RIVER VALLEYS PAST

Chapter 6

Anaya gazed down at her hands with a blank expression on her face. The white cloth wrapped around her hand cover the incident that had occurred, yet it didn't change the fact that Rebecca had destroyed the only thing that made her smile, all the photos of her sister were gone and there was no putting them back. She had drawn those photo's day by day, with every thought of her sister. A gentle tap on the shoulder made her gaze up at the girl silently taking a seat right next to her.

"Here" Kennedy whispered, sliding a new blue notebook in front of her. Anaya silently opened the book, her eyes widen. A small smile grazing her thin pink lips, her fingers trailing over the photo. "I know it probably won't be as good as the old book, but I thought this was better than nothing" she added, slowly standing. Even though it won't change the fact that she lost the book, she was happy to have her drawings back. To have some part of her sister back.

"Kennedy" she said, glancing up at Kennedy who was getting ready to leave. Kennedy mumbled a silent 'yes', gazing down at her.

  "Thank you" she smiled, gazing down at the drawing with admiration. Then it fell. Kennedy smile, waving her hand to her friends before sitting back down. "And it's not me" she gulped, not minding the other two students who had sat opposite her.

"Who is it?" Kennedy asked, gazing down at the photo with much anticipation. Anaya sighed, her fingers slipping away from the drawing. Her finger glazing the cover of the book before slamming the book closed. Kennedy flinched, gazing down at the book. Anaya's hand balled into a fist on the cover of the book.

"No one" she mumbled, turning her face away from their line of view. Kennedy sighed, turning to face her friends. Though she knew nothing about Anaya, some part of her wanted to keep her safe, get to know her better. But that was something she knew she couldn't force.

"Anyway...." Kennedy said, changing the subject. "These are my friends, Adam and Audre, their twins" she said, introducing the twins who sat opposite to them. Anaya turned to face them with a blank expression. To her surprise they were almost identical, down to their oval face, mist black curls and hazel eyes. Only difference they had were their genders.

"Hey" Adam smiled, giving her a small wave. Her gaze fell as a blush of embarrassment crept up to her cheeks. "I hope you don't mind us sitting with you" he said in a calm tone. She simply shrugged not gazing up from her book.

"You look familiar" Audre said mainly to herself, yet it didn't go unheard, her pointer finger tapping against her bottom lip. "Have we met before" she asked, pointing in Anaya's direction. Before Anaya had the opportunity to answer, ghostly voice caught her attention.

'Anaya' The voice called out, grabbing her full attention. Every went in slow motion as she glanced around trying to decipher where the voice was coming from.

'Anaya' The voice called out once more. The deafening silence around her made her ears ring. Her surroundings, fell from beneath her bringing her back to the darkness around her. 'You must hurry' the voice whispered. The darkness around her was blinding. Turning to her right, she was once again face to face with the gray mist. The only difference was that this time, there was a small figure appearing in the mist. It's as if the image was walking towards her.

"Anaya" a voice echoed, her body jolted forward. Her body was pulled from the image bringing back the cafeteria were Kennedy and the others sat, staring at her in confusion. "Are you okay" Adam asked, sliding into the seat to her left. Anaya shrugged, and Audre huffed, knowing her brother more than anyone.

Releasing a calming breath, Anaya nods. Turning away from their burning gaze. Tears burning her gaze. She wanted to yell, scream, she wanted nothing more than to release her pent up frustration into the world. But there was no way of doing that.

"Good afternoon students" a voice echoed over the intercom, "Just a reminding our seniors that this year, is the year we host our annual camping trip at River Bluewater. Remember to hand in your permission slips by Friday" the principal announced. Kennedy squeals, turning to Audre with a wide grin.

"I can't wait, I hear senior camp out is the best and on the last day the seniors gather around the bonfire" Kennedy smiles, turning to face Audre who was busy staring at Anaya who had her brothers attention. "What about you Audre?" She added, grabbing attention. It was no secret that Andre was into girls as much as her brother. But she unlike her brother had limits.

       "What?" she asked, her mind lingering on the girl sitting by her brother.

        "Are you excited about the camping trip" Kennedy asked once again, Audre simply shrugs.

        "I don't know, camping with Rebecca and the other nobody's doesn't sound like my thing" she said, leaning back in her chair. With a straight face.

        "How about you Anaya, are you coming on the trip"

         "My mother wouldn't allow it" she sighed, ever since they landed in Tennessee her mother has been acting weird, such as allowing her to take the bus to school and not driving her.

         "You should definitely ask her, maybe she'll say yes" Adam smiled, nudging her shoulder slightly. She simply shrugs, mumbling a silent 'maybe'.  Gazing up to meet Audre's burning gaze, a blush spreading across her slightly pale cheeks. Kennedy smiles, glancing between the two.

        The finally bell chimed, indicating the end of lunch. Anaya quickly excused herself, leaving them behind. Kennedy turned to Audre with a wide knowing grin.

         "What?" Audre questioned, knowing her best friend all to well.

        "What, what?" Adam questioned, glancing between the two.

         "You like Anaya" Kennedy grinned, watching both Adam and Audre blush. "OH.... that's bad" she said with a frown, shaking her head. Knowing both twins having a crush on one person wasn't good for anyone.