Monstrum

"— Come on, dude, it's not that scary."

I don't know about this one. The drop into the skate area frightens me.

"Look."

Dj takes my skateboard, flipping it underneath his heels with an effortless twist. A moment later, he's down into the pit.

"Not that hard man." He said

I take a swallow. People are watching, and I'm not trying to be weak, or else it'll make me panic even more.

Dj pulls up swiftly, clipping the end of the drop with the truck of the board, hopping off with a 'steazy' motion, allowing him to catch the board into his palm.

He hands it to me. The surface of the board colliding against my pale fingers.

"Go, bro." Dj nods

I press my lips together. I'm starting to doubt myself. This happens everytime.

"Hold on—"

"It's too shaky—" I barely mumbled

In the corner of my eye, Dj's friends walk past the fence into the skatepark. He sees them. I drop the board, exhaling from my nose with momentary relief following him loosely.

"You guys are here hella early." Called out one of them

Dj shakes them up, dapping up hands. They start their usual banter, my dull ears tuning out the sounds of their chatter. Even though I'm ignoring them and their presence, the way they pull the attention away from me soothes my nerves a tiny bit.

I take a seat, pulling out my cracked phone screen, reading my moms text from an hour ago.

"Ok love, remember to drink a lot of water because its going to be hot!"

My message comes out in a few hesitant seconds.

"Kk i dont know how long ill be gone for but love you"

I sigh, slipping the phone into my pocket with a simple motion.

"Hey."

Brook. She has a small smirk plastered on her face as she sits down next to me.

Her elbows rest down on her legs, eyes set forward at Dj and the boys.

"They talk too much."

I see her eyes. They squint ever so slightly.

"That's why you're over here. You're not tryna be involved, yeah?"

Her face lingers eerily in my vision. I've seen it many times before, a sight that will never leave my mind, even when she isn't around. It disturbs me.

Then, her hand falls onto my lap. I was responding, so it forces a jolt out of me.

"Right." I replied quietly

Her denim jacket smells like a new house. Not to mistake the smell for someone friendly, because Brook is not. She hides who she is.

She scoots closer.

"You don't look alright." Brook said with a smirk

"Yeah..."

I paused.

"It's just cold... I didn't want to come out here in the first place." I replied hesitantly

She takes a long look at me. I don't know what she's thinking, but she's probably planning already.

"Great. Dj's friends were bothering you, and now you're cold."

Her palm spans my back before she gives it two quick pats. I shutter subtly.

"I don't see why you wouldn't want to come back with me. My parents are not home."

I shake my head, itching my chin nervously.

"Nah... I think I'm good."

"Are you though?" She started

Brook stands up, patting my back again.

"Come on, I need someone to help babysit the house too. It's gonna be hard on me."

Can't say no. I know her parents are pretty harsh.

"Fine."