Rune's POV

I skipped school again this week, I only went one day, but it's just so difficult being back there without him.

I miss my best friend. I miss him so damn bad.

I don't even know what to do with myself anymore.

I can't eat, I can't sleep, I'm struggling to look after myself.

I'm struggling to live..

***

-=- that night, a dream -=-

3rd Person POV

Rune walks along the forest path slowly, taking in the surroundings.

Many beautiful glowing, colourful flowers bloom and face him as he walks along the pathway, lighting up where he needed to go.

Fireflies make many patterns and shapes in the darkness above him.

Rune pauses to watch the fireflies in awe. They make a glowing heart in the sky above him with the initials "R.K & P.S"

(A/N: for anyone who's unsure or forgotten, R.K stands for Rune Knight, and P.S stands for Phoenix Star)

Rune smiles for the first time in weeks.

"Phoenix.." he breathes out softly, before following the glowing flowers along the pathway, towards a beautiful lake with a table set out.

Rune stares in awe at the beauty surrounding him. Flowers of all colours glow brightly around him, and the fireflies in the sky dart around above him creating breathtaking images.

"There's so many of them.." Rune whispers in awe.

He watches as they change colours.

Rune's mouth drops open in shock and his eyes widen as he takes in the sight before him.

There's so much colour and beauty, he's having a hard time taking it all in.

A familiar chuckle causes Rune's attention to snap towards the table, and there, sitting in a non wrinkled pure white tux was the one person Rune never thought he'd see again.

Phoenix.

Rune rushes over to him and tackles him in a hug.

"Nix! Oh my god!" He shouts.

Phoenix chuckles and hugs him back tightly, burying his face in Rune's neck.

"I missed you so much.." Phoenix whispers in his ear.

Tears runs down Rune's cheeks. "This is just a dream... I want it to be real.." he hiccup sobs softly into Phoenix's tux.

"I know... I know.. but it's better than nothing, yeah?" Phoenix replies gently.

Rune nods and hugs him tighter, calming his sobs and enjoying being with Phoenix again.

"Shall we eat? Before it gets cold?" Phoenix asks, gently pushing Rune towards his own seat.

"Yeah, of course." Rune smiles and wipes the tears off his cheeks and away from his eyes.

Phoenix smiles back and the two greatest best friends start eating, playfully stealing each other's food, just like they always have.

The two best friends talk about their favourite young childhood memories together, including being chained together for a week.

"I still can't believe the key was under my bed the entire time!" Rune laughs, "it took so long for us to find it!"

Phoenix laughs and nods, "honestly, we looked literally everywhere in both our houses except under your bed!"

The two boys grin at each other, but after a while Rune's fades and turns into a sad smile.

"I'm going to have to leave soon.. aren't I? I won't get to see you again.. I-.." he pauses and looks down, fighting a new wave of tears.

"I can't live without you, Nix.. you're my anchor and I feel like I'm floating away without you.." he says softly.

Phoenix tears up. "I know.." he chokes out, "I know exactly what you're going through.. believe me.."

The two greatest best friends sit in silence, with only the noises of nocturnal animals around them to break it.

"I don't want to leave.. I want to stay here.. with you.. forever.." Rune starts, "just like we promised.. we'd never be apart.. why can't I join you?" Tear drops fall from his eyes and land on his lap.

Phoenix sniffles and stands up. He walks over to Rune and pulls him to his feet before pulling him into a tight hug, one that shows Phoenix doesn't want him to leave either.

"I love you, Ru. I'm utterly lost without you.. you've been there for me, as my anchor since we were about 5, not a day has gone by that I don't miss you, or need you here by my side.." Phoenix says quietly.

Rune tightens his grip on Phoenix. "I hope we meet again.. even if it's in a dream like this, Nix.." he says.

Phoenix nods and smiles sadly, "I hope so too." He replies.

The two friends stand there hugging, under the lights and colourful fireflies, surrounded by glowing flowers that smell of the most beautiful things in the world.

They swayed together gently, enjoying the comfort they are able to provide to each other.

Time passes slowly as neither friend knows what to say, nor do they want to ruin the comfortable silence they have surrounded themselves in.

Unfortunately, as the night starts to fade and the morning sun rises, and the fireflies go back to their normal colour and fly off to sleep for the day, and the flowers close to soak in the sun's warmth to prepare for the next night, Rune and Phoenix find themselves slowly starting to fall out of their comfortable silence.

Rune and Phoenix reluctantly release one another, knowing full well it's time for Rune to wake up.

New tears drip down their cheeks as they exchange goodbyes and give their last hugs before the dream starts to fade as reality sets in.

-=- end of the dream -=-

Rune's POV

I lay in bed with my eyes open, recounting the dream I just woke from.

"It seemed so realistic.." I whisper softly.

I know it wasn't real though.. as much as I wish it would have been. It was good to see my Nix though.

The last time I saw him... he stared at me blankly.

I close my eyes tightly and try to think of something else to erase the image of Phoenix's dead eyes staring into the depths of my soul.

With a deep sigh, I rise from my bed and head straight to my shower, I sob loudly and uncontrollably until my throat is sore, while scrubbing my body thoroughly with soap and washing my hair.

Once finished, I get out of the shower and dry myself, before slinking back into my room and grabbing comfortable pants, undies and another one of Phoenix's hoodies.

I walk downstairs, ignoring my parents who stop their arguing to look at me pityingly.

I make myself toast, the first meal I've willingly made myself in weeks.

After making the toast and putting butter and jam on it, I sit down at the table with a glass of orange juice.

"Perhaps, today won't be so bad after all." I muse to myself as I eat the toast and stare out the window where I'm sitting, watching a baby bird learning how to fly from a nest in the tree above.

"Hopefully." I whisper out loud and finish my food before getting ready for school and heading out with a goodbye to my shocked and confused parents.