Chapter two

Yeah,I know these names all from FF mostly, it just a prototype ;)

Tidus was walking through the forest with his friends. He carried a huge bag, filled with cakes and other sweets. Suddenly Midori ran past him, with a big smile on her face. ‘Yeah, you run!’ Tidus shouted ‘Just that you don’t have to carry anything today…’. Midori stopped running, and looked at Tidus. ‘Shut up’ she laughed. Tidus caught up with her, and put the bag on the ground. ‘This looks like a fine place for the picnic’ he sighed. ‘No way!’ she laughed ‘It’s right in the middle of the path!’,- ‘So what? I don’t want to walk any further! I’ve had it, I don’t even like cake!’ he tried,- ‘Come on, just a little further! There ‘s a better place just up ahead. Please, for me?’,- ‘Oke! Fine! I’ll do it!’. He loaded the heavy bag back on his shoulders and continued his way. ‘Hey, what are you two talking about?’ Seph asked. ‘Nothing!’ Tidus and Midori said, and they burst into laughter. ‘Sure, whatever’ Seph said. Seph had always been the adult-like one of their group. He shrugged his shoulders, and walked past them. Leon and Zia also gained on them. ‘Having a little time together?’ Leon asked. Leon was the youngest of the five, only sixteen years old. He was always making fun of everyone, but nonetheless he was a welcome addition to their group. He and Zia were very close friends. ‘Hey, cut them a slack’ Zia said, winking at Tidus. Tidus started to blush, but luckily for him it was barely notable. Zia and Leon quickly moved on. ‘Want to go?’ Tidus asked. ‘Yeah, sure.’ Midori answered. Tidus started walking again. ‘So, how have you been?’ He asked. He hadn’t spoken to Midori in quite some time now. She had been too busy doing school work, this year she passed her exams. He had done them last year, and easily past them. And now it was summer break. They were going to their usual picnic spot.
‘Tidus? Are you listening to me?’,- ‘Huh, what? Oh, right! Sorry, what did you say?’,- ‘I was telling you about the exams… Where were you with your mind? Well, never mind. As I was saying, I think I really screwed up my history exams! I just can’t remember in what year the Hramans got defeated.’ Midori said. ‘Wait, let me think’ Tidus said, frowning deeply. ‘Wasn’t that in the same year in which Rodrim the great got murdered? Let me see… That must have been in the year 377. Yeah! That was it!’,- ‘No way! I actually answered that on my test! I had no idea!’ Midori shouted. ‘Hey, keep it down you two.’ Seph said. No. he didn’t say it, it was an order. Seph thought of himself as the leader of the pack, which he in some ways was. However, usually he wasn’t this grumpy. ‘Sheesh, what’s bothering him?’ Midori whispered. ‘I heard that!’. Midori moaned. ‘Seriously, what’s his problem?!’,- ‘Well, maybe you are?’ Seph replied. ‘Hey, don’t ruin this day, it’s vacation!’ Tidus said. Seph and Midori apologized to each other. That was the policy in their group. If you did something to hurt another you had to apologize, no matter what. This way you could prevent fights, most of the times at least. Luckily enough, it worked this time. A few minutes later they reached the picnic spot.
Tidus took a deep breath. This place made him feel so good. He looked around, admiring the green peace of the nature surrounding him. The large trees which had been there since he could remember it, the little river crossing the plain. He laughed in himself. A few years ago he and his friends had found this place, the day they had ran away from home. How could they have been that naïve? After a fight with their parents, they decided that they didn’t want to live there anymore. They took their belongings, and walked towards the forests. They hadn’t told anyone about it. After a few hours they reached a green plain in the woods. They were tired, and hungry. Even so, their stubbornness and pride was big enough to think that they’d manage to start new live there. A first, they just sat there, talking mostly. But then night fell, and it got dark and cold. Aged only twelve, they got quite scared. In the end, it was Seph who suggested to go home. At first Tidus wouldn’t listen to him, but his empty stomach persuaded him. When they got home that evening, their parents were furious. Especially Zia’s parents. She got grounded for almost a year! Zia’s parents were pretty strict, but reasonable as well. After a couple of days, her parents released her of her punishment. Since that day they went to this place almost every day. Tidus walked a few steps. The grass under his feet was soft and warm. It felt bouncy, as if you could jump as high as you wanted.
Tidus realized he had been daydreaming. The rest of the group was way ahead of him. ‘Hey!’ he shouted ‘Wait up!’. He fastened his pace. ‘Come on guys! Just a sec!’ He started running. ‘No fair!’. He then tripped, and smacked his face on the ground. He stood up, trying to gain his balance. ‘Are you alright?’ Leon shouted back,- ‘Yeah… I’m fine… perfectly fine…’
He wiped the dirt off of his face. Everybody else was already unpacking their bags. Midori unfolded a huge cloth and spread it on the ground. They all gathered around it and relieved their shoulders of the bags. When they opened them, all kinds of delicious smells filled the area. Tidus sniffed up the scent, feeling an intense happiness. ‘Who’s up for a game of Joltball?’ Seph asked. ‘In a minute, I want to eat something first’ Zia answered. ‘Yeah! I’m like… totally starving’ Leon added. ‘Well, you’re always starving’ Midori joked,- ‘Hey! I need to eat! I’m still growing!’,- ‘Not very fast, huh?’. They all laughed. Leon was indeed quite small. He barely reached Tidus’ shoulders. They all sat down, making a circle around the cloth. Leon immediately started eating, making the others laugh even harder.
‘What? I want to play Joltball fast!’ He mumbled with a full mouth. ‘You have to wait for us anyway, you can’t play it alone. So you might at least enjoy the food, instead of just stuffing it down your throat! I really did my best making it, you know.’ Midori said. Midori’s parents owned a shop in the village. They sold many sorts of cakes and treats. She often had to help her parents prepare things, making her an excellent cook. Whenever they went picnicking, she and her parents made many sweet refreshments. ‘Right, I’m sorry’ Leon said ‘It tastes very good.’,- ‘Thanks!’. They both smiled. Midori wasn’t easily angry, but when you took her cooking skills in doubt she could get very upset. This was because Midori wasn’t that confident of herself. Even though everyone liked her, she still felt that she wasn’t good enough to be with them. The one thing she was really proud of was how well she could make food. That’s why she went out of her way when she could prove her skills. Not that anyone really minded that.
Tidus grabbed one of the chocolate cakes. It was still a little warm. He took a huge bite, and the sweet chocolate flavors filled his mouth. These cakes were his favorites. It seemed Midori knew that, since she made very, very much of them. He noticed Midori was looking at him. He looked up, but she quickly turned away. Tidus laughed in himself.
‘I’m done!’ Leon stood up. ‘So am I’ Seph said. ‘Wanna go for a quick game?’ Leon asked,- ‘Yeah!! Let’s go!’. ‘Hey guys! Wait for me!’ Tidus quickly finished his cake, and ran after them leaving Zia and Midori alone. ‘Boys…’ Zia sighed, before standing up and taking part in the game.

End