Figuring Her Out

‹e i g h t›

   I can actually feel my heart speed up a little when I walk into the physics lab the next day. I look around for her but I can't find her. Worried, I glance at my watch and realize I'm a couple of minutes early, so she's probably on the way.

   With that thought in mind, I settle into my usual seat and check my phone while I'm waiting.

  The noise level in the lab dies down considerably when Mr. Collins walks in.

   I look around once again and my heart sinks a little.
  
   She's not here.

   Well then. None of the scenarios I'd played out in my head about how today would go involved her not showing up at all. What now?

  It's not like I have her number that I can contact her and check if she's okay. Also, that might come off as slightly desperate considering we pretty much talked for the first time yesterday. So that's out. I guess I'll just have to wait till tomorrow then.

  My attention wanes quickly after this as Mr. Collins drones on about the day's assignment and I have to make sure I don't fall asleep. It's ironic, really, how the practical lesson is actually more boring than the theory one due to Collins' sparkling personality.

×××

   The rest of the day is pretty boring, school is the same as usual. I'm not exactly a straight A student, but my grades are above average and my work is usually completed on time so not to brag or anything, but keeping up with my classes is not really a challenge. I realized long ago that complaining about the amount of work the teachers pile on us isn't really going to help, the work isn't going to do itself. Figured it'd make more sense if I finished it instead of made a huge deal complaining about it and then doing it last minute.

   Justin is the exact opposite, he's the one who usually calls me up at 1 am the morning before some important project is due and asks if he can come over and copy it. I'm fine with that, really, I know he's not stupid, he's just too lazy to actually do the work. A couple of times, just to mess with him, I don't pick up his calls and then he starts to freak out. It's hilarious. Not so hilarious when he turns up at my house in the middle of the night and freaks my dad out, but after so long of knowing him, even dad's used to it and is barely alarmed it anymore.

   Adil is the smart one, he aces all his tests and does so with seemingly little effort on his part. It's no wonder so many people are jealous of him, I might be too if we weren't such good friends.

×××

  It's 8 pm and I'm sitting out in the front yard with my earphones in, listening to music. I've always held a strange fascination for the night sky. There's just something so magical about it.

  This is why almost every evening, you can find me sitting here, just staring up at the sky in wonder. It was something mom and I used to do, before she left. It was like our thing, she'd point out the stars and trace out the constellations, making me repeat their names until she was satisfied I knew them all.

  I missed her sometimes, I really did. I wish she hadn't left and I wish things were different, but even ten year old me could see that neither Dad nor Mom were happy in the marriage, after a point. The first few months after she left I couldn't help but resent her, but as I grew older I was secretly thankful I had one happy, loving parent instead of two unhappy ones.

   Sitting here and watching the darkness take over, it almost feels like she's still here, like she never left. It's partly why I still do this everyday, even though she's been gone for more than seven years now. It's my way of holding on to her. I half expect to hear her voice pointing out another one of the constellations, but of course, there's no sound except the music in my ears.

   Memories of my childhood flash through my head as I watch the last of the light die out, obliterated by the rapidly falling night. The once red- streaked purple sky transforms into a vast expanse of jet-black, engulfing our street in darkness. A canopy of luminous stars materializes amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark, moonless night.

   I'm broken out of my reverie by a blinding white light. I groan out loud at the sudden brightness and cover my eyes with my hand while I adjust to the light.

   "Liz! How many times have I told you not to turn the porch lights on without any warning!"

  Liz comes running out and she's holding something out to me.

   "Sorry about that, your phone was ringing," she says, handing it to me.

   "Who was it?"

   "I don't know, it was an unknown number, figured you'd want to call back in case it was important so I got it for you."

   I stand up and take the phone from her.

  "Thanks Liz," I say, ruffling her hair. She flicks my hand away and narrows her eyes at me in annoyance before walking back into the house. I chuckle softly, she's always hated me doing that.

   I dial the number and wait for someone to pick up.

  "Hello?"

  The voice that answers nearly makes my heart skip a beat.

  "Um Neil? Hi, it's Nat." I'm quiet for a second too long, and she seems to take my silence as me not recognizing her. As if I'd ever not identify her voice.
   
    "Um Natalie, from the library today, remember?"

   "Yeah of course, um, is everything okay?"

  "Uh yeah, I was actually calling to ask if you had my book by any chance? I'm pretty sure I left it in the library the other day and I was wondering if you'd noticed it maybe?"

  "Oh yeah, yeah I have it, Mrs. Pence gave it to me to give to you, but you weren't  in school today, so.." I trail off.

  "Yeah I know, I, um, I wasn't feeling too well."

    I don't know why, but something about her tone seems off, almost as if she's hiding the real reason from me. I don't push it though, it's really not my place to.

  "Well anyway the thing is I kind of need the book so –"

  "Would you like me to come and return it?"

  I mentally slap myself for sounding so eager. It's a book Neil, calm down.

  "No!"
  
  "Um..?"

  "No I mean, sorry, that's really nice of you, but it's my book, you shouldn't have to go to the trouble of returning it. Uh, if it's okay with you I can come and pick it up?"
 
  I'm sure I'm smiling like a creep by now. She's coming. To my house.

   "Yeah of course, I'll text you my address and you can come by whenever you're free."

   "Thank you so much, and I'm so sorry for disturbing you."

  "It's no problem, honestly."

  She hangs up and that's when I suddenly remember I never gave her my number. And if Adil or Justin had given it to her, they'd tell me. So then?

×××

HI guys! I'm so so sorry it took so long to get the new chapter up, I had exams for a week straight. They're over now, so I'll go back to updating more regularly!

How do you guys think Natalie got Neil's number? Do you think she was lying about why she skipped school?

Vote, comment and tell me what you think! Any feedback is welcome :)

Love,
Nix :)