Island.

Chapter 10

Ten.


I walked home from school. It was the last day before we had a week long break. There were so many people gushing about Sam’s party. These girls were not only concerned about their looks, they also wanted to protect the reputation of their families. They were more concerned about not making a fool of themselves, in case they have one too many drinks. It was more about preventing from embarrassing their family name.

It was very different from what most other girls would be afraid of. Their family names were the last thing on their minds. Usually, girls didn’t want to appear trashy and well, wild. The people of this small island never ceased to amaze me.

I stumbled in my ‘house’ with the smell of freshly baked bread wafting its way to my nose. Following the heavenly scent, I found my mom in the kitchen, with her face streaked in flour. The oven was on and I could faintly see the shape of a rising loaf of bread. I forgot that she was taking time off from her job.

But seeing her actually in the kitchen, and making something was shocking. The maids were no where in sight.

“Hey honey!” She burst when she finally noticed me standing there.

 Her face portrayed a look of pure joy. It looked natural for her, to be a carefree mom who enjoyed baking.

 I didn’t spend much time at home. I always felt the need to get away, and be alone. I ended up on the beach quite often and the cave. That’s where I spent my afternoons. And seeing my mother, in an apron for God’s sake, and covered in flour made me guilty for putting that distance in our relationship.

“Hey mom, smells nice in here.” I took a seat on one of the stools near the island, where she was mixing a batch of cookies.

“Thanks, Ava. How was school?” She smiled genuinely and handed me a cookie from the cooling rack. I told her about my day and the break we had for the next week. She seemed ecstatic that I was going to be home for a whole week.

“We can do so much! I have so many ideas running through my mind. Oh! You’ll love knitting. I just know it!” She was so excited. It felt weird to sit here while she rambled on about the things we can do.

“What do you say we head out tonight for a movie night? Just me and my kid.” She looked wistfully into space as she said that. And the guilt just felt heavier on my shoulders.

“That sounds fun, but um, I sort of already have plans.” I mumbled, not meeting her eyes. I felt terrible at this point.

“Oh,” she said in a small voice.

“That’s okay, I guess we can always have a movie night. What are you doing tonight?” Her words tore at me, and even worse that look in her eyes that she never really managed to mask.

“Leia’s friend Sam is having a small party at his house. And I was invited…” I trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

“I understand, Ava. I know you resent your father and I for making you move from place to place all the time. And you never really got the chance to make real friends. I’m glad you got invited to that party. You should go and enjoy yourself.”

She looked at me with a sincere expression, and a warmth filled her eyes. She trusted me, I realized, not to make the wrong choices. This was the first time my mom actually paid attention to what I was saying, and it was the first time she ever apologized for anything.

Was this possibly a new and improved Anna Williams, who wasn’t so caught up with work?

~

Three hours later, I was in my steely gray skinny jeans and my black slouchy top. I was just tying the laces to my black converse when the doorbell rang. 

“Hi Mrs. Williams, Is Ava home?” Leia’s voice floated up the stairs.

“She’s up in her room, its all the way at the top of the stairs, second landing. Go on up.” Her airy voice floated up the stairs. It wasn’t long before I heard a soft knock on my door.

“Come in.”

Leia walked in, wearing a neon green dress and bright yellow flip flops. Don’t get me wrong, the dress fit her perfectly. It was just the colors that threw me off. She was just so…bright. It made her coal black hair and eyes, seem darker; if that was even possible.

She noticed my staring and laughed,

“I picked this out myself. Does it look good?” She asked, looking like a shy school girl. She had the shape of an Asian model, and I’m sure if she were wearing rags, it would still look good.

“Its fine, but the colors…” I said trailing off. They almost hurt my eyes.

“I know right! I thought it was the perfect outfit for tonight. I wanted that certain ‘wow’ factor. Did I accomplish that?”

I shook my head, as if to clear my thoughts and looked solemnly at her. Then with a small smile, I said,
 
“Lee, I love your outfit and all, but I just can’t let you leave here like that. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dress. But its more like a beach outfit, rather than a party outfit.” She looked at me and burst out laughing, sputtering random words.

When she finally sobered up, she looked at me and said,

 “I would never in a million years, go to a party in that outfit. Did you think I was serious?” She asked with a smile plastered on her face.

“For a minute there, I did. But even if you did wear it, you definitely pulled it off. You could make trash bags look elegant.” It was true, she could make anything look amazing because of her shape. We talked a little more before deciding to it was time we get going.

We finally arrived to Sam’s house about twenty minutes after Leia sorted out her real outfit. The music was blaring from inside the house. Needless to say, it was more than a small get together. There were people that I never knew who went to our school, at this party. We made our way into the house, when Leia spotted Mikale, who was standing next to his brother, Maika. She turned to me with pleading eyes and a pout, as if begging me to let her go talk to him.

“You don’t need my permission. If you want to go, then just go.” I told her with a laugh. Her expression turned guilty.

“ I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.” Her deep brown eyes held a trace of worry in them. I didn’t want her to miss out on talking with Mikale, but I also didn’t want to be alone. But, I know keeping her with me would be selfish of me.

“I’ll be fine, just meet up at the front of the house at midnight. That’s a half hour before my curfew.” I told her.

“I will. Don’t worry.”

I just backed into a table, grabbing a coke and trying to keep calm. But the awkward feeling was just building up and I was feeling like I didn’t belong. It was so obvious that I was new in this town. I got curious stares and saw the usual signs that they were talking about me.

I scanned the place looking for somewhere that I could maybe blend in with. Like a dark, boring corner. Walking to a chair that was a little ways apart from the crowd, I decided that  this will have to do. As I was sitting down, someone walked up to me, blocking my view of the rest of the party. And that’s when this party became a lot more interesting.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So, this chapter has no Keanu, but he comes back in the next chapter. What do you guys think about her mother? :)