Abeyance

Chapter 3

Audrey

We had fun that night. We spent our night like little scouts. 

Luke and I told scary stories and pretended that we knew every part of the mountain. Later, Luke brought out a constellation map and then we used our telescopes to identify the constellations above. I went to sleep tired but with a smile.

 I was having a good dream but then in my dream I began running, running away from someone inside an endless white corridor. I stopped to face it but then my breathing stopped, I felt like someone was murdering me in the real world. I struggled to wake up. I awoke, heavily breathing and pain spread in my chest. I hugged myself but the pain didn't stop. I wanted to cry but Luke was just in the other tent, near mine. I didn't want him to worry, I want him happy. I sat for a moment in my sleeping bag. The pain ceased. 

Maybe you are hungry, I thought. 

I peeked out of my tent, it was dark. I checked my phone so that I'm sure that the time did not stop. It was 5:43 am. I felt good. I stood up and went to the "basket of food" Luke had brought. It wasn't really a basket but it was a big container, like a lunch container except it's big. Luke had also brought plastic plates (He brought many because he didn't feel like washing it), 2 mugs, and plastic cups. He got it mostly from my mom. We had a lot of "plasticwares" because my mom and dad like taking us to picnics, before. Now... they're all busy and it's rare. 

I made myself a cup of tea. I love tea. Even if I'm not in England, it runs in the blood of English people. Except my older brother. He's into coffee, ugh! 

Anyway, I went to "cliff" of the mountain. I stared at the sun that was peeking through the mountains. It is beautiful, it's as if it is telling me, us, that there's hope and tomorrow. I looked at the happy Oakwood Park. It's beautiful, a place filled with memories. My special place.

Everything is beautiful for me.

Someone touched my shoulder, I tensed but I relaxed when I realized that it would be Luke. He had some strange but comfortable aura on me. I like it.

"Hey." I said after a sip in my tea, and after he sat beside me.

"Morning." he said. 

"Morning?" I said. Luke and I had a thing about greetings. We don't say Good Morning or Good Night or Good Bye or Happy Birthday or whatsoever. We say Morning, Night, and "That's was a good birthday party." 

"Yep." he grinned at me.

"We are not expecting me to fall off the cliff, right?" I laughed.

"We are expecting to." he said.

I just chuckled. I suppose all of us know this feeling wherein we do not know what to say or react but being quiet is not what we want to do in front (or even beside) of the person so we have no choice but give a small laugh or a smile.

"Well-" Luke began. Must be because I didn't exaggeratedly react. 

"Hush, Lu. Sometimes we just have to contain the peace around us and live. No talking and all that mushy social things." I calmly said.

I leaned on Luke and lay my head on its spot on his shoulder. It may sound romantic but it's so typical for us, so typical like how you would choose Nutella over Vegemite (ugh!). Sometimes, our 'typical' ways make me sad. It just proves that we're just best friends. Period. 

I stared at the sunrise, which makes me feel more sad. 

"Auds (Pronounced: like odds but instead of o its Awedds. I think you get it.), you going to the Fall Ball?" he suddenly asked, after minutes of cuddling and sun viewing.

"Uh, yes. Maybe. No." I uttered. I didn't know what to say, the question was too sudden... and I hate school dances or worse balls (hehe, balls). 

"Audrey, you do know that we answer questions like mine with only one answer out of the three?" Luke said, shaking his head.

"Duh! I'm English!" I said.

"Audrey." he said.

"Uh, I just don't know. Maybe I'll be there because it's gonna be my first dance and mom obviously knows that. Well, why'd you ask? You going?" I looked at him. 

Our cuddle is now ruined, Luke and I are a few stones apart already and we are looking at each other.

"You know why. To know. Obviously." he sarcastically said. 

"Really." I rolled my eyes.

"I just want to know if you've got a date or a partner." he shyly said.

"Nope. I've got like forever for that." I said. "I've got today and tomorrow and lots of tomorrow. It's August 9 today, yesterday was August 8. My birthday." I lazily said.

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. Anyway, I'm going to the dance." he laughed.

"You. Do you have a date?" I asked, half wishing he doesn't have any. Though that was impossible for him, his popular at school. 

"A good soccer player, and a handsome gentleman." a cute girl once said. 

"I have someone in mind. I'd like to ask her." he slowly said.

"Really?! Who? You don't need any luck 'cause every girl in school thinks your such an adorable hottie!" I said with a successful fake cheery voice. I feel jealous and hurt, too. I wanted to tell him. Tell him everything. Tell him that I like him. I don't care if it's just infatuation. 

My eyes started to be filled with tears that are ready to fall. I bit my lip.

"Hey. Calm down." he hugged me. "You'll have boys ask you to go with them."

Luke smirked at me as he wiped the tears that came out of the stupid eyes. 

I smiled. It's true, I'm a well-known person at school.

"But, I don't think that's what Audrey Rose Edmund would be fussing about." he frowned, "What's the matter?"

I gave a halfhearted laugh, "Nothing, really. Just petty problems."

"Then tell me." Luke relaxed on the grass. I just sat there, staring at him.

My mind is already fighting itself.

"I...uh...I..." I gulped. The words were ready to come out of my mouth and tumble through his ears.

I opened my mouth to speak.

A phone started to ring.

Saved by the phone, my brain said.