Another City Of Lights.

Chapter 6.

Aaron's POV:

I almost grabbed that stupid thing and threw it out the window myself.
How could I not know that she wanted a book? A shitty book. It was so obvious. All she ever did was read, of course she wanted a book. Not some ugly dog faced necklace. I should've never listened to Dash. I blamed him too, partially. He was the one who actually found it.
And some nerve he had, putting it all on me. I'm sure Sam didn't understand what he had actually meant, but I know Hailey did. They way she kept glancing at me and smiling creepily said it all.
Damn those two to hell.
Where were they getting these idiotic ideas anyway? Such bullshit.

As the bus rattled along the half broken road, I tried to calm my mind down. I didn't want to ruin the day further by my shitty mood. Things were already bad as it is.
That tiny dog mocking me now whenever I looked over at Sam.

When the bus stopped infront of the old aircraft museum, I glanced at the place. I used to come here all the time when I was little. Well, anyone who lives in Karachi has seen this place once in their lives, no doubt.
The park was old, too old. But it was huge, so everyone held their random carnivals here all the time. It was supposed to be a museum, where people could come and look at old airplanes and stuff, but no one gave a shit about that nowadays. The airplanes lined the park, looking worn out and vintage.

We got off the bus, and I walked behind purposely, kind of enjoying the fact that I had absolutely nothing to do today. That was the bright side to this day.

Sam and Hailey were walking infront of me, talking and nodding like they hadn't seen each other in ages.
Dash was looking around like a bored expression, probably trying to find something to do in this place.

Let's be honest, there wasn't much to do.
On one side, there were a few rides, and on the other, there were all sorts of stalls for food and drinks. There was also a miniature lake, where you could ride the tiny wooden boat, and try to avoid the algae infected water.
All I wanted to do was just to lie down in the grass and chill the hell out.
But it wasn't my birthday, obviously.

"So, let's see it. How much do you guys have?", I said, as we all sat down on the grass, making a small circle.
"2",
"150",
"5",
They all mumbled; Hailey, Sam and Dash, in that order.
I took out the 300 rupees I had in my pocket, and added it to the stash as well.
"Okay, so Sam, what's the plan?", I asked her.
She looked over at the money, probably thinking of the cheapest thing possible.
"Why don't we just get something to eat and sit over there and catch up?", She asked, pointing over at the area behind the lake, where noone ever went.
"No rides?", Hailey asked, pouting slightly.
"Like you could fit in those now", I said.
It was true. Those kiddie rides weren't for us. None of us could fit in that little shitty seat anyway.
"That's rude", Sam said, and Hailey stuck out her tongue at me.

We got up, and headed over to the food stalls. And immediately regretted it.
Dash and I, well, we could survive on anything basically. You had to get used to the extreme unhygienic environment if you wanted to survive in Karachi, but the girls? Oh, no damn way. Truth is, they sucked it up most of the time as well, but they were still girls, with their girly clean genes and whatnot.

I could see Hailey scrunch up her nose in disgust and Sam practically swallowing her vomit as they looked over what to eat.
Dash already had his eyes on the french fries and was grinning madly. His love for food was just unexplainable.

"Alright, let's just get pizza and fries", I suggested, trying to save Sam and Hailey from this situation.
They all mumbled various yeah's and sure's and Dash and I got in to stand in the queue.

I was swatting flies away from my face as conversation flowed effortlessly around me. It didn't take much effort to start a conversation in this group anyway. Someone always had something to talk about.
We had devoured the snacks that Dash and I had bought within minutes, and now we were just aimlessly sitting under the shade of a thin tree, the sun glowing in our faces.
Dash was lying on his back, using his bag as a pillow, and talking about Hailey's current boyfriend, who we all despised. And Hailey, being such a sincere girlfriend that she was, was trying to defend him, but failing miserably.
Sam was using the tree as support for her back, and was watching the sky with a thoughtful expression on her face. Was she even listening to this conversation?
I poked her slightly, trying to get her attention.
"What's up?", I asked her, and I could see her hesitate before answering.
"What? Nothing", She said, shrugging.
"What's the point of hiding it?", I said bluntly.
"You don't always know everything, Aaron", She said sternly, wanting me to leave it alone.
"I'll still find out..", I said, it was true. She'd tell me anyway.
"Why don't you mind your own business for once in your life?", She said, sounding exasperated, obviously pissed at me.
I just shrugged and looked away, not wanting to start a screaming match here in the park.
But it had already gotten Dash and Hailey's attention. They stared at me with eyes wide, and confused looks on their faces.
"What? I was just asking her", I said. That's what I get for trying to help.
They both looked away awkwardly, nobody saying anything.

After a while, when Sam had calmed down; some anger that girl had, she suddenly spoke up.
"I think I'm moving. And...I don't know where you guys are applying, but my parents made me apply everywhere", She mumbled.

I couldn't really understand or hear any thing after that. I know everyone was talking, but I could comprehend what was happening.
Had I been so involved in my own life, that I didn't even bother to see what was happening around me?
Of course, I knew that we would all be separated after O'levels, but she was moving?! Moving to where? How? How could she move? They had always lived in that house. Always. Since the past 15 years! And now suddenly they're moving?

I felt entirely stupid. Like a jackass who didn't know what was happening.

Everything was happening so fast, and my stupid brain couldn't fix it all in.