Chapter Two: Stars

I winced slightly as the cottonmouth curled up defensively in my lap. "I hate you," I growled at Mullet Fingers, trying my best to ignore the angered snake.

"Love you too, Frostbite." Mullet Fingers chuckled and passed me the tape. "You have to hold them by the back of the head and the end of the tail, or they'll try to hit you."

Forcing back a scowl, I did as I was told then shoved the newly reinforced snake into the cloth bag. "Hey, Mullet Fingers?"

"Yeah?"

"Since the grapevine is so thin nowadays, I heard something about someone putting alligators in the port-a-potties at the construction site." I turned to him and narrowed my eyes when he turned away guiltily. "That wouldn't have been you, would it?"

Mullet Fingers sighed. "I just want to save the owls." He looked at me, blue eyes shimmering with emotion. "They're an endangered species, so I need to protect them; they're a part of Florida, just like you and me."

I echoed his sigh and kicked a stone away from me. It struck the bag and the snakes inside began to squirm. "I want to save them just as mush as you do, Mullet, but we're just two runaway kids. We can't do this alone." I lowered my gaze to the ground, draped my arms over my knees, and growled quietly.

"Beatrice cares for the owls as well, but she won't even try to stall the workers."

I heard him shift his wild blonde hair with his hand. "No one else will help?" Rolling my shoulders and hearing them pop, I sat up then leaned against Mullet Fingers' shoulder. I could feel him breathe softly, as if he were deep in thought, and murmured, "So what is the plan for tonight?"

Mullet Fingers shrugged the shoulder I wasn't on. "I was thinkin' 'bout spray-painting the trailer's windows or something like that."

"Hmm..." I closed my eyes and breathed through my nose. The wonderful scents of Florida overpowered my senses, and I sighed in happiness. This place needs to be preserved, I thought with a mental sigh. But it will take more than me and Mullet Fingers to do the job. "Why won't Beatrice help?"

"Scared of getting caught."

I chuckled under my breath. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" I lightly pushed off Mullet Fingers' shoulder and sat up. I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. "Stars, I've been running all day."

"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?" Mullet Fingers laughed heartily, gently pressing him palm onto the middle of my back and pushing me forwards. "Take a quick nap, then get ready."

"Thanks, buddy."

(Four Hours Later)

The cans of spray paint clanged lightly against each other as Mullet Fingers raced through the forest to the construction site. I was right on his heel, my near entire arsenal of mischief-making items in a black bag on my back. Our footsteps were silent because this path was very familiar to us; the only sounds we made were the cans and the gentle thudding of the bag against my back.

We shot through the trees at full speed. When the path widened, I increased my speed until I was running side by side with Mullet Fingers, our arms brushing as we ran. I didn't know exactly what we were doing, but I knew that Mullet Fingers had a plan.

"So what are we going to do?" I whispered, not taking my eyes off the winding path.

"I'm not sure yet," he answered.

So much for having a plan.

As we neared the site, we slowed our pace until we came to an abrupt stop at the edge of the area. Everything was quiet, and the only lights on were in the trailer. No chance of painting those windows.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something white sitting at the edge of the clearing, partially hidden in the shadows. With closer inspection I recognized a Coconut Cove police cruiser. "Hey."

"What?" Mullet Fingers shifted in the dark beside me.

"Police cruiser," I muttered, pointing at the car. "Looks like the cop is dead."

Mullet Fingers didn't say anything but began to stalk toward the car. I followed closely, glancing at the trailer every few seconds, and the fear of getting caught gripped my body. My legs locked and I stood perfectly still, too afraid to move. The blood pounding in my ears blocked out all other sound, except for my own breathing, which was getting harsher with each moment. I locked my vision on the trailer door, imagining the man coming out, catching us in the act, and dragging us to the police department where we will be separated. I didn't want to get caught and knew that if I stayed still any longer I would be, but I couldn't move.

"Frostbite." Mullet Fingers appeared in my very small field of vision. "Hey, snap out of it." He waved a hand in front of my face, and I blinked. "You all right?"

I shook my head panicked. "We're gonna get caught. We're gonna get caught!"

Mullet Fingers put the bag on the ground and grabbed my shoulders in a gentle, but strong grip. "Hey, Frosty, calm down. We're not gonna get caught, okay?" He drew closer until his face was barely three inches from my own. "Just breathe. We're gonna be okay."

I slowed my breathing until it was at regular speed and blinked a few times. "I just... I just don't want to get caught."

My friend flashed a smile that glowed in the darkness. "Do you trust me, Frosty?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Then we won't get caught." He released his grip on me and picked up the bag. "Come on." Mullet Fingers draped an arm across my shoulders and guided me to the cop car.

When we reached it, Mullet Fingers left me for a couple seconds to check on the officer inside it. He returned, a grin present on his face. "You were right; he's asleep."

I nodded, finally getting a grip on my terror, and held a hand out. Mullet Fingers dug a hand into the bag, pulled out a can of black spray paint, and gave it to me. I shook it and winced as the ball inside the can banged against the top and bottom. I waited for Mullet Fingers to grab a can then we tiptoed to the car.

"You get this side and the back window," Mullet Fingers whispered in my ear. "I'll get the other side and the front." He paused then added, "Be careful, Frostbite."

"'Kay." Being as quiet as frost, I edged closer to the car and raised the can. I pushed down the nozzle and started working.

Once we were done we headed back to the golf course. By now everyone was gone. The sky was an indigo color with millions of tiny dots imprinted on it and the moon was as thin as a willow branch, letting off a dull light and giving the course a ghostly appearance. We walked side by side across the close cut green grass to the forest. The silence was deafening, but it wasn't uncomfortable; we were just thinking about the trick we had just pulled.

"Spray painting the cop car is not going to stop them," I murmured, breaking the silence. "It may stall them, but it won't stop them." I heard Mullet Fingers sigh heavily and knew I had burst his bubble.

"I know, but at least we bought some time. Now we can think of something even better."

I stopped in my tracks and turned my gaze upwards at the thin moon. "You'll never back down, will you, Mullet Fingers?" I heard him take a deep breath as if he were about to speak, but I cut him off, "Neither will I, and you know that." I shoved my hands in the front pockets of my jeans and threw a hasty glance behind us. No one was behind us, but I wasn't all the way convinced.

"You know, Frost, I'm thinking about using those snakes."

Rolling my eyes, I switched my gaze from the moon to my best friend. He was staring off in the distance, a look of deep thought on his face. "We need to think out a plan," I said after a short pause. "'Cause tonight, ah, you really didn't have one. Painting the windows of the cop car was just a spur of the moment move."

"I know," Mullet Fingers answered with a laugh. "Gosh, you're startin' to sound like my sister." He nudged me with his elbow and smiled.

"I'm taking that as an insult."

My blonde friend's laughter filled the night air. "Don't worry. At least you don't look like her."

I ran my fingers through my pitch black hair and blinked. "Thank goodness." I tugged on a couple strands of my bangs, released them and smiled. "I like my black hair."

"Do you have a place to stay tonight?"

"No, and not for tomorrow night or the night after that or the night after that and beyond." Sighing, I looked my bare feet, paler than normal against the dark grass. I felt Mullet Fingers' hand touch my shoulder and glanced up at him.

"You can stay with me," he said.

"Thanks, Mullet Fingers."

His smile widened. "Ya know I would do anything for my best friend."

I scoffed at him. "I'm your only friend, idiot."

Mullet Fingers laughed as he lead the way to his campsite.

A/N: Wow, I'm getting these out pretty quick. I must be really bored then (stayed home for school *cough* sick *cough* lying *cough* . . .No one heard that.