12. 16. 87. 56. 98. 93. 54. 75. 32. 37.

Feelings: Despair. Loneliness. Tired. Awareness. Craving.

Characters: Louis, Antonio, Jackson, Olivia, Kaitlyn.

***

Louis' POV

I was listening to music with my headphone while walking through the park. If I was to continue walking, would anyone notice when I wouldn't return?

I stand on the top of a hill and look out over the people as they continue on with their day. I look at my watch. It's 12:16. I've been here for over an hour now. I haven't gotten any messages from my roommate wondering where I am.

Maybe no one would notice...

***

Olivia's POV

87 steps from the fountain. 56 steps from the tree with the lost cat poster.

The cat is called Oliver. I wonder if he's in this park.

I look up at the sky. It's bright. I wonder what it would be like to be a bird.

Would I feel free? Would I survive without all the things that being human has provided me?

I walk towards the oldest tree in the park. It's an old cedar tree. I love this tree. It's the one I used to climb as a kid. I broke my arm for the first time when I fell out of that branch.

***

Third POV

Olivia bumps into someone. It's a girl. A young woman. No older than maybe 19.

"Oof-" The girl groans as she falls to the floor from the impact.

Olivia is still in her own head. She looks down at the young girl but doesn't process the situation. The young girl looks up at Olivia with a look and shrugs it off. She stands up and waves her hand in front of Olivia's face. Olivia barely blinks.

"Hi. My name is Kaitlyn. You just knocked me over. What's your name?" She grumbles.

"-via." Olivia mumbles, processing backwards.

"What?" Kaitlyn askes.

"Wait... I knocked you over. I'm so sorry!" Olivia says much louder than intending.

Kaitlyn flinches from the volume and looks at 'Via' weirdly.

"It's okay... Via?" Kaitlyn questions slightly.

"My name is Olivia, but I like Via. You can call me Via from now on. Do you want to be my friend then?"

"Umm..." Kaitlyn looks around awkwardly. "Sure..." She trails off.

***

Kaitlyn's POV

Am I being pranked? No one can be things weird, right?

"Call me Katie then."

"You're my friend?" Olivia questions.

"That seems to be the case." Katie puzzles.

"Hi." Olivia waves awkwardly. "You're my friend. I don't have many friends." she smiles.

Wonder why? *sarcasm*

"Wouldn't have guessed."

Via makes a happy noise, nods her head and then walks towards the old cedar tree.

What the?

"Would you like to sit with me at the Old Cedar Tree?"

"Maybe some other time... I've got somewhere to be."

"Okay." she smiles and carries on.

That was weird.

***

Antonio's POV

"Jackson, catch!" I throw the ball to my friend Jackson.

We are playing a game on the hill. Since the ball will roll down the hill if dropped, whoever drops it has to run down after it. It's a game that I really don't want to lose. The first time, Jackson fell.

Jackson runs for the ball, but he trips and the ball obeys gravity.

"No!" Jackson shouts as he gets up and races after it. I start laughing at him as he continuously misses the ball and it keeps rolling.

I'm on the floor laughing. When I finish laughing, I look at the sky. It's peaceful.

I look to my right and see a man standing with headphones further up the hill. He seems out of it.

I decided to walk up to him and cheer him up. It can be my one good deed. Like my mom always says, 'You can save a person, just be making them smile.' which I think is awesome. I've never before thought it would save a life, but it always felt good to see people smile.

***

Louis' POV

A boy walks up to me on my left. He walks in front of me and starts doing a robot dance.

I chuckle at his utter tomfoolery. The boy notices my chuckle and presents me with a thumbs-up. It would seem that he has achieved his intentions, whatever they may be.

The boy smiles goofily. He seems so proud...

...until a ball is thrown in his face. I burst out laughing. I take my headphones off and check if the boy is alright. He still gives me a goofy grin, before looking over at the perpetrator.

"You dropped it. You go get it." Another boy says, pointing towards the ball that is rolling downhill.

***

Jackson's POV

I laugh at Antonio as he gets up and tackles me. We roll around on the grass.

The man he was talking to laughs, then walks off.

I eventually push Antonio off. We both hear the man at the bottom of the hill yell, "Catch!" before the ball bounces in front of us.

I catch the ball before it can roll back down the hill.

I look towards the man as he waves, puts his headphones back on and walks away.

"So who was that?" I ask.

"Someone who looked like they could use something to smile about." Antonio comments.

"Don't tell me you pulled out the robot dance?" I chuckle.

"Ok. I won't."

I laugh at my friend and we continue playing until it is time to go home.

***

A/N: Got bored, but had no inspiration for my other stories. Didn't use all of my prompts, but maybe will use them in another chapter if people like this. 😂

Started: 4/6/22

Edited: 15/8/22

Words: 846