Chapter Text
I glanced up at the clock resting just above the door for the hundredth time in the past five minutes. I watched as the smallest of the three hands lazily made its way around the clock's face, with the larger two seemingly frozen in place, obviously quite content to keep the rest of my class and I trapped here for eternity. I muffled a groan of frustration as I turned back to the front of the class where my teacher, one sternly Mrs. Finch, was saying something or other about Romeo and Juliet which we would be reading for the rest of the semester.
"Miss. Kennedy," I jumped a little in my seat. Someone behind me snickered and I could feel my face begin to grow warm. I sunk down in my chair, trying to make myself look as small as possible. Mrs. Finch had her stormy blue eyes focused on me behind thick-rimmed glasses, with a sour look on her face like someone had put something fowl in her morning coffee. For a moment I simply sat there, staring into space until I realized what was going on.
"Um, I'm sorry what was the question?" I asked wanting to completely disappear as more snickers sounded from the other students behind me. Ms. Finch sighed, running a hand over her salt and peppered hair, which was held back in a perfect bun.
"Miss. Kennedy, you would do well to pay attention in my class if you ever hope of passing," she lectured. I simply nodded my head and Ms. Finch gave me one more stern look, before turning back to the board.
With the teacher's attention off of me once more, I sighed and turned to look up at the clock again. I wanted to dance for joy as I noticed that the hands seemed to have quickened their pace while I wasn't looking, leaving only one more minute before I would be free from this place for a whole weekend. My knee began to bounce up and down, as I messed with the pen on my desk. I was so enraptured by the object that would grant me my freedom, that I didn't even notice when a pile of papers were placed on the desk in front of me.
Finally, the bell rang. I jumped up from my seat and gathered everything into my backpack; however, just before I could cross over the threshold that marked the boundary of Ms.Finch's control, I heard her voice call out over the crowd.
"Miss. Kennedy if you would stay behind for just a moment, I would like to speak with you." I groaned, ignoring the giggling behind me as I made my way back over to her desk. I felt like something heavy had dropped into my stomach as I noticed the look on her face. This wasn't going to be good.
"Alison," she began once the last student had trickled out of the classroom. "While I understand that this past year has been difficult for you, I need you to start paying better
attention in class." I winced slightly, but Mrs. Finch didn't seem to notice as she continued talking. "I am sure your father--." I interrupted her before she could finish.
"Don't worry, I'll start paying better attention." I turned and practically ran from the room, ignoring her as she called for
me to come back.
The only good thing about being held back by Mrs. Finch was that the hallways were practically empty as I stepped out of the room. There were only a few students still hanging around their lockers, laughing and talking to their friends about their plans
for the weekend as I passed. I didn't pay them any attention, instead focusing on getting to my locker at the other end of the hall as quickly as possible. When I finally arrived I paused as I noticed the familiar curly red hair of a girl leaning against my locker blocking my way.
"Hey Maria," I said as I pushed her to the side playfully. I opened my locker and pulled out whatever it was that I would need for the upcoming weekend while talking to my friend. "What are you doing here, aren't you going to miss the bus?"
"No, I'm not taking the bus today," Maria murmured, and I could hear the pout in her voice. "My dad is making us all go camping this weekend, so he and mom are picking me up today." I turned to look at her shimmering green eyes, as she crossed her
arms over her chest like a child throwing a tantrum. I rolled my eyes and slammed my locker shut.
"It can't be all that bad," I said as we began to make our way towards the front of the school.
"Bad?" Maria asked. "No Ali, it's worse. I have to spend an entire weekend in the middle of the woods with my parents, and I don't even have phone service to keep me company." I laughed as she groaned dramatically. "It will be a weekend in hell, I'm
telling you." She turned to me, looking me up and down for a moment. "Please tell me you, at least, have something interesting planned for this weekend?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"I think Mom wants to go and visit dad," I muttered, not really looking forward to that particular visit. "Other than that though I have no idea, probably just do some homework."
"That can't be all that you're doing this weekend!" Maria cried in exasperation. "It's no wonder you're so pale, you spend all of your time indoors."
