Every single afternoon we would continue with our task. Stanford was such a kind and nice boy when he was with me...

He helped me a lot with the codes, he was simply a genius! Each time that I felt like I couldn't do it, Ford would take his pen and fix it for me. He was just so perfect...

After a week working on this, we deciphered eight codes out of twenty in total. We were on a roll!

-Amazing work, sweetie! -I said, hugging him hard.
-Oh, don't say that. You were awesome... As always.
-Ugh, I hate it when you say all those gorgeous things to me! -I couldn't stop laughing. He was the best man ever.

-Well... If I did the opposite, I would be completely lying.
-Shut up!!

When we stopped chuckling, our gazes met in a sweet and majestic atmosphere.

Without even saying a thing, our lips pressed against each other. It was a short kiss, but it was full of passion.

I think we did that to forget what we had just in front of our faces.

The deciphered codes showed nothing but misterious sentences and dark messages, and some of them were actual threats.

Worry returned to our minds after a few seconds of love and other beautiful feelings.

We stared at our papers.

We didn't want to read that again, but we knew it was necessary for my safety.

"THE WORLD WILL COME APART, JUST LIKE YOUR WEAK AND TINY HEART".

I gulped.

"ALL THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT WILL EVENTUALLY DIE, JUST LIKE YOU".

Stanford held my hand, trying to put a smile on my face. That almost worked.

"THIS IS NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF THEIR OWN DESTINY".

What was that even supposed to mean?

"THE TREE, THE TREE IS WHERE YOU MIGHT CHANGE IT ALL".

First, a cave, then a tree. Great.

"YOUR PRETTY *E/C* EYES ARE THE MEDICINE TO MY CORRUPTED SOUL".

This is where I freaked out. I mean... what?!
The creepiest thing of all was what the next code said about this one...

"YES, I DO KNOW YOU, WHAT DID YA EXPECT?!"

Stanford was fricking scared too. I could feel his sweaty hand shiver above mine.

"AND WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM YOUR SUFFERING, I'LL BE THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL BE STANDING BY YOUR SIDE".

"...THAT WAS SOMETHING I WROTE BECAUSE I WAS INSPIRED. FORGET IT. I MEANT THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFER WITH ME BY YOUR SIDE. YOU GET THE POINT".

Ok.
So.
The thing that killed my family was, apparently, IN LOVE with me.

And, obviously, it couldn't be Ford. I mean, it's ridiculous.
But then who was the entity behind these messages?

-I-I have no words for this -Stanford whispered, almost out of breath.

It looked like it was some kind of stupid fanfiction that some prick wrote on the internet. Of course, there was no internet then, but MAN.

That crap was some crazy crap, right there. I'm being totally serious. This wasn't funny.

-Is this some kind of joke? -Stanford asked, just as confused as me.
-I really don't know... I swear this is real, and I'm very scared right now.

-We'll find that moron, and I swear, if he does ANYTHING to you, i'll--
-It's okay, Stanford, don't worry about me. This guy is probably a stalker or something like that, and we don't even know if he is my family's true killer...

-I don't care. He threatened you, and I won't allow him to do so anymore. Son of a--
-The tree... What could that mean? -I asked, trying to calm him down.
-I don't even know, but I feel like the truth will come out soon, and we'll find him.

I seriously didn't know what to think. It was all too strange.
The tree... What tree?! There are so many fricking trees in the world!

-You know what? Let's talk about sonething else -I murmured, putting all the things back in my bag-. I'm getting nervous, because I didn't know we were on a bad, scary and ridiculous movie before.

-Hey, hey, hey -Stanford lightly grabbed my arm, his beautiful eyes shining with sweetness-. Don't worry, ok? You can do this. You are a true fighter, and I'm never leaving you. Everything is going to be alright, you understand?

I'm sure I was looking like a frightened grumpy puppy. At least, that was how Ford described my face a time after this.

-Y-yeah. I do.
-Come on, I want to see that gorgeous smile of yours again -he blushed. I suddenly imagined in my mind a super cool comic title, "The Return of Ford's Shyness".

I started laughing, and I hugged him.
-I love you, Stanford Pines!
-I love you too, *N*!

***

We were sitting on a bench, talking about school and other important matters. From time to time, we would look at each other and smile, and then it was a competition of not-laughing that normally ended in tears of laughter.

...I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING, but hey! We were a happy, young couple! What did you expect?!

-Well, I mean, Sarah is so rude with me. She is constantly making fun of my nerd books and drawings! But I really don't care... She's an idiot.
-So I don't have to take my energy gun and shoot her, do I? -he said, running his hand through my hair.

-Silly, you don't even have one!
-Oh, but I will.
-Shut your nerdie mouth -I chuckled, pressing my forehead against his.

A wild, awkward silence appeared.

-...*N*?
-Yes?
-I h-have to tell you something.

-You sound so serious right now, you are scaring me, ha, ha...
-W-West Coast Tech wants to see my science project.
-Oh gosh, that's great! And?
-Don't you know...?
-Uhh, what?

He sighed, putting his arms around me.
-Their university is located at the other side of the country.