Just Friends. (A falling in love with my best friend story)

Chapter 3: Back together again

   Parker's POV:

I sat on the plane, hearing that we just crossed into the state next to ours and would be home shortly. Good, I could go to bed. Seeing Genna could wait until tomorrow, I wanted to sleep. A thought crossed my mind, that we didn't have a ride home. We had been dropped off at the airport by Genna and her parents. The memory was fresh in my mind now, her dark brown hair blowing in the wind as I could tell that she was holding back tears. 

        "Mom, how are we getting back home?" I asked, picturing us having to walk back or call a taxi or hitchike. She looked at me weirdly.

        "Genna and her family are picking us up silly, remember? We're staying at their house tonight and we'll get our key back to our house tomorrow." She said. I nodded, remembering now. Dad snored loudly.

Spain was amazing. We saw as much as we could and stayed with this really nice family who didn't speak english that well. I learned to love the spices and flavors of spanish food. But the only thing I could think about was going to sleep. I stupidly decided to stay awake the part of the flight I was supposed to be sleeping.

        "Ladies and Gentlemen we are now back into the airport. Please don't exit until an attendant comes to get you." The conductor said over the intercom.

***

We sat waiting in the airport, where the lights were too bright with our suitcases next to us. I saw families reunite, couples run towards eachother and embrace, pretty much anything you'd find in a classic hallmark movie.

        "Oh good you're here!" I heard my mom say, and felt her jump to her feet next to me. I tiredly looked up and saw Genna's dad with some red-haired girl with dark blue tips at the end tiredly leaning against him. She was stick skinny, and really pale. She was still in pajamas with an oversized jacket that looked similar to the one I'd lost a long time ago, and converse.

        "Oh my God Genna, you really need to consult me before you get a makeover like that. A nose piercing too!" My mom joked, running to hug her. She tiredly hugged back and met my eyes.

My jaw nearly dropped. It was Genna. God, she looked like she was half alive. And half awake. The half awake part I understood, but....what had happened to her?

        "Parker don't be rude. Come hug your friend." My mom said, gesturing me over. I saw that Genna's dad and her dad were talking, and when she saw me get up, she joined them. 

I walked carefully over to Genna, and took her face in my hands, looking her in her eyes. I used to love her eyes, they were a bright silverish gray that always sparkled. Now they were a dull gray.

        "What happened to you?" I asked in a whisper. She didn't meet my eyes and looked down.

        "Summer happened." She said in a small voice that I barely recognized as hers. She used to have a harsh voice, that was soft like, never. But I loved that harshness.

I looked to my parents for help but they were too busy listening to Genna's dad tell them something. Mom had tears in her eyes. I looked down at Genna to where she was leaning against me, half awake. I also now realized the absence of Mrs. Skyes. 

My half-awake mind managed to fit the pieces together and I realized something. My heart dropped, hoping I was making false assumptions.

        "Genna....where's your mom?" I asked gently. Without a word she pointed upwards and started crying into my shirt.

I held her gingerly, thinking she'd collapse completely if I hugged her too tight. But then I was hit with cold realization, and I hugged her tight.

Mrs. Skyes had died while I was gone. No wonder why Genna was so broken.

***

We walked through the doors of Genna's house, the doors I was used to bursting through with flowers on Mother's day, saying I had extra. The house had an eerie feeling about it, and it was filled with sadness. I looked over to her dad, who was carrying her since she fell asleep. She looked like she barely weighed anything.

        "Parker, be a dear and take Genna from her father so he can get to bed." My mom said. I took her from her father's hands and carried her up the stairs, surprised at how light she was.

I lay her down in her bed and pulled the blankets over her. Then I lay down in her beanbag, pulling the blanket she always kept on there over myself, to overcome with tiredness to do anything but sleep.

Don't get me wrong, I was glad we were back together again, but it seemed I was back together with a shell of a person. I understood why she was this way, since I'd be the same, but it was scary nonetheless.