Over Gravity
An OTGW and Gravity Falls Crossover
Disclaimer: I own almost none of these characters. They're only mine in my sweetest dreams.
Damn.
A/N: As of the time I'm writing this, this story has 17 favorites and 32 followers. I've also been reading a looottt of Poetree and BillFord fanfics lately while listening to 'Centuries' by Fall Out Boy on repeat. Time to head back to my lonely trash can.
"Give me my lantern."
"You're lantern?"
The bluebird flying by the boy's shoulder shot him a glare. "No way! We need this thing!"
"Yeah, I'm keeping this!" The boy yelled pitifully, tugging to light closer to him and squinting through the harsh brightness. Looking close, the monster noticed he was still shivering from the cold. Truly a frightened child was before him, trying to be brave and yet still cowering in the dark.
"I have to get Greg home!"
He briefly glanced over at the child ensnared in the thick, twisted branches. There were noticeable dark circles under his eyes, even darker then his dear brother's, and his normally rosy complexion was pure white as the snow that covered the sullen ground. He was not yet rooted, but he was losing hope. As the light in the small, rusted object grew brighter, it became more and more apparent that the child was dying.
"Your brother is too weak to go home," He spoke in a gentle purr, keeping his eyes looked on the boy, "he will soon become part of my forest..."
"I won't let that happen!" Tears were brimming in the boy's eyes, giving them a glassy shine. He was weak and tired—gradually losing the little hope he had left—and he was vulnerable. Moldable.
If The Woodsman wouldn't cut down one little tree, maybe he could instead.
"Well then, perhaps we better make a deal..."
The boy's eyes were locked on his, wide and riddled with such innocent confusion.
"A deal?"
The Woodsman, lying pathetically on the ground with his axe lying only a few feet out of reach, opens his eyes upon hearing this. He wants to move, to protect these children from the monster that's haunted him for so long, but he can't. Instead, he stares pleadingly at the boy. He was too young to carry this burden, far too young to experience the horrors that this sick beast would bring on.
Yet, he could see that look in the boy's eyes. It was the very same look he had on his face all those years ago: enchantment.
"No..." His voice was in a pitiful whisper, hoarse from a tightening throat.
The Beast ignores the old man, reaching out towards the boy with an outstretched hand. They were too far away to actually touch, but the boy still shivered upon feeling what felt like long, sharp nails lightly brush against his cheek.
"I can put his spirit in the lantern," his lips curl in a smile when he sees the boy glacé at the lantern, staring into the bright light. It was working.
"As long as the flame stays lit, he will live on inside. Take on the task of lantern-bearer or watch your brother perish?"
He allowed the boy to take a moment to reflect on this. His youthful face twisted into various expressions of confusion, uncertainly, conflict, and, best of all, surrender. The air was getting colder and colder as hope withered away. He was winning and all he needed was the correct answer. He stared at the boy, watching as their eyes met and locked.
"Come here."
The boy's shoulder sagged in defeat and he sighed, bowing his head and stepping forward so obediently. The bird was right after all—he was a people-pleaser.
"Okay..."
The bluebird gasped at this, eyes wide as she watches him retreat further and further into the darkness, away from her, The Woodsman, and Greg. She glanced over and for a brief moment, she was staring into the enticing eyes of The Beast she had feared for so long—watching helplessly as he was taking away the two friends she had made in such a long time right before her eyes.
"Wirt!"
The boy was standing in front of him now, silent and waiting for the next command. With a nod and a smile, The Beast watched as the boy quietly bent over to place the glowing lantern on the cold, hard ground.
Little did he know, this certain boy was no fool. Pretentious he may be, but he was not so easily manipulated by beautiful eyes and empty promises. As soon as he looked away, a little bell ringing replaced the happy and cheerful giggles of Greg emitting from the lantern, and he suddenly remembered all the warnings the tavern-people sang just a couple of nights ago.
"Ooo, better beware!
Ooo, the beast is out there!
Ooo, better be wise and don't believe his lies!"
Lies?
Lies!
Lies...
He took a step back, immediately clutching the lantern back to his chest again. The Beast looked momentarily confused before it quickly turned to one of desperation.
"Wait...that's dumb!"
"What?"
"That's dumb, I'm not just gonna wander around in the woods for the rest of my life," the boy explained matter-o-factly, with a squinting eye and his bluebird friend letting out a soft sigh of relief that he was back to his smartass self.
