Game of Sinners

Chapter Two - Sunsets and Parties

"You know what they say about snowfall?" he remarked thoughtfully.
She turned towards him, her eyebrows slightly raised.
"It represents a new beginning," he went on... "And since it signifies a new beginning, should we introduce ourselves again?"
― Alexis Lawrence, Seasons: The Mysterious Woman

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Glinting golden yellow wheat stretched far back as the eye could see towards the slowly sinking sun. The wind gently rolled through the crops, coaxing them to sway and twist in unison like a tumbling body of water.

A sigh escaped my lips as I relaxed backwards against the trunk of the tree. I felt the coarse bark underneath my fingers which was still warm from the harsh Texas sun, only a mere fraction of what temperatures it was capable of reaching.

Sitting under this oak tree and looking out over our fields reminded me why this was my favourite place in the world. A smile grew on my lips with absolute happiness. 

Melody, my horse, whinnied nearby as she trotted freely over the fields. According to Frank I wasn't supposed to let her roam freely across them but I felt bad for her being tied up to a tree for such a long period of time.

I made sure she never went far by occasionally checking on her with a lazy eye, scanning the horizon for Melody's easily spottable white coat until I found it.

Tipping my head back, I gazed into the snaking branches of the tree that bloomed into brilliant green leaves. The fading light was scattered into millions of moving shadows that danced with each other to the rustling music of the wind.

Each time I came out here I promised myself not to leave, to stay here forever under the setting sun but I always broke that vow, leaving me with an overshadowing sense of longing. My muscles tensed slightly as memories of reality flared up in my mind.

Today was hectic to say the least.

Choruses of English passages, mathematical equations and historic sources whizzed around my mind though out school, jumbling up to make long sentences of numbers and dates that made no sense.

Teachers always told me that school wasn't for everyone, something that I've heard time and time again from all the physiological specialists I've visited. Having ADHD was one thing but pairing that with dyslexia was a learning nightmare to say the least.

Sitting in a bland classroom with a bunch of symbols on the board was a guarantee for me to start staring of into space from the first 5 minutes of the lesson. Sport was the only lesson that I truly felt like I've accomplished anything.

Suddenly a buzzing sound rang from my pocket. In one movement, I picked out my phone and swiped to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Alex! How's my favourite friend doing on this lovely afternoon?" A loud voice sounded from the other end of the phone which made me hold the phone away from my ear.

"Gee Taylor can you say that any louder? I don't think my grandma heard that." I grumbled.

"I'm doing fine too thanks, been a bit busy with that football game tonight but other than that it's been okay," He chirped, quieter this time which I was thankful for but an instant feeling of regret settled over me.

"Oh my God the game was tonight? I completely forgot about it, I'm so sorry," Guilt slowly crept into my chest which made me bite my lip. I always made a point to watch his games, even though I hated the crowds. It was our tradition of some sorts that we had been doing ever since we were little.