To The Stars and Back Again

Who knew a birthmark could change your life? Well if you do, I'm obviously either a slow-minded person or normal in my standards.

I sat on a tree limb, swinging my legs back and forth as they hovered high above the ground. I had Casper next to me, his hand gently pressing down on mine to stabilize himself. As long as I had Casper with me, all my worries and doubt would fade. 

"Andy, want a skittle?" he asked.

"Sure," I said, my eyes trained on my sneakers.

"Catch," he said, fingering an orange skittle.

I looked up and opened my mouth as he tossed it in. I smiled as the citrusy tang danced across my taste buds. I glanced over at Casper. He still had the same stubby, sandy-brown hair and crystal blue eyes as he did when we were three, laughing and daring each other on the exact same tree. Now we were fifteen and we were best friends, nothing more. Just best friends for now.

"Look, Andy-" He hesitated. He did that cute thing he always does when he wears that impish smile of his and his ears turn red. I looked over at him, tall and almost awkward. 

"What's up?" I asked, looking over his frown. 

He shaked his head and smiled reassuringly. He's a great liar, really. I let the conversation drop because I knew how stubborn and defiant Casper could be. I allowed my oddly eagle-shaped birthmark to show on my ankle, I had never known what it meant or why I was so weird. A warm summer breeze whistled by and the clouds wafted in the piercing blue sky, fluffy and unique. 

"I have to go, Andy. See you tomorrow?" Casper said, checking his watch. 

"Of course. See ya," I said.

He flashed a grin and leaped down from the branch. I sighed happily and leaned back on the tree trunk. I pulled out a book from my bag and held it up to eclipse the sun. Loose hair from my caramel-colored pony tail fell into my face and the heat formed beads of sweat on my forehead. 

"Hiya!" a voice said from behind my ear.

I nearly fell out of the tree at that point. A small fox leaped in front of me and almost grinned if a fox could grin. 

"Wow it is hot. Is it just me?" the little fox complained, exasperated.

I nodded, my mouth gaping. I swear I was hallucinating. 

"So... Um, who exactly are you?" I asked, pushing my spine closer to the trunk. 

"None of your business for a fact," the fox said in a sassy tone. 

"Another question, why exactly do I have a talking fox in front of me?" I questioned, reaching my hand towards another branch behind me. 

"Now don't move. This won't hurt," the fox advised.

"But-" The fox shook its head and leaped forward nimbly. The last thing I saw was the fox's eyes then darkness.