The Beast ground his teeth together and his skeletal hands shook, then tightened into sharp fists. This wasn't supposed to happen! How was this happening? He had watched this boy for almost an entire week, watching him be a good, obedient, sarcastic yet scared poetry-rambling child! So why was it now, now of all times, he applied logic to such a dire situation?
"I'm trying to help you!" He growled, his eyes narrowing sharply.
The boy's eyes narrowed as well, mirroring him quite well, while gripping the lantern so tightly.
"You're not trying to help me! You just have this weird obsession with keeping this lantern lit! It's almost like—" little bells rung in his head, chiming louder and louder "—your soul is in this lantern!"
That had done it.
The Woodsman and the bird gasped, but with a wave of the hand, they were gone and it was just the two of them in complete silence. The ringing bells had even stopped and the forest shrunk to its knees when The Beast let out a furious roar, coming closer and closer to the boy who cowered so.
It was just them in the dark; nothing could intervene now, not even that stupid little boy, Gregory, who willingly decided to give his life for this frozen in place scum that he called his big brother.
He now towered over the boy, reaching out for both the lantern and his skinny little neck, watching with wide eyes as the boy hugged the light closer to his lithe body, the fear evident in his face.
"ARE YOU READY TO SEE TRUE DARKNESS?"
The boy stayed frozen in place, but soon his expression of fear began to morph, at first just simply going slack before turning into one of either anger or determination. Hazel eyes narrowed sharply and his lips press together in a firm line, the bells were ringing louder than ever.
A challenge, he dares, so The Beast watches with curiosity, hoping he'd look into his eyes and make the wrong and fatal move.
"Are you—" the boy's voice cracks noticeably and he pauses to cough into his hand.
The Beast still watches, trying to somehow get into his head.
The boy undos the lattice, exposing more of the light shining so brightly even in the dark. The Beast's eyes suddenly grow huge as realization dawned on him.
The boy was staring him dead in the eye this time, shadows framing his face in all the right ways.
"Are you?"
He takes a deep breath and pulls the lantern close to his threatening lips.
The Beast is the one shaking like a leaf now and, in a moment of pure desperation, reaches out in a plea, unknowingly removing the darkness that danced around the pair.
"D-DON'T! WAIT! DON'T!"
The boy closes the lattice, pulls the lantern away from his lips that curl into a smug little smirk.
"Pfft..." He scoffs sarcastically.
The Beast couldn't think of anything to say or do—what could he do after all of that other hand stand slack-jawed as the boy turned his back on him mockingly? After al, these years, after ages of wandering around and leading lost souls to their doom, he, the fearful Beast everyone is so afraid of, was beaten by a fourteen year old and common sense! That doesn't make any sense! How? Why? How could he be so foolish? This was does a child, a stupid little child! He has twisted so many of them around before, so why was this any different?
Suddenly, a spark of hope came when the boy foolishly handed The Woodsman the lantern. "Here Woodsman," he said, empathy all but gleaming in his eyes, "I've got my own problems to deal with. This one's yours..."
The old fool stared down at the old, rusted object he had cared so much for in his old age. His expression was heartbreaking as he realized that everything the boy said had a dire point and that The Beast, the creature that had ordered him around like a servant for all those years, was just force feeding him lie after another lie.
But then...his daughter...
The Beast never wasted a perfect opportunity when it was right in front of him.
Keeping a close eye on the boy, he watched as he knelt down and grabbed the discarded and dirt covered axe. "My brother and I are going home," he said, not turning to even exchange a glance at either of the two.
The Woodsman turned and gave him a pleading look with teary eyes.
"She was never in the lantern, was she Beast?"
The Beast leered over them, staring him dead in the eye. There's no avoiding it now, he's been caught red handed and skating around the truth would get him even more buried.
"Listen Woodsman," he leaned close to whisper in his ear, noticing how the old man flinched, "listen to me..."
The boy swung the axe, cutting the wood that surrounded the child, but was careful not the harm the weak creature himself. The bluebird sat, perched on one of the few twisted branches protruding from the dirt. With a soft huff, the boy had the child resting against his back and had his freezing frog tucked under his arm.
He turned to face the bluebird, a soft smile on his face.
"Wirt—"
"Come with us."
"I..." She looked dejected, heaving a sigh.
"I have to go home too. Admit to my family it's my fault they're bluebirds..."
