We must have been walking for close to an hour, or at least it seemed like it. I really felt strange about going out this far, especially between the trees like this again. There was definitely no need to question why the town folk said the forest was off limits now. Of course it wasn’t so dark today, the sun was still shining brightly, and the trees weren’t so close to the path. James was strangely quiet most the time, but seemed content in holding my hand. Which I didn’t mind one bit, but is a little conversation too much to ask? He would talk but shortly after, drift off into where ever he was. The trees gently swayed in the cool breeze, with the sounds of birds nearby. Squirrels ran past us carrying nuts, or just chasing each other randomly. Which was very amusing I might add. The very scent of the surroundings lifted your spirit, and gave you an inner feeling of peace. It was the first time I had actually stopped to appreciate the beauty of this place, the wholesome feeling inside made me smile at the pure comfort of its tranquility.
Only minutes later, the feeling was replaced with that of depression. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but there was definitely something that had changed in the surroundings. I felt nauseous, and could feel a cool sweat cross my brow. My breathing became labored, as the air seemed too thick for my lungs. The crisp smells were replaced with something musky, kind of like the smell of that thing in the back of your fridge that you had no clue what it may have been or when it was put there, yea know? James seemed unaffected by anything. In fact he had a slight smile on his face, as he continued to hold my hand. Me on the other hand; My muscles were aching, and my head was throbbing. At one point it felt like my eyes were going to burst from their sockets. My hands were cramping, and my back felt as if it were being crushed. It got to the point where every bone and muscle in my body was hurting, and I could go no further.
Tugging my hand from James grasp, I brought it to my ribs, leaned forward and lowered my head towards my knees. A feeling as if something was being burned into my flesh plagued my upper back, just below my neck. I could take it no more, my knees buckled causing me to fall to the ground. My forehead touched the grass below me, as I curled in a semi-ball against the ground on my knees. I felt James place his hands on my back, but his very touch felt as if it were going to shatter my bones. I cringed in agony, and yelped for him to release me, which only made him hold me tighter.
“Let go.” I whispered, as I felt tears role off my cheeks.
“Adrian what’s the matter?” James cried not knowing what to do.
“I said… LET GO!!!” James jumped back, causing himself to fall to the ground. My voice, it wasn’t mine. It was deep and patchy, and only caused my head to hurt more.
“Adrian… You’re scaring me. What can I do?” James cried from several feet away.
“Just… keep back.” I said faintly, as the burning on my back increased. I thought for a moment that I could actually smell the scent of scorched flesh. Which only caused the nausea to return.
James found himself unable to just stand and watch. He came in behind me grabbing my shoulders, and wrapping his arms around my ribcage. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, as it appeared neither did he. His grip on my chest, felt as if it would collapse my ribs, however, at this point I was powerless to resist. Every ounce of strength in me had been drained. I could hear his crying with every step back he took. My heels dragged against the ground as my limp body was forced back in the direction we had come.
He had been pulling me for nearly ten minutes with no sign that he was ready to stop. His determination touched my heart, he really did care for me. It was than I realized the pain was subsiding, my thoughts were becoming clearer, and the sweet smell of pine had returned. I reached my hand and placed it around James arm encouraging him to stop. He looked down at my face, as he slowly placed me down on the grass.
“Is everything alright?” James asked, as a single tear escaped his eye.
“I…. think it’s okay now.” I told him, as I reached up and wiped the tear from his cheek.
“What happened? We were almost there.” James added.
“I don’t know. My whole body hurt all of a sudden. I don’t know where it came from.”
“Maybe it was too soon to take you on such a long walk.” James regretted.
“No, the walk was great, and really I’m feeling better now.”
“I don’t care, I’m taking you back home. It’s getting late anyway, it’s not safe to be out here at night.” He added.
“Okay, but we’re coming back!” I exclaimed.
“Sure, at least you know the way now.” He said.
“Kind of, still don’t know where it is exactly yet.”
“What do you mean? It almost right in front of us when you decided to go all weird on me.”
“Was it? Damn it! I didn’t see it.”
“Yea, it was maybe thirty yards in front of us, I was just about to point it out to you.”
“Damn, you sure we can’t just go for a quick peek?” I begged
“No, I’m not taking any chances, I’m getting you home as soon as possible. We’ll come back another day.”
“Well fine. But next time I’m taking some aspirin first.” I giggled.
“And I’ll bring some morphine.”
“Holy crap you killed it!” I teased, giving him a poke in the gut, as I arose to my feet.
“I didn’t kill it! You killed it when you decided to go all emo on me.” For some reason this caused him to break out in hysterical laughter.
“God, it wasn’t that funny you nut.” Shaking my head at him, I put my arm around his shoulder, and kissed the side of his head. Mmmmmm yum.
“Yea it was, you just didn’t get it because…. Well I don’t know why, but…. Never mind.” He than giggled some more.
“Geeze what am I going to do with you?”
