My eyes snap open and I jolt up. My breath is fast and shallow; it takes me a few minutes to get my breathing rate down to normal. When I can get oxygen in my lungs I look around the dark room. I can hear the soft snores of Jake sleeping less than three metres away from me. I sidle backwards until I can lean against the headboard then rummage around on the floor until my hand hits my backpack. I pull it onto the bed and stare at it until my eyes have fully adjusted to the darkness. After a few more minutes I can see moderately well. I hunt through the bag until I come across what I'm looking, a picture and a box of matches. I told Jake I'm over her, but he's not the only person who doubts that. Well, time to prove it. I slowly creep my way over to the window and stare out it. Taking a deep breath of fresh air I hold the picture up in-front of me and stare at it for so long, I lose track of time, then I shake my head and brandish the matches. After placing the picture on the window sill I strike a match and quickly swap the box for the picture. I hold the match just out of reach for a while, then I bring it into contact with the corner of the material. It quickly ignites and I flick it out the window. I watch as the picture of Princess Bubblegum falls, burning, to the ground and I stay there even after it has stopped burning and is no longer visible.
A lone tear falls from my eyes as I make my way back to bed. I stuff the matches back into my bag and collapse on my bed. I stare at the ceiling as I think about how other have told me that love isn't one of my strengths, that it's not my forte. I sigh and finally close my eyes, tomorrow is a new day, and a new start.
"Good morning, Sir Finn," the voice breaks through the shroud of sleep and forces me to open my eyes. The red and white, suit wearing, butler stands over me with a tray.
"Hey, Peppermint Butler," I yawn and sit up.
"I have come to deliver to you breakfast," he says as he places the tray on the bedside table.
I thank him and turn to the tray as he walks out. I remove the lid and stare at the food piled on the plate underneath. Only now that I'm looking at food do I realise that I'm starving.
"Hey, Jake, you want some of this…" I stop talking when I look over at his bed and realise I'm alone.
I push the sheets off me and stand, I look down and realise I slept with my shoes on. Oh well, what's done is done. I walk over to where Jake was sleeping and see a note sitting on top of his pillow.
Finn, I've gone for a walk in the woods. Don't know how long I will be. See you back at the tree house. –Jake.
What is he up to now?
I'm sitting out the back of the castle, on a wooden fence, watching two candy people spar. I smile and lean against the tree that is growing right behind me and the fence. My now full stomach is happy and I am feeling content. The pair stop fighting and begin looking at me. One of them walks over to me and offers me their wooden sword. I begin to decline, but stop, then take the sword. I shrug off my pack and lean it against the fence, along with my sword. Spinning the sword as I walk, I make my way towards my opponent. He bows his head to me and I do the same.
As soon as my head is back to its normal height I bring the sword up and block an incoming attack. I fend off the attack and retaliate with one of my own. I strike faster than he can react, before he can bring his sword around I hit him in what I'm guessing is the ribs. His expression changes to one of shock while I just smile.
"Dead," I tell him as I head back to my spot on the fence.
I continue to watch the pair sparring for a while longer, then I jump off the fence, collect my bag and sword and head on my way. As I head back home I begin wondering what Jake is up to. Last time he said he was going for a walk in the woods it ended with a lot of fire and I got burned, in more than one way. I shake my head and kick a stone along the ground as I walk. I kick the stone for what I think is the fifteenth time and watch as it rebounds off a tree and smashes into my shin. Pain shoots up my leg and I lean down and check my leg. I'm not bleeding, but it hurts like hell. I continue on my way, hobbling as I go.