Beyond the Brick Wall

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

*Xavier Smith*

        Juliet didn't reply to me. I bit my lip. Was it something I said? Surely not, the note from yesterday was still there. Maybe she forgot… maybe… what if something happened to her? If I see the same note will I become paranoid and start looking for her real identity?

        It was late in the afternoon right after school when I figured out that it was better for me to go and see what Bricky had in store for me. Juliet may have not replied yesterday, but surely she would've this morning. I didn't know what has come to me but every time I thought about Bricky and the notes that Juliet left, I always smiled and my day suddenly brightened. Even if she didn't reply to me. I cursed internally. The thought kept on coming back to me instantly.

        I crossed the school's parking lot and hopped on in my truck and started driving. As I neared Bricky, I saw a couple from the back, the girl was wearing a red beanie. It reminded me so much of Zoey that my thoughts started drifting off towards her. Towards the past that I knew I could never return to. It was all my fault.

**

        "Thav! Thavey! Thavier Thmith! Where are you?! I'm about to get you!" I heard Zoey scream. She was talking funny since her two front teeth fell out a week before. Playing hide and seek in her humongous backyard was our favorite thing to do during second grade. I was hiding behind a tree and my heart was pounding, afraid that she would catch me.

        "I'm co-o-oming!!" she said loudly in a singsong tone. "I could hear you…" her voice fell into a soft whisper, "I could hear you breathe." I felt her whisper in my ear. Out of reflex, I started sprinting away from her, almost tripping over her pet puppy, Wallie.

        "Ahhhhhh!!" I screamed for the hundredth time as we ran and ran around. I felt like we were little monkeys that escaped from the zoo. I abruptly stopped when I saw her mom come out with a few friends.

        "Victory! I won! I won! In your fathe Thavier! In your faaaaaaathe!" Zoey laughed as she tumbled into me.

        I flushed as the women were laughing and telling her mom how adorable the both of us were.

        They never saw it coming that one day, I would abandon her. And I would be regretting it years after.

**

        "MOVE IT WILL YA?!?" I snapped out of my reverie when I heard a horn blow, and the shots of complain coming from behind me.

        I blocked out the curses of the annoying old man and moved to the next lane, the one used for slow cars. I just realized how familiar the boy with the girl looked from behind.

        I shook my head and made sure that I kept my eyes on the road, I didn’t know that guy, nor that girl. The pair stopped walking abruptly, and the guy bent down to pick up something. When I overtook the pair, my truck in front of them, I glanced at my side view mirror to see their faces. My heart sunk. Zoey… with another guy?!

        I shook my head again. Zoey deserves someone better. Not an asshole like I am.

        I arrived at Bricky shortly and saw the letter immediately. It was white, but nevertheless, a new letter! I smiled as I grabbed it, excitement on what she had to say about my last letter was bubbling up inside me. I sat down and leaned against the wall, then I started reading...

Romeo!

I'm so sorry I wasn't able to come yesterday. I'm not ignoring you, I promise!