Look who is back. I know; it's been forever. Things are starting to finally get back on track for us, and I have more time to write. I'm determined to finish this story. I promise. I just found the password I use for fan fiction, and your reviews made me continue. I hope to update as much as possible. But since my old laptop died, I have to rewrite the story. Things might be slow, but I will finish this!

Oh, and there will be two songs sung during this chapter. Let's see who can name them.

Chapter 10 – Swift Stories

"So, what's first on our list?" Matthew asked as he put a marshmallow on a metal stick.

"Well, I thought after we made s'mores, we could tell ghost stories or something."

"But, Al, you know how you get when we tell stories like that."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Alfred split a graham cracker in half. Matthew lifted up his glasses to briefly sweep over his eyes. The American tested the marshmallow before sticking it between the crackers and chocolate. He bit into it, the marshmallow oozing out the other side. He tried to catch it before it landed on his lap, causing Matthew to crack a smile.

"So…" Matthew pulled his burnt marshmallow out of the fire and blew on it. "Summer's half over all ready."

"I know!" Alfred groaned. "Stupid bike accident."

"Hey, if you would've worn your helmet."

"Hey, if you wouldn't have let the air out of my tires."

Matthew closed his lips tight. This was obviously not going to get them anywhere. He stuck another marshmallow onto the fire. "So, are you ready for that scary story yet?"

"I was born ready." Alfred's eyes challenged the Canadian. Matthew knew it didn't take much to scare his teen neighbor, but he concocted a good one tonight. Too good to pass up.

"There is a tunnel under the old railroad tracks just to the west of the Queen Elizabeth Way in Niagara Falls. It is known locally as the Screaming Tunnel. A path wanders through the tunnel and then up to an empty field on the hill. But the field was not always empty."

Alfred's eyes widened as he munched down on his snack. Matthew's heart pounded in his chest as he continued.

"At one time, a large farm house stood in the field at the top of the hill, and in it lived a happy family. Then one night, the house caught fire. A young daughter was trapped in the house, and the only way to escape was through a wall of flames. The brave young girl covered her face with her arms and ran into the fiery doorway. Her long hair and her long nightgown began to smolder as she burst through the flames and rushed out of the house."

The s'more fell from Alfred's hands, his eyes lit up in horror. Matthew wondered if he should stop now, lest he wanted Alfred holding him the whole night. However, he knew now that he had gotten into creepy territory, the American teen would not let him rest until he knew the end, even if the ending was not all that happy.

"When the night air struck her smoldering clothing, it burst into flames, enveloping the girl in a raging inferno. The girl screamed in agony and ran blindly down the hill, away from the fire-stricken house. She staggered into the tunnel under the train tracks, her screams echoing and re-echoing through the night. Overcome by the flames, the girl fell to the floor of the tunnel, wailing in agony. She rolled frantically on the floor of the tunnel, trying to douse the flames, but her efforts were weak and ineffective. She was quickly overcome, and burned to death in the tunnel under the tracks."

Matthew lit a match in his hands. Alfred watched him with focused eyes, his mind trying to dispel the image of a girl burning to death under the tunnel. The match lit up Matthew's face, casting a haunted glow. The shadows flickered and animated his lifeless expression.

"After that night, anyone that dares strike a match in the tunnel under the tracks will hear the agonized death screams of the burning girl, and a ghostly wind will instantly blow out the match."

A breeze swept between them, blowing the match side to side. Alfred watched the flame, his mouth hung open in a silent scream. The trees seemed to cry as their leaves were blown side to side. Matthew looked down at the match and grinned. He blew it out, earning a horrified scream from his neighbor.

The Canadian boy let out a shrill laugh. Alfred power dove into him, knocking the two to the ground.

"She followed us here! She's going to kill us!" Alfred screamed, squeezing Matthew.

"Alfred, calm down! It's just a story!" Matthew tried to yell over his neighbor. Alfred's trembling body shook the two of them as the American nuzzled his head into the crook of Matthew's neck. "I knew we shouldn't have done this."

