[Alex's POV]

  Four months have passed since my dear friend Johnny made that ridiculous prediction about zombies eating my brain. I'm sitting high up in a tree, thinking of him. Up here, hidden from the hot summer sun by a full canopy of leaves, the breeze feels cooler. It's the perfect spot to read. Yet my thoughts keep wandering to him. I stare at my phone. The same boy who'd made me promise to visit him often hasn't contacted me for ten days and his last text message to me reads "I can't talk right now, but I'll contact you soon."

  I'd heard that he'd left the tiny Spring Field too, joining his family in Iran... I guess he's too busy to ask how I'm doing these days.

  From below, on the grass plain next to the tree, I hear enthusiastic cheering. On a scorching day like today, I won't move more than necessary. But when I peek between the leaves, I see a group friends playing frisbee. It looks like fun. Should I ask to join? No—I hesitate.

  Making friends in this town has been harder than I expected. Even the judo club turned out to be a disappointment. So instead, I’ve spent my time exploring. The park quickly became my favorite place, especially since it’s full of beautiful trees. But I’ve noticed something odd—nobody else climbs trees here. And nobody looks up into them either.

  The best ones are covered in green algae, with thin, unruly branches sprouting everywhere. Climbing them has been a nightmare, not to mention dangerously slippery after rain. I’ve ruined a few outfits on it already.

  A sudden flash of light blinds me, and I instinctively raise my hand just as something bounces off my palm and tumbles to the ground. A frisbee.

  “Lucky! It didn’t get stuck! Otto? Are you trying to boycott this game?” a male voice calls out.

  I crane my neck and spot a girl with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail shooting an apologetic look at someone out of view. Why does she look so guilty? Hadn’t the voice just called out a guy’s name?

  Footsteps approach, and I hold my breath. Whoever’s coming won’t see me, right? Nobody looks up in the trees here.

  A boy steps into view beneath the canopy. He looks about my age, awkward from a recent growth spurt, as if he's still figuring out what to do with his longer limbs. His short brown hair is neat but damp with sweat, and honestly, who wouldn’t be sweating in this heat? He scans the ground until he spots the frisbee, then walks over to pick it up. But instead of immediately returning to his game, he freezes, staring at the bark where my shoes left sandy marks. My stomach drops. He’s going to look up.

  Sure enough, he does—and now we’re staring at each other.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  I swallow. Why do I feel so busted? I’m not doing anything wrong.

  Then, completely unexpectedly, the boy loses his balance, yelps, and falls on his butt. I can’t help but laugh.

  “Damn. You scared the living daylight out of me!” he sighs, rubbing his head.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” I say, raising a hand in apology.

  “For a second, I thought you were some kind of wood nymph,” he mutters, more to himself than to me.

  A wood nymph? That’s a fantasy reference, isn't it? I like it.

  Before I can respond, the blonde girl from earlier steps under the canopy. “Who are you talking to?” she asks.

  "To the wood nymph up there," the boy answers as he casually points in my direction.

  "What are you talking about? Wood nymphs aren't rea-" she semi-scolds the boy as she looks up. Her eyes widen comically as our eyes meet. She freezes in surprise. Up close, she’s breathtaking—delicate features, golden hair that would reach her lower back if not tied up. The kind of person you’d expect to be a princess in another life.

  “Jasper?” she asks, and the boy next to her hums in acknowledgment. “There really is someone there?”

  To me, it feels like the unspoken words "Is he really a tree spirit?" are heavily insinuated in her question. As if she is considering the existence of magic to be true, rather than considering if her friend is playing a prank on her.

  I sigh. Guess I’ve been exposed. Time to climb down.

  It takes about a minute, and by the time I’m standing next to them, they’re gawking at me.

  “What? Is there something on my face?” I ask awkwardly.

  Jasper shakes his head. “I just need you to verbally confirm that you are, in fact, NOT a tree spirit.”

  Wow. That’s a first.

  “I am not,” I say.

  The girl sighs in relief, but Jasper frowns. “You are not NOT a tree nymph, or you are not a tree nymph?”

  “I am not a tree nymph,” I clarify quickly. “But why even ask? In a world where magic is not supposed to exist, do you think any magical creature would readily confess to being one?”

  “Good point,” Jasper mutters, looking thoughtful.

  A sudden laugh startles me. I turn to see another girl approaching, this one with dark-blond hair. I recognize her from the game earlier. Unlike the princes-type girl, who looks innocent, this girl radiates confidence.

  “I like him,” she says, grinning. “Don’t mind these two airheads. His name’s Jasper, this here is Otto, and I’m Jessy. What’s your name?”

  Both Jasper and Otto protest at being called airheads, but Jessy ignores them.

  So I had heard correctly earlier—a girl named Otto.

  “Alex. Alex Black. Nice to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you!” Jessy chimes. “Wanna join our game?”

  I’m about to accept when my phone chimes. I don’t need to check it to know what it says, but I glance at the screen anyway.

  “I’d love to, but my dad just texted. Dinner’s ready.” I show them the message to prove I’m not lying.

  Jasper gasps. “It’s already twenty past six?! Oh, crap! My mom’s gonna kill me!” He scrambles to grab his stuff.

  Jessy rolls her eyes. “Well, I guess that’s the end of our game.”

  “Sorry,” I say, but she just grins.

  “Not your fault. If anything, I hope we run into you earlier next time.”

  “I’d like that,” I say, distracted by Jasper sprinting across the grass, waving a rushed goodbye.

  "See you next time then!" I say, accompanied by a wave of my own.

  "Bye!" Jessy chimes happily, while Otto only returns my wave in a bashful menner.

  As I'm walking away, I hear Otto’s laughter chime through the park, and I glance back just in time to see Jessy elbow her, turning their interaction into an impromptu game of tag.

  They seem like fun. A little crazy, but fun. Maybe I can make friends after all.