Left To Survive

XXXII

3 weeks later

20 June

꧁ Alisha ꧂

I walked into my conservatory, but stood still when I saw a floating watering can drifting in the air, going from plant to plant and spilling a bit of water on the way. I couldn't stop the smile coming up on my face. "I told you to not do that!" I exclaimed. The water can hanged still in the air. "Well someone has to take care of ...." a voice says. Yara's voice. "Well, I should be the one to take care of my babies, you couldn't let a cactus live!"

It's been a week since I could hear Yara's voice. It was still faint and soft, and often got broken off, like just now. But I could hear her voice again. The first time I did, I cried out of happiness. Somehow I was slowly getting my best friend back. And Yara seemed much happier now that she wasn't locked up in her family. For as much as I could feel her being happy.

"Why do you stay here so much anyways? I didn't know you liked plants this much." I asked her. "... calming vibes, you know? It's... and plus, it's not like I have anything... Something just ke-... here."

I raised my eyebrows. "You keep falling away sweetie, it's like listening to an old walkie-talkie. "Hey! I'm trying..." I chuckled. "I know girl, I know. You're doing amazing. Did you water them all?" The can lowers to the ground. "Yes."

ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ

"So, ... news about Jaden boy?" Yara asked me. I sighed deeply before answering. "No, I haven't seen him since he told me all that stuff." A short silence fell. "...skss... ofr..." I frowned my forehead and interrupted her. "I can't hear you girl, could you try again?"

I knew that Yara got really frustrated with this, her progress went slower than she'd want. But she could already lift almost all objects, and hold it for as long as she wanted. And she could hold me too. The first time we hugged again... I wished that moment, that feeling, would've last forever.

I heard her taking a deep breath. "I hope he will stay away," Yara articulated every syllable loud and clear. "Hmm... I don't know about that. He was a good friend, you know?"

Yara didn't agree. "No! He was a .... and something felt off all the t..." Maybe she was right. Maybe it was best if he stayed away, I didn't like thinking about our "goodbye" weeks ago.

And thereby, where did he go? He hadn't come to school since then...

꧁ Jaden ꧂

I thought it was time to apologize to Alisha. I really startled her when I told her how much she meant to me... Not that I didn't mean it. If anything, staying away from her made me want her more. Every dream was about her. Every hour of the day I couldn't stop thinking of her beautiful smile, those cute freckles like stars, her bouncing hair, the way she laughed... She was everywhere for me

And I missed her. Staying away from her for three weeks had been so hard, but it was necessary. I needed the time, and she needed some distance from me, so I wouldn't creep her out.

But that time was over. From now on, I would make sure that she won't ever be so far away from me again.

I took out my phone and wrote her a message:

Hey Alisha. Could we talk, please?

In a few minutes already I got a text back.

Hey! Yeah, of course. Do you want to come over to my house?

Shit. I wanted to invite her to mine... That would be so much simpler. It's okay though. I wrote her back:

Sure, be there in ten.

I got dressed and went to the garage to get my bike.

Five minutes later

꧁ Yara ꧂

The bell rang. Already? The guy said ten minutes, jeez. At first Alisha wanted to go over to his house, but I stopped her. I still didn't trust him. He better prove himself first, multiple times. Alisha's parents were home, so this was a safe space for her.

Alisha wasn't very eager about letting Jaden come to her house, with her parents home, but I convinced her. We couldn't trust Jaden yet, not after how he treated her.

She went to open the door, me floating behind her, to supervise and see if he behaved. Her parents were standing in the door opening of the hall, curious and happy to see that she had friends.

When Alisha opened the door, Jaden was standing there, a guilty look plastered over his face. He saw Alisha's unbothered face (I told her to put on a bitch face and let her sweet personality go for a few minutes), and her parents behind her, looking at him, waiting for what he'd say.

"So," Jaden started, "I only came here to apologize, quickly." Alisha cut him off immediately. "Quickly? To get it over with, you mean?" She looked at me with a smile when she heard I chuckled. Jaden put on puppy eyes and continued. "Of course not! I just wanted to say... I am sorry..." Yeah you already said that. "I shouldn't have treated you like that," No shit Sherlock. "And I hope you will forgive me, and that we can continue as friends."

Alisha was silent for a few seconds. Long enough for me to see that Jaden was getting impatient.

I knew exactly what I needed to know. "That pretentious bitch-" I said, only Emily could hear me and she gave me a look before answering Jaden with a smile. Only I could see that her smile was fake. "Of course! We all make mistakes sometimes, and I have missed you at school." Jaden looked relieved. "Do you want to come in-" Alisha proposed, but Jaden immediately refused and said he had to leave, and then rode off on his bike.

"Well, we've had that," I sighed.