"Matthew, how could you tell me something freaky this late at night?" Alfred mumbled into the Canadian's chest.

"But you told me to," Matthew argued. He tried to stay angry, but for some reason, guilt over took his being. "Look, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, it's not real."

Alfred's head shot up. "No, it does not, Matthew Williams." His face was twisted in a scowl. "Now I'll never go into a tunnel at night."

"Look, let's just forget the scary stories and do something else," Matthew sighed.

Alfred remained silent, his knees brought up to his chest. With a light sigh, Matthew flopped onto his back, alerting his neighbor beside him. Alfred's wide eyes stared down at the Canadian teen. He shook Matthew's body, and violet eyes met his gaze.

"Hey, are you okay?" Alfred asked. "Because if you're going to sleep, I want to be beside you to protect you. You know, in case you angered that little girl's spirit by telling her story."

"I'm not sleeping, Al. I'm stargazing."

Alfred's eyes turned to the night sky. He stared up at the stars, their luminosity flickering every once and a while.

"Hard to believe we're just a star in the sky," the Canadian continued, his eyes trained on the lights above them. Alfred stole a glance down at the boy and lay down on his back as well. He let the soft breeze blow his hair around, the grass tickling his cheek.

"I know, right?" the American agreed. He smiled as he pointed up to the constellations. "Remember when we were little, how we used to try and communicate to the aliens with a flash light?"

Matthew smiled at the memory. "And how we saw one of the stars spinning, and you freaked out and ran screaming to your house like a girl."

"I did not!" Alfred grumbled with a whine in his voice.

"Did so." The Canadian smiled.

"Well, if I screamed like a girl, you screamed like a banshee."

The Canadian's mouth hung open slightly. "I don't remember that."

"Well I do." Alfred gasped as one of the stars above them moved. He pointed up to them, his face lighting up. "Look, Mattie, a meteor shower!"

"They did say there would be one this week," Matthew returned in awe. The two boys stared up at the stars, watching the lumps of rock create patterns in the sky. The night seemed so peaceful, just the two of them. Even the wind had left them alone.

Matthew stole a glance at his neighbor, who had a grin from ear to ear. He couldn't help but smile beside him, his eyes turning back up to the sky. He forgot the meteors would be passing over them tonight, but he was glad he was able to lie in the grass and stare up at them with someone, instead of staring from his window.

"It's calming, isn't it?" Matthew continued after a long pause.

Alfred hummed in recognition. The shower lasted for a good fifteen minutes before they disappeared in the black of night. However, Alfred continued to stare up at the sky, his body paralyzed by the sheer tranquility of their environment.

Matthew remembered when they would sit outside and try to find all the constellations. They knew where they were by heart, but the two would try to point them out before the other. After that, his mother would bring out his karaoke machine, and the two of them would sing along to their favorite music. The Canadian reached down in his pocket, pulling out his iPod. He plugged an earphone in his ear and started clicking through the songs.

The noise alerted Alfred beside him, and he turned his head to face Matthew. "What are you looking for?"

"Something to sing along to," Matthew replied and handed an earphone to Alfred. He clicked one of his favorite songs and set the iPod down at his side.

"If I die young, bury me in satin.

Lay me down on a, bed of roses.

Sink me in the river, at dawn.

Send me away with the words of a love song."

Alfred's eyes lit up in recognition. "I know this song!" Matthew continued singing.

"Lord makes me a rainbow,

I'll shine down on my mother.

She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors."

Alfred joined in.

"Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no.

Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby.

The sharp knife of a short life."

The two began singing together, their voices harmonizing.

"I've had, just enough time.

If I die young, bury me in satin.

Lay me down on a, bed of roses.

Sink me in the river, at dawn.

Send me away with the words of a love song.

The sharp knife of a short life,

well I've had, just enough time.

And I'll be looking right, when I come into your kingdom.

And now my life has just slip through the screen.

And I Never felt the breath of a woman.

