- Chapter 11 - Top of the World -
Ships: None. Albert, Race, and Jack brother time. Part 3 of 'Partner in Crime'
Modern AU
Song: Top of the World - Tuck Everlasting (the Broadway Musical)

This is to make up for last chapter.

Jack helps Race climb up onto the next branch, as Albert follows.

Albert was below Race to catch him if he fell.

"Almost there" Jack informs them. Albert nods. Race tries to nod, but he was too scared to.

Albert saw this. "Hey, it's okay Racer. You won't fall. We're right here."

"I've never been this- this high up b-before." Race pauses, taking a deep breath. "My father never let me leave the house and I never had friends."

"It's okay, we're your family now" Albert tells Race, who nods.

Jack remembers a song he sang to Crutchie, and a few other boys when they first came to the treehouse.

Jack: Watch my every step
Find a sturdy branch

Albert smiles, knowing what Jack is doing, as Race looks at Jack, confused.

Albert: Don't you dare look down
Pull your body up

Jack takes Race's hand in his, and he pulls Race up to the next branch. Albert climbs after them.

Albert: Dig in your heels
Let's see what this tree reveals!

Race takes a deep breath, listening to the two boys sing while he climbs up. It was nice.

Jack: Just a few more feet
Almost at the top

Albert: Watch the robins nest
Pull your body up 'till you've broken through

They finally make it to the top of the tree, and to the treehouse boys made. It was cool.

Jack taps Race's shoulder, and Race turns around.
Jack: Let's see if this tree has a view!

Race grins as he looks over the view. Jack and Albert smile at each other.

Albert puts his hand on Race's shoulder.
At the top, at the top, at the top of the world you're drawing back a curtain

Race looks at Albert, and Albert could see the hope and excitement in his eyes. He chuckles, the kid's cute.

Jack: At the top, at the top, at the top of the world there you know for certain

Albert: You're alive

Jack: and you are free,

"I'm free" Race whispers to himself. Jack and Albert smile.

Albert, Jack: so follow me to the top of the world

Albert: Mountains to the west,

Jack: An ocean to the east,

Albert: Storm clouds to the north ready to pour

Jack: Every sycamore leaves me wanting more and more

Jack, Albert: At the top, at the top,

Race: at the top of the world my head and heart are pounding

Jack and Albert smile at each other. Race looks at his hands, grinning.

Jack: At the top, at the top, at the top of the world

Albert: I hear my voice resounding

Albert's voice echos from the top of the tree to the bottom, causing the three boys to laugh.

Race: I'm alive and I am free so look at me!

Race shouts it over the world. Albert and Jack put their hands on his shoulders.

Jack: You gotta see it to believe it

Race: And believe me I've seen it
The frontier of the upper atmosphere

Albert and Jack chuckle.

Albert: A wonder to behold it

Jack: A story yet untold it's up here,

Race: Up here!

Albert: Up here!

Jack: I'll go out on a limb, walk a tightrope wire for the highest height
Yes I'll be seeing OH!

Albert: Give me a barrel
Guess who will find a waterfall

"It's Jack" Race answers. Albert and Jack laugh.

"Already have" Jack responds. Race turns to him, astonished.

"Really?" Race asks. Jack nods. "Cool!"

Jack and Albert chuckle again. He's adorable.

Jack: At the top, at the top, at the top of the world my head and heart are pounding

Jack puts his arm around Race, who looks up at him, smiling.

Albert: At the top, at the top, at the top of the world I hear my voice resounding

Albert puts his arm around Race's other shoulder, and Race grins.

Race: I'm alive and I am free so look at me!

Race, Albert, Jack: At the TOP of the world!

Race, somehow, pulls Albert and Jack into a hug, mumbling 'thank you' over and over again.

"You okay, Racer? You're not going to start crying right?" Albert questions. Jack throws him a look.

Race laughs, pulling away. He wipes his eyes.
"No, no. I'm okay."

"Aww, Racer" Jack exclaims, pulling Race into another hug.

"I've never had a good family" Race whispers. Jack and Albert share a look, as Albert joins the hug again.

They could tell from Race's grip on them (strong for him, cause he's not very strong) that he was nervous they were gonna leave him.

"Hey, it's okay. We're here for you, we always will be. You're family now, and now you can say you have a good family" Jack assures Race, rubbing his back.

"A-" Race hiccups. "A great family."

Jack and Albert smile.

"It's okay to cry sometimes. Blink and El started crying when we showed them this place and they started trusting us" Albert informs Race, who giggles.

"Who?" Race questions. Jack and Albert laugh.

"Elmer was one of the boys in the tree. He has dark brown hair, a good amount of freckles? Did a tap sequence with Finch?" Jack reminds Race, who nods, his mouth forming an 'o' shape when he realizes.

"Blink was chasing me around cause I had his hat. He has an eye-patch?" Albert adds. Race nods. "That's all we really need to say about Blink, 'he has an eyepatch'. It's kinda like Crutchie's crutch."

"It makes them unique" Race states. Albert and Jack nod.

"Come inside, there's something I want to show you" Jack tells Race, who nods.

Jack holds out his hand for Race to take. Race looks at him for reassurance, and Jack nods. Race takes his hand, before putting his own out for Albert.

Albert smiles, taking Race's hand, as Jack leads them into the treehouse.

Inside the treehouse, there was a lot of pictures. Race took closer looks at the pictures. They were pictures of the boys.

Some of them looked like first times at the treehouse and others looked like regular hangout pictures. Some weren't even from the treehouse.

Plus, there were a good amount of paintings and other things around.

Race looks around in awe. Jack and Albert smile at him.

"This is so cool!" Race exclaims. Jack and Albert chuckle.

"We put stuff here that we don't want to forget. Sometimes we'll find someone here if they're sad, usually they're looking at the pictures" Jack explains. Race nods.

"Jack will come here and paint when he's stressed" Albert adds. Jack nods.

"You painted these?" Race asks. Jack nods, shrugging a bit. He didn't see how they were good. "Jack, these are great!"

"Thanks" Jack mumbles. Albert laughs.

"Jack doesn't like compliments. He's way too humble" Albert informs Race, who nods. Jack just rolls his eyes.

"Come here! Let's take a picture!" Jack exclaims, grabbing the Polaroid camera. It had lots of paint splatters on it, so over the white it looked cool.

Race stands in the middle of Albert and Jack, who have their arms around him. Jack holds the camera. They all smile, and Jack snaps two pictures.

The pictures come out and then appear. (Sorry, I forgot what you call it. My Polaroid camera hasn't had film in years lol.)

Jack hands one to Race, while Albert puts the other on the wall, signing the date next to it using paint that was there and his fingers.

"This is amazing! Can I keep it?" Race asks. Jack nods, chuckling.

"I just hung up the other one" Albert informs Jack and Race, who nod.

Albert boops Race's nose, getting paint on it. Race looks at his nose in the little mirror on the door, before pouting at Albert and Jack, who were laughing.

"Now there's paint on my nose!" Race exclaims. Albert and Jack laugh more.

Albert takes the camera from Jack and snaps a picture of Race. He hangs it up where Race couldn't reach it, and sighs it again.

"That's a great first memory to have on the wall" Race mumbles, sarcastically.

"It's cute" Albert shrugs. Race glares at him.

Albert just hugs him again, and Race melts into the hug, all the joking 'anger' leaving his body.

1432 Words
Does this make up for last chapter? It's happier than chapter 10.