We began walking back, as I kept my arm securely around his shoulder. Not for support, just for the closeness. This time round James wouldn’t shut up. He was giggly and bouncy, and impossible to keep under my arm! Which mind you, was so cute it was impossible to do anything but laugh with him. The pain had seemed to have completely vanished, leaving me feeling oddly refreshed. Actually, I felt even better than I did before. It was like I had an unlimited supply of adrenaline surging through me. The birds were chirping in the distance which cleared my head, along with James skipping in front of me, clearing my heart. The urge to skip along with him was overwhelming, which immediately resulted in the frolicking of the two of us holding hands while skipping as fast as we could along the wide grassy path between the trees. Of course what good is skipping with out the endless chanting of the most skipperific song in the world…
“Follow the yellow Brick road, follow the yellow Brick road!.....” We repeatedly sang, which of coarse led too….. “We’re off to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of oz….” Wow, we were dorks!
Within what felt like only minutes, we could see the outskirts of town, which meant arriving back to reality. Due to us both not ready to be ‘out’ quite yet, we stopped our skipping, and regrettably released the others hand. Soon after decided, to hell with it! And retook our well earned thrones as the dorks. Skipping through town for everyone to see, while joined hands and mindless chanting, only the odd person would even look. Regardless, we didn’t give a damn. It’s not like any assumptions would effect us in any way, we were already rejects to the rest of the town. So all that considered, we had absolutely nothing to loose.
Alas, all things eventually come to a halt. We had arrived back to my house, before the sun had even managed to set! That was pretty good considering the length of our journey. We entered through the front door announcing our arrival. Looking back at James, I noticed the sweat dripping from his forehead, and the redness on his face. Wow he was panting. I giggled as he sprawled himself on the stairs, and laying back against the banister.
“Dear god…” James panted, “I can’t believe we did that all the way back… I’m pooped.” He than leaned his head back, and sighed deeply, in an attempt to catch his breath.
“Geeze James you’re so out of shape!” I giggled. I on the other hand, didn’t break a sweat, nor feel the need to collapse as he did. In fact, I think I could do it again.
“Oh shad ap!” He returned, while climbing back to his feet.
“What took you boys so long? We were about to send out a search party.” Inquired my mom.
“Sorry ma, we just lost track of time.” I replied with a smile.
“Well, next time could you try and make it back before 10?” She stated in the form of a question, but I knew it was more of a demand.
“Wow… What time is it? I thought it was only 8 or so.” I replied.
“Since when does the sun go down at 8, this time of year? It’s 10:45” She answered.
“What???” I questioned in disbelief, as I turned to the window next the door to look outside. To my unknown surprise, the sky was black, and the stars were shining brightly. “I could have sworn it was still sunny!”
“I think you need your eyes checked.” James giggled, “The sun was going down before we even started to head back.”
“Where did you two go anyway?” My ma, pondered aloud.
“Oh… everywhere, we ended up near the next town, when we realized we went too far, and headed back.” James came up with quickly. Stopping me before I could even open my mouth.
“Boy you two are nuts, the next town is a good 10 miles away.”
“Nah, it didn’t seem that far. Besides, what else is there to do around here?” I remarked
“You could always clean the house.” My mom added with a smile.
“That sort of thing is best left to the pros.” I jokingly said, as I patted her on the back.
“Very funny.” She returned rolling her eyes, than walking into the living room.
“So, what shall we do now?” James asked.
“Dunno. I figure we should head upstairs and work from there.” I smiled.
“Sounds good to me.” He returned, while turning to walk up the stairs.
Following in behind James, we went up to my room, staring at his backside the entire time. We entered my room and sat down next to each other on the bed. I couldn’t resist, I leaned towards him smelling his hair, than slid the tip of my nose along his cheek until reaching his lips. He obliged by lowering his lips to meet my own. The contact of his soft lips against my own sent shivers rippling across my body. Taking the time to note every moment to mind, the feel of my nose to the side of his, the softness of his lips against mine, the slight tickle of his hair touching my forehead, and above all the intoxicating aroma which filled my heart. He ran his hand up the small of my back, while placing the other on my thigh.
“ADRIAN! JAMES! PHONE!!” Cried my mother up the stairs, all that crossed my mind was ‘DAMN IT!’ Our intimacy cut short, we stood up both taking the time to adjust ones self before running down the stairs.
“It’s your mom James.” My mom said while handing James the phone.
“Hi mom. Uh huh……. Is it really? Okay, hold on a moment… Well hold on…” James lowered the phone, and looked towards my mother, “My mom would like to know if I’m spending the night, or I mean, Is it okay to spend the night?” James asked awkwardly.
“Yea, sure why not.” My mom replied.
“Yea mom….. She said it was okay……. Yup. No, I don’t know what’s going on tomorrow……. We’ll have to see what happens right?...... Yea…. Uh huh, of course I’ll call…… It’s only next door mom…… Okay, I’m gonna go now alright?..... Yea I love you too……. Uh huh…. Uh huh….. Okay bye mom.” James hung up the phone and passed it back to my mom. “Sorry she talks too much.” He added with a smile.
“Moms are supposed too.” My mom added as a matter of fact, “It’s the only way a kid will remember what we’re saying to them, by constant blabbering.”
“That’s strange, I always just nod and smile, while Not actually listening to anything that comes out of the likes of you!” I admitted in a jokingly but not really kind of way.
