Chapter 7

3rd Person POV

After Jack agreed on the jumping contest, both boys started swinging. Pushing themselves back and forth until they could no longer get any higher.

"Ready?" Mark's voice called out to Jack, making sure he could hear them.

"Ready when you are!" Jack laughed a little bit, waiting for Mark to jump first. Neither of them jumped, even after ten minutes had passed, "Are you going to jump?" Jack kept going, making sure to keep his height. He kept in mind how Mark wasn't going as high as he was. He almost knew he was going to win.

"I thought you were going first!"

"No. Red hair people go first!"

"Green is for the Irish, and the Irish go first!"

Jack's facial expression was unamused, "Really Mark?"

"Mhm, now jump!" Mark said, keeping the same height.

Without another word, a few seconds later Jack jumped. He went high up before gravity took its part and brought him down. He tried landing, but that failed when his legs gave out from underneath with an 'oof'. He stood up, standing in his spot and looked at Mark, who was still currently swinging, "Your turn mr American," Jack said, crossing his arms. Immediately Mark jumped, and surprisingly not only landed, but landed farther than Jack.

"Ha! I win!"

"How in the hell?? I went higher than you!"

"I just have more skill than you," Mark says, grinning with accomplishment. Jack just stuck his tongue out at him, before going back to his swing. Swinging slowly.
Mark watched him. Just stood there and watched.

"Whatcha lookin at?" Jack asked, dragging his feet on the small rocks to stop himself.

"Just you," He said, shrugging before just sitting down where he was. Jack looked at him with slight confusion.

"Uh, okay. " He said, only to get up and walk over to him. Sitting beside him. "So when do you want to head back?" Jack asked, looking at him now.

"Is never good with you?" Both Mark and Jack snickered.

"I wish, but we have school tomorrow," Jack bumped him with his shoulder slightly only for Mark to do it in return, "Let's go back," he said, standing up, "It's really late out, and I don't feel like being a zombie tomorrow," he chuckled.

Mark sighed softly, "Yeah, I guess you're right. " then stood up, "Let's head out I guess."

Jack's POV

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I watched him get up, "Let's head out I guess. " I felt the mood change between us. It went from fun and happiness, to dread and a bit of sadness. I chewed on my lip as we started walking, I didn't like this atmosphere. I didn't like it at all. Here and there I'd glance at him, did he feel this? The mood?

I hope not.

It was quiet, which made the atmosphere get even more.. Dark.

"Hey, Mark," I started, unable to take the silence anymore, "Are you okay? " I looked at him, to try and read the emotion on his face. I couldn't tell if he just wasn't showing emotion, or if it was just way too dark to tell.

"I'm fine," He said, and I could tell something was up.

This time I wasn't going to let it slide. I stopped in my tracks, and crossed my arms. He stopped a few steps after when he realized I hadn't moved.

"What's up?" He asked standing in the exact same spot he stopped in.

"You're not fine, what's wrong?" I didn't want to sound so demanding, but I'm pretty sure I did, and I realized that. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to sound demanding or anything, but something is wrong. The mood just went way downhill, what's on your mind?" I waited. I actually wonder if he'd say anything.

"I just don't want to go home," His words surprised me. Not the words themselves, just the fact that he said something instead of denying that something was wrong.

"Is there anything you need to talk about? Why you don't want to go home?" I walked the few steps to him, and we both started walking again. A bit more slower. It was obvious we were just trying to keep time going.

"Maybe later, " We looked at each other , and he gave me a soft smile. It was one of those smiles that, even though it was soft, you couldn't help but smile back.

"Alright, well anytime you need to talk about anything, and I mean anything, don't you dare hesitate to talk me me," I poked him, but he poked me back.

"It goes for you too, green lantern," He smiled again, and with that the mood was lifted. Now it felt comfortable again.

"Alright, you uh, -" I could think of anything of the top of my head, "Dammit!" I yelled a bit too loud, but oh well! "I couldn't think of anything ya doof. "

"Ha ha. " We both laughed a little, but it was quieted down when we reached the front of our houses. "The walk seemed a lot shorter on the way there," Mark looked at his house, before back at me.

I was too busy looking up at my window. I wasn't looking forward to this. Not at all.

"Uh, how are you going to get back there?" Mark broke my thought, causing me to snap my attention on him.

"I.. Have no idea.." I said, a bit quieter than I wanted.

"If you get caught, let's so going through the front door or something, what would happen?" I could just sense the hesitation in his voice. I didn't answer. I couldn't answer. "I see." Was all he said. I chewed my lip again, a tad worried now. Did he suspect what happens at home? How could he know? He can't know, right?

"Jack?"

Apparently I was holding my breath, because when my name was said I let it all out, "Huh?"

"Did you hear me?"

"Sorry. No, I didn't. "

"Okay then, I asked if you just want to stay over? My mom won't be home, and if you can get away with it you can just stay the night tonight. " I stared at him, what?

I thought this through. Alright, most mornings my dad hardly ever comes in my room. He usually leaves before I go to school. I should be safe?

"Would you actually not mind?" My voice sounded so small, and I hated it.

"Of course not! Especially if it keeps you from getting in trouble. " He smiled at me, and patted me on the back.

"Then yeah, I'll stay. But just for tonight! I don't want to bother you or anyone. "

I could almost tell he rolled his eyes, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards his home. "Let's go. "

We got inside, and from what I could see in the dark, it was a nice house. It was clean, some things haven't been unpacked yet, but I can't blame them. They just moved in.

"Alright, so we have a guest bedroom, but there isn't a bed in there yet. I can make a blanket bed type thing for me and you can get my bed?"

"No no, Mark it's your house, your bed. You get to sleep there, I'll sleep on the blanket bed?"

"No, you, bed. Me? Floor. "

"I refuse. "

"You're really stubborn aren't you?" I can almost hear the smile on his voice.

"Yup!"

"...Fine. But next time you stay here you're getting the bed. "

That caught me off guard too? He wants me to stay over again? This probably made me more happy than it should've. I followed him down the hall to his room, where he grabbed a lot of blankets. Not sure how many but it was more than two I think.
I followed him to another room that was slightly smaller, he lied out the blankets keeping one to the side for me to cover with. Putting a blanket at the top of the blanket bed- as Mark called it.

"Alright, here ya go," he said, smiling at me tiredly.

He looked so tired.

"Thank you, Mark. You have no idea how much it means to me. "

He didn't say anything, but he got closer to me. I flinched. I didn't know what was going to happen, but a flash went by my eyes and I thought I was going to get hit.

That never happened though.

Instead, I felt two arms around me. It took me a few seconds. Having my mind register what is happening. Soon, I relaxed before wrapping my arms around him for a few seconds in return.

When we pulled away I didn't look up at his face. I felt a bit weird. I don't know what it was, but it was weird.

"Goodnight, Jack." He said, backing out of the room and shutting off that light.

"Goodnight, Mark. " i said, only to get in the blanket bed, covered myself up, and for the first time in forever, I fell asleep almost directly after my head hit the pillow.

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A/N Hey guys!!! For one I want to say wow! We hit 100 readers! Thank you! Also, another thing I wanna say is I'm so sorry for not updating ;-;  I don't really have any big reasons as to why I haven't been updating. Hopefully it won't be as long to the next chapter ^.^ have a great day everyone!
-Jake