I stare in the small piece of mirror at my now shoulder length hair which was waist lenghth 15 minutes ago.

I'm officially 18 now, I thought I could use a change.
This morning they started singing the happy birthday song but I quickly stopped them before they could continue.

I continue looking in the piece of mirror that Joy just happened to have in her bag. I see the visible bags under my eyes. I didn't get much sleep last night, Dannys coughs kept me awake as I could not throw off my anxiety.

He was visibly better this morning, as I gave him the rest of the medicine and he was no longer coughing, only complaining of a sore throat.

I turn around to Danny to see the pocket knife that he used to cut my hair still in his hands.

I mean, it's not a drastic change but it's something.

I ofcourse had to force Danny to do it for me since Joy didn't know how.

It was a little jagged in some places but I still liked it. I felt somewhat, lighter.

"How do I look?" I say to them

"Beautiful! "

"Great"

"You don't look any different..."

I'm sure you can tell who replied with what.

After admiring myself a little more, we set out.
Our next Stop was Lakeville.

"Wait.." Sam said making us Stop in our tracks."do you guys hear that?"

I listened closely..
Then I heard it.

"A train" I said and he nodded.

"We don't have any money" Danny said.

"We could jump it?" I said catching Danny by suprise. Yes I know I'm always opposed to these stuff but we were closer now.

So that's exactly what we did.
We waited at the corner, cause according to Danny that's where the train would slow down a bit.

It was nearing the corner now...

One,

Two,

Three..

Jump!

We made it.

~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~

"Fucking kids!" The man said as he threw us off the train.

"You're lucky I ain't got time to report you"

He threw me last and I landed on my butt with a thud in the grass.

We were halfway to Lakeville when they found us.
It was Joy, complaining that she was hungry then Danny went in search for food on the train.

And that's how they found us.

We would have to walk the rest of the way.

"Hey" Danny says before showing us a pack of chips. He must have taken it off the train before they caught us.

I took it and shared it for the four of us.

We moved from the tracks and started on the dirt road again.

I looked at Danny who was noticeably better now.

"Is your throat still sore"

"Mhm" he says and I look at him.

"Yes" he corrects.
And we continued walking with Joy and Sam in front of us talking.

I wonder what they're talking about?
Which reminds me, I need to talk to Joy soon.

~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~

We found a place in a field to rest a while ago, and Danny has been gone ever since.

He said he'll be back in 30 minutes.

It's been 3 hours.

And the Sun was going down.

I look over to Joy who was giggling at something Sam was saying.

"Joy" I gesture for her to come closer to me.

Sam got up also and they both walked over.

"Hey Sam, we need wood for a fire. Will you go get it?"

He nods and leaves.

I pat the grass beside me telling Joy to sit.

"Soooo" she says

"What's going on with you and Sam?" I ask

"Nothing" she looks panicked.

" Joy..."

"Okay, I like him and he told me he loves me.... please don't tell Danny" she says in a rush.

I sigh

"Joy you're 15"

Oh man , I'm sounding like a Mom..

"Yeah, but I'm almost 16, and he's almost 17"

"Have you done anyhing yet"

"What?! Gravity!"

"Noo I mean like kiss"

"Oh, well yeah"

I sigh once more.

"Joy, It's ok to have a crush but I don't think you're ready for anything more yet"

"You're such a hypocrite" she says getting irritated "You're just 3 years older and you're acting like my mother. What about you and Danny?!"

"Hold up. There's nothing going on between Danny and I and even if there was, we are both adults. I mean, I thought it was just a little crush but love? Joy you're 15"

She huffs and walks away.

This is the first time she has behaved like this.

Was I being unfair? No
I mean she's just 15, and she's only known this boy for like a week.

I walk over to her.

"Look, I won't tell Danny but please promise me you'll be careful. I just don't want you to do anything unresponsible Joy"

She sighs and looks at me.

"I know, he's not my boyfriend or anything but I do like him alot. We won't go any furthur for now I promise"

I nod.

"Dannys not back yet?" I turn to see Sam who was coming to us with tree branches in his arms.

"Nope" I say getting worried.

I hope he's okay....

▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~

When I saw Danny coming up the road, Joy and Sam were already asleep. Not before we managed to get a fire going though.

As he came closed I saw that he had something in his hands.

Flowers?

"Hi" he said then handed me the flowers while scratching the back of his neck.

"I umm.. can't afford a real bouquet so I've been walking for hours and pickig flowers to make one....Shit gift I know but.. Happy Birthday Gravity."

I don't say anything, just stare at him.

"Fuck, I knew you wouldn't like it just-"

"Danny-"

"Picking flowers like a fucking church girl-"

"Daniel" he stops and looks at me.

"I love it. Thank you it's just that no one has ecer done something so thoughtful for me"

"Well, I've never done anything like this for anybody either.hell, before I met you I didn't used to say more than 2 words to anyone but Joy"

I laugh.

"Remember when you first met me, you were soo rude"

"You were so fucking annoying"

I laugh harder

He smiles just slightly, if I didnt look properly I might have missed it.

I look down at the bouquet and smile.

~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~▪~

I stare at Danny as he sleeps.

Stalker level 100.

Dannys isn't the most friendly person, so the fact that he picked flowers for me it's....

Well it makes me feel things.

Wait.

I-

Wait is it possible?

Yes, I think-

I think I like Danny.

__________________________________________

Danny: vote to get a hand made bouquet

Author: really?!

Danny: nah

Still vote though ;)

*takes deep breath*

Thank you guys so much for reading I think we're at 60 reads now.

I feel like this book deserves so much more recognition as I spend a whole lot of time on it but I hope we'll get there.

Please share this book with others.
My goal is 100 reads by May.

Till next time,

-Kadi

♥