The boy clears his throat and reaches into his pocket, retrieving a pair of shining amber scissors with a beautiful bird design. Her eyes widened at this and she practically leaps off the branch in shock.
"Here."
"What?"
"The scissors that'll make you and your family human again."
"You had them all along?" She sounds extremely irritated at this, almost as if she was going to slap him if her arms weren't fragile little bird wings.
"Well, I used them to escape Adelaide and...y-yeah, I was sort of mad at you..."
"Why you wonderful mistake of nature!" She cried happily, lunging forward and wrapping her wings around his cheek in an awkward hug. He looked a little surprised for a moment, but kindly returns the favor with a smile.
What a sweet sight.
How sickening.
The boy began to retreat into the darkness yet again, this time leading out of The Beast's reach. Not good, not good, not good. He needed to work quickly before they were gone forever.
"You see, Woodsman? All that perish here will become trees for the lantern," he eyes the now abandoned axe lying on the ground all lonely, "cut them down with your axe! Go! NOW!"
The Woodsman's jawline tightened and he eyes the nasty creature literally breathing down his neck. He suddenly spins around, shaking as the bright light shine over The Beast, showing his true form, which made the vile being cringe noticeably.
The boy had the unfortunate honor of briefly glancing over his shoulder at the commotion, now forever haunted by the sight of the being made of a thousand screaming trees. He took off in a sprint at this, eyes wide, as he struggled to hold on to the child and frog and the bird flew alongside him with a sympathetic look in the eyes.
The Woodsman yanks the latch open, tears brimming in his eyes, and stares down the creature that had tricked him so many times for so many years. This lantern was his burden and he was going to end it.
The Beast's eyes grew as wide as dinner plates and he jerked closer, reaching for the lantern—his lantern.
"STOP! You'll never see your daughter again, Woodsman! Are you really ready to go back to that empty house?"
He saw him close his eyes and the tears that began to flow down his pale cheeks. He smiled, his fingertips just lightly brushing against the handle. He was almost there, he's almost won...
Suddenly, The Woodsman jerks the lantern away and holds it up to his lips, tears still in his eyes but this time, he had a face of pure bitterness. He was done.
The Beast grabbed for the lantern.
"NO! WOODSMAN! DON'T!"
Then there was nothing but darkness.
The Beast felt as if his body was being torn apart piece by piece and he screamed, falling to his knees, although nobody could hear him. His body was quickly withering away, tearing off into little bits like crumpled up leaves floating away in the wind.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't fight.
He couldn't even cry.
All he could do was scream and scream and scream.
He heard everything that was happening around him.
The snipping of what sounded like thin cloth.
The Woodsman's hysteric sobbing.
The sloshing the water of the lake as the boy stepped into it.
The final embrace.
"Goodbye Beatrice."
"Goodbye Wirt."
The only victim to escape him, the only one.
Then there was another voice.
After that, there was a faint glowing in the darkness.
Bright yellow.
"WELL, WELL, WELL," that cocky and all too familiar voice that got under his bones cooed in mock sympathy, "IF IT ISN'T MY OLD PAL, TOPIARY?"
"So that's how ya'll got this deal started?"
Bill grinned, or at least that's what he would be doing if he had a mouth, and wrapped a skinny black arm around the pale, shriveled form that was The Beast. He was currently leaning against a sturdy tree for support, trying to stand straight with wobbling knees and hunching over, and he most certainly didn't seem to respond all that positively to being touched in such an affectionate manner, as his eyes sharply narrowed immediately at physical contact.
"YEP!" The isosceles demon cheerfully announced, ignoring his frienemy's death stare directed his way. "THIS GUY WAS DESPERATE TO LIVE, SO I JUST GAVE HIM A SIMPLE PROPOSITION: GIVE ME ENOUGH ENERGY TO ENTER THE PHYSICAL REALM AND I'LL HELP HIM OUT WITH HIS LITTLE NIGHTLIGHT SOUL PROBLEM!"
"Yes, that was what we planned," the tree monster growled, rudely shoving Bill away from him and crossing his arms over his chest. He was practically skin and bones and the sight wasn't pretty.
"But William ended up causing too many complications in a relatively simple deal."
"HEY! NO DEAL EVER MADE WITH ME IS JUST 'SIMPLE', TOPIARY!"
Gideon rolled his eyes. Only the great and powerful Bill Cipher would be offended by something like that. "What kind of complications?"
