Spring Falls When Summer Wins - 1987

Chapter 2.

Kaladin. April 15th, 1987... 4:30 in the morning.

A few days had passed since Gesell's body had been found. I tried to spend as much time away from home when Elliot's Great Aunt told all of us the suspect was Gesell's father. I was spending most of my time at the library, unable to call Summer and tell her how I feel, Elliot was always busy with working out, his sister, who I had also been close with, was busy with preparing for her return to Stanford. My only options were Mark's Diner or Browsers book store. The magic of old and new book smell sounded more pleasing than bacon grease so I got in my car and started the ignition. I had a few hours before the store would open so I drove to Arby's then to Capitol Lake.

"Spare change?" An old man walked over to me and held out a pale hand covered with a tattered gray fingerless glove. I had just parked, holding a bag with two classic roast beef sandwiches and some fires; Talking to people was the last tithing on my mind. I nodded to the man and set my food on top of my car, rummaging through my pockets. I managed to pull out $2.75 plus my extra sandwich, the smile the man had when I handed him the money and sandwich was so heart warming. "Thank you... Thank you!!"

The man hurried off to a small blue tent in between two large Douglas Fur trees. I had a soft smile on my face as I began walking to a bench after grabbing my food, a short distance from my car. I enjoyed my meal as the sky slowly became brighter and brighter. I ripped off some of the bread and tossed it to some birds, listening to all the sounds around me. Busy traffic for those heading to work, water splashing into cement walls as wind howled past my ears, ducks landing in water and honking at geese across the lake. I wandered back to my car after throwing my now empty Arby's bag away. I got in the drivers seat and reached for a book sitting in the seat behind me, it was the last book I purchased from Browsers before Spring break had started.

Elliot always joked about me writing a novel about how incredibly attractive he was because of how fast I finished my books. The one time I had brought him and Summer to Browsers it was total chaos; (a) it was pouring down rain, (b) Elliot had to ask several employees who Stephen King was, and (c) I was the only one who walked out with a book.

I slid my handover the rough cover of Pet Cemetery by Stephen King, reminiscing the memory of Elliot and I's first hangout. I was losing weight drastically in 6th grade and Elliot had noticed, he went up to my desk and handed me a Twinkie. We ended up spending all of lunch just talking- that was when I had first developed feelings for him. I guess spending more and more time, teaching him how to deal with his dyslexia, finding a love for video games, and spending the nights creating our future never let me loose those feelings. The year Summer came nothing changed. She just made our bond stronger.

I couldn't help my smile while Elliot forced Summer to dance at Homecoming this year. I undid my tightly wound lavender tie and let it hang loose across my shoulders, putting Elliots dark purple tie on top of it. Our goal this year was to match Summer's short sparkly white dress with a plain purple ribbon corset back. They both ran over to me, forcing me up and into the giant circle full of kids from our school. My name became well known that night for grinding on Elliot and making him tomato red, finding someone for Summer to hook up with, and being the only one to bring a book to the school dance.

It's funny the way your life can change within a single moment. A police officer knocked on my window, snapping me away from remembering our past. I began spinning the handle to roll down the window, getting a random thought just to drive off- even if it was too late.

"Hello officer..!" I managed to choke out, tossing my book into the back seat.

"Step out of the car." The cop barked, giving me a glance of his gun. I quickly opened the door and hopped out, seeing 3 other cop cars. Two cars were behind my car and one in front. I could hear more siren coming from down the street. My head was spinning and I couldn't grasp what was happening.

"What's going on..?" I sounded like a little kid stepping into the living room as their parents were yelling. The cop who tapped on my window held his gun up to me, making me turn my back to him.

"You're under arrest for the murder of Gesell Greene. You have the right to remain silent. Anything can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney..." Everything froze, the police officers voice faded out. My heart was pounding so loud, filling the silence, my shallow breathing filled my ears. I couldn't focus on my surroundings. The officer pushed me closer to his car as cold handcuffs clapped around my wrists. People started walking towards us, mumbled words were said. I couldn't make out the faces because everything was blurry.

Then I heard a familiar voice call out through the stillness of the world. Elliot.

Unknown. April 15th, 1987. 9 o'clock in the morning

Morning quiet chatter filled the coffee shop I worked in. I tried zeroing in on peoples conversations. Some were about peoples sex lives, others about school or work, stories from trips ranging from out of town to out of country. Of course, I still paid attention to my Co-workers as they barked drink orders at me. I was in the middle of making a latte for a teenage girl I could only assume was going to a study group, considering there was one empty laptop sitting wide open surrounded by other young teenagers, sifting through textbooks and articles.

The small bell above the door rang and I instantly look up the back to the Latte. I did a double take when I noticed the person who had walked in was a mid height woman, maybe 5'6" without the heels she was wearing, with gorgeous natural orange hair. She placed her bag at a table with an older woman, clicking her way over to the ordering station. I barley heard what she ordered. I was almost thankful my Co-worker Bryan nudged me. "Don't overfill it!"

I quickly set down the drink and put the lid on. I slid it over to Bryan so he could call out the girls name. I never bothered with calling out names. My voice was too deep for anyone to trust so I stuck with making the coffee. I appreciated how easy the job was. When I looked up from grabbing the red head's cup, with her order very complicated order, I jolted slightly. Her big dark brown eyes stared back at me. I blinked and turned away from her. How strange... I thought as I began making Keely's drink. I figured out her name through the cup.

"Do I know you?" A strong independent voice asks. It's Keely. I turn and shrug before adding coconut milk to the blend of berries she wanted. I placed the pitcher on the blender and let it hack away. "You look so familiar..." Keely continued. I didn't; respond.

I was hoping she would take the hint but when I turned back around, she was still there. I glared at her and finished setting up her now aesthetically pleasing drink. "He doesn't get out much. No idea how you would know this guy!" Bryan snorted, placing a lid over Keely's drink before handing it to her.  Keely slowly nodded, gave me a strange look, then walked back to the table, accompanying the old woman. I watched the to play Chinese chess for a bit before I continued making drinks.

I was tense but nobody noticed. The thing is, I did know Keely. We went to a party with Gesell Greene. I left the party with Gesell that night, taking her back to my place. I had no idea she would go missing a few days later...