Only Once

Chapter Eleven: Intercessions

Chapter Eleven: Intercessions

Erika pushed open the doors of her school and made her way outside, taking a deep breath of the cool air. Albeit it was already December, the weather still hadn’t reached below 0° Celsius and a blanket of snow was nowhere to be seen.

Instead the ground was covered with autumn leaves which crunched beneath Erika’s worn out sneakers as she made her way to the tree located past the school’s bleachers and football field.

When Erika got to the tree, she sat down on the cold grass; leaning against the tree and staring into the distance at nothing in particular. The underlying feeling of depression she’d had was steadily growing inside her much like a virus. It was expanding and intensifying, slowly consuming her whole. Everything was reminding her of him.

In fact, it was beneath this very tree that she and Chade had kissed for the first time during the school’s homecoming dance three years ago.

Erika could remember it clearly. The heated gymnasium packed with people, leaving the dance with Chade in tow, making their way to the tree…

Letting out a sigh, Erika dismissed thoughts of Chade and instead pulled out the book she was required to read for English from her backpack.

She gently traced the blue cover with her fingers, already knowing the plot since she had seen the movie a couple of years ago, before starting to read.

Although she wasn’t fully concentrating, Erika was almost done the first, and rather disturbing, chapter when she looked up to find Melanie and Jenna approaching her.

“Erika!” Jenna squealed when she made eye contact.  

“Hello,” Erika greeted both of them.

“Long time no see!” Jenna exclaimed as she sat down beside her.

Erika was about to point out that they had seen each other earlier that day in homeroom but Melanie spoke.

“What are you doing out here?” she demanded; her tall frame hovered over Erika as she stood before her. Melanie’s eyebrows were knitted together and her green eyes were narrowed. She looked as if she was fully examining her friend.

“Reading.” Erika motioned to the book in her hand.

Erika shrugged. At that particular time, she preferred being outside for some reason rather than in the school.

“Well I think it’s a pretty dumb idea.” Melanie announced as she snootily looked around at their empty and deserted surroundings. In the distance, she could make out a couple walking together with their arms around each other. She quickly looked away and hoped that Erika wouldn’t notice them.

“So is this where you usually come?” Jenna asked, hugging her knees to her chest. “We were looking everywhere for you.”

“I guess…” Erika replied, although where she went normally depended on how bad she was feeling.

“Erika, I’m saying this because I care, you need to pull yourself together and carry on with your life.” Melanie suddenly said as she took sat down on the ground across from her.

Erika smiled at the contrast of her friends. Whereas Jenna always tried to make small talk first, Melanie would get straight to the point.

“Yeah,” Jenna agreed, realizing the opportunity to soften and sugar the news up had gone. “I mean look at you. You look like a complete mess. When was the last time you even looked in the mirror?”

Erika shrugged. She always looked in the mirror. Recently, however, she just hadn’t been examining herself and really seeing at her reflection. She simply no longer cared.