"Bust a Move!"
Disclaimer: I do own nothing, not even the picture book mentioned below. And the plot twist. Oh, the plot twist!
Summary: They forgot about a close friend, but got reminded thanks to his 'treasures'. Which they cherish in their heart. Asking themselves, how could they forget him?
X I almost gave up on this story, since I think my writing has changed dramatically. But then I remembered, that the characters in my story don't give up either. Except my Naruto Oc, but she's dead so that doesn't count.
Treasures from an old Friend
Brightened Words
~Flashback~
It had rained for days, the sky had been grey enough to wonder about it's true sky blue colour. If it would ever return. The forest floor was wet, mud stuck op to his jacket and face. His hair wet from rain and mud, smeared across his face. His glasses wet and moist, the jeans his mother bought him this morning were already ripped and stains of grass, mud and blood ruined the dark blue fabric.
He laid on the ground, his hair stuck to his cheeks and the eyes behind his glasses firmly shut. He was in pain, the wound on his leg stung from the dirt and the rain. Close to crying, he sniffed. Gasping for breath, rage rushed through his veins as he recalled all that had happened. He was in a fight. With a good friend. The reason had slipped his mind when the first fist had hit him. After the fifth kick he gave up defending himself, knowing what he had done was worth this much pain.
"I thought we were friends!" A shadow stretched over his face. The voice was angry but Alfred kept his eyes close. Afraid for another hit. "Look at me Alfred!" the person next to Alfred shouted and weakly the blonde opened his eyes to see his friend crying.
Rain was mixed with the tears on his friend's face, his spiky hair had fallen down due to the heavy rain and the cut on his cheek was blood coloured red.
Lost in disbelieve, he had never seen his friend crying, Alfred didn't move. Unable to, because of the pain in his arms and legs, because of the pain for making the strongest person he knew besides his dad shed tears over something unworthy as he.
"I thought we were friends. I-I.." His friend didn't spoke further, turning his head to not show the many tears hanging behind his eyes. He bit his lip, exposing the fresh cut and turned on his heels. Leaving the shock to overcome Alfred as the distance between them grew and his blue eyes only saw the person moving away. He had lost his friend. For good.
~End Flashback~
Sitting on his bed, thinking about the only memory troubling him after days full forgiveness, Alfred wiped a tear from his eyes. Alfred J., the plush duckling, lay across his bed, waiting for his owner.
Returned to the library, lost in the written story, Matthew's presence and lavender scent filled up the room. He always found shelter between the books when Alfred was in a mood like this; he had refused to tell his younger brother what was bothering him and the only few words he called his own in their brief conversation, left his lips in a shout.
Matthew turned the page between his fingers, his eyes glancing at the colourful photo's showing magnificent flowers. It had been a gift from and old friend and his favourite book that had left the bookshelves more times than any other book Matthew owned. Being his favourite, took the book's toll. The cover was damaged, the pages were dirty and pieces were ripped. But the value it held because of a small inscription in the front, was still there and welcomed Matthew every time he opened and travelled into the memory.
~Flashback~
"My mother is going to freak out when she sees the mess." Little Matthew's cheeks were brown from the dirt, scattered through his hair little picks of weed. His pants were dirty, green from the grass mixed with the white silk.
His violet eyes travelled through the flowerbed. Piles of spoil, buckets half buried underneath. A lost spade crushing delicate flowers. Holes to be filled with new seeds and the lawnmower, little red was shown underneath the thick layer of green grass, abandoned in the corner of the garden near the pond. Birds resting in the big oak in the middle of the garden, enjoying the lovely weather and the precious sunlight through the clouds.
His friend next to him smiled, his light freckles and soft blush covered with soil as well. His favourite shirt, orange with a white rabbit on it, showed greenish shades on his stomach. But he didn't seem to mind.
"She told us to enjoy ourselves, didn't she? Well, I'm enjoying this!" And his hands disappeared into the soil again, creating a small hole for special flowers he had brought with him. Matthew laughed and followed his lead.
"I got you a present." His friend said, sipping his soda and glanced over to his bag next to him under the oak. They had stopped digging and relaxed in the shade. Matthew bit his candy bar, curious about the present. A blossom pink shade filled his face, when the gift – perfectly wrapped in shimmering red paper- was in front of him.
"Wauw! A picture book!" The wrappings around the present were abandoned and fell onto the ground, his tiny hands eager followed the cover and he opened the book. Filled with photo's en information about flowers, their colourful appearances greeted him. Turned a few pages, more flowers from different countries greeted him. Their names in shining gold letters, the letters not too small for him to read.
"Thank you so much! B-but I don't have a gift for you." Blushing to give a hug as a thank you and embarrassed over the fact he hadn't had a gift in return, Matthew received a ruffle through his hair. "We're friends. That's your present to me." Making the younger boy smiled, the spiky haired brunette laughed and searched the pockets of his ripped pants. Pulling out a photograph, picturing a white and orange rabbit.
"This is my rabbit. Nijntje. I got her for my birthday. Can she be our friend too?" The photo pressed was in Matthew's hands, his eyes glowed. The rabbit was cute, small and sincerely asleep on the photo. In his friends arms. Who smiled with glee and obvious proud.
"Yes. She's our friend too. Just like my bear."
~End Flashback~
A watery smile played on his lips, Matthew had forgotten about the tension between him and his brother and his heart had been filled with memories that seemed so long ago. His favourite book hadn't lost the magic of friendship stuck to the pages.
That day, his mother had been furious. But it was worth it. Their garden had been filled with colourful flowers, marked with a red pencil in his book. Tulips, roses, sunflowers, lavender and lilies. All had changed the green desert into a painting.
He sighted. Wishing that the memory held not years, but only days. He missed those moments. More since he had opened the treasure chest and allowed his friend back into his head to play with his mind and feelings.
Turning a page, Matthew felt something slip between his fingers and a photo fluttered down onto the ground near his feet. Picking the delicate photo carefully, he realized it was the most precious photo his friend owned in his youth. The one of his rabbit.
It had been his treasure, like the treasure he gave to Alfred and Matthew. A true friend who only valued friendship in return.
How he missed the boy and his friendship. The ruffles through his hair, the carefree smiles and the light freckles playing around his lips and nose. His spiky hair and his talent to always make Matthew smile. He needed him. And his friendship. And the memories. The treasure were just a way to make a new beginning.