Seven-Chris

I was having a really good day. And when I say a really good day, for me that just means it didn't rain and nobody was trying to kill me.
On a good day it would've probably rained.
I don't get bad days, just good days, really good days and…days. The days used to be called bad days, but Kat says it's a waste of time and energy to label it as something negative and that I should just accept that when someone tries to kill me it is not a bad day, simply something that happens on a regular basis.
Personally I think it's a load of crap but I'd never say that to her face.
Ashley, Kat and I were spending the day in our favourite spot, The Falls. A canopy of green deep in the heart of the forest surrounds the Falls and nobody else knows about them except for us. If you wanted to describe them, I guess you could say that they're kind of like a natural water slide of sorts. There is a stream that runs throughout the forest, which widens into a larger river that finally leads into a waterfall. The water doesn't really fall like a normal waterfall though; it just goes along a rather flat and slippery rock face, kind of like a children's playground slide. There is a pool of cool water at the bottom of it all and when the sun hits it in the right places it's almost as warm as bathwater. That's our only happy place, where we can really be off out guard.
I swam over to Kat who was quietly sitting on a large rock in the middle of the pool. On her face were two expressions that were rarely used by her; anger and confusion.
"Kat, what's wrong?" I asked alarmed.
She shook her head and sighed, "I don't know just...something's wrong with John I think. My head's killing me, I'm not so sure that he's okay."
I got up onto the rock and sat beside her, taking her hand in mine. "It's going to be fine he probably has a headache or something," I smiled, "It'll be alright."
Just as I was about to give her a hug, we heard a loud splash followed by a loud string of profanities and John fell out of the tree nearest to Ashley and into the pool.

I took a long look at John while he sipped quietly at his hot cocoa. He looked like shit.
I sighed, "So, can you tell me why you were sleeping in that tree in the first place. That's a pretty messed up place for somebody to be sleeping. What the hell was going on in you're mind?"
He shuddered slightly, calmly put down his cup and said, "I killed someone. Some guy who was trying to kill me first, don't get me wrong, I don't go and kill like, every guy I see...it's just that this guy, he was talking about all of us like he knew who we were." He sipped at his cocoa some more, "He told me he knew where Kat was...and that he'd make her do some pretty messed up stuff...I don't wanna really get into anything specific but," he smiled wryly and chuckled, "but he never finished talking because man, I just lost it. You know how I am."

I looked at him, and yeah, he was telling the truth. What could I do? It was part of our survival to have to kill somebody at one time or another. We don't like it, but who the hell wants to be killed right?

"Look John, it's all right...you don't have to explain yourself any further, I'm pretty sure that I know it was in your best interest to kill him. I'm not an idiot, but neither are Kat and Ash. You know they don't believe that bullshit story you told us before about how you accidentally "got stuck" while climbing and decided to take a catnap up there. Than when you woke up you "fell" out of the tree and hit your head. Where are you going to hit your head when you fell into water that is about twenty feet deep you idiot?" I said.
John looked taken aback by what I had said. He looked down, up, down again and than into my eyes and said, "I know. I just couldn't say anything in front of Kat you know? She's my little sister and-"
"I thought you were twins..." I said stifling a chuckle.
If looks could kill, which I'm pretty sure John's could, I would've been dead in an instant. "Fuck you and you're little analysis thing that you do. I came out a day early, which makes me older. Shut up okay? Look, I'll tell her in the morning but you don't say anything to her." He looked over at the chair across the room near the fireplace, "That goes for you too Ash, no girly bonding crap and don't think I can't see you over there just because you're hiding."
I didn't know you were in here I thought.
"I like to hide in the shadows when I can, it's good that you can't sense me like John and Kat, it would make life such a bore." She looked over at me and smiled.
I stood up and began to walk out, but not before Ashley followed me into my room with a cup of tea and some Tylenol for my head. She's always good for knowing things like when one of us is sick.
"What are you, my mother?" I asked impatiently as Ashley fussed with my always-messy hair.
"No, your mother tried to blow you up in a Jesus-freak attempt to rid your soul of the devil." She retorted with slight amusement in her voice.
She really needed to lay off the whole Mum thing; she's only half a year younger than me. Honestly, I know it's creepy right? Having one of your best friends act as your Mum can have its benefits too though. She makes amazing food I have to say.
The other good thing about being with Ashley is that I don't have to talk. She'll still hear me, so what does it matter if I think words or speak them? It doesn't.
Let me go to bed Ash, I'm tired. Stop fussing about with my hair please it's fine. I thought as I looked up at her impatiently.
"Fine, get into bed then," she sighed, "Good night Chris."
I yawned and rubbed my fingers through my hair, "Yeah, 'night."

That night, I dreamt that I was cold, so very cold. It was raining and I was in some kind of leaky shed with someone. He looked like the kind of person who would be into Star Wars and all that crap. He also looked fierce and kind and I knew I could trust him.
He wore a blue button down shirt, jeans and a toque that didn't quite fit his big head. He had glasses in the pocket of his shirt. I was so cold, hungry and tired that my vision began to blur and I began to sway where I was standing and I fell into the boy by accident.
I half expected him to hit me, but instead he put down whatever it was that he was doing and picked me up. He brought me to a place where it was more dry, a little room in the back of the shed. There were pillows there and even though I was cold, I was also warm. He was so very warm did he have a fever?
The boy laid me down on the makeshift bed of pillows and took of his shirt and draped it over me. It was a very large shirt; it was down to my knees in length. I smiled up and him and said, "Thank you Caleb."
He smiled back at me and left the room. I was warm and I could finally sleep...so...tired. I drifted off and dreamt of fire.