Marigolds

⌯✾ Two ✾⌯

Stans dad got up at 6 like clockwork every morning for work leaving Stan alone, he didn't mind unpacking the boxes though, he prefered a silent house rather than one filled with steaming tension. It was Friday morning, 10:30, he was excited to see where the day would lead him. He decided on having a shower as he did every morning. He changed into a casual blue button-up and some navy blue shorts, he wore a pair of white converse with his white ankle socks pulled up. He wandered over to the mirror doing a quick check making sure he looked decent. He started packing a bag with a towel and sunglasses.

There was a click and a flame flickered showing itself on the stove. he placed a pan on top pouring the goopy pancake mix onto the hot metal allowing it to bubble and then flipping it over revealing its golden top. To say Stan was good at cooking would be an understatement, there were many times he had to cook, mainly when his dad went on work trips. He ate his pancakes quickly and went to sit on the window seat underneath the big glass window with beams of different coloured light shining through, the patterns were of flowers and birds and those were Stans two favourite things.

His watch beeped making Stan lift his head from his book the watch read 3:28. Bev had said to call her at 3:30, Stan practically hopped over to the phone. He started dialling the number he had already memorised, Stan was always good with numbers. He waited until the exact time the girl had said before spinning the rotary to the last number. He didn't have to wait long until he heard the girls voice.

"Hello, this is the Marsh residence"

"Hello, this is Stanley Uris"

"Oh hey, Stan! Tell me your address ill come pick you up"

"Ok, its house 24 on Cherry Lane" there was a short pause as Bev was calculating the distance, she knew every nook and cranny of the small town.

"Ok ill be there in 10"

"See you" and then the line went dead, he placed the phone back on the wall and walked out onto his front porch locking the door behind him. He looked around finding his bird book and binoculars sat on the wooden table, he grabbed it placing them neatly in his bag on top of his towel. He wasn't sure if he was going to swim but he wanted to be prepared. A voice interrupted the silence.

"Hey, Stanny!"

He looked over and saw the fire headed girl on her bike. She was wearing a white flowery dress and she had a daisy in her hair.

"Hi Bev"

Stan ran to his plain silver bike kicking up the stand. They began riding, Stan following Bev not too far behind. They rode in silence but Bev slowed down to match Stans pace so they could ride together.

"Hey Stan I forgot to tell you that we invited a few more people"

"Ok, how many people will be there"

"Just 4 other people"

"Ok," Bev could hear the worry and insecurity that held in stans voice.

"It's fine they're nice people, one of them is actually my boyfriend"

"Is it Richie?" the two started giggling. They made it a bit into the woods when they could hear the others. Stan saw 5 boys in their underwear standing on the edge of a cliff. The two on the end, one of them Stan knew as Richie, were holding hands. He felt a tugging on his arm and he looked over at Bev.

"Pst, Stan lets' scare them and jump in first" she whispered

"What! no, I'm not jumping off that"

"Shhh you'll get us caught, c'mon Stan I promise its not as bad as you think" she gave puppy eyes which Stan rolled his eyes at.

"Alright fine" Stan huffed not even knowing why he was agreeing to the stupid plan. The two started taking off their clothes. He overheard two of the boys yelling about the colour of spit, he mentally gagged. Then he and Bev walked out of the woods about a meter behind the 5 boys.