thunder [h.s]

ch. 1

[sage's pov]

"Can you move to the left a little, Ivy?"
I wanted the lighting to be perfect. Today the sun was shining behind the clouds, giving a dim glow.

I snapped the photo of my best friend right when a leaf fell in front of her. The weather was changing to my favorite season, fall. The world is just a cozy orange color that makes me want to stay outside forever. There are so many opportunities of pictures that can be taken with this kind of weather. I was stood on a log to get a better angle of Ivy. Her brown locks were loosely falling over a black headband. As I tucked my scarf inside my jacket, I snapped another photo of her. This time she was looking down.

"Okay, I think I got enough pictures of the photo shoot today! I hope Professor Syphers likes this power point."

"Why wouldn't he? He likes any project you do. I'm pretty sure you're his favorite student, after all."

We went back inside the Art Institute to go back in the dorms. I hung up a white picture frame with a photo I took earlier in the week. I put it above my bed. I just have one more year left of the college experience here, then I'm leaving. My stomach interrupts my thoughts as it grumbles.

"Do you want to stop by Pearl Bakery? We can finally relax since it's Saturday." I don't want to go without Ivy.

"Sure! I love the cheesecake they have there."

We walked down the streets, waiting for cars to pass. When we entered the bakery, the little bell rang sounding someone has entered. Ivy and I sat at a heart shaped table which was made of glass. We ordered our desserts and I ordered myself a coffee. I sometimes make fun of Ivy for her enthusiasm when it comes to cherry tea. After about five minutes, the waitress brought back tiny plates with a slice of cheesecake and a cinnamon muffin. The usual order. After I paid, we went back to the dorms. I pulled out my Polaroid to take a few photos of the rain that had been pouring down for last ten minutes. Ivy had just offered to share the umbrella, to which I politely declined to.

"Sage, do you really have to take pictures right now?"

"You should know me by now. I have to take pictures every time it rains."

"Okay, okay. Should we go to our room and call it a day? Tomorrow we need to have another photo shoot so we can add more to the PowerPoint."

"That sounds ideal."

The next morning I woke up to the sound of Ivy slamming drawers.

"What are you doing?" My eyes were still heavy from sleep, so I squinted from the sunlight seeping through the curtains.

"I'm trying to find something!"

"What is it?"

"My curling iron. I thought I put it on this shelf but it's not there anymore."

"Oh yeah, I know where it is," I stepped towards my closet and pulled it from the shelf on the wall, "I kind of burrowed it."

"Well thanks for asking for my permission." She said jokingly.

"Of course, anytime!" I said in a high pitched voice.

"No, but seriously. Maybe ask next time so I don't have another heart attack."

"No, I don't think I will."

Ivy plugged the curling iron in as I went to go get dressed.

"That's weird."

"What's weird?"

"I don't know where my ring is."

I was starting to freak out. I can't lose this.

"Oh yeah, about that. I kind of, um, dropped it down the sink?"

"Wait. What?"

Is she joking?

"Well I was making a surprise breakfast for you, and it was laying on the counter. I went to flip the egg but the egg landed on the counter. I didn't want to pick up the egg because I have a phobia with touching other people's food, so I tried to pick it up with the spatula. Then that's when I realized the egg landed on the ring and I flipped it and somehow it ended up in the sink. I meant to tell you earlier, but you were still asleep."

I didn't realize my jaw had dropped until she came over and said quietly, "Honey, are there flies in your mouth?" A little harshly, I smacked her hand away. I could feel my cheeks burning.

"Give me a minute." I walked over to the sink and saw it was in the drain. I pulled up my sleeve and stuck my hand in it, careful to not cut it on the razors. I couldn't reach it. I went to find some kind of tool to help me reach it, but I couldn't find anything.

After a while, I just gave up. That ring meant a lot to me, but I have no hope in getting it. I got angry when I thought that. No. I can't just leave it in there. My mom gave it to me. I went over to the sink again and reached once more. Right when I pulled my hand up, I felt a sharp pain impale into my skin.

I simply looked at my hand. It was dripping red on the white carpet.

"Goodbye, Ivy. Let me cool down and get some air."

I ran out of the room. Tears in my eyes. Camera in hand.