The Beast sighed and placed a hand against one of his bony hips. "Well, for one thing: he didn't restore me to my full form, leaving very little of my soul left—"
"HEY, YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL I GOT YOU THIS FAR!"
"—so I have very little of my powers left, so I can't fulfill my end of the bargain until I get souls. Lost souls need to be fed to the lantern to get my strength back and that, Gideon Gleeful, is where you come in..."
Upon hearing those words, the fair haired child began to break out into a cold sweat. He was already nervous enough when facing this demon alone, he did not really want to know where this was particularly going. He nervously glanced behind him and then back at The Beast and Bill with a fake and sweaty happy smile.
The pond he came from was only a few steps away. He could run. He could leave. He could blow out the candles, tear up the pictures, throw away the journal page, go to sleep and try to forget any of this ever happened in the first place.
But he was in hot water and sinking fast. It wouldn't matter if he ran, Bill or whoever else he might offend by that action would find him and drag him down yet again to fulfill his deadly promise. He knew that this was risky, but he didn't care. He did now, but he was already trapped in this circle of madness.
"W-w-wha," he swallowed, nervously wringing his soft and sweaty hands, "what d-do ya mean b-by that-t?"
The Beast let out a low and throaty chuckle at the child's fear while Bill burst out laughing. Gideon felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment at this but as much as he tried to avoid the former's piercing gaze, he couldn't help but stare.
"GEEZ KID! RELAX! WE'RE NOT GONNA KILL YOU! WE NEED YOU!"
He watched The Beast close his eyes and nod.
"He's right, child. Bill's told me how much you want to be restored to your former glory, much like me, so that got us both thinking. I need a new lantern–bearer to chop the trees..."
"AND I NEED A VESSEL TO ENTER THE PHYSICAL REALM..."
"So we can all get what we want..."
"I GET MORE POWER..."
"While I get my strength back..."
Everything was clicking together now.
"So, that means...if I help ya'll out then I will...?"
"Get what you desire most."
Gideon's eyes grew wide. His knees went weak and his heart was practically going to burst from his meaty chest.
"That means...my powers? My fame? Mabel? Anything?"
Bill and The Beast exchanged glances and met his bewildered expression with supposed smiles and nods.
"Anything."
"EVERYTHING."
The temptation was strong. It was an offer to good to be true, and deep down inside he knew it probably wasn't, but he just didn't care. He was a dog now, doing playful tricks to get the treat being dangled in front of his face. The treat was just within his grasp and—screw common sense—he was gonna try with all his might to get a good taste of it!
"...What do ya'll want me to do?"
Their pleasured smiles widened gracefully at this and The Beast moved his arm, holding something up that gleamed in the dim light of the lantern. It was only when the object was thrown at him, just barely missing getting him in the feet.
"What the?" He jumped, just narrowing avoiding the axe sticking out of the ground.
"You are to be my new lantern-bearer," The Beast explained, "you are to carry and feed my lantern, luring lost souls here and chopping down the trees. The person Bill had you choose to sacrifice will be the first soul you'll lead here."
Gideon reached into his pocket, unfolding the now crumpled up picture of Wendy with the bright red x over her eyes. His brow furrowed in confusion at this.
"But how will that work? She lives in Gravity Falls! Not here!"
The Beast and Bill began chuckling amongst themselves, the latter wrapping around the former's shoulders, who seemed to be unaware at this action.
"Child, I need lost souls. Those who are already in The Unknown aren't lost–why else do you think I don't go after them? I need someone to rule over after all."
"Excuse me, 'rule'?"
"YOU WILL BRING THEM HERE WITH MY HELP! ALL I NEED IS A VESSEL!"
Gideon pondered over this for a second and then looked up at The Beast.
"So...that's all I need to do? Bring random people here, chop down some trees, and oil up your lantern?"
"Yes."
He turned and looked over at Bill.
"And you only need me as a way to come through?"
"YEP!"
"You won't try to do anything to physically hurt me? Either of you two?"
"OF COURSE, HAIR GEL! WE'RE ALL FRIENDS, AREN'T WE?"
"I would never dare to harm the person who'd willingly take my soul as his burden."
"If I go through with this, you'll get me my powers back?"
"A deal's a deal, Gleeful..."
Bill and The Beast both held out a hand towards them. The former' spurned with electric blue fire while the latter's glowed like the very light that kept him alive.
