True Blue

Chapter 6

Chapter six

Hollin

I couldn't have been more shock if the moons fell from the sky. Technically, my day started off fairly normal. Well, at least as normal as it gets in my house. Of course I wake up early to go for a little run along the beach before getting the restaurant opened up and ready for our early morning customers. I start brewing the coffee and setting up the stove for any breakfast orders. My dad won't be up for at least another two hours, since time was only just hitting the five o'clock mark. This was always my favorite time of the day because it is always so peaceful. I don't have to constantly be worried about screwing up and having my parents see. I can just enjoy watching the sun come up. Only ten minutes after opening did Mr. Luxemar walk in.

"Good morning, Mr. Luxemar. How are you doing this morning?" I ask him as I pour his usual morning coffee: black with three generous spoonfuls of sugar.

He looks at me with a lazy smile and says, "Fine, fine, young lad. Just a bit bleary eyed. Didn't get much sleep last night. Me daughter left for New York yesterday an' left me grand kids. That one little Merijke just wouldn't shut eye."

"Oh. Lucy went to New York already? I thought her boss was going to wait until November" I ask.

"Nah. Change of plans. Her boss was very persistent. Said it had to be done now. Plus after this trip, she be gettin' a raise." He smiles proudly. His daughter, Lucy, is a lawyer, but her boss has about four different firms around the states along with the one here.

"Well that's good news." I hear my mother come down the stairs. "Well that's my cue. Got to get to school."

"Morning Mr. Luxemar" My mom says while she puts her apron on. She walks with into the kitchen. "You best be on your way now Hollin, before your father wakes up. You have to take the bus though; I can't afford to drive you."

"Yeah, sure." So I left five minutes later.

I walk out the back of the restaurant, bag in hand, and head up the trail to the road where the bus stops. Of course, Jenna's already there. So we exchange pleasantries and then wait silently for the bus.

Jenna interrupts the silence. "We know you were lying last night." She says without looking at me. "What really happened Hollin?"

"Uh, well I did..."

"Hollin! There you are. I was wondering if you were going to be taking the bus with us!" Lacey, one of the girls from school says. She pulls me away from Jenna, and for once, I don't mind getting out of the conversation. Although I still can't fathom why Lacey would be talking to me, since we haven't really talked much before, other than her group really torturing me last year.

For about ten minutes, I am tortured by the incessant chatter of Lacey and the rest of their group. Only then did I see her. The girl with red hair from last night. She goes to stand by Jenna and I try to go over to her to apologize, but I am stopped as a black SUV pulls up next to us. The chatter slowly evaporates as Madison comes out of the car. I wonder why I am even standing here when the only thing her and her click did last year was terrorize me. I try to back up slowly, but unfortunately she spots me.

"Oh my gosh, Hollin, it's been so long! How are you?" Madison says, giving me a quick hug. I cringe a bit, not just because of my back, but because last year she was the one who was putting me down all the time, and now she's asking me how I am? Although there's nothing I can really do right now, so I answer her.

"I'm alright, Madison. How are you and how was your summer?" I ask her politely, trying my best not to sound sarcastic.

"Please Hollin, call me Maddi. We're friends, remember? Anyways, my summer was the best. My parents took me on a cruise all the way through the States and into Canada." I plaster a smile on my face and nod every once in a while as she drones on, trying my hardest not to roll my eyes. My mind begins to wander and I still can't stop thinking about that girl with the red hair. There's just something about her and the way that she stood up to my father for me and took the blame. She was one of the bravest people I have ever met...