Somehow, someway, Joseph found himself right back on that tree stump on Lynn Road, just a block away from his own home. He knew Lark would be coming soon—but that still wasn't even will to have him move. Maybe he was just too stubborn. Yeah, he thought, that had to be it.

Because there was absolutely no way he came all this way, just to see Lark again. The thought was punishable to his own intestines.

Seconds later, there was movement beside him. He looked over to left, and groaned out. "You're back."

Lark only smiled, front teeth on full display. "But of course. Miss me, yet?"

Joseph dramatically fake-barfed on the ground below them, almost sticking a finger up his throat. "You wish." If it were anyone else, Lark knew he wouldn't hesitate to say—'duh', but with Joseph, he knew it would only make him quarrel away.

"You wish I wished." Joseph wanted to come up with something even smarter than that, but every time he tried, he only earned a look of disapproval from Lark. "Whatever," he finally responded. "I don't wish you wished."

Lark left the conversation at that, only scooting a bit closer to Joseph, while waiting for his punishable reaction. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?"

Joseph scooted even further from Lark and his enticing smile, hugging his arms to his vastly beating heart. "Trying to stay as far away from you as I can."

"You sure 'bout that, Joe. Because you're the one that came back to my stump—"

"This isn't your stump—I was here first." Joseph spit back stubbornly, fighting the urge to toss Lark over the edge.

"Fine," Lark settled for the both of them, "this is our stump."