I was going to upload something else today however, this particular story has been sat in my drafts for months! (I actually thought I had uploaded it before but hey.)

I cannot believe we are nearly 100,000 reads; That's so much support for one person I'm not sure if I can handle it! These works are as much yours as they are mine as well as those reads. Uploading here really has brought me out my shell and I still get excited when I see someone has voted or commented.

Now, have some angst!

Mark finds a weeping green haired boy under a tree.

It was a rather boring, mediocre day as Mark walked through the halls, side wards glances from girls gathered bickering about make up and boys pushing each other around; He was heading for the sunshine which was rather the opposite to his glum mood but never the less it beaming down on him made him feel a bit better and free of the  shackles that school could be. He was walking towards the further-est tree from the school, his usual quiet spot at lunch. Only, there was boy under it. A boy he had never seen; with bright green hair and an over-sized school jumper it looked as though he was sobbing into the sleeve. Mark would normally run the other way - faced with a crying person because he was the worst person for comforting but he slowly approached the boy perhaps out of curiosity more than anything.

The boy seemed hyper aware of his presence as soon as he took a foot closer and he looked up, eyes puffy and sniffling. They were a gorgeous blue like looking up at the sky on a summers night but not as dark; It was then that he realized he should probably say something instead of just gawking at the boy he hadn't ever seen around.

"Are you okay?" He said, cursing himself because of how obvious it was that the boy was not okay and he was still standing awkwardly with his lunch in his hands so he decided to approach the boy and sit next to him. The boy was a lot paler close up, almost transparent looking. He sniffled again wiping his nose on the sleeve before speaking. "I'm lost." An Irish accent, this kid was full of surprises and lost? He didn't look lost; in fact he looked like he belonged here with the school jumper. After stuffing part of his chicken sandwich into his mouth Mark nodded, a little confused.

"How so, don't you go to this school?" The boy laughed hardheartedly, like he hadn't just stopped crying.  Like Mark was missing a joke, something somewhere along the lines, it wouldn't surprise him he was always missing something. "I did when I was alive." Mark nearly choked on his sandwich, shaking his head. "Not funny. Nearly had me, though." The boy seemed to look through him as if he was the one that looked see through. "You're the only one that has been able to see me in years." Mark paused. "You're serious, you're like... dead?" 

Great choice of words, Fischbach. Inner Mark curses himself.

 The Irish boy chuckled as he nodded; Like it was obvious Mark could suddenly talk to the dead. "What does this mean?" He was confused, and felt a little sick; dropping his lunch back into the container and sat crossed legged like he was twelve again. "I need you to help me be free, there are things I never got to do and seeing as I hadn't done them; my soul is stuck here." Mark nodded, this was a lot to take in at lunchtime. Perhaps the Irish boy could sense it. "Come back to me tomorrow, or in a few days. You don't have to help me, Some other person will come along I'm sure." Mark gave a short of half nod, half shake of his head. "Whats your name?" "Jack." - Jack, it suited him; Mark repeated it like he was trying a new sweet, and it felt nice; like it belonged there.

;

But Mark came back within a day, looking like he hadn't slept but was relieved to see the Irish boy only he could see sat by the tree as if he was scared he had just imagined him. He was.

"Ill help you." Jack jumped up and hugged the raven haired boy whom seem to fluster; Maybe it was being hugged by a ghost or just being hugged in general he wasn't sure it, made Jack chuckle none the less.

Jack had a mental list of everything he wish he did here and he'd live those things through Mark although nobody would see him do it; He knew he would.

"Alright, first thing on the list; Stuff a kid into a locker." Mark chuckled, giving the ghost an odd look; 'really?' it said and the Irish boy just nodded. He never got a chance to do all the cliche things at high school - too busy plagued with his own thoughts and work but now was his second chance. He'd met many whom could see him, whom he asked for help but was refused immediately, Mark was the only one thus far to give him his second chance.

Mark hated many people at his school, he was always the one who saw. Saw the blue haired boy getting pushed around, Saw the Swedish kid copying from the sweet Italian girl at the back of the class; Saw the buff boy who wore the beanie all the time drinking in the toilets along with soft sniffles, so it was no wonder he was the one to see Jack.

This was also his chance to stop just seeing things or pretending like he didn't.

So, he got his own back; Pushing one of the boys who pushed the blue haired boy around into a locker; The Irish boy beside him howling with laughter.

;

Next on the boys list, start a absolutely bonkers rumor. Mark decided to start a rumor about himself; That he was actually an alien. It still spread like wildfire though and it was kind of fantastic seeing a bunch of high school kids looking at him like he had three heads and to see the ghost react next to him his smile bright, it was worth it, people stared anyway may as well give them a reason too.

After a rather crazy day before Mark left to go home, he sat and spoke to the boy by the tree. The boy seemed to be glowing more than usual; a happiness from his spirit, like fireflies lighting up the dark.

"Whats next on your list?" Came Marks rumble, disturbing their almost, warm silence.

"Give a bully a swirly." Given, that was on Marks list too before he finished high school; with him being the kid at the back of the engineering class, the quiet one with glasses and hazel eyes, he was always a target. Although on more than a few occasions he had told the jocks and fitness freaks alike to fuck off which gave him more joy than Mark would like to admit.

Jack leaned back against the tree he loved dearly and turned to Mark. He began to speak about his school days.

