Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You've got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I just got to know
Do you ever think, when you're all alone
All that we could be, where this thing could go?
Crush - David Archuleta
During the summer, we always took a family vacation. We'd go to our cabin that was jack in the center of the woods high up on the mountain. We loved coming here. Mom and Dad would transform and take us riding on their backs a lot when we were younger. A little aways from the cabin, there was a river with a small water fall that we spent most of our days at. We'd make campfires at night and eat s'mores. Dad would buy sparklers and we'd light them up at night being careful to stay away from trees and staying towards the dirt clearing. My parents had a rule while we were there: No drama, just fun. So that meant Mena and I had to get along and not pick fights. For the most part, this vacation usually brought the three of us closer, it wasn't till we were back home that it'd slowly start to dissolve back to what it used to be. And that's how we were, I sat on the couch staring at the paper Jazz had slipped under my door. It was Helena's number and all I could do was stare at it.
"Dude, if you're going to be a zombie about it, just call her," Mikey replied.
"No," I replied crumbling up the paper, "After hurting her like that, I shouldn't be the one starting contact."
"But you realize she's moving, right?" Mikey replied. "Soon, that number won't be valid and you won't ever be able to say goodbye."
"It is what it is," I replied. Although, if I was honest, it would be nice if I could hear her voice one last time. I stood up. "Forget it, let's go to the river." I threw the paper in the wastebasket. It hit the rim before it bounced off and rolled over the floor.
"Hey guys," I heard mom say walking in distracting me, "your dad said he'll be back by tomorrow morning, but I also need to go on the grocery run. Mena is in the shower and I don't want to head out too late, so we could come back before the sun gets dark. So who's coming with me?"
"I'll go," Mikey replied tapping my shoulder. "You continue being a zombie." Mom just smiled shaking her head. She looked at me.
"There's Arroz con Leche on the stove," She replied. I nodded. Mikey and her walked off. I walked over to the glass wall across the room staring at the trees that looked miniature from this height. This place was amazing. Despite being human, I had no doubt Helena would have enjoyed her life as a werewolf. She was a nature freak. For art class, we had to do this project to express ourselves. That was the first time she caught my attention. She loved doing outdoors activities. She didn't care about getting her hands dirty if she was having fun. She wasn't just another valley girl. When Phil Jefferson called her a tomboy from the back of the room, I expected her to cry, but instead she called him out and was ready to pound on him if our teacher didn't stop her. The only other girl who didn't care about fighting a boy that I know is...well, Mena and now that I was thinking about it, those two had a lot in common. Did I use Helena as a way to replace Mena? The thought revolted my stomach. How long did it take for her to notice? She obviously had been thinking about it for a while. Why didn't she bring it up sooner? I must have hurt her more than I thought. There's no way I should be the one to call her.
I don't know how long I stood by the window, but I was snapped out of my thoughts by the T.V. turning on. I turned and saw Mena getting comfy on the couch as she flipped through channels.
"Served you some Arroz con Leche," She replied motioning to the bowl on the table. We were currently on a truce, otherwise, I'd think the bowl was poisoned or hexed. She was flipping around through channels. I just nodded in response as I stretched. I looked back at the view a little surprised to see that the clear blue skies had been taken over by dark looming storm clouds. Mom and Mikey better hurry back soon. These clouds should clear up by the time Dad comes back home. Because of how long our family vacation was, sometimes Dad would go back for a week or two to check in on everything that was going on at home. "You've been standing there for hours."
