Evanescent

Eleven

After school I go to my piano class then head home.  I hum my new song for piano as I open the door and hang up my backpack. Then I glide into the kitchen to say hi to my mom.

"Someone's in a good mood," she says as she stirs the noodles.

"Yeah," I say," spaghetti?"

"You know it!" She smiles. "Mrs. Greggs texted me and said you and Ash are meeting at Zöe's Kitchen for a project," she says," does this have anything to do with your positive mood?"

"What? No!" I laugh," Oh God I think I just barfed in my mouth. No!"

"Okay," she turns off the stove," just checking! You better head over there soon it's 5:30." Woah. Time flies.

"Okay" I run upstairs and pack my English stuff. I don't really care what I look like so I don't even bother to check in the mirror. I stumble down the stairs suddenly noticing how my good mood is drifting away. "I'm going to leave!"

"Okay! You're missing out on spaghetti night!" My mom teases. I roll my eyes and yell a little "love you" to her as I close the door behind me.

I drive down to Zöe's slowly so I don't get there first. Sure enough I walk in and he's already there. I order and sit down.

"Hey Nes," he says looking at his phone and closing it. "Ready?"

"Sure," I reply and pull out our little amount of work.

We get a lot done pretty fast. We take turns adding something to our chart while the other eats. Finally, we finish a poorly drawn, but informative chart about Animal Farm.

"So," he says as I fold up the paper," you and Tanner?"

Oh Lord I hope I'm not blushing. "Maybe," I reply,"why?"

"Just wondering. You know, he talks about you a lot in basketball."

"What does he say?" I ask.

"Oh nothing," he looks away,"I shouldn't tell."

"Oh really?" I laugh. "Now you choose to be all good and trustworthy?"

"Just trying to be better," he shrugs. I raise an eyebrow.

"Say it."

"I really shouldn't."

"Ash, I swear-"

"Okay, okay! He pretty much just says how he thinks with you being friends with Annie, Grace, and Jaclyn, it'll benefit him to date a popular girl," he looks down.

"I don't believe it," I sip my water.

"Fine," he says," It's not like I wanted to tell you. Besides, you won't fall for his little charade." I look out the window. Does he know how badly I want to shut him up after begging him to talk?

He must have noticed because he takes my hand in his and says he sorry for saying anything. "I just thought you should know before it's too late." Does he know it's already too late?There's an awkward silence but I end it before he can start more small talk.

"I better go home," I pull out my chair and stand up. I walk out the glass door and don't look back.
 

•••••

As I lay in bed I remember the little note. I pull out my laptop and look up the message.

It's about a blind-sided doe who stays on a cliff with her blind side towards the river because she thinks that side is safe. But she ends up being shot on that side.

Who is sending these notes and what the heck do they mean?