All Too Well - Erik Menendez

If These Walls Could Talk

Beverly Hills. CA. 1988.

Whispers POV:

As the hours pass, the celebration continues growing. More outrage, more drinking, more laughter. Everything grows. Everyone has fixated themselves either near the pool area or inside it. I have found myself almost glued to Lyles side. His personality radiates throughout the entire yard and it's no secret the admiration everyone has for him here. Popular would be nothing but an understatement. The star within his family, the star amongst his peers, the tennis star. You can see by his voice, his walk, his demeanor, he knows it too.

The elders have fixated themselves specifically near the reclining area, Jose and another man - who Lyle informs me is Kitty's brother, Milton - situated on barbecuing. The smell of delicious food wafting throughout the yard.

It feels like a breath of fresh air to be in this environment. It is no secret I have buried myself the past years in homework, legislation and legal textbooks, trying to succeed at my high school grades, hoping to get early preparation for the future LSAT, attempting to build myself to get into a successful college and most importantly - a successful law school.

However good, this mindset has made me miss so many other positive things, and perhaps finally allowing myself to be part of social gatherings is okay, maybe I am allowed to have these moments.

After food is served and consumed, more of the energy follows. I find myself getting picked up and thrown into the pool by the one and only Lyle Menendez; too many times. However the laughter that follows makes it become an addicting boost of euphoria. Forcing everyone to follow in the tradition; grabbing someone and tossing them abruptly in.

As the sun travels lower, casting a sunset as beautiful as this gathering, high into the sky. The elder folk retrieve inside the family room, further drinking and occupying themselves. The majority of Lyles friends continue littering around the pool - a few people had come to depart and say goodbye to their leader - however a vast majority were still living off the high that was today.

My feet currently dangle into the pool, Lyle next to me with his friend Donovan inside the pool opposite us. Lyle and I have automatically found ourselves next to each other all night, even when I have found myself wondering over to Craig and JJ - my friends - shortly he follows, and admittedly I have done the same when he has wondered off to his friends. I have not known him long, but over the past weeks, the guy next to me has insisted on showing me more and more what it means to be alive and to take advantage of every second given. Our friendship undoubtedly blooming further as every second follows.

"Where's your brother today?" Donovan spurts out curiously, as he pushes himself against the moving water.

Erik. Blue eyes. He has played on my mind as the hours have unfolded. I have tried to push the anxiety I have down of where he is, how he feels. A picture of him in his room, alone, abandoned, riddled with upset as he hears the happiness he seemingly can't or won't be a part of. How I hope he is okay. His existence appears more and more to be quite a lonely and isolated one. My feelings of wanting to take that loneliness away from him is one I can't shake. Mr. Menendez' ways of guarding him however makes it very hard to get close with Erik.

Lyle lets out a prolonged sigh. "Upstairs all day, he's not feeling good apparently."

"Want me to go check and drag him down?" Donovan swims to the edge of the pool, leaning his arms on the edge next to where my legs are.

"No chance." Lyle starts. "Dad's not letting anyone go up and check on him, not even me." Lyle's voice evidently drips in concern, and perhaps even a hint of guilt. His eyes darted firmly on his thighs, his mouth pressed into a hard line.