"WHATDOYA SAY, KID?"
"Do we have a deal?"
Gideon stared down at both of his empty, pale, free hands in thought.
The snow was beginning to melt.
Good. He was tired of constantly trying to avoid slipping on ice and having to be caught every step he took.
Sara sighed as she glanced out the window, tapping her fingers on the table in thought. The whipped cream that was once on the top of her steaming mug had already melted into the warm milky chocolate.
Wirt felt his cheeks heat up when he found himself staring, so he decided to distract himself by taking a few sips of his cooling hot chocolate. Thankfully, none of his friends seemed to notice as well, or if they at least did, they were nice enough to spare him from all their usual teasing.
Kathleen was listening to music. Greg was eagerly filling out a coloring book. Rhondi was playing with one of those addictive games on her phone and was getting really into it. Funderberker was leaning against him, despite Wirt constantly telling him about personal space, and babbling on and on about a girl he met that would most likely stand him up on the date as usual. Sara was...perfect.
"This is ridiculous," she sighs, taking another one of the complimentary breadsticks from the basket.
"What?" He asked stupidly before he could stop himself.
She split the breadstick into two and began to dip one of the ends into the garlic sauce she got on the side.
"All this snow. I mean, I fine with, like, a week or two of snow in February or something like that, but it's mid-April! We need sun and flowers, not icicles and fog!"
Wirt chuckled and brushed a few strands of hair out of his eyes. "I can see what you mean. I'm really tired of having to put on three layers of clothes just to go to the supermarket."
She smiled at him softly while chewing on a breadstick. He blushed and stared out to window to try and hide it. The world was coated in fresh snow, making the town look even more beautiful than before. A part of him wondered if their town was stuck in eternal winter like in that Disney movie, but the logical side of him scolded that idea.
Suddenly he saw something odd in the background.
Bright ugly eyes and a face made of a thousand screams.
He felt his stomach drop and all the color drain from his face.
"Uh...Wirt? Are you okay?"
He turned and tried to hide his nervousness, but it was still apparent that something was wrong.
"Y-yeah! I'm...I'm f-fine! Why do you ask?" He cringed upon realizing how pitchy his own voice sounded.
Sara gave him a concerned look.
"It's just...you look a little pale."
Wirt coughed into his hand and chuckled. Rhonda and Kathleen looked up from their phones, Jason stopped his babbling, and Greg paused from coloring, having finally noticed how distressed he looked.
"I'm fine, guys! Honestly! It's just...just...I'm a little nervous, alright?"
It was evident in their expressions, except for Greg of course, that none of them believed him, but they nodded anyway.
"Is it about the spring recital?" Sara guessed, offering a small kind smile.
Wirt mentally slapped himself. The recital! He completely forgot to practice! He preferred blaming it on Greg for forcing him to play in the snow at every opportunity but deep down, he knew it was all his fault for getting distracted in the first place.
"Uhh...yeah..." He lied right through his teeth.
Kathleen roughly patted him on the knee, making him flinch sharply at the touch, and then decided that wasn't enough, so she also ruffled his already messy hair.
"Aw! Don't be nervous, little worry wort! It's not like forgetting a few notes on whatever the heck you play will ruin your life anyway!"
Wirt sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes Kathleen, because failing to get a few notes right on my solo performance in front of the entire school is just a brush on the shoulder. As if the clarinet isn't ridiculed enough as it is..."
Sara chuckled softly and handed him the other end of her breadstick. He was slightly taken aback at the kind gesture, but he took it anyway because his empty stomach was now taking control of his mind.
"Trust me, Wirt, I know how you feel," she sighed, combing her slender hand through her hair.
"I have to do solo performances all the time in my dance recitals. You just gotta breathe, have confidence, and then remember that there are people out there that are watching you, loving you, and will still love you even if you mess up."
"I bet you know a whole lot about that last part, right Wirt?" Kathleen winked, lightly nudging him in the arm. The teen felt his face burn red and he tried to ignore it by taking a bite out of his half of her breadstick.
Now she decided was the time to tease him?
Sara chuckled, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
"Give him a break, Kath. We've been doing this since kindergarten and Wirt?"
He looked up at her, his hand holding the mug shaking noticeably hard.
"Don't worry about your performance too much. You're amazing, you've always been amazing, and you'll be even more amazing on Friday."
