The Story of Alyson Feir

Chapter Six

Chapter Six~

That night was rough. I couldn't take it anymore, and started to run back home. James found me; he knew I would hear about Wilson's death and run to The Lake, as well as Sam. It seemed as though it was part of us now to go there. I spent a long time crying into James' shoulder about everything that just happened. He let me stay there until my eyes were dry.

The next day as I'm walking to school, I pass by Sam's house. I usually try to avoid it, since I always had the fear of him seeing me and things becoming awkward. His house comes into view and as usual; I expect to see no one there.

Just as I'm about to pass by, I notice someone there. I hide behind a tall tree where no one would be able to see me.

But, there stands Dawn. Her clothes are dark and solemn, but her chestnut hair looks a bit more alive than it has recently. She's standing at the door of Sam's old house, knocking at his door. "Come on, Sam! You've already missed so much school!" Dawn calls out.

Just then, Sam opens the door. He looked different; with his brown hair all over the place, red face, and he just looks like a different person. "Seriously, Dawn. I'm not coming to school. I just can't take those looks from everyone. They clearly aren't sorry." He tells her.

Dawn looks at Sam in the eyes. "But, Sam! I'm going to school today even though Rose died yesterday."

Wait what? I'm assuming the Games ended while I was at The Lake. I have no clue who won but I really couldn't care less right now.

Sam shrugs. "I don't really care anymore, I seriously don't."

Dawn looks at Sam in the eyes. "Will you, please? For me?"

Something about that made me feel weird. I don't know what and how, but it did.

So I run.

I run from my hiding spot behind the tree and quickly go by his house.

Dawn notices me. "Alys! Wait!"

But I don't stop, I keep running. All the way to school and I don't look back.

~~~

We had exams coming up in the next little while; James and I decide to actually study. The bookstore was closed for a bit because Dawn's family had to deal with papers of some sort due to Rose's death.

After school that day, James and I go to the school library instead. The library was small, with a limited amount of books. A few old tables are scattered around the hardwood floor, with small bookshelves lining the walls. There was barely anything worth taking out; James and I only went there and sat at a table with our books sprawled everywhere.

We study a bit, but end up goofing off half the time. There wasn't a librarian available to watch the library today, but nobody could really care less.

"You know, Alys," James starts. "You really are smart."

I giggle at his comment. "Um, thanks?"

"No, really." He chuckles. "You're book smart, and that's the best of them all."

'Oh really?" I ask.

"Yep. I wish I read that many books but I'd fall asleep right after. Books are just for when I need to read them, like when we're studying."

James looks at me and I shrug. "Books were the only comfort I had before I met you two. Nobody noticed me before, so I just had books that would keep me company."

We end our conversation there and continue to study. Nobody distrubs us. James concentrates the best he could. I never noticed the way his dark hair falls into his face, and his blue eyes move quickly, as they try to look at everything. He doesn't catch me looking at him, and I want to keep it that way.

But then, he looks at me suddenly and says something. I didn't understand what he said and made a confused face. "I said, 'Alys, can you pass me my bag please? It's on the floor next to you."

"Oh, yeah." I tell him. "No worries."

His small backpack was leaning against the wooden table we were working at. I reach down to pick it up and quickly pass it to him. But just as I gave it to him, an old piece of paper falls to the ground. We both look at it as it flickers towards the floor. James looks up at me, but I still stare at the piece of paper, but I identify it as a photo. He quickly leans over to pick it up and I quickly see a glance of a woman on it.

"It's my mother, in case you were wondering." James says quietly. He sighs. "That's the only picture I have of her."

James leans in a bit closer to me so I can see the picture. There's a woman with a small smile on her face, holding an infant. The background is all black, and you can't see anything else. "Is that you?" I ask.

He nods. "My mother died soon after that was taken. Something happened after I was born, and they couldn't save her."

A silence crept in; I didn't know what to say. James never talked about anything so personal before; at least not to me.

"I take this picture with me everywhere." He continues. "Just a reminder that she's always with me."

I look at James in the eyes and notice a great sadness in them. "I'll always be here for you, James."

We don't move for a second, all we do is look at each other.

Anything could have happened at this moment; but this did. James leaned in and kissed me.

It happened suddenly, but I didn't stop him. His hands were cold as they were gently touching my cheeks, but his breath was warm on mine.

All it lasted was but a few seconds, until we hear footsteps come closer.

A voice calls out, "So this is what I missed."

James and I quickly turn in shock, as we thought we were alone. It took a moment to process what just happened, but I realize who it was.

Sam.