Free. Ch. 21: Back story
"We used to play all the time as kids. But everything changed when we were ten. We were tossing a baseball back and forth. We each threw it as high as we could. Then we would catch the ball when it came back to us. We always met at night. It took some pressure, but Bubba had agreed to meet at such a late time. For he knew that his father hated vampires. And it would be the only way to see me."
Bubba nodded. "One time when I caught the ball, I threw it, but I was bad at throwing things, and it landed in a tree. The bad thing was, the fact that we thought my father was asleep. But he wasn't able to sleep, so he had his window open while he read his paper and drank hot chocolate. But he saw the ball land in the tree in the corner of his eye."
"When I flew up to go get the ball, Gumball's dad saw me. He yelled at me. Cursing and calling me names. I hated it. I threw the baseball at the glass of the window. I did it before I knew what I was doing. But I missed. The ball hit his father. I covered my ears and started falling to the ground. Fast. I was scared of his father then." Marshall turned away from us, his expression darkened.
"Then I remember yelling Marshall's name. He was going to hit the street and die."
"I heard him call my name. And stopped just before I hit the ground."
"Marshall landed his feet, then he just slumped down to his knees, and cried."
"'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.' I kept repeating..." Marshall covered his eyes.
"I didn't know what he meant. But I had heart my fathers yell. I took Marshall's hand and pulled him to his feet. He was still crying. But I remember, he looked at me with surprise and sorrow. I started running towards the castle dragging him with me."
"I ran along beside him, wiping away the tears on my face as I ran. When we reached the upstairs ballroom, where his father was located. Bubba let go of my hand. He ran over to his father on the ground. Then he started to cry." Gumball turned away from me as well.
"My fathers face was dripping with blood. The bone was sticking out of his nose. The baseball lying next to him." I heard Gumball gasp lightly. He was starting to cry.
"I had ran over. And saw what I had done. I gasped. Then started to cry. I had really messed up. Everything his father had said about vampires. What I did made them seem real."
"It was all on purpose." Gumball turned around wiping the tears from his eyes and face. "I yelled at Marshall. 'My father was right all along! Vampires are evil! Marshall how could you do this! I thought we were friends!' I had slapped Marshall that day. I pulled my hands back, regretting what I had said. But I had glanced back at my father, put my hands down, and stood by my words."
"I didn't even mean to Bubba! Your father scared me I couldn't stop myself." Marshall turned to Gumball, his pupils small stuck in memory.
"You're a liar! You did it on purpose! My father was right! You've had to many close calls Marshall Lee!"
"Bubba I-" Marshall's face looked crestfallen, still stuck in memory the same as Gumball.
"And don't call me Bubba!" Gumball screamed, his eyes small but angry in memory. My name is Prince Gumball! And you will always address me as that and nothing else from now on! I hate you! Just go!"
Marshall's fact looked crestfallen. I hated it. I just wanted to reach him. Make him okay. But I couldn't interfere. They're in the memory world right now. And right now this is a good time to explain what that is. You enter the memory world when you tell a story of a memory. But it can only happen when you retell a shared memory with someone else. That's what is happening now. If I interfere with their memory, it can ruin the people in the present.
"Fine!" Marshall yelled. "I never want to see you again!To think I was friends with someone who would hate me for making a simple mistake! Your sister's just the same as you!"
Marshall rose from his feet, and started to float towards the door. But then Gumball ran up and tackled him to the ground. "Don't you dare say that about my sister! Yours is no better! That creep! She pranks everyone within a mile radius!"
"Can't you pieces of stuck up royalty take a joke! I'm sick and tired of how boring and plain you guys are!" Marshall glared at Gumball who was pinning him to the ground meeting his glare.
Then Marshall's pupils went back to normal. Along with Gumball's. Gumball frowned quickly getting to his feet wiping the tears from his cheeks and eyes. He stepped away from Marshall, who stood up wiping tears away from his face as well. Marshall walked over to me and took my hand, not looking at me.
"Gumball. I'll come back later... I think you two need a break..."
Gumball paced back and forth and just nodded to me.
I walked towards the door and opened it walking out. Marshall turned me so I faced him and he lifted me up putting my over his shoulder. I looked down at his feet and saw him rise up from the ground.
"Hold on." was the last thing I heard before the sound of speeding wind entered my ears. I held on to him tightly, closing my eyes waiting until it was over. When the sound stopped I opened my eyes and Marshall set me down. We were back in front of his house. He led me through the empty space where the door should have been then dragged me up into his bedroom, locking the door behind us.
"Marshall what are you doing?" I asked.
Marshall led me over and set me down on his bed. He took off his shirt, shoes, and jeans. Leaving him only in his boxers. He climbed up onto the bed with me and sat crisscross behind me. He pulled me into his lap and held me. I felt water run down my bare shoulder. This is Marshall's nightmare.