The Lemonade Stand

Chapter 4

CHRISTOS' POV 

Alexia's tinkling laughter woke me up. Opening my eyes with difficulty, I yawned. 

Light streamed into my room and fell onto my eyes. I smelt the aroma of breakfast cooking waft up to my room. With a grumble from my stomach and another yawn, I made my way downstairs. 

Standing in the kitchen next to my mother was Alexia. Her blond hair was tied into a simple pony-tail and she was wearing a light-blue Summer dress. She smiled when she saw me and, bidding farewell to my mother, she dragged me outside into the garden to enjoy the sun. 

"Chris! You can't be upset forever." She grinned. 

I groaned; "Yes, I can." I tried to stumble back inside but she caught my hand. 

"It's not a big deal, you know." She continued. 

"Yes, it is! She doesn't even like me...." I replied quietly. 

"There'll be other girls. So what if Sandy doesn't like you back. Just because she doesn't want to marry you doesn't mean you have to be upset for the rest of your life." Alexia laughed. 

Yes, I had asked Sandy Brooks to marry me in my seven year-old confidence the day before and I failed miserably. Alexia was right, even then. 

"Come on! Let's go to the park or something." She pleaded.

"No, I'm hungry." I pulled away from her and stood in the doorway of the kitchen. 

"Christos. I don't want to go home." 

"For god's sake, Alexia. You can't keep running here every time you're upset." I snapped. 

Even now, the bitterness of my voice makes me flinch. 

"Chris? Why are you being so mean to me?" Tears flowed out of her perfect eyes. 

"Stop being such a baby!" I shouted before I ran inside. 

                                                                               *            

I never knew that that was the day her parents split up. She had come to tell me but I was too upset to realize how upset she was. 

I awoke from my dream with a start. Ever since Evie joined my school I have been remembering all those days leading up to Alexia's death. Her bright hair and bright smile never seemed to fade in my mind. Even when she was blood-stained. And that blue dress which seemed to match her eyes. Her eyes which were spilling tears because of something I said. 

The day was Saturday and, for once, I had no plans. Since the fight with Oliver two days ago, I have been doing nothing but going to school, coming home to do homework and sleeping.

It was not that I had no other friends. No, it was that Oliver did something which I didn't have the guts to do and I shouted at him for that. I always forget that I wasn't the only one friends with Alexia. He was just as close to her as I was. But it was that memory of me pushing Alexia away when she needed her friend that drove her and Oliver closer together. To Oliver, he was closest to her in the days before her death. I had never considered that. 

And although she forgave me before her death, each time I remember those harsh words, I feel even more guilt. 

"Christos!" My mother shouted. 

I threw on some clean clothes and made my way downstairs, wondering what to do for the whole day. Luckily, my mother had that planned. 

"Christos, will you do me a favour?" My mother asked as I entered the kitchen.