Story 4/1001

• win
• jump
• fountain

“If I win, drink from that fountain.” Mark said, pointing to an old fountain filled with rain water.

“That? It doesn’t even work. Who knows how long’s that water been there. There are probably parasites and – “

“Fine. Chicken out.” Mark smirked.

“Fine.” Jonah said and looked at the cliff in the distance. “If I win, jump from the cliff.”

Mark frowned, clenching his fists.

“Jonah, that’s going too far. You know he can’t do that.” Chris said, tapping on his shoulder. “It’s not worth it.”

“You’ll chicken out?” Jonah said.

“No.” Mark answered through his teeth.

“You’re both crazy. I’m out. Good luck killing each other.”

Chris kicked a small stone on the way and rushed to his car. He looked at his friends from the warmth of his seat. The old manor behind them was giving him the chills.

“First one to the roof, gets the girl.”

Jonah said, turning to face the manor.

“The loser pays.” Mark added.

Jonah looked at the ground, biting his lip. Chris was right, he went too far. He looked at Mark, who just scoffed at him and faced the manor. “Look, I went a bit overboard. You don’t need to jump. Just, like, go for a swim at the river or something.”

“So I can do what? Look for my parents’ bodies or something?”

“Mark, I -“

“Focus on winning, Jonah. Chris, are you going to start this or what?”

Chris honked and Mark started running and climbing on the windows. Jonah soon followed, going inside the house.

Chris sighed. He knew his friends are stubborn, but he never thought they were stupid. He never liked Kylie – but now they are competing for who gets to like her. He knew Jonah liked her first, but he likes every girl who smiles at him. Mark was the one who surprised him. Chris knew Mark was seventeen, too – but he never acted seventeen, at least not after his parents’ accident.

Chris opened the car door and put one foot out. He looked at Mark climbing his way to the roof, and Jonah checking from the windows to see where Mark is.

Chris put his foot back inside the car and closed the door.

“Idiots.”

He said and turned up the music.

Jonah searched through the manor to find some way to the attic, but there was nothing. He cursed and went to the window. It opened easily, and he took a deep breath before stepping out on the window beam.

“What the hell are you doing? You know you can’t climb.”

Jonah looked up and saw Mark on the roof above him. Mark extended his hand, and Jonah smiled, accepting it.

“You know, of all the stupid things we’ve done, I don’t think this is even in the top five.” Jonah said, sitting down. “But the view here is nice.”

“Yeah.” Mark smiled. “So, you’re going to drink that water?”

“You going to pay for my hospital bill later on?”

Mark slapped his back.

“How come you like her? She is not your type. You know, she’s actually pretty.”

“Nice one.”

“No, really. I thought you are not up to all that. Dating. And stuff.”

“I’m not. I wasn’t.” Mark smiled as if he was trying not to sound so serious. “After my mom and dad – after their accident, everyone looked at me – well, like that.” He pointed at Jonah.” She was the first one not to do that. Not because she didn’t care, but because she understood.”

“Hey, idiots! You coming down or what?” Chris shouted from the ground.

Mark and Jonah looked at each other.

“Yeah, he won.”