When Summer Arrives (On Hold)

The Chick Mafia

I may have not known who ‘Roxs’ was, or her connection to Sam, but I now knew what she looked like. I could see her through the peep hole as she came out of Sam’s apartment, they were remarkably similar. 

Roxs had long flowing blonde hair that ended just inched above her waist, witch waved deeply.  She was dressed in an up-scale business dress and high heels.  The dress had a deep V-neck and a flap at her waist that flared out, extenuating her hips, the dress ended just above her knees.  She was just as tall as Sam too, well a little bit shorter considering her heels, she had a lighter shade of blonde curls than him and instead of the deep hazel eyes Sam sported she had a pair of light blue ones.

She obviously had money one could tell just by the way she held herself and the clothes she wore.  Everything she had on, from accessories to make up, perfectly enhanced her powder white skin.

The two waved to each other and she left, walking down the wide hallway between our apartments. 

Sam looked at my front door for a long moment, and I almost thought he could see me; he dropped his head and leaned back into the kitchen.  Before he closed the door I saw him run a hand through his hair.  What had she said that made him all worked up?

***

I was walking alone behind a row of houses in an alleyway headed for school.  There were a couple dogs here and there making their presence and territory known.  This was the back roads that I recently became acquainted with whilst avoiding Sam, not that I was avoiding him now, but I couldn’t risk the Chick Mafia seeing us come to school together.

There was a flock of birds flying in a v formation above; possibly migrating for these warmer days ahead.  I soon got lost within their intricate flight patterns as the separated and reunited.  When they flew behind me I twirled around to watch for just a second longer.  However, my eyes were soon adverted and my attention caught on something entirely else.

“Oh, Sam!”  He was lagging at least twenty paces behind me, both hands lounging in his front pant pockets.  He was wearing his school cardigan instead of the blazer for the first time.  The thin material of the cardigan showed off his lean figure more so than the thick jacket.

“Oh, Winter!”  He repeated in a similar tone. 

“I didn’t think you knew this route to school.”  We fell into pace together side by side.

“I didn’t.”   He gave me a sideways glance and tilted his grin.

I shot him a questioning glance. “Then how?”

He sighed. “You’re not the only one who can be sneaky.”

“I guess I should stop pursuing a career in being a spy.”  We laugh.

Something was off.  He sounded the same and acted the same as before, but there was something troubling him.  Was it my place to ask what was wrong?  Why it started with that woman?  Did I have that privilege?

I looked down at our hands; we were holding each other’s.  When had this happened?  Our skins were different.  His is the porcelain and peachy look of any normal caucasian, and mine is the pale beige those of mixed descent have.  This feature came from my father.

“Winter?”

“Uh? Oh, sorry.”

“You were spacing out.  Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’m fine.”

“What were you thinking about?”

I was surprised by his question.  Should I tell him I was thinking about Roxs or my father?  “Nothin’ I was just spacin’.”  I offered a small smile.