Between the Lines

Blue Eyes

The rest of the day drug on in it's usual monotonous fashion. In fact, the only high point I can recall was seeing India at lunch.

She greeted me with our special handshake that we had made up when we were 12, clearly trying to cheer me up for some reason. When I asked why, she denied it at first, but eventually told me that she had heard about the incident with Mr. Archett. I couldn't say I was surprised, I told you, news travels fast where I come from. But I was pretty much over it by then, and told her not to worry.

We spent the rest of the time just discussing misceellenius things. The bulk of the conversation had been geared towards what we would each do with $1,000,000. Part of her answer included mass cloning Channing Tatum. I told her that she needed to see a therapist about her obsession issues, and she acted all mock offended. I cracked up at that.

Outside of that, however, the day was very dull. I usually would have at least enjoyed my favorite period of the day, English. I loved it because I really enjoyed writing, and our teacher Mr. Salvatore was the best. He gave us a lot of freedom with our writing, and his lessons were always full of good information and very interesting. You have to understand that this was a great feet, considering I hardly ever found anything about school interesting.

But, unfortunately, we had a substitute that day. Who, I might add, didn't appear to know what her own name was, let alone what she was supposed to be teaching us. Needless to say, I was very happy when the 3 o'clock bell rang.

I rushed out of the class to meet up with India. I drove her home to keep her from having to ride the bus, (she absolutely despised the bus) and we stopped for frozen yogurt on the way. Her's strawberry, mine chocolate, as per usual. After that I dropped her off and went home.

Once in my room, I felt a sudden very strong tiredness come over me and ended up falling fast asleep.

***

When I awoke, it was around 5:30. It was good I had gotten up then too, because I had the 6:00 shift at 1996 tonight Nineteen ninety six is a small record shop in downtown Anderson. But to me, its a safe haven.

I've known the owner, Wallus, or Walli, as I call him, since I was 5. He was a very good friend of my mom and sort of like a father to me, as much as he could be. I had this fantasy when I was younger that he would marry my mom & we'd all live together and my home would feel complete for once. That never happened, as you probably could tell. Still, he was always there for me. He even wanted to take me in after my mom passed, but Walli had had a few run ins with the law. It had happened long ago, and though I didn't know what really had happened, I knew it couldn't of been anything too awful. Walli was too good for that. But whatever it was, it was enough for the judge to deny custody. Quite honestly though, I didn't want him going out of his way for me anyway. So, though I was sort of disappointed, I knew it was for the best.

Walli was really upset about the whole thing though, hense his hiring me. His exact words were, "I'll have you down here so much itll be like you live with me anyway." Of course, he was only kidding. He didn't want me falling behind in school.

Especially since he knew I wanted to graduate early. So, he only let me work 2-3 times a week. I still spent the majority of my time down there though. I'd bring dinner from time to time & he'd close up early so we could eat & watch a movie. Which he nearly always picked and therefore it was almost always from the 80s. I could quote every line of TheBreakfastClub if I ever felt the need. And I wouldn't trade that for the world.

When I came into the shop, the usual aroma of coffee (Wallis loved coffee) & vinyl hit me all at once. I felt at peace.

"Hey Kiddo! How was school today?" Walli asked as he saw me enter, his usual goofy grin plastered on his face. I gave him a small smile back.

"Pretty good, Walli. How about you?"

"Well my dear, I haven't attended high school in nearly 20 years. But if you'd like to heare about all the wild times I had back then, I'd be happy to share. The parties, the drinks, the women..."

"LA LA LA I can't hear you." I instantly clasped my hands over my ears. He let out a deep chuckle & I let my hands down.

"Come on now Mia, you know there was only one girl for me back then-" Walli cut himself off when my face fell slightly. "I'm so sorry, Mia. I suppose I just foeget sometimes.".

"Dont be sorry. Its fine. Im gonna have to get used to people talking about her at some point, right?" I said, but i didnt make direct eye contact when i said it. Why? Because the girl for Wallus, was my mom. They had been madly in love in high school. In fact, they were engaged to be married once they graduated. Then my Dad came into the picture about the middle of their Senior year, and everything changed. She eventually ended things with Walli, and would go on to marry my father only 2 months later. And though he never talked much about it, I know it must've killed him. Because after my father's suicide, they became friends again & I could tell in the way he looked at her, that the only reason that was possible, was that he had never stopped loving her. Love that endures that much betrayayal, and that much time, must have been strong. And to loose that so suddenly, I couldn't imagine it.

There was a part of me that always felt angry with my mother for the decisions she had made. If she had stayed with Wallis, maybe things would be different now. But that was just another one of my childish fantasies, a thought I shouldn't be entertaining. So I changed the subject.

"Hey, I forgot to make anything & I was planning on having one of our movie nights. You wanna order in?"
He looked a little confused, but realization crossed his face & he chose not to press me, which I appreciated.

"Sounds great, Kiddo. Pizza or Chinease?"

"I don't care. You pick."

"Alright then. We'll get pizza. Stuffed crust with sausage and a side of 1/2 bread sticks & 1/2 cinnamon sticks."

"You don't have to do that, Walli." I said after hearing him recite my favorite order from memory.

"What? Its what I want." He said. I chuckled and told him thanks. Just then, a customer walked through the front door. Walli turned to me, not looking up from his phone, "Can you handle who ever that is while I order?" He asked & I nodded.

I walked over to the new customer and couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. Not in an obvious way, but it was there. He had goregous hair. Some what long, and jet black. Which fit with the look he seemed to be going for, judging by his tight jeans & leather jacket. And that was just from the back. When I tapped his shoulder, I noticed that his face was just as nice. Full lips, strong cheekbones, and his eyes....so blue. So, incredibly blue. Almost unbeileveably. So much so that I was distracted by them, and forgot to speak for a moment. He didn't seem to notice my not saying anything though, he was looking at me too.

My cheeks flushed as I noticed this, and when I spoke up, my voice came out pitchy.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"Um...I beilve so." He said. His voice was oddly soothing, like he could talk to babies & they'd fall asleep instantly, but there was a strange undertone to it. Like we were speaking of more than records now. I started to feel very uncomfortable. Thankfully, Wallis walked back out. And he seemed in a rush.

"Mia, go in the back room, now." His voice was somewhat stern & I was very confuses. Had he seen me checking him out & gone into overprotective mode or somethibg?

"But why do-?" He cut me off in a yell.

"Just GO." He bellowed. I took a step back. Not once in my entire life had Walllus yelled at me. Something had to be wrong. Very wrong. I knew that, so I started towards the back room. But I felt a hand wrap tightly around my wrist.

"I'm sorry, but she can't do that."