Tires screeched to a halt along the pavement, a small child laying a scooter, painted bright red, down on the sidewalk and entering a world where the wonders of an innocent and curious mind, wishing to escape, could take her. The girl in question, Ace, received a note earlier from her long-time friend, Max, whom she'd gladly flock to when all seemed lost. The girl re-read the note over and over again in her head, lingering on each word and dreading the ending, as it had brought suicide to her peaceful endeavor of her daydreaming. Clicking her tongue in disappointment at the length of the note, she re-folded it and trudged into new ground. In the near distance, she heard a voice call out, "...Ace?" the volume of the forest caused it to echo, though this found to be more soothing than intimidating; for the tone was one of familiarly. She called back. "Max? Oh, it's so good to hear your voice. Where are you?" Ace looked around, eager to see her friend's expression. Soon enough, another young girl emerged from a nearby bush, sharing a short but sweet smile with the other. "How've things been going? Seriously, be honest this time. Please." Max laid a hand on her dear friend's shoulder, a concerned expression plastered on her face. She breathed, taking a moment to collect herself before speaking up again. "Not good..." she spoke weakly now, her voice cracking near the end as Max attempted to soothe her friend who was near tears, embracing her in a hug. "Woah, woah! Ace what's wrong?" she exclaimed, before Ace shakily inhaled and answered her question. "It's...it's my brother, and it's just..everything is so...UGH!" Ace shouted in frustration, her mind jumbled with diverse thoughts. The two got out of the hugging position, Ace being eager to go somewhere more private. "Let's go sit down somewhere else. I'll tell you." attempting a calm reply, she took Max's hand in her own and walked to where she assumed the former was speaking about. As soon as the two arrived, the pink-haired minor was left speechless. "You wanna..talk..about what just happened?" the other questioned, hoping to not sound too intruding. "Y-yeah...well, I..I just.." she stumbled over her words, barely getting a sentence out, she took a deep breath and sat down on the grass, staring into the setting sun. She the green blades sway in the afternoon breeze, inhaling and exhaling in order to keep herself together. By the time she opened her eyes once more, the sun was below the horizon and a belt of stars was stretched out across a deep, midnight blue sky. She could then feel a presence lay down beside her, and subsequently, she sat down beside them, her head resting against a shoulder. "...A lot of things have been worse, but..i'd feel alright if I knew I finally had the courage to do this."
A kiss.
