ASPEN ➵ Paul Lahote [1]

eight

Aspen hadn't heard from her friends in days. She was replaying the events of the evening over and over in her head to see if she had done something wrong, wondering if there were signs that not everything was okay.

After a rushed car ride home from Emily, who assured her that everything was alright and that they would chat soon, Aspen entered her bedroom door after a brief conversation with her parents, only to fall flat onto her bed and stare at the ceiling in confusion. The questions swirled around and around in her head just like the ceiling fan spinning lazily above her, making her dizzy.

They reassured me that everything was fine, she thought. Maybe it was a family emergency. That would make the most sense.

Attempting to brush off the achy feeling that settled in her gut, Aspen performed her night routine. It seemed she needed a hint of structure to keep her mind from reeling. So Aspen brushed her long brown hair, braiding it down her back. She changed into her favorite pajamas, which consisted of fuzzy shorts and an oversized, faded black t-shirt. Her skin was washed and her teeth cleaned as she settled into her bed with a book and a tall glass of ice water beside her. After about thirty minutes of mindlessly reading her way through the novel, she turned out the light and slumped under her covers, hoping her thoughts would stay dampened.

However, as she went to sleep that night, questions began creeping their way through her mind and the soft rustle of branches from outside her window stirred her from the comfortable silence she was in before. Flipping her body, still bundled in her duvet, to face the window, she slowly opened her eyes to see the night beyond the window. Just as quickly as she heard the stutter of leaves, it was gone. The tree settled as if something had fled from its branches, and the noises she had heard dissipated into the darkness. She decided it was probably a bird trying to find its own resting place for the evening, and Aspen closed her eyes again.

☼☼☼

"Hey, Bells, have you heard from Jacob?" Aspen asked her best friend. It was the next morning, and the two girls were strolling through the stuffy hallway towards the first class of the day. Aspen decided to ask Bella after growing a bit fed up with the idea of being ignored. "The other night when you invited me to the movies, the boys rushed over to Billy Black's house, and Emily drove me home. I haven't heard from any of them since. I just wanted to know if you knew anything."

The timid brunette before her furrowed her brow. Pulling at the brown long sleeve top she wore, she stood in front of Aspen in the school hallway. In the space filled with fluorescent lighting and sticky laminate floors, the girls now stopped off to the side by Aspen's locker.

"Actually, I haven't heard from him since that night, and I've called a thousand times. His dad says he has mono, but I would think he could at least pick up the phone," Bella replied.

A breath was released from Aspen. That had to explain it. Maybe they were helping him out with the school he was sure to be missing or something.

"Oh no, I hope he is alright. That must suck. But I'm sorry he isn't checking in with you either." Aspen felt like an idiot. Her friends had other things to worry about.

Bella shrugged, "I'll call him again this weekend. Maybe it will be enough time and he will be feeling up to answer the phone."

"I'm sure he will answer soon, Bella," Aspen consoled. She hoped she would hear from at least Embry soon, too.

☼☼☼