"Everything starts with one step, or one brick, or one word or one day."- Jeremy Gilley

The years followed suit, nothing changing, but somehow, did. Mara still never talked, but rather did as he always did throughout the years: sat and watched me. I had become so accustomed to it, I barely noticed anymore.

Now into my mid-teenage years, I got more into gaming and art because of my parents. I still get scared witless, I still get embarrassed over people staring at my artwork. As I gained their talents, I gained their insecurities, their faults, their modesty. A fair trade off, I suppose.

I sat on my bed, a blanket wrapped around me that left only my head exposed. My eyes, burning and begging for sleep, were affixed to the game on the television.

"Shit," I said hushed, knowing it was well past the time that my mother went to bed, and well into the time that my father was recording. 

I slammed the controller down onto the bed, unraveling myself to get up and turn the TV and console off. I returned to my bed and laid down, flipping the covers up and over me. As they fell, I saw Mara staring at me, making my heart jump.

"Holy balls!" I put a hand over my heart, "What the hell, man?"

He just smirked at me, earning a well deserved middle finger flick. As he turned away, I grabbed a piece of paper and crumpled it up, hurling it at his head.

It landed with a very unsatisfying crunch.

I propped myself up on the bed, my eyes locked on Mara.

It... landed.

Everything up to this point... just... phased through him.

He turned and his eyes met mine, just as shocked as me. He looked down to his hands, then back to me, flashing a smile. I went to return the smile, but couldn't as my blood ran cold, thinking over the accounts my mother had told me of.

Suddenly, Mara rushed to the bed, leaping over the edge and on top of me.

I went to release a yelp as the adrenaline started to flow though my system, but he covered my mouth with his hand. I took hold of this hand, trying to pull it off me, wanting to get to one of my parents. I became distracted as he brought a finger up to his mouth, gesturing I stay silent.

"Eeee....eeet's... o-ok, okay," he stuttered out, sounding like an innocent child. 

I started to calm down, and he took his hand off my mouth, sitting next to me on the bed. I sat up, watching him fawn over his new acquired tangibility. He turned to me and smiled brightly, reaching a hand out to stroke my cheek.

"A...alex.." he hummed.

His gesture and the way he said my name made me slightly blush. I went to playfully slap his hand away, but my hand was only met with air. Mara's smile disappeared as we both realized that the moment was over, and he was back to his transparent, non-physical form.