The rest of the table instantly agreed with her and Wirt couldn't stop his heart from pounding in his chest at the praise.
"Y-you said that s-since kindergarten..." He stuttered, staring down at his lap in order to look less stupid.
Sara's eyes were warm and welcoming and her smiles just as much.
"Well then..."
She held up her mug.
"To kindergarten!"
The entire table burst out into a flurries of chuckles and happiness as they clinked their mugs together, talking long sips of their drinks and becoming much more talkative with one another than they were only a few minutes ago.
Wirt even surprised himself when he practically scarfed down his end of the breadstick and reached into the basket to grab at least three more. He was hungrier then he previously thought and that actually did worry him a bit.
It was when, after a minute of casual chatting and eating breadstick after breadstick, he finally looked up at Sara after a while that this moment of happiness immediately turned bleak.
Her beautiful face turned ugly, with thorns messily poking out of her cheeks and head with dark, thick oil running down her face. Her eyes were the ugliest yet most intriguingly beautiful part of all.
If that wasn't enough, her voice was even different.
"You asinine children will never escape me, Walter. I am eternal..."
He immediately got sick to his stomach and was quick to get up from his seat and rush to the restroom before he made a mess of himself in public. Racing into the closets stall he saw, he fumbled with the lock, dropped to his knees, closed his blurry eyes and vomited until his lungs nearly fell out.
It took a five good minutes for him to get everything out, including at good amount of sweat and pained tears. Even after he was done, he still decided to sit on the floor for a few more minutes and cry softly to himself. He curled up into a ball on the cold, sticky tiled floor and cried.
Three minutes later, he noticed a pair of neatly tied black sneakers appearing under the stall and tried to quiet his sniffling, already trying to wipe away the obnoxious amount of watery snot coming out of his nose.
There was a loud knock on the door.
"Hey W-Wirt?" Ugh, Funderberker.
He buried his face in his hands. Oh god, this was embarrassing. Why him? Why now?
"Wirt, are you i-in there?"
He felt his face heat up even more when he heard the dweeb yell very, very loudly, "He's not coming out guys!"
"Wirt! You better come out before we have to get the fire department to tear apart the stall you're in!" Kathleen.
"You okay, dude?" Rhondi.
"Are you sick? Do you need any help?" Sara.
"What's going on? What's wrong with Wirt?" Greg.
"Why don't you go in there and ask him?" Oh god no...
He couldn't stop himself, hurriedly getting to his feet before Greg dragged him out from under the stall. The kid may be only seven but he had the strength of a chimpanzee and was not afraid to use it in a situation like this; that happening would only add more to his "most embarrassing things to happen around Sara" list.
"I-it's alright g-guys!" He called out once he saw a smaller pair of feet join Funderberker's outside. "I'm coming! I'm coming!"
He undid the lock and swung the stall open, not worrying if he hit Funderberker or not, and ran over to a sink. He looked horrible, his face ghastly and tear-streaked with his eyes bloodshot and rimmed with black. With a frustrated growl, he splashed handfuls of cold water on his face, lightly dabbed it with a scratchy paper towel, wiped any excess bile or snot of his face, and ran outside without a word.
Hopefully they wouldn't notice.
"Oh my god, you look terrible!"
They noticed.
With a loud groan, he rubbed his arms and shivered. It suddenly got really, really cold, even with his excess layers.
"Thanks Kathleen, I feel so appreciated..." He said with a eye roll.
Sara gave him a sympathetic look and placed a warm hand on his shoulder, making him flinch at the touch.
"Don't listen to her, Wirt," she smiled softly, "...are you okay?"
He shrug off her touch, trudging back to the now empty table. "I'm fine," he muttered, slumping down in his seat and gnawing on the breadstick he was eating before the incident as if nothing had even happened.
The group and Greg exchanged confused and worried glances before cautiously walking back over to the table. They watched him eat in silence, hesitant to say anything at first.
Sara sat down first.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
He smiled but he wouldn't look at her.
"Yeah...yeah, I'm fine. Just got a little sick, that's all. Must be that bug going around..."
She wasn't convinced.
"Wirt—"
"Sara...I'm fine. Everything's fine. Will you believe me for once? Please?"
He ate more and more, trying to distract himself from that being scared at that ugly silhouette watching him from across the street.
But as he sat there, binge eating, his friends and little brother knew better.
Everything was not fine.
