6 years later
"Hello, my name is Caroline! I'm 6" she said to the bus driver. "Are you ready for your first day of school? " I asked playfully, trying to hide the bittersweet feeling growing inside. The bus pulled up, and I watched as she stepped on, holding back tears. "I'm good mommy, I'll be good" she said. She had everything she needed, her headphones, she just happens to somehow be autistic too which is "funny" her tag for after kindergarten so the teacher knows she's a bus rider, her lunch and her little flip phone so I can contact her if she's not where she's supposed to be. "I love you princess" I said to her waving bye.
I walked to the back of the bus and took my book out. The adventures of Mary Shelly. The morning sun cast a soft glow through the bus windows as the engine rumbled to life. I'm so excited to read it, mommy got it for me from a big place with books, it's called the library. I sat down, putting my bag and lunchbox on the seat beside me, and got to reading. I heard heavy breathing behind me so I looked up. That's when I saw a girl, she's got black hair and brown skin. "Hello I'm Maria, I'm 6 and a half" she said, with a thingy. Is it a lisp? I heard it before; but it was from an old person. "That's nice, I'm reading; would you like to read with me?" I asked her, moving my stuff and gesturing for her to sit.
"Sure. What's your name?" She asked as she somersaulted and landed in the seat next to me. "I'm Caroline, I'm 6" and she smiled at me. As the bus pulled away, I could feel a new forever friend beginning to unfold. I stayed with her for most all of the day, even at lunch! Turns out, we have the same teacher! That's so cool.
"Mommy mommy daddy daddy!!" I shouted, skipping in the house with the biggest smile on my face. "Hey honeybear, what's up?" Said daddy. "I made a new friend! Her names maria and she's 6 and a half and she likes my book too!!" I shouted. Daddy smiled and said, "That's wonderful, honey. I'm so glad you made a new friend." Mommy came out from the bathroom and said "Hey my little Schatzi! Did you have a good day?" And I smiled and hugged her. "I did mommy, I made a new friend, her names Maria" "I can't wait to invite her to my birthday party next week," I beamed, feeling a warmth that reached deep within. It was like my heart expanded with every moment we spent together. "That's wonderful honey! Would you like to make brownies for her tomorrow?" Mommy asked me. I thought for a second, and remembered how happy she was when she saw the chocolate cookie in her lunch. "Yes mommy, I saw that she had a chocolate cookie in her lunch and she was super happy" and mommy smiled. "But also can we find any stuff from a place called Brazil? She said that's where her family is from, and her mommy doesn't speak English" I said, walking to our family computer. "Daddy can you help me look up Brazil please??" I asked daddy. Daddy helped me, and said "oh; she's from a pretty place huh? There's a recipe for sequilos; those are cookies that are the recipe from Brazil" daddy said. I looked at the recipe and it was the same stuff in her lunchbox! "Mommy!! I changed my mind, can we make these??" Mommy looked at the recipe and spoke to daddy. "I think she'll love them my little diplomat," she said, ruffling my hair. The next day I got to work. Mommy helped me, but I did most of it, I promise! "Hey Maria! I made these for you" I said and brandished the Brazil cookie bag, with 2 of them inside. "Oh my goodness!! Thank you Caroline! You're my bestest friend!" "My bestest friend forever," Maria exclaimed, hugging me tightly. At recess we climbed onto an old oak tree together, and we promised to be friends forever.
