Where Do We Go From Here?

Graceland

Waking up to memories of yesterday was excruciatingly painful. Knowing that you could not go back and change a simple thing that will have a great blow on everything in the future. It’s all very frustrating. I sighed, getting up from bed and messing up my already messed up hair. I let out a yawn when I passed by the mirror but went back to it because something caught my eye. I glanced at myself in the mirror, looking at my hair, and the person that reflected back. It was someone who had a nest on his head. A white-ish nest, I might add. I have white colored streak highlighting the top of my jet black hair. What in the f—

“Sterling! You better get up or you’ll be—“Mom interrupted my silent freaking out when she entered the room and stared wide-eyed at my new hair, her mouth slightly opened making an O. She was just as shocked as I was. Who in the world would do this to me?! Knowing that I’d get them back one way or another. I look like some crazy assh—

“Sterling Valentine, what in God’s name have you done to your hair?” Mom scolded, she was fond of my natural jet black hair since it came from her side of the genes. She half ran towards me with a pout on her lips, touching my hair lightly, glaring at my hair like it would magically go back to normal.

“I … I don’t know Mom. But how ever did it, they’re going to get it –“I have no idea why I kept acting like I’m some kind of a tough guy. Well, I think, I am but I never supported violence. I find cunning words kills an individual cruelly rather than primitive fist-fighting.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Jamie said as she entered the room, she hid behind mom sucking her thumb and peeking through. “It’s only chalk,” she continued, tears brimming at the bottom of her eyes.

“But baby, didn’t you know that you almost got your brother upset? You shouldn’t have done that,” Mom said, picking her up and touching her nose.

All of my rage seemed to have evaporated off of me in an instant. I mean, how will you get mad at your little sister? She’s the only sibling I have and I just can’t bear having a fit with her. She already seems sorry might as well forgive the little monster.

“Baby girl, you should have waited for me to wake up. Playing with me in my sleep isn’t any fun you know,” I told her, getting her from my mom’s arms and wiping the tears that strolled down her face in the process. She smiled apologetically at me and leaned her head on my shoulder, knowing that she is forgiven.

“But I wanted to see how happy you will be when you wake up looking at my masterpiece,” she joked.

“I was very happy, alright. Did you see the sparkle in my eyes when I looked at the mirror?” I replied. She looked sad again when she recognized the sarcasm in my tone. “Ooh, and I love the chalk-colored hair you did. It really brings out my green eyes.” I added in a high-pitched voice making me sound like a girl.

She laughed. I love it when she laughs, it’s like the ringing of the bells in Christmas. “I love you Sterling,” she said, hugging my neck. It was really cute, actually.

When turned at heads to the sound of our mom’s silent sobbing. I knew why she was crying, but I just can’t take it when I see my mom in tears, it’s just too heart-breaking. Who would want to see their mom in tears? Seriously? Who would be that heartless?

We walked towards her and hugged her until her stopped crying. “Guys, get out of my room.” I told them. They both stared at me like I had three heads. I didn’t realize that I sounded harsh. “I have to get dressed for school!” I added with a laugh to lift off the weight I created.

--

“Who’s that guy with the bike?” One girl asked as I parked my motorcycle. Here I go again with my eavesdropping. It’s not my fault for hearing things! I grabbed my bag and carried on, pretending I didn’t hear a thing they said.

“That’s Sterling Valentine! How can you not know him?!” She demanded. This made me smile a bit. How can she not, right? I’ve been in the same school with them since we were kids. It’s good to know that I’m not known to some though. It’s like having people around you not know about your past.

First and second class went on in a blur. It was suddenly lunch time when I awakened from my act of not-seeming-to-care-what’s-going-on-around-me. It’s really effective, people around me don’t seem to notice me and I like it that way. I grabbed my lunch and sat in the far corner by the window, where I usually sat.

“Seems like Jeremy isn’t here yet,” I muttered under my breath.

“Who isn’t here yet?” He said behind my back. He sat down with a smile plastered on his face. Jeremy is my bestfriend. He’s been there for me ever since she left. I stared into those happy hazel eyes and quickly looked away, remembering hers.

“No one.”

“Looks like someone’s in a good mood,” and there goes sarcasm. I tossed a gooey looking soup at him with my spoon and he threw a handful of chips at me. We laughed at our ridiculousness and eat the remains of our food in silence.

“Hey,” he said after a moment of silence.

“What?” It’s about a girl again.

“Have you seen the new girl?” Ah, and there it is.

“No. Should I?” I grimaced at him. I was never interested nor attracted to the girls in this school. Scratch that – in this town. Nobody compares to her.

“I thought it was her,” he answered quietly.

“What?!” No, it can’t be. She’s gone. She’s long gone. How in the hell could he say something like that?

“Hey, take a breath. I’m not being the bad guy here. I’m just saying what I think. Let go of the fork, lad.”

“Sometimes I wish you don’t.” I didn’t recognize my voice when I told that to him. Letting go of the fork, I watched him play with his food, obviously losing his appetite. He knew how sensitive I was when it comes to her, I just can’t believe that he would bring her up again after all these years and say something as foolish as that. What was he thinking? Was he even thinking at all? Ugh.

 I ate the remaining of food and stopped when I heard Jeremy gasp.

“She’s here,” he whispered, blood draining from he’s face. Here we go again, when will he stop? He knows that the jokes are just not funny anymore. He pointed a shaky direction at the other corner of the cafeteria. I have to check this out, so that I could finally shut him up with his assumptions. People were crowding up the cafeteria, some are sitting on the table due to lack of chairs whilst some are standing while eating due to lack of tables and chairs. Seriously, when will the school realize that they should increase their facilities? Tcch.

I stood up on my chair to get a better look. Her back was faced at us, I spotted her immediately because she was the only one who had brown hair in the area. The others where blond, jets, and some dyed their hair in loud colours, which were really distracting. Taking her seat, she looked my way and stared at me. I found myself gazing back at those hazel brown eyes. I can’t believe that I was looking at her again.

I felt something tingle somewhere in my knees that caused me to fall from the chair and hit my chin on the table in the process.  I felt Jeremy’s presence beside me as he helped me up, he didn’t say a word when we walked out of the room and went outside to bathe the warm sun.