crazy for Mark, turns out that's what saved my ass in the end," I said

"Well, would you ever leave Mark?" He asked. The question caught me off guard.

"No," I said.

"But what about Jack?" he asked. I noticed something about Steven. He had taken a pill.

"Look Steven," I said going dark, "You're like me," He went dark,

"Yes, your right," He said.

"You should have not done that," I snapped, "You're stupid,"

"No, I'm not," He snapped back, inching closer to me. He grabbed my waist.

"Steven..." I said harshly. He kissed my neck.

"I like playing with fire," He said.

"I thought she was dumb," I said. I grabbed a pan off the counter and smacked him with it.

"Only Mark gets my attention," I said.