Return To Me, River (Re-Writing/Editing)

Chapter Four

Sitting up in my perch I watch as the sun gradually makes its way across the sun, finally reaching the midday point. I glance at my watch to check that my sun reading skills are at least close to valid. It reads 12:03, a whole lot closer than I had expected. I've been in my tree for hours. Staring at the clouds and listening to the birds. So bright and happy, a perfect match to the day. Bright and happy. Everything has seemed to be lately, and I don't get why. The entire world should have broken down at the death of my sister. Been completely unable function. But of course it didn't. The neighbor hood didn't even slow down for her. It makes me realise just how unimportant everyone is.

I slowly climb down and drop the last few feet or so to the ground and land heavily. Jarring my spine in the process. I secure my bags place on my shoulder and lightly tread across the grass, going around the house and finally ending up at front gate. Unlocking I go passed it and head towards the bus stop. As I turn the corner and look into the distance and see the bus stop, about a hundred metres away, I notice that there is already a bus there so I start to sprint to make sure that I don't miss it. While I hurry I don't see the the figure moving swiftly along the sidewalk, and only acknowledge their presence when we collide into each other. "Sorry!" We say simultaneously. And only now do I realise who it is. Her name is Sienna Campbell. She in my grade and I have two classes a week with her. She's obsessed with witches and those sorts of things. She seems to think she a sister of the dark ones of something insane. She died her hair from blonde to black last year, and bought black contact lenses to give her an 'all pupils look', and right now she's wearing a black miniskirt black silk t-shirt with a black jacket on top. She gas smudged mascara as well. She also usually speaks in an odd manor. As though there are ghosts and people all around her. It gets creepy after a while, but overall she's just a Grade A freak.

"So," Sienna says. "You got another day off?" Only now do I realise its a school day, and that, unsurprisingly, she's not there.

"Yeah." I reply, and cautiously add, "Why aren't you at school?"

"I have better things to do then learn useless facts and whatever." She tells me. As she's speaking I hear the purr of an engine and watch as the bus leaves. "Damn." I mutter, as Sienna glances across to where I'm staring. "Oh, were you going to catch the bus?" She inquires.

"Yeah." I sigh.

"You don't have many things with you." She notes oddly.

"Well I have enough." I retort, puzzled by her words.

"I meant you don't have many things if you're gonna leave this place- I mean you must have had to leave most of your things behind if your leaving." She says glancing at my backpack. Then says, as she probably picks up the extremely confused and puzzled expression on my face. "You are leaving right?"

"Leaving for where?" I ask very slightly exasperated.

"Well, leaving town, or the city-whatever it is- maybe even state." Sienna replies matter-of-factly. She then shrugs.

"I'm not leaving!" I exclaim. "I was just supposed to speak to the police again today, not leave! I couldn't leave this place anyway, well not legally because I'm under eighteen. And why would you even think I'm leaving?"

"Whoah! Firstly, stop saying 'leave' and 'leaving'. Secondly, I heard it from your bitchy friend Olivia." I glower at her, then remember that Olivia isn't my friend at all. "Besides, everyone knows that your mum's gone all schizophrenia or something-"

"Hey!" I interrupt but Sienna holds up a finger.

"I was talking here Aleira." She stops and I look at her waiting for her to say something. "Oh!" She says finally. "I'm done talking." I close my eyes, take a deep breath and stalk away. Trying so hard to keep my frustration contained.

"Aleira! Come back!" Sienna calks after me. "Wait!" She shouts and several seconds later grabs onto my arm and pulls me back towards her. "I told you to wait!" She snaps at me.

"Oh, I am ever so sorry." I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do you want Sienna." She looks at me, anxiety and something I can't decipher all over her face. Then her expressions goes cold and unreadable.

"I just wanted to talk to you Aleira Moores." Her voice is icy, and she seems to have a sudden need to use my surname as well (its always something serious when people do that)."I just wanted to talk." She lets go of my arm and turns, heading down the street. Away from me. And as she goes I notice a small piece of jewelry or something falling from her jacket pocket.

"You dropped something." I call out to her, but she doesn't notice. I run towards ir and scoop it up. Its just a pendant, circular and silver with a ruby encrusted in the middle and there are some designs around the side. Its nice. And pretty. I wouldn't have expected Sienna to own something like this.

I idly turn it over in my hands, warming the metal with my skin. As I glance at the other side I notice one word engraved into it, Sienna. I guess she felt compelled to keep it. It was probably a gift from a relative. I'll give it back to her tomorrow, I think wearily. Knowing I'll have to go to school, and she might not even be there. Meaning I then end up going to her house to drop it off to her. "Ughh." I grumble to myself.

Slipping the pendant into my pocket, and hoping that I don't lose it. Then I unnecessarily stop and think back on what I'm doing out here, and hear the rumble of another bus arriving at the bus stop.

Hoisting my bag higher onto my shoulder I run to make sure that I don't miss this bus. And this time I'm being very wary of bystanders and freaks.