10 years later
"Hey Maria!" I shouted out of my window. I gotta grab my headphones! There's a line of them by the front door, Moms, dads and mine. "Headphones, shoes, wallet, purse—Bye mom, bye dad; I'm going with Maria!!" And I heard mom and dad say some sort of noise of acknowledgment. She's my best friend now, and guess what? She can drive!! She even has her own car! We planned to go to the beach today, just like when we were kids. "I've missed you so much! Would you give me a ride to the library?" I asked her after I came downstairs and hug-attacked her. "Hey Caroline! I had so much fun in Brazil, and sure! Of course I'll give you a ride!" Her family is in Parà, specifically Marabà and Belem. Belem is actually the capital of Para, which is a state in Brazil. Took 30 stamps to send a weeks worth of letters!! "So, are we catching up over Sequilos again? " Maria asked with a grin as we reached the library. Then I saw a tall lanky boy, brown skin; eyes and black hair. He walked to Maria's car like he knew her. "Hey Caroline, hey Maria!" Said this person. "How do you know my name?" I asked. "Chill loca! He's safe" she said, kissing him. "He's studying to be an engineer," Maria beamed, linking arms with him. "Nice to meet you, Estefan! Maria's told me all about you." "Nice to meet you too, Caroline! " Estefan replied warmly. "So, you ladies have any plans for today besides the library visit?" He asked us. "Yes, me and my amiha are gonna go to the ice cream shop, I heard they have sequilos and I wanna see if they're up to my grandmas standards" said Maria. "Sounds like a plan! " Estefan said with a smile. Wait is he coming with us!? I gave Maria specifically a look that told her that I'm not okay with this concept. Maria noticed my expression and quickly added, "Don't worry, Caroline he's nice I promise" "He'll just hang out for a bit and then head off," she assured me. I reluctantly nodded, hoping for a smooth outing. The three of us began walking towards the ice cream shop. Some random stranger popped out of the side and told me that I'm a part of a secret society?? I was stunned. "What? What do you mean in a secret society!? Get away you hobo!!" The stranger's eyes widened with urgency. "No, you need to listen!" I just ended up moving. Then I remembered something mom and dad said, that they were in a society too. It can't be right, I thought it was just fantasy!! But maybe not..."Hey lady! Where are you!?" I shouted after the stranger, but they had already disappeared into the crowd.
What was that?? "Are you okay amiha?" Maria asked me. "I'm fine girl, let's go eat some ice cream!!" Estefan looked at me curiously but didn't ask any questions. "Hey amore, can you get mine, while I talk to my amiha? You know what I like" she said cooing at him. Blergh she's crazy! Estefan nodded and headed inside the shop, leaving Maria and me alone for a moment. I glanced around, unsure if the strange encounter was real or a figment of my tired mind. "Are you sure you're okay?" Maria repeated, concern lacing her voice. "Yes Maria my friend, I'm perfectly fine." I said trying to not scare her. "Go with Estefan, I need to go home I don't feel well" I said, walking to the nearest bus stop. I showed the driver my ID for college (I do college and high school classes at the same time, so what?) and sat down, got my headphones on and started playing music. The bus ride seemed endless, and I couldn't shake the unease from my earlier encounter. "Next stop, Rosemary street" said the bus overcom situation. I got off, and walked home. "MOMMMM!!!!!" I shouted into the living room. "Why are you being so loud-are you okay?" She saw my face and got a scared look on her face. "Some lady came over to me and said that I belong in a secret society?? What kind of nonsense is that! Right?" I said with an uneasy tone. My mom's face paled slightly. "A secret society? STEFANNNN!!!" Mom shouted to my dad. "Yes dear?" He asked mom and looked at me. "It's time isn't it?" He asked mom to which she nodded. "Time for what? What's happening!?" I shouted super concerned. "So, remember how me and your father were a part of a secret word related society?" "Yeah...what of it?" "Well sweet pea, that's a society that you get into by blood. Our families been in the society since your grandpa and grandma" said my dad. "WHAT!? AND YOUR TELLING ME THIS NOW!?" I shouted. I ran up to my room, and noticed my hands were shaking hard. "What the hells wrong with me, calm down Caroline!" I shouted at myself, which EVIDENTLY didn't help. Rude. It felt like my world had flipped upside down. After all these years, they never told me about this secret society. "I've gotta find my grandma" I said, racing downstairs to find my bike. "Newcastle nursing home" I kept repeating to myself; trying to keep it in my head. "Grandma grandma grandma!!" I shouted down the hallway. "Wait grandma? Where is she?? I'm so confused right now" and some lady came up to me. "We're with the nursing home, we're so sorry for your loss" Wait, loss?
To be continued
YOU ARE READING
A story of forever
Mystery / ThrillerSussie and Stefan are common teenage lovers; complete with a bully for both of them. Except for when they aren't. Will their family kill the Kil'awars or will their family become extinct??
