Vacant

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

            The next day, Jesse and I went back to the skate park. We faked our absence; me pretending to be Jesse’s mom and Jesse pretending to be my brother. My father was never in the picture. He left when I wasn’t even born and Shane was only five. I never wanted to know his name nor would I ever want to. My mom is a slacker, she doesn’t keep the house clean and she barely feeds us, let alone takes care of us. So Shane was the only person I had to lean on. He took care of me when I was sick; he bought as much food as he could with the small salary he received as a dishwasher at a local diner. He was the mother and father I never had. Shane was my role model, and I want to make it up to him. I wanted to make millions of dollars doing the one thing I love most, skateboarding. It was hard to make it into the big leagues, mainly because I am a girl, but that will never stop me from pursuing my dream.

            “Chloe,” I felt somebody nudge me on the arm, which turned out to be Jesse. We were sitting on the bench, the same bench where Luke sat yesterday.

            “Mhmm?” I said dreamily. I was day dreaming, again. I looked at Jesse; his face was neutral and calm.

            “Someone’s coming again,” he said, wondering if I would make a scene again. I scanned the park, and the grassy fields in front of us, and saw no one. There we’re no cars or pedestrians either. Everything was silent, only the sound of my coat flapping in the wind.

            “I don’t see anyone,” I replied, wondering what Jesse was talking about. Jesse turned his head to face me. “What are you talking about? There’s a whole group of some-what gangsters coming,” Jesse pointed far out in the beige field. I followed his finger and looked out. And to no surprise there were four little black figures walking our way. They were holding skateboards and helmets (obviously).

            “I’m out.” I said, standing up and leaving Jesse on the bench. “I’ll just wait by the rail, like yesterday.” I sighed, tired of always having to hide when people come. I mean, can’t they just stay in school or something? Why come here in the first place? I know Jesse and I come here almost every day, but still it’s our hangout. Sometimes I wish places weren’t so public.

            I walked across the pavement, dragging my feet along with me. The wind picked up severely and my helmet blew right off of my head. For some odd reason, the four little black figures got closer, all the way to the end of the sidewalk. I had no time to go all the way across the pavement to retrieve my helmet, so I just kept on walking towards the rail. When I got there, I knelt down and watched through the aphotic red leaves.

            The group of boys or so I thought, stopped at the huge lower ramp; the one where Luke fell. There were three boys and I think one girl with them. I could be wrong, but from where I’m kneeling it definitely looks like a girl. She’s a brunette with long hair, and she’s wearing a light blue hoodie with some graphics on it. She also had a skateboard in her hand and an unclipped helmet placed on her head. The three other boys were difficult to see, one was tall, and the other two were average height.

            Jesse kept practicing his tricks, and the three boys were minding there own business until I recognized the girl watching Jesse. A smile crept up on her face and she walked toward Jesse. He saw here, and nearly collapsed but maintained his composure. I couldn’t make out there conversation, I could only see her mouth moving and laughing, which seemed as if they were flirting. I mean I don’t blame her, he is gorgeous and all but I just don’t see them together. Okay, I might be a little bit to gossipy but I had to say it.

            A couple minutes passed and I spotted Jesse pointing behind him, which was mainly at me. The girl looked and laughed, and Jesse turned towards the bush I was hiding in. Was he telling her that I was behind the bush? I swear I’m going to-