The Girl In The Silver Mask

Tash's Place

He mounted the bike and took off through the gates as fast as he could, his wheel skidding slightly on a stone. He could cycle to Tasha’s with his eyes closed (though it wasn’t a good idea with so much traffic about) as he’d been there so many times throughout his life. He had no doubt it would be very embarressing at best, but it was so worth it just to get a chance of maybe seeing her how she used to look, bare-faced with her favourite worn grey tracksuit on, the writing saying ‘Southampton girl’s football club’ faded from too many washes, her waist-length blonde hair tied in a hurried ponytail, holding up yet another picture or playing her guitar.

That probably wouldn’t happen, thinking about it, but he held a small bit of hope in his heart as he skidded into their driveway, grinning even though he felt nervous as he saw the familiar whitewashed house she called home. He dismounted his bike and stood holding it, looking up at the darkened windows with Tasha’s curtains drawn; and only then did he realise she wasn’t going to be home from school for hours yet and her mum was at work. Her dad was out at sea, working in the army. His smile faded gradually from his face as this dawned on him and he went to turn around reluctantly to go away again.

Dan decided he would just go to the park opposite that they had always gone to in junior school, and was just about to lead his bike round the corner when he heard the door fling open and turned in surprise, eyes widening as he saw the girl he’d only seen in dreams for the past three years. It wasn’t just Tasha’O’Neil, shallow, popular, aloof. It was his Tash, standing there in her old bunny pajamas with yesterday’s make up smudged under her eyes and her hair tousled up. She looked around nervously, checking no-one else was around.

“Dan? What the hell are you doing here?” She spoke roughly, like she had just woken up, and cleared her throat. She hadn’t said it nastily, was genuinly surprised to see him there and, well, he couldn’t blame her really. Even he didn’t know what he was doing at her house. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, cursing himself when he felt his cheeks grow hot.

Her eyebrows drew together.

“You….you haven’t been stalking me, right?” She asked, concerned. Dan suddenly got his voice back then.

“No!” He cried defencively, “I just….I came to see you. Don’t worry, I’ll go, I totally get it.” He hesitated, chewing his lip, and slowly started backing up. He saw her mouth ‘For God’s Sake’ and close her eyes, but then she sighed and opened the door wider, stepping aside.

“Ugh, just get your butt in here. You look like a lost puppy.”

          He couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t exactly the nicest invite he’d ever received, but she was speaking to him! He paused before leaning his bike against the fence and striding to the door. She dropped her head as he walked through, and he realised this was going to be pretty awkward when it was just them and there would be no-one to ease the tension. Not sure of what to do, he stood looking around.

“Nothing’s changed.” He commented stupidly. He did expect some drastic change to go with her change in personality; like the comforting browns and muted oranges of the walls being replaced with bright pink or the interior to shift into something that resembled a barbie house.

“Nope.” She said smiling slightly and walking past him in the narrow hallway to the kitchen, the slight brush of their shoulders making him shiver. Tasha pulled on a fluffy white dressing gown from a chair and walked to the kettle.

“Tea?” She offered, holding up a mug but carefully avoiding eye contact by looking just to the left of his head back the the hall.

“No, Thanks.” Dan decided and he spun the chair at the head of the table round and straddled it like he used to, crossing his arms on the top of the chair and resting his head on top and watching her shyly as she nodded, pouring herself a glass of water and taking a couple of paracetamel.