The Road To Remembering

Parental Approval

The Sunay after that small encounter with Karl, I met up with Matthew.

I guess our relationship was a good one. He was nice, handsome, and gave me small gifts here and there. He was funny, and supportive, and everything a girl could ask for. But there was something off. It didn't feel right. Now, don't ask me why, it just does. I have a feeling.

We met up at the movie theater. I didn't pay much attention to the actual film. Instead, I busied myself with looking at Matthew in the dim light of the movie theater. His black hair was hard to distinguish from the darkness in the corners of the theater. His bright blue eyes were fixed at the actors. His pale skin seemd to glow where the little light in the theater touched him. He was definitely a handsome guy, that was for sure.

But looks aren't everything. Sure, he's sweet, considerate and kind and all that jazz too, but something seemed off. Like there was something wrong with him. I tried to brush that feeling aside.

After the movie, we went to a small diner across the lot. It was a quaint little place, run by friendly people that knew everyone in my family by name. Our waitress was a nice, sweet girl around 17 or 18 that kept up with us, checking in on regular intervals. Not like there were many other people here to keep her occupied. It was just us, an old man sitting in the corner reading a newspaper, and a business woman typing at her computer, fingers a blur.

Matthew and I ate and talked. Nothing much. Just casual banter, normal for us. I mean, it wasn't like we were one of those lovey-dovey couples that walked around exclaiming our love to the world. In fact, if you didn't know us, I think you might have just thought we were friends. Or siblings.

I shook the thought from my head. You see, me and my siblings haven't really been getting along lately. Chloe tries to stay as far away from me as she can most of the time, and Tyler rarely ever talks to me. They're even worse when Matthew is over. I think they hate him, always picking fights and arguing with him like small children.

Well then too bad for them, because I'm not going to break up with my boyfriend just because of a few bratty siblings.

At least my parents are a little nicer to him than Tyler and Chloe are. They're polite, and offer drinks when he's over. Mom talks about his interests, and dad sits off to the side analyzing everything he says. Little strange, but nothing so big that Matthew would notice.

I ate in silence, slowly picking at my food. Thinking about my family had ruined my appetite. Matthew ordered us an apple pie for dessert, but I hardly touched it. I didn't say much for the rest of the night.

Matthew dropped me off at my house at a little past 8. Just in time for my curfew of 8:30. I unlocked the door as Matthew drove off, headlights fading into the night. 

The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside was that everyone was in the living room, silently watching AFV on TV. I immediately knew something was up.

I tried to sneak up to my room, but in my haste to get up the stairs, I accidentally stepped on the creaking step. Everyone turned to look at me. I stared right back, lifting my chin to show them that I wasn't afraid.

"Avery! You're back!" Mom said with a false happy note in her voice.

"Why don't you come down and join us, sweetie?" Dad chimed in.

I sighed. As much as I wanted to ignore the lot of them and go to my room, I was raised to obey my parents no matter what. I walked slowly back down the steps until I stood at the base, staring at my family.

Mom patted the open space next to her in a clear invitation. I stayed where I was.

"What is this all about?" I asked, hardening my voice, eager to get this over with.

Mom and Bennet shared a small glance. "Well, we want to talk to you about Matthew-" Mom started.

"Uh-uh. No way." I interrupted. "I know that none of you like him, and I know you're going to say that I need to break up with him. Well hear this. I'm happy with him. I'm fine. And I don't care what any of you have to say about Matthew because I'm staying with him no matter what." I paused, ignoring the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I lie. 

Everyone glanced at each other in turn before replying.

"We were just going to say," Chloe began, "that, even though you deserve better than him and you two totally shouldn't be together-"

"Chloe..." Bennet warned.

She sighed. "Even though we don't like him, that we respect your decision on who you want to be with, and we'll try not to get in the way of you two."

Tyler nodded from his position on  the couch next to mom.

At first, I didn't know what to say. I expected a huge intervention trying to convince me to break up with Matthew, but this? I regained my composure quickly though, and said a brisk "Thank you." before walking up to my room.

I heard the TV turn on again as I gently closed the door to my room. I let out a heavy sigh and pressed my back against the white door, slowly letting myself slide down.

I glanced to my right when my butt was flat on the floor.

I stared at the empty space where the baseball had been resting. I turned my head again and looked to my other side. I looked at the place where that wooden terrier sat, the necklace still sitting on it.

Somehow, the terrier carving hurt more than all the empty spots in my room, left from when Karl took back all of his stuff. Apparently, a lot of the stuff from my room was his.

He had written me a note the day after and left it in the mailbox. I'd read it, and a pain in my chest made itself known. I remembered his exact words written on that paper.

I want to leave you with one thing to remember me by. Even if you never love me again, remember that I made that for you with all the love in my heart. Please, hold onto it for me?

I felt a single tear slowly run down my face.

I allowed a few more to fall before standing up and pushing down the pain in my chest. I don't know why I hold onto it. I guess that its just that last plea. Him almost seeming to be begging me to hold onto it, it broke my heart.

It was almost as if he was asking me to hold onto a little piece of his heart.