NOTE: Currently switching his book from 1st POV to 3rd POV. There'll definitely be some inconsistencies, especially as half of the chapter are edited and the other half not (essentially being my old writing style from late 2020 - early 2021).
The Fi...
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❝ you can be the tastiest peach on the tree, but some people just don't like peaches. ❞
Chapter 21 - So Maybe We're Not Okay (and That's Okay)
Monday, Sunset - Night
Russia
I tried my best to comfort him as he sobbed into my chest. To be fully honest, I wasn't sure how to help. Never had I been able to comfort someone, let alone have someone care for me. But I was sure I wanted to help, even if we stayed like that for a lifetime. Soon enough he unraveled his arms from around my chest and wiped his tears. His eyes were red and tears stained his cheeks, but it was clear he felt much better by the small smile on his face. The kind smile on his face tugged on my heartstrings, a forever lingering feeling of regret being pushed to the surface. Tears wanted to escape, but I held them back. "Thank you."
America quickly stood up and wiped his face off, then held his hand out for me. "I don't wanna go home yet." I took and hold and followed him outside. "Isn't supposed to be me showing you around here?" He huffed and rested his elbows on the balcony. "It's calm and quiet here. I'd feel like a nerd if I watched the birds alone." "Didn't answer my question—and you sound oddly insightful—but I'll oblige." A chuckle escaped from his mouth. "I like to watch birds. There's not much else I really like anyways. It's just nice and relaxing." I gave him a devilish glance, rebutting, "And here I though you just watched Vine and went to parties." "Oh please." We both couldn't hold our laughter back after that. Oh what did you do with my heart..
"I do like watching birds though. I'd be... too scared to fly with them up there, but it's admirable. I like to think I'm confident, cocky, all those things, and I am, but I'm just as much of a coward and a romantic. Everyone's just scared of something." "Da. You know," I looked to him, "you might be one of the first people I've opened up to like this." "Same here. With everyone else... I suppose I just can't." It was a difficult thing to describe, but I knew exactly what he meant. "Yeah. Asking you to come over that night... it was an impulsive decision, but I can't say I regret it." We sat there in peaceful silence, watching as the birds fluttered into the sunset.
The sun soon disappeared beneath the horizon and the sky grew dark. "Hey, I've got an idea, wanna follow me?" America nodded, though with a puzzled look on his face. I quickly grabbed my axe from inside, then made my way to the fire pit. I grabbed a log of wood and placed it on an empty stump. "You know how to chop wood, da?" "Yeah?" "Then just watch." I gave him a small but cocky smile, then immediately started to chop the wood apart. I recalled when it was still difficult for me, my arms being too weak to properly grab a hold of the axe. Compared to then, it was a breeze. After I got through a decent pile, I put a few notches into the bigger chunks, then carefully placed the chunks into the pit. "The notches make it easier for the wood to catch fire." My hand reached for the lighter in my pocket and set fire to the pile.
"Let's hope it won't go out." "Oh that's happened way too many times before." A bark of laughter shot out from within me. "Yeah, definitely." We both took a set on the logs and watched as the ember grew into a blaze. "Fire is mesmerizing. It's shockingly intricate and beautiful, and acts as a wonderful backdrop for any conversation. I could fall asleep like this." "True! I'd really hate to fall asleep out here again though, my back would murder me." "I second that."
"Hey, I guess I never really explained what I meant when I said that Ukraine had work, huh?" He shook his head. "Well, and I'm sure you've pondered this before, 'how do a bunch of teens and preteens support themselves without parents' you ask?" I flourished my hand out to emphasize my point. "We have to work, obviously. Each of us 'older kids' work one day on the week, Ukraine's day being Monday, and mine being Tuesday." "Oh... you won't be with me at school tomorrow then." I looked sorrowfully to my myself. "Yeah. I'm sorry, I really wish I could be with you tomorrow. Especially with all the drama that's been stirred up in a week." He gave me a reassuring look. "It's alright. You've been spared the chaos and gossip of a high school populous." "As if I haven't gotten that enough already." "Hah, true." We both looked into the fire, letting it consume the rest of the night.
ʚ ɞ
sorry the thing isn't centered I'll fix it tmrw morning akksksja
anyways y ah I'm back I've been dead due to lack of motivation and also not knowing wtf I'm doing with the story
but yeah I think I've got a good grasp on where to take this! It was super rough trying to transition out of a crying scene naturally asskkskjsjss I think I've gotten better at including lyrics more naturally tho, I might go back t fix that
also yes I'm aware how janky the timing is, just accept it, it's like kids cartoons they can get into a shit ton within a day akjksjskj
anyways, thank you very much for reading, bye bye until next time :D