But it sure felt nice when I was holding her hand.

There's a girl here in town says she'll, love me forever."

Alfred's voice trailed off. Matthew continued.

Who would have thought forever could be severed by-"

The Canadian's head turned to face Alfred, the lyrics dying off his lips. Alfred's eyes were trained up at the sky. Matthew switched the iPod on pause and rolled over to face the American teen.

"I'm sorry, Al," he apologized. There was no answer from the American. "I didn't think."

"It's okay," Alfred replied, a light smile on his lips, but it soon disappeared.

"No, it's not okay," Matthew argued.

Alfred chuckled. "Dude, it was an honest mistake. I'll get over it."

Matthew couldn't help but wonder. He rolled onto his back once again and let out a heavy sigh. There was a moment of silence between the two before Alfred grabbed Matthew's iPod.

"What are you doing?" The Canadian boy questioned as he sprung up. Alfred continued slipping through his songs until he found one he liked.

Matthew listened intently for his neighbor's choice. After a deafening silence that seemed to last for hours, the music began to play.

"Friday night beneath the stars,

In a field behind your yard,

You and I are painting pictures in the sky."

Matthew joined in.

"And sometimes we don't say a thing;

Just listen to the crickets sing.

Everything I need is right here by my side.

And I know everything about you

I don't want to live without you."

The two began singing at the top of their lungs. Some dogs started barking in the distance, but the two teens could care less.

"I'm only up when you're not down.

Don't want to fly if you're still on the ground.

It's like no matter what I do.

Well you drive me crazy half the time;

The other half I'm only trying to let you know that what I feel is true.

And I'm only me when I'm with you."

Alfred's voice cracked from singing so loud, and the two began laughing hysterically. Matthew began to cough as they were singing, but the two never stopped. Alfred felt his voice die in his throat as Matthew sat up, coughing violently.

"Mattie?" He questioned as he sat up beside him.

Matthew shook his head. "Just swallowed my spit wrong. I'm fine."

Alfred watched Matthew cough for the next minute or so. The Canadian shook his head and sighed.

"You sure you're okay?" Alfred questioned.

"Yeah, Al, I'm fine," Matthew replied with a smile. He felt his chest tighten up again, but he resisted the urge to cough.

Alfred furrowed his eyebrows and looked at his watch. Matthew's mother opened the window from her room.

"My little Matthew, if you're going to wake the neighbors, at least sing decently," She spoke with a teasing smile.

"Thanks mom," Matthew shot back. Alfred smiled and waved as Matthew's mother greeted him.

"We really should get some sleep or something," Matthew spoke as he rolled out his sleeping bag. Alfred unzipped the tent and popped in.

"You're not sleeping outside, are you?" he asked.

"It's too hot in the tent," Matthew whined. "You're nuts."

"No, I'm safe," Alfred muttered. He then pulled out his sleeping bag as well and laid it beside Matthew.

"What happened to the tent idea?"

"If you're going to sleep out here, I have to make sure nothing gets you. Like a bear or something."

"Or the girl from the burning tunnel. Good night, Alfred," Matthew rolled over on his shoulder as he heard Alfred's teeth chatter behind him.

"Mattie, you're an ass sometimes, you know that?" the American teen whined behind him. Matthew pretended as if he was asleep.

The Canadian boy couldn't help but smile. He felt Alfred's back rest right up against his, their shared body heat causing him to overheat in his sleeping bag.

"Al-"

"It's cold out here."

"No one said you had to sleep out here."

"I'm not leaving you alone. Are you nuts?"

"Partially."

There was a moment of silence between the two.

"See you in the morning," Alfred mumbled. Matthew felt the smile fade from his lips. He tried his best to go to sleep, but the raging inferno next his sleeping bag kept him awake. He felt his forehead begin to sweat as he unzipped the bag.

Alfred had already slipped off into sleep. The Canadian let the cough he held in that time pass his lips before laying back down and trying to get some rest.

To be continued…

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