-Tranquil-
(continued)
Jaiden mumbled to himself the entire way. His normal Thursday routine threw off every single one of his plans. Now he was behind. Now there was Marsh.
Jaiden pulled into the pickup lane of Marsh’s charter school. He saw him sitting alone on a bench, with a handful of younger kids and a couple of teachers. Jaiden hurriedly signed his brother out from the late-waiting lot, all while Marsh looked disheveled. Marsh’s irritation was drawn all over his face and topped off with matted, sticky hair.
“What took you so long?” Marsh asked, red-faced.
“Sorry, sorry. It’s my bad I got… distracted,” Jaiden could finally see how terrible his brother looked as they walked to the car.
“Today was the worst!” Marsh began.
“Tell me about it-”
“When I played my harmonica for Bella, Owen had to swoop in with his guitar! He’s so cool and nice and his hair is super soft and- and he’s really good at music. Oh man, I wish I was Bella. Anyways, now they’re dating,” Marsh ranted as he made room for himself in the passenger seat.
“Well, you know-” Jaiden started but Marsh wasn’t finished.
“Oh and today at lunch I thought I took Rob’s hard boiled egg so I cracked it open on my head, but it was just a normal freaking egg! Who brings a single uncooked egg to school?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken his-”
“So I went into the bathroom to wash it off but the water smelled weird. Then I tried to wipe it with a paper towel but it made it worse!” Marsh pulled down the sun visor to get a better look at the top of his head but realized there wasn't even a mirror. He continued, “Then after school, I get offered a ride by three different people but I say ‘It’s okay my ride will be here soon.' Since all my friends leave at the same time as me I was left to wait here, with nothing to do, single, and an egg’s guts in my hair. What do you have to say for yourself?” Marsh exclaimed. He was sloppily perched in his seat with one eyebrow raised, a leg tucked under the other, and his harmonica in his hand. For a moment, Jaiden was in Marsh’s world. He hadn’t even started driving but his brother deserved an explanation. Pandering to his overwhelming regret, he set his forehead on the steering wheel and sighed.
“Rune is in the hospital. By now I think,” He explained. Marsh was taken aback and adjusted his seating to something kinder.
“What?” Marsh prodded. Jaiden looked too tired but went on anyway.
“Rune was poisoned by a wit- Ms… Ms. Crodsfer. I’m sorry I forgot to pick you up… I need to run an errand,” Jaiden began to drive as he continued, “ I’ll stop by the house and…” He stopped mid-sentence only because he didn't know what else to say. Marsh fiddled with a short loose string on his sweater.
“I can go with you. On your errand, I mean,” Marsh prompted.
“N-no It will be… too long of a trip…”
“I don't have homework so I can go with you. What are you gonna get? I’ll be good company!” Marsh brightly insisted. Jaiden adjusted his grip on the steering wheel and glance to his brother then back to the road
“You can’t come with me, it might take… days?”
“What? Why?”
“It’s complicated…”
“What are you doing that will take days?” He asked confused. Jaiden suddenly went very quiet as he felt himself beginning to sweat. Marsh studied Jaiden’s silent response for a moment and watched him quickly flick on the AC. He held his face in such a way that made his mouth look lopsided and he stared wide-eyed into the road.
“What aren't you telling me?” Marsh concluded with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m- what?”
“I know you’re hiding something, so what is it? You make that face when you don't wanna tell mom that you failed a test or something so what are you not telling me?” Jaiden awkwardly clenched his teeth before marsh said with a concerned raise in his voice, “Are you doing something illegal!?”
“What!? No!” Jaiden said, completely caught off guard by his brother’s profound proposition.
“Well if you don’t tell me, I’ll just keep thinking that you’re gonna do something illegal. I’ll call the police on you! Or even worse, Mom!” Marsh pulled out an old flip phone that was for calling emergencies and threatened to use it.
“Marshall, stop!” Jaiden yelled, in an exhausted tone. Marsh pursed his lips, furrowed his eyebrows, and looked out the car window. He sighed in defeat before slouching dramatically into his seat. There was a moment of silence between the two and Jaiden slowed for an oncoming stoplight. The old car creaked when it stopped and Jaiden checked on the sky to see if the clouds would maybe tell him something. All he saw was a little brown bird fly by. Jaiden, not knowing what exactly to do, cleared his throat to get Marsh’s attention.
In one breath Jaiden said, “Okay. I’ll tell you only if you promise not to tell anyone and don’t... question anything. Deal?” Marsh nodded profusely and pretended to zip up his mouth and throw the key out of the car window.
“Okay… where do I start…” For the rest of the car ride, Jaiden explained the events of that day. In the most peculiar parts of his explanation, Marsh nodded knowingly. Stories of witches and fantasy worlds never interested either of them but Marsh was wrapped up in every word.
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