"You sound like my mom," I said, pushing Maria's shoulder playfully. "And besides, you're paler than I am."
"Yeah, but I don't constantly wear dark colors that make me look like I'm a ghost," she pointed out. "Even your hair is dark!" I raised a hand to my dark auburn hair and shrugged.
"What can I say, I like it." We both laughed as we arrived at the front of the school. Maria's parents were already waiting for her in their blue Ford Explorer.
"Hey Ali," Maria said, her voice suddenly growing serious. "I know you don't like to talk about your dad, but if you need anything just message me alright. I'm sure I'll get it somehow." She grabbed my hands and looked straight into my eyes. I didn't know what to say, so I simply nodded my head. She gave me a hug and turned to leave.
I waved goodbye and watched as she ran over to her dad, giving him a hug despite the complaining she had been doing previously. He took her backpack and placed it in the already packed trunk of their car. I turned away from the scene, feeling a little envious of my friend as I made my way down the street towards home.
The heat from the sun beat against my back as I made the two-mile journey home, but a cool breeze brushed against my skin in a steady rhythm, keeping me from sweating through my clothes. My mind was empty as music blared from my earbuds, and I felt at peace. I allowed myself to focus on nothing more than the lyrics of my favorite song, humming softly to myself as I walked.
I just barely noticed as I came upon a playground off to my right that signaled that I was already half way home. After a quick look at the time on my phone, I realized that I still had plenty of time and decided to take a seat on one of the green
benches nearby.
The park was small, and most of the equipment had rusted over the years, but it was still a favorite of the neighborhood children. They ran around in groups, playing tag or whatever other games came to mind. A few adults and teens around my age sat in a circle around the playground though most of them were either talking to each other or playing on their phones, rather than actually paying attention to whichever child they were supposed to be watching.
The scene was enough to make me smile as I remembered my dad bringing me here on his days off to play with the other children. In fact, this had been the very same park where I had met Maria for the first time when we were eight. I remembered how happy my dad had been that I had found a friend since there weren't any children in my own neighborhood, and I often had to play by myself.
The thought of my father's smiling face was enough to ruin the happy mood that I had been in, and I hastily raised a hand to wipe away the tears that were threatening to fall. Hopefully, no one had seen me about to break down around a bunch of kids.
I was shocked out of my thoughts as I felt a tap on my shoulder and I looked over to see a boy about my age standing next to me with a grin on his face. The first thought to enter my head was that I was sure that he had to be wearing contacts. His eyes were an unnatural shade of yellow-green and seem to have a glow about them. To add to the strangeness, even more, his hair was red, but I could have sworn that in a certain light it looked purple. Realizing that I had been staring, I hastily pulled out my ear buds.
"May I sit here?" He asked, still grinning as he gestured to the spot next to me. I nodded my head and he sat down looking out at the children playing. I continued to look at him for only a minute longer, before placing my ear buds back in my ear, and bringing my phone up so that it looked as though I was paying attention to it.
Despite how hard I tried to mind my own business, I couldn't help but glance at him from the corner of my eye. His unique hair and eye color clashed against the simple white t-shirt and jeans that he was wearing. As I was looking, I caught something in his
hands glittering in the afternoon sun. It was a piece of jewelry though I couldn't make out what it was exactly and I turned my head to get a better look. As I did, I noticed that the boy was looking at me with those strange colored eyes. I could feel my face begin to heat up as I quickly averted my eyes and looked back towards the playground.
Once I was sure my blush had gone down, I turned back to find that the boy was no longer there. I looked around the playground for any signs of him but found nothing. I looked back over to where he had been sitting, and I found the jewelry piece that he had been messing with had been left on the bench. I reached over hesitantly to pick it up and realized that it was a silver necklace. It had a matching silver pendant made of wire twisted into the shape of a cat. I brought the necklace closer, wondering if I should just leave it there in case the boy came back for it, but found myself placing the jewelry around my neck anyway. I stood quickly and continued my journey home.