RIVER VALLEYS PAST

Chapter 12

         Anaya sat in silence. The lamp on her vanity shining down on the blank page of her new sketchpad, her 2H drawing pencil resting along the spine of the book. Releasing a calming breathe, her sweaty palms resting flat on her thighs. Her unblinking eyes blurred as she stared down at the page. She wasn't sure what it was, but the blank page stood out to her. Was it because this was her first time drawing in an originally sketch book and not her notebook, are maybe it was because this is the first time anyone has ever given her anything.

"Anaya" Ryan called out, parading into her room with a laundry basket resting on her hips, one of her arms resting on the basket and the other resting on her hip. Anaya sat still, her gaze not once flickering from the blank page. Her mother never knew of her passion, reason being her mother has always pushed her into her studies just so she could be a doctor. But her passion was always for the arts. "The babysitter will be here soon, Your father and I are heading out soon" she paused, something within her wanted a respond, a gesture, anything. But as always Anaya stayed silent. Even though it bothered Ryan, she understood.

        Anaya has hardly spoken since Azaya passed. She had hoped it would have passed by now. "Goodnight, Anaya" she said, resting the basket on the bed before leaving without a word. Anaya finally lifted her arm, her finger fiddling with the pencil before pulling it between her finger. Her mind wondered, as she allowed herself to get lost in her work. Ever curve and every shade made her more on edge. The moment the pencil fell from her grasp, she was in tears. Gazing down at the picture covering the complete page.

Could this be the creature she kept seeing. The creature that kept invading her mind. A creaking door brought her from her thoughts, her book slammed closed as she turned to face the person that was about to enter her room. To her surprise, Audre walked in with her school bag slung over her shoulder.

        "Anaya?" She said in confusion, glancing around the pale colored room that was dimly lit. The girl sitting by the vanity looked like an angel as the light from the touch lamp reflected on her smooth pale skin, giving her a calm glow. Audre gulped, gripping the strap of her book bag, pulling it closer to the creek of her neck. "So.....you live here" instantly scolding herself for asking such a question. It was quiet obvious that she lived here. Her photo's were hanging on the wall across from her bed. The one that stood out to her the most was the one with Anaya and another young girl around the same age, they were both smiling with froyo cups in hand. It was hard to deny the fact that they were twins.

"I do" Anaya mumbled, fiddling with her pen. Her gaze fixated on the pen as Audre made her way further into the room. Her gaze fixated on the pen in her grasp. Audre shrugged, inching further into the room. Anaya watched as she approached, her brown combat boots leaving light prints in there tracks.

"So...." Audre began, sitting at the edge of Anaya's bed. Her hand running over the fur fabric lining her comforter. "Why do you need a babysitter?" she asked, her gaze trailing over Anaya's small frame.

"My mother is overprotective" she simply replied, it wasn't a lie but it wasn't the complete truth. "Your the babysitter" she asked, giving her a weary look.

"I'm filling in for my older sister Abby, she came down with the flu and begged me to babysit for her tonight" Audre shrugged, It wasn't a secret that she hated the idea of babysitting, But she was glad she agreed to it, It was good seeing Anaya out side of school and in her comfort zone.

"Oh" Anaya simply replied. Anaya couldn't help but force a small smile, she could sense the tension in the air as Audre gaze back at her in anticipation. She wasn't much of a people person, but she hated the fact that Audre looked and felt uncomfortable around her. But why? Why did she hate it. Why did she even care? Was she attracted to Audre? But she couldn't be, she still cared about Pamela, yet she felt empty. Ever since she left River Valley she had this empty feeling inside, it wasn't her choice to leave, she simply couldn't see herself disappointing her mother like her sister did.

What made her numb to the pain was the fact that her mother never allowed her to attend her sisters funeral, saying she didn't need that image flooding through her mind. She wasn't sure why her mother was so against the idea of her going, but she choose not to question it.

"So.... what do you wanna do" Audre said with a slight smile, resting her bag on the shaggy carpet. Anaya shrugged, turning back to her vanity, the evening dragged on with Audre watching television and snacking while Anaya drew the image plaquing her mind once more. Her dark browns eyes fading into a light shade of green, as her hands curved along the page.

"Anaya, you must" a ghostly voice called out, a small figure emerging from the mist now surrounding her. The dark figure slowly approached her, the figure appeared in the form of a girl, her curve and bulging chest made it obvious. Somehow the girl seemed familiar, her eyes slowly opened revealing her dark brown eye. "You must come home, Anaya" the voice shock her to her core, it was the voice of her dead sister.

"I am home" Anaya's voice echoed, the figure slowly shook its head. Repeating its words.

"You must come home" The figure kept repeating, echoing in the distance as the figure slowly disappeared, leaving her in darkness.

"Anaya" Audre exclaimed, shaking Anaya's limp body. Anaya gasped, her shaking hands pressed against Audre's chest. Their gaze locked, Audre felt herself falling into a daze as she inched closer. Their lips almost touching, Anaya's heart pounding against her chest, unsure of what to do. She has never kissed anyone other than Pamela, she was her first kiss. The first girl she's ever had feelings for. There lips were almost pressed together when a faint foot step brought her back to her senses, using force to push Audre away, sent her flying into the wall on the other side of the room.