“Really….. Well than, I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m talking to you. That way I can remember to yell from directly behind you.” She threatened.
“That’s okay, I’ll just nod and smile with ear plugs.”
“Well I’ll just have to aimlessly poke you while speaking to you. That way it wont all be for nothing.” She threatened some more. I replied by nodding and smiling, and trying not to laugh. As my mom reached over and began to tickle my sides.
“Fine! Fine!! I’ll forget the ear plugs!!” I emptily promised, while backing away from her contact, well attempting anyway. “Truce! Truce!!”
“That’s right Truce! You should no better than to plot against your superior!” She declared.
“Okay, okay, You are all mighty, and I’m sorry…. But I still reserve the right to object in the future when I’m not trying to humor you.” I joked.
“Fair enough.” She finished, as she than walked back to the living room.
“She’s crazy, don’t get too close.” I told James with a smirk.
“You said it, I think I’m going to remain neutral in this one.” He replied with a grin.
“So, what are you going to wear tonight? Your P.J’s are at home.” I asked.
“Well the only logical thing to do, is wear nothing at all.” James said quietly.
“YAY! I mean… As I am acting host of this sleep over, I humbly oblige your petition and welcome you to sleep in my quarters at any time.” I stated in a professional manor.
“Nerd.” Is all James had to say, while slowly walking up the stairs, awkwardly staring at in my direction. I of course followed in behind him. We soon reached my room, reclaiming our seats on the bed.
“So, now that we have more time, what shall we do?” I inquired.
“Well, hmm, I don’t know. I hadn’t thought too much on it.” James replied Sarcastically.
“Well you’re a lot of help. Hmmm, maybe we can uh, watch a movie?” I suggested.
“Ummmm, okay. What movie?”
“Does it matter?”
“Well maybe a little.” James said, as I knelt down on the floor to peer under my bed. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for my DVD’s silly.” As my head and arms were deep underneath the bed, sliding boxes back and forth.
*SMACK*
James burst out in laughter as I fell forward, directly after his unexpected slap to my behind. “You just wait for me to get out of here!” Is all I could manage, due to the awkwardness of my current position.
“Oh yea? What are you gonna do?” He giggled.
“Oh, you shall see….”
“I’m shaking, really.” James replied humorously.
“YEA! I found em!” Sliding out of from under the bed with a box filled with movies, I lifted and dropped them on the bed next to James. “There, tonight you decide.”
“Holy Crap! Dude, that’s a huge box! There must be a couple hundred movies in here.”
“Yea, hehe, I need to find a shelf to put them on.” I smiled.
“How could you not find this box? Sheesh, that’s nuts.” He inquired while rummaging through the boxes contents.
“Uh, I dunno. There’s several boxes and I didn’t realize it would be such a big box, for some idiotic reason.”
“Hmmm, how about Night of the Living Dead?” James suggested, holding it out for me to view.
“Sure, throw it in.” I agreed. “I’ll go get us a drink.”
“Alright.” I than left the room and went downstairs as James started the movie.
Downstairs, my parents had seemed to have gone to bed. All that could be heard was the humming of the refrigerator. I quietly crept through the kitchen, towards the fridge. Fishing out a couple of soda’s, I than roamed through the cupboards to find something to munch on in case James got hungry.
As I reached for a bag of potato chips, my nostrils filled with a putrid smell which made me feel sick to the stomach. I backed up to look around the room, but nothing jumped out and told me it stunk. So I roamed around sniffing the air, not completely sure if I actually wanted to find it. As I came closer to the back door, the scent seemed to grow stronger. *Yuck* I didn’t dare open that door, phew, that was raunchy. As I was about to dismiss the smell, I noticed a strange shadow near the outskirts of the trees at the end of my yard. It was too far to make out, but it was definitely alive. The shadow moved slowly back and forth, I could see a glow to its eyes which shone against the moonlight. Creepy was all I could think or feel, it felt as if I was supposed to go towards it. But that was not likely going to occur anytime soon. Especially if that thing was the cause of the smell which infested my lungs. Dismissing the situation completely I snatched up the chips and the sodas to return to James upstairs.
Walking up the stairs, my sides began to ache. It felt as if my rib cage was being crushed, my insides were throbbing. A sharp pain shot from the base of my spine to the back of my head. My skin was tingling, which caused every hair on my body to feel like it was on fire. Reaching the top of the stairs I eased myself to my knees, placing the items in my hands beside me. My skull felt as if it had cracked into a thousand pieces as my eyes burned to the point of tears. A nauseous feeling built up inside me, forcing me to get up and run to the bathroom. I there lifted the toilet seat and buried my face in the bowl. I heard James at the door way accompanied by his wondrous scent. His presence cleared my mind, giving me the incentive to get this over with. With in moments, the inevitable happened. More contents than I was even aware of consuming, scorching my throat as it uncontrollably exited my insides. I heard James cry something, as he came closer. The room began to spin as I gasped for air, watching my surroundings blur and distort. I lost all motor function as my body fell to the floor, the room became black and tainted, gradually fading.
