Flare

Chapter 1

                                                                                         Sky 

I remember the day I woke up in my pink floral bed. I smelled the faint aroma of waffles, and walked downstairs to see my mom setting a plate on the table for me. I got in a fight with my mom for not letting me go to the well-known popular girl Ashley O’Neil’s house for a birthday party. I stormed off to my room and left my waffles uneaten.

Could my problems have been so simple?

Three weeks later, I’m sitting in a dark corner of the local coffee house with my three favorite people- Avery my thirteen year old sister, Hayden my best friend, and Kieran my boyfriend – talking quietly. We shared in whispers about the people we lost and the people we hope to find. 

Kieran spoke of his father, who had run into a burning house with a few other men from the neighborhood to save a family of two young kids and their divorced mother. Hayden’s older brother Jason also ran in. No one lived.  

Avery talked about her friend Taylor, whom she had known since the age of four, who went into the mall with her mom and never came out. 

Avery and I also talked of our own mother, who did not survive the first of the sun flares. Avery was thrown into tears.

Although all of them were wallowing in self pity, I felt particularly proud of Avery. She was only thirteen, and was holding up better than a lot of the kids her age. She had a more complex personality than most. People didn’t give her enough credit for how tough she was. I secretly admire my younger sister.

I was so lost in thought; I didn’t notice the urgent knocking on the locked coffee house door. I quickly got up and sprinted to the door, allowing my fantasies to follow her. I opened it up a crack, hoping that my mom had somehow made it and has come to help, but it was only Mr. Evans my science teacher. He was a big man, but in a fit kind of way. He had wide shoulders, and probably averaged about 6 feet, which explained why Hayden was so tall. My hopes weren’t in fact as unrealistic and childish as I started to think earlier. They just weren’t my own.

I sighed and turned around. “Hayden.” Her head perked up in response. “It’s for you.” Hayden ran up to the door with obvious joy.

I hope I hadn’t looked half as exited when I ran do the door moments earlier.

Hayden immediately pulled her dad into the building with a squeal and newborn optimism. He looked hurt from the reaction I gave at the doorway, but the expression was overpowered by the joy of seeing his daughter. I walked back to where Avery and Kieran were sitting on the floor waiting.

“Who is it?” Avery asked eagerly. “Mr. Evans.” I replied with another sigh.

“Oh.” Is all Avery said, face falling.

I know I should be happier for Hayden, but I guess it’s too late anyway.

As if reading my thoughts, Kieran addressed the sisters with a small glare. “You should be more supportive of your friend, Sky. She just saw her father, presumed dead for weeks.”

“I know, I know. I just couldn’t help but think-“

“They aren’t coming back. They’re dead.” Kieran interrupted coldly.

Then softer, “I’m sorry. I’m stressed out. We are almost out of our water and food supply.” He said waving his hand in the general direction of the water bottles.

“I’ll go get some.” Avery piped up, grabbing her bag and getting to her feet.

“Oh, no you won’t” Mr. Evans intervened walking towards the kids.