Love in Limbo

Chapter Twenty

The street that the Colonels lived on, it was a sight to behold on this warm Saturday morning. The lampposts all had red ribbons with a bouquet of flowers attached, and the sidewalks were adorned with visitors and party guests who were filtering into the large home on Webber Avenue. There was a large cardboard picture of Cassidy on the lawn, her senior picture, and it brought mixed feelings I imagine to all who saw it. It was a picture that evoked painful memories and feelings, the poster child for this crash, the survivor, it was perhaps not the best choice but I understood that it had a deeper meaning. That picture you all saw for eighteen months, that face you all mourned, well she's back and miracles do happen.

I felt like Katherine Colonel would most probably turn Cassidy into some religious icon of hope, and throw herself into that to save herself from the guilt and the accusations of others who felt betrayed by her lies. Cassidy hadn't died, and honestly, a lot of the town had no idea she was actually alive and in a coma until now.

I stopped outside the house and stood looking up at the door, willing my feet to move, but not having any luck. I wanted to see Cassie. I desperately wanted to see her, but the torture of seeing her and her not seeing me, it was more than a reason to not step foot on that driveway. A few people pushed past me, causing me to loose footing. I moved aside and let the crowd pass, taking a few steps to the left and sitting myself down on the edge of the sidewalk, and more importantly out of the way. I was ready for the party physically, lilac swimsuit on under my navy t shirt, and white shorts and a towel in the bag in my hand, but mentally I was dodging it. I sat and looked down to my navy sneakers, the white edged tip pushing through the dirt on the street, back and forth, as I nervously moved my feet creating lines in the dust. I put the bag down and pulled my hair up into a messy bun, the heat from the sidewalk was already making it feel like mid-day in July, and I could feel sweat forming on my neck under my thick hair. The relief was evident the moment my hair left my neck, and the cooler air hit my newly bare flesh.

"Hey" came a voice I recognised.

Two feet in fresh white sneakers were placed next to mine as the person sat down beside me. The one person I had been actively avoiding for weeks, was now but a few uncomfortable inches away.

I took a deep breath and turned to my left, acknowledging her presence "Hey" I returned weakly.

"You okay" she asked.

"I'm, going in" I told her weakly, as if I didn't even believe it myself "I just needed a minute"

"Sarah, I know you've not returned any of my messages, but I would really like to talk. I just want to explain what happened, and perhaps one day we could be friends"

I looked back to her, as people passed by us, to the auburn hair glowing in the light of the sun's rays, her face blinded to me by the intensity of it. A second later and we were shadowed by a car pulling up beside us, and it blocked the light that had blinded me to her, in turn revealing her, completely, Maddison Hudson. She was looking back at me, expectantly, and her familiar blue eyes were set on mine. My stomach reacted to the feeling of her being so close, with a little nervous flip that made me frown involuntarily.

"I'm sorry...I should leave you alone I know" she began, looking away from me and over the road ahead "I just find it impossible to see you and not be drawn back to you in some way. I guess I never saw you after we broke up...so seeing you in town like this...its..."

"Confusing" I ask, knowing exactly how she felt. I glance back to her familiar profile beside me.

She looks back, finding my eyes on her, and I remove them instantly. I look back down to my sneakers, scuffing the ground beneath me.