Almost Eden

Chapter 2 Willow

Willow Brooke Scanalon. She has grown to be the only female I can trust in life. I know I shouldn't be gender bashing, especially when I am a young woman myself, but I just can't help it. I find most women to be narcissistic, manipulative and sometimes down right catty. If you ask me, I think there are very few who can be trusted with secrets because the majority just wastes their time with mindless, gossipy dribble. That is probably why I am a tom-boy. Boys, men, males tend to be more laid back, honest and direct. Don't get me wrong; there are the occasional bad apples that are just as awful as the typical 'lady'. Who knows? Maybe it isn't about gender, but instead, maybe I just choose to remain close to those who do not wish to follow the majority: the individuals. Willow is without a doubt an individual.
Her name said it all. Willows are trees, Brooks are well Brookes; she was all natural, herself. There was another connection right there. My middle name being a Chrysanthemum, I was a flower. I a flower and she a tree, it somehow seemed to fit perfectly for us. Fate.
​As I watched Josh and Danny speed away, I giggled to myself and began to walk up the stairs of a red and white house in which the Scanalons reside. I sat on the stoop and started punching in Willow's number on the keypad of my cell phone. Rather than wait anxiously at the door for someone to respond to my relentless knocking, I decided to send her a text message stating that I was in front of her house and waiting for her to open the door. Unfortunately, in response to that I received a message proclaiming that the Scanalons were not home and that they would be returning from a banquet shortly.
​I can't say I wasn't disappointed because I was of course, but there was not much I could do about it at that point. My options were pretty limited: It was either walk home in the dark and risk being raped or yelled at if I made it home alive or sit and wait. Option #2 seemed to have less repercussions, so I sat. As I waited patiently, the weight of fatigue overtook me and I fell asleep on the Scanalons' doorstep. An hour had passed before I awoke to what seemed to be the entire family hovering over me.
​I felt completely mortified as Willow remarked "A little melodramatic, don't you think? I mean I know you probably missed me, but you don't have to sprawl yourself across my porch steps like that."
​I sat up and winced at her joke. She suggested that we head into the pool for a refreshing dip. In response, I commented , "Sure. Maybe that'll keep me awake."
​Miss Scanalon is quite the unique character. She has a highly unusual thought process that I only hold in high regard. I guess the reason why she is that way is because both her parents are sort of hippies. You know the type: Not on any illicit drugs or alcohol, but free spirits none the less. Vegetarians with psyches filled with nothing more than thoughts of freedom, flower-power and the well being of the their only daughter; those were Willow's parents.
​"So Samantha are you staying over for dinner tonight?" Willow and I both stared at her mother a bit confused and she became flustered. "Oh silly me, what am I saying, it's far too late for dinner." Mrs. Scanalon fumbled coyly with her words. "Will you be spending the night with us?" she finally managed to expel from her lips.
​"Yes actually, I was hoping I could, if it isn't too much trouble. I wouldn't want to impose on you and your family." I answered back politely.
​"Oh Sam, you know you are always welcome here in our home. Just make yourself comfortable and I'll set up a space for you in Willow's room."
​"Thank you Mrs. Scanalon."
​"Sam, you know you're like family." I nodded as she spoke. "It's Marcy."
​"Thank you... Marcy." I replied as she opened the glass, patio door and slid into the living room.
​'Wouldn't want to impose?' Who was I kidding? I knew very well that she would let me stay overnight. Mrs. Scanalon was not only a nice woman, but she was also a bit of a pushover. I knew this and took advantage of the fact that I was her daughter's best friend and knowing that my benevolent charm would win her over. I regret my actions today.
​Swimming back and forth, in circular motions, and then some, I began to tell Willow of my ordinarily dreadful day.
​"... he set me off and I ended up storming out until my brother returned for us. That's when I determined that it may be time for a change of setting and dropped by over here." I summed up.
​"hmm.. well it seems to me that you spent most of today on other people's doorsteps." She nodded intelligently.
​"Thank you Captain Obvious." I retorted jest fully.
​Soon it was time for the two of us to retire that lazy Saturday evening. Sleep descended upon me swiftly and I lay unconscious until awoken around 8 am.
​"Good Morning mom, dad. Off to church?" Willow gleamed as she sat unprepared with frazzled hair and unkempt pajamas.
​"Yes dear. Is Sam still asleep?" Willow nodded as her mother questioned. "You might want to be a little quieter, we would not want to wake our guest."
​I was already wide awake and watching this rather interesting sight. Parents who did not push their religious beliefs onto their child; I was skeptic. At that moment, I was also a little bit envious. It appeared Willow had everything. An only child with no one else to worry about, but herself and two parents living in a happy household who loved her dearly. Here she had all this and I was stuck dealing with children for parents and more on my mind than the average teen should have to bear.
​This revolting feeling of uncouth envy filled me rapidly and soon my internal organs were no other color but jade. This sensation soon caused me to tear and to hide my emotions I left the Scanalon house. I remember making up some story about forgetting to do something at home and then fleeing before my whimpers transformed into desperate sobs. I couldn't turn home and deal with my family for I was not ready for that kind of pain to settle in, after all, they were the reason I couldn't even stand to be around my best friend at that moment. So until about six o' clock that evening, I ran in the woods and pretty much wandered throughout the somber town that was Bridgewater.
​When I finally arrived to my rather melancholy dwelling, I ignored all. I took a shower, changed into clean dress and lie on my bed. I began to blast music and filled my room in an endeavor to escape life. Shortly after though, I was interrupted. Beneath the loud racket that was my escape, I could hear a light noise traveling from one side of my room. As I lowered the volume of my stereo, it was quite evident that my phone was ringing. I picked up.
​"Hello?"
​"Hi. Samantha?"
​"Yes, this is she. " I answered still baffled.
​"Well... how are you...Chrys?"
​Only a selected few knew my middle name and an even smaller percentage referred to me as my middle nickname. It was suddenly clear that the person on the other line was someone relatively precious to me.
​"Hi, I'm fine...now."