"Before I.. died, I was always the shy Irish transfer student. People were not accepting of who I was and the fact I was an outsider didn't help, like on the first day here - I got slushies thrown all over me. I wanted to leave even then but I didn't. The bullies got worse and I hated this place, I hate this place. It drove me over the edge -- I killed myself." Jack muttered the last part, spoken, breathed; full of hurt and pain.

"Here." His eyes adverted to the trees branches above them and Mark exhaled, his heart hurting. Here he was sat with a poor, lost soul driven over the edge of death due to harsh words. It made him angry but he knew who some people were, how cruel the could be and how their words could cut like knives and shoot pain like a gun.

Mark wanted to hug him, to tell him it was okay.

"And I was trapped here because all I've ever wanted was to have the classic stereotypical American high school experience."

Mark was gonna give him the best damn high school experience ever, then. Determined flickered through his eyes and he nodded, breathed and reached out to the ghost. Hands brushing a cold almost hollow knuckle but it was there as he ran his fingers across it, a silent promise.

Jack shakily nodded and they fell back into silence.

;

The next day - Wednesday, he approached some of the bullies that always got mouthy with him, in the toilets and with fire in his belly, he dragged one of them by his stupidly spiked hair and then did what was on Jacks list, a taste of his own medicine perhaps, as after Mark released him, partly wishing he could drown him in the small batch of water as he let him go watching him scram with glee as Jack was laughing evily beside him.

Another thing off the list.

Two things to go.

"So, theres a party this weekend right?" Jack spoke to Mark as he was devouring a muffin from the cafe, it was his second one today; the first gone at break and the second stolen when the lunch ladies weren't looking with the help of Jack to distract them.

"Mhm" Mark mumbled through his mouthful.

"I always wanted to crash a party and tp a house, that's the final two things."

It was odd, this week had flown by and Mark had done things he'd never do for himself or for anyone really; and it had been the best week he has ever had. If anybody else had asked him to crash a party he'd immediately say no and run for the comfort of his home wifi. Jack was different though.

But as the week went on Mark came to realize he'd do anything for Jack at this point and probably, enjoy it too.

Yet he never wanted the week to end, never wanted to let Jack go, it was selfish sure; but Jack was a friend a comforting one that, he didn't know he needed until he met him. Like a constant hug.

However, he had to push that to the side no matter how much he wanted Jack to stay forever, it was cruel he needed, wanted to be free from here to let it go and Mark had to let him too.

;

Friday night, most of it Mark had spent fixing his hair with Jack probably rolling his eyes beside him. After finally (finally) getting his hair to sit the way he wanted too, he grabbed a bag and walked out the door, Jack following closely.

"My first ever party." Jack spoke softly, quietly as if he was afraid somebody other than Mark, would hear him. Mark reached for his hand again as he saw the crowds of teens with the red plastic full of cheap alcohol, cups - which Mark didn't really think existed outside of movies but hey, Mark didn't think ghost really existed until Monday either so cups shouldn't surprise him. Mark snuck in with a crowd of people at the door, not really caring if he bumped into one of them, he was here for Jack, not anyone else.

He picked up one of the cups full of clear liquid, probably vodka, and took a sip; for courage if anything, something to tell him that when this night was over, Jack would be free and he could, would, have to let him go.

Shaking his head and thoughts, he decided that since he was here; he may as well have fun.

Beer pong it is.

;

Whilst people were occupied with some dancing competition (using the word dancing loosely, more like drunk twirling or weird arm movements) Mark snuck out to the front and took the countless rolls of toilet papers out of his backpack, Jack tsk-ing beside him, mumbling a "I can't believe you brought a bag just for toilet paper." but it lacked bite as they began to throw it over the house, Mark making sure no one was here otherwise they'd be a bit freaked out by floating rolls of toilet paper although Mark could just play it off considering everyone here was wasted, accept for Mark whom was just a bit tipsy but not enough to fully cloud over his thoughts, feelings - for the ghost boy beside him.

The moonlight above them, the sound of the party going on almost distant or maybe Mark was just drowning it out so he could hear Jacks laughter clearer.

Quicker than he would have liked, they were out of toilet paper and the house was looking like a shitty home-made mummy costume and it made Mark happy.

"Dance with me Mark." Jacks accented drole and Mark didnt realize how much he loved it when Jack said his name until now (Maerk), he felt lightheaded as he took Jacks hand, not caring if anyone saw Mark dancing with nobody, he was dancing with somebody; a special somebody.

"I don't want you to go." Mark mumbled against Jacks shoulder.

He didnt even give Jack a chance to speak before he was continuing.

"Selfish, I know. But you've made me feel more alive than I ever have and when you go, will I feel like I'm just existing again? Probably. I know you have to go and I know I need to let you but it doesn't make this any easier."

There dance molded more into them shifting from foot to foot but it was perfect and Mark wouldn't have it any other way and he thought he'd said too much until the boy started speaking.

"I have lived through you and I will continue to do so even when I am free and you must live through me too, if you wish; when you are in a dire situation or you think you are just existing just remember that I lived, today, all the days you've helped me and I've been gone for years; If I can live in death you can live in life."

You have to live, Mark.

Mark kissed him, a thank you for the best week of his whatever this was - A something else he couldn't find words for.

;

Jack was free yet Mark still found himself at the tree, hoping that one day he'd be sat there and even when he was there although Jack was not, he spoke to him.

Told him he was living.

Because he was.

Living.

You have to live.

Live through others if you must, let others live through you; it doesn't matter, but you need to live and sometimes you will exist on bad days but just remember that you do and you will live.