// Chapter Seven //

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"Run Adrian! Run!" Serabi ran as her voice flowed with laughter. Her baby brother's legs ran as fast as they could behind her.

"I'm going to get the two of you!" Ashton had screamed from afar although he knew he wouldn't get them.

"No you're not!" Adrian laughed and ran faster but not that fast.

Serabi had stopped to pick up her brother in her arms because he lacked a little in his running. "Run Serabi! Run faster!" Adrian urged his sister as he held tightly to her neck. Serabi pushed forward, breaking through the gush of wind pushing back her tangled hair until she ran across the place the had marked as their "home". She dropped her brother down and both did a victory dance of some sort as they waved their hands in the air and stuck their tongues out at Ashton whom had finally caught up to them. He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees and he breathed heavily.

"You guys cheated!" He pointed an accusing finger at them when he's breathing was nearly stable again.

"Or you're just too slow." Serabi laughed, falling back on the grass.

"No." He stood up straight, arching his back. "You guys are just cheaters."

"Whatever you say slow poke." Serabi teased playfully hitting him on the arm. He gripped the place where she just hit him and let out a feigned cry as if to say it hurt.  "Yeah right." Serabi scoffed definitely not falling for his false act.

"Kids come in! Dinner is nearly served!" Kelly yelled from inside the house.

"See you later slow poke." Adrian mirrored his sister's words, stuck a tongue out and ran off inside.

"I should go." Ashton said reluctantly. He didn't want to leave. He had made a home out of their home. He enjoyed the times when Serabi and her brother played with him.

"You could stay for dinner?" Serabi said suggestively. "I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind one more guest." She smiled at him and took his hand. He had liked that; her suggestion, her smile and her holding his hand.

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"Am I dead, Serabi?" She looked at Adrian, wondering if he could be serious at this moment. Of course he's dead! He's been dead for two years!

"What do you think?" She stared at him eager to hear his reply. She had thought it would be a simply no but his answer did more justice than just shocking her.

"I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm dead, other times I feel like the most lively person on earth and you can't be lively and dead can you?" He looked at his feet which were dried out and had cracks beneath them from walking around without shoes.

"When are the days you feel dead?" Serabi asked her own question instead of replying his because truth be told, she didn't know the answer herself. In fact, she felt like the only person that could understand that was Adrian himself but he was gone, wasn't he? She had now started to doubt his death.

"The days you feel dead."

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"Oops! Watch were you are going, Serabi." Jemma reached out her hand to help Serabi up, her face holding an emotion that Serabi had never seen on her. It was stupid of her and every atom of her body told her not to fall for it but she reached for Jemma's long manicured hand and Jemma pulled her hand away before Serabi could reach for it. She smirked and leaned closer to Serabi's ear, "Oh! I'm sorry. Did I say Serabi or Sera-bitch? Must have meant the last one. Misfit." Jemma laughed and her usual worshipers followed her movements; throwing their head back and flipping their long straight hairs as they strolled off.

Serabi picked up her textbooks that had hit the ground with her. "Let me help you with that." Serabi knew the voice although it was not as deep as it was now she could still tell it belonged to Ashton Wave. She had tried so much to avoid him and it looked like he did the same, so it didn't make sense to Serabi why he was helping her.

"I got it." She mumbled her words, taking the textbooks that had piled in his arms.

"Do you re--" He started but she held her hand up at him to cut him short.

"Of course I remember you. Ashton Wave. Leave me alone please." That was the longest conversation they've had in five years, as a matter of fact, that was the only conversation they've had in five years and it would justify to say it wasn't as pleasant as intended.

So second chapter for today!! Thanks for the support, guys!!! I love you all!!