Chapter 3- A new friend

I walked to Sydney's old house. I don't know why, maybe it was Derek and I’s conversation that sparked a curiosity. The gate is open, so I walk in or not?  I decided to walk in after all this isn't America, I doubt someone will have a shotgun or something. As I was about to knock on my old pals door it opened, the boy said nothing but I could tell he didn't want to talk. He’s nearly paler than his white walls, showing that he never worked much in the field. His grey eyes scaled me up and down multiple times, I noticed that he has freckles scattered all across his cheeks and under his eyes. They even go across his nose. After 10 seconds of staring at each other he finally said something “What do you want?” “Um.. Are you Eric or Emilio?” He gave me a disgusted look “I know no one by that name,” He paused but quickly added, “But I'm Ethan, may I ask why you're asking?” I looked down, noticing his dirty khaki pants “Oh I was just curious, a kid named Derek lives near you and he said you moved in shortly after Sydney moved” He stood there giving me another confused look “How do you know about Sydney?” I cocked an eyebrow “I used to live here,” He was about to close the door on me but I continued my sentence “I’m Max” This caught his attention “Y-your Max?” He couldn't help but hide a wicked crooked smile that sent shivers down my spine. His smile alone tempted me to lie but I didn't, he’s a stranger what's the worst he can do? “Maxwell Davis?” He could kidnap me or murder me, wait! He just asked me something, shoot! What was it? I-I’ll just say yes “Yes” He extended his hand, everything in my body told me not to shake his hand but I did. I felt a cold hard hand, his hand was filled with callose. How he them, beats me. It was close to shaking a dead man's hand, like I was shaking air. He walked out of his house “Um” Was all I managed to say, this guy is giving me serious creep vibes “Sorry for the rude introduction, I thought you were one of the decoys that Nick or Copper sent” “W-who?” “There the school bullies, real tools let me tell you” “Oh” “Wanna go on an adventure?” Is this guy serious? He’s rude at first and now want’s to be buddies? “I-I don't know” He gave me a sad look “Sorry, I guess to soon?” “Yeah” “Yeah I would think, I don't have many friends. I thought since you went to my doorstep and all-” He cut himself off “It was a stupid thought, sorry” He said while walking up his old house doors. This overwhelming guilt surged me on to apologize “Wait!” Why was I jerk to this guy? I know what it's like to have little to none friends. He stopped at the door and turned around “Yes?” “Restart?” He gave me a kind smile “I’m Ethan Berez, you are?” “Maxwell Dylan Davis” I said proudly “Gee Max, wanna go on an adventure?!”  “Heck yeah!” Ethan jumped off of his porch and sprinted out his property, gesturing for me to follow suit. I followed the red-haired boy all the way to the Craven woods, where we both stopped to catch a breath “I haven't ran that far in quite some time!” I jokingly yelled “It’s just a mile!” He yelled back. I sat down “Still, Thanksgiving just passed ya know!” He sat next to me “Haha, that was a month ago” We sat on the sandy ground for a while until Ethan stood up again “Ready?” “Yeah 15 minutes is a good rest” We walked through the old woods for a good 30 minutes just joking around and such until we saw a small river. We exchanged looks of excitement “Thinking what I’m think?” I asked “Heck to the yeah!” Ethan agreed, clearly. We walked on the icy water, it's weird how it’s dessert just a couple miles away from this exact spot, but grassy and even icy in this area. Reno is weird. We walked, jumped, ran, slipped, and even had a small snowball fight. Soon we were playing around of horse, just one letter and Ethan wins. He did a backflip and landed perfectly on the ice, I just hope I don't break my neck. I ran off the rock and landed on the ice, without doing the backflip. “Ah!” I broke the ice! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna drown! “Dude! Hold on!” I heard Ethan yelling but the rest was muffled from the water entering my ears, I’m gonna die! Ice is above me! Ow! I-I-I feel a fire in my chest! H-how?! “Ethan!” Ethan! E-E-Etha. I woke up to a hard slap on the face “Dude!” I opened my eyes to Ethan's face surprised, I looked around “Were still in the woods?” “Yeah” “Did you-” “Yes” There was a sense of awkwardness surrounding us “Um-” He cut me off once again “We must never speak of this event again, understand?” I sat up “Yes!” We both stood up “Let's get you home”