The Masquerader and the Jester [Rascal x Female Reader]

Chapter 2: Tightrope Walking

Chapter Song: "Gymnopédie No. 1" -Erik Satie

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By some stroke of luck, you manage to make it out of the school grounds in one piece. Hordes of restless students swarm past you onto the crosswalk, eager to leave the world of academia behind. A few feet away, the unwelcome addition of impatient car honking fills the streets. In hopes of drowning out any more unwanted noises, you pull out a pair of earbuds from your backpack and place them in your ears. Once connecting them to your phone, you start playing your favorite song. You hum along to the music, leaning back against the wall near the front entrance.

School ended not too long ago, and you have yet to figure out how to spend your remaining free time. Earlier, Emily and the others informed you that they would be busy after school with extracurricular activities. This left you to fend for yourself against any impending boredom. Truth be told, you weren't in any mood to deal with homework right now. Returning home isn't something you're too fond of either. All you know for certain is that you need a break.

Finally, after much deliberation, you decide to spend the afternoon reacquainting yourself with the town of Rainbow Hills. You figured it would serve as a wise precaution against getting lost in the future. Additionally, you could get in some good exercise, and enjoy some much-needed solitude. A part of you still wants to reject this idea though, because of the possible resurgence of any unpleasant memories it might bring. Unfortunately, seeing as you were living here again, you knew that would be impossible. Still, there were some areas of town you plan on avoiding like the plague. After reaching this conclusion, you straighten up and head in the opposite direction of the middle school.

You proceed to stroll down the paved sidewalk while listening to your music. Every so often, groups of middle school students and an occasional bike rider would pass by. Their presence wasn't minded, so long as they didn't disturb your steady pace or walk too close. Nevertheless, you move away from the street and find sanctuary in the shade of the neighboring trees. The gentle autumn breeze, together with the crunching of scattered leaves beneath your feet, helps put your mind at ease. Any leftover apprehension you had earlier is soon replaced by a carefree sense of tranquility.

For the next half hour or so, you continue to wander through Rainbow Hills. Along the way, you stop by a scenic viewpoint overlooking the ocean and admire the gradual rising and falling of the waves. You then set out towards the outdoor shopping district. Many recognizable sites from your childhood greet you, conjuring up feelings of nostalgia you didn't know you had. These sentiments soon lead you to visit a large, sparsely-populated park on the outskirts of town. Shortly after arriving, you cross the verdant terrain over to a thickly wooded forest bordering the park. Towering trees and lush vegetation surround you on each side as you enter the woods. You amble along the forest trail for some time until you stumble across a familiar patch of sneezeweeds. Instinctively, you turn left and veer off the main path. A few minutes later, you happen upon a secluded area you know all too well.

A large pond sits undisturbed in its center with various rocks and boulders scattered around its outer margin. An abundance of wildflowers and fresh grass cover the ground, complementing the landscape with an assortment of colors. Beyond the small clearing lay an assortment of tall trees and shrubs, basking in the warmth of the sun. In the midst of taking out your earbuds and turning the music off, your ears are met with the sweet sounds of chirping songbirds.

For a while, you stand there frozen, powerless to stop the sudden influx of past memories. Before leaving for Switzerland, you would often come here to play after school with your childhood best friend. No one else seemed to know about this part of the woods except for you two, which only made it that much more exciting. You named this particular area "The Secret Garden" after a book you read as a kid. It was one of the few places where you felt free to be yourself without any ridicule or judgment. Vivid recollections of happier times unfold before you like a stage play at a theater. The longer you visualize the scenes on the imaginary stage, the bigger your smile gets. That is until the bitter reality of the present pushes its way into your mind.