Dream Clouds

Old paintbrush

Chapter 2

•

•

•

"Valentine!!" I heard Parker yell from the other end of the hallway. I giggled to myself and leaned on the locker to wait for Parker to catch up with me in the crowded hallway.

Parker shoved through a group of kids and I immediately felt butterflies in my stomach when I saw him. He smiled revealing his small dimple on his left cheek and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Hey bestie!" he said in a super-happy voice. Not the usual Parker, but I liked him this way even more!

"Hey... bestie! What's got you so happy?" I asked as we practically skipped out the school doors. It was Friday and I felt like I just left prison.

"It's a complete secret." Parker whispered, sliding his arm off of my shoulder and sprinting over to his motorcycle, me skipping behind him.

As I followed him to the small school parking lot I tugged at my ponytail until finally my wild brown hair was set free, bouncing and twirling as I ran to the motorcycle. In mid-run I twirled in the air and giggled, feeling lighter than a feather.

I slid onto the back of his motorcycle and shoved the personalized (by me!) helmet with a black paint coating over the used-to-be yellow helmet, only leaving small spots without black to make it look like a starry night, onto my head. Parker chuckled from under his helmet which made me smile from under mine.

"Ready?" Parker yelled from under his helmet. I swung my leg onto the other side of the motorcycle and set my foot right behind his. I quickly wrapped my arms around Parker and replied with a yes right before he took off out of the parking lot.

We sped through several neighborhoods because Parker hates going into traffic, and we stopped at a place I didn't recognize at first. On every Friday after school, Parker takes us somewhere different after school before going to our usual hang-out, and this was the best place he ever took me to.

I pulled the helmet off and dropped it onto the seat of the motorcycle. Jumping off of the bike, I squealed and sprinted over to the old, closed, laundromat where Parker and I met when we were 7. I pressed my face up so close on the glass that my nose got smushed and I scanned the old room filled with dented and stained washing machines.

"Parker I completely forgot about this place!" I exclaimed, not removing my eyes from the inside of the laundromat. My mind was like one of those movies that automatically restart after the movie finishes, and suddenly I was the 7 and three quarters girl with pigtails in her hair and big blue eyes. I had just lost the quarter in the air vent, the one mummy had told me NOT to lose.

I was panicking and I tried shoving my chubby little fingers between the air vent slits but it was no use. I plopped back into the chair and put my face in my dirty palms, knowing I was in big, BIG trouble.

"Are you ok?" I tiny,concerned voice squeaked. I peeked through my fingers and saw a little Parker Green standing in front of me, his big hazel eyes filled with concern.

"No." I whimpered. "Mummy is going to be SO MAD I lost her quarter."

Parker looked down at his little light up sneakers and then back at me. His entire face light up suddenly and he shoved his hand into his front pocket, his fingers searching. He then pulled out a dull quarter and sheepishly handed it to me.

"Will your mum notice?" he asked as I examined to quarter.

"The other quarter was shinier..."

"Maybe we can wash it."

"Ok!" I squeaked. Jumping out of the seat, I took a quick look at mummy to make sure she was still playing the shiny lottery machine thingy before following Parker to the water fountain outside.

I stepped up to the fountain and as I was scrubbing Peter asked me what my name was.

"My name is Valentine and I'm 7 and three quarters years old." I proudly said. Parker held the fountain button down and asked confused, "Valentine? Like Valentine's Day?"

"Yes."

"Oh.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Parker Green and I'm turning 8 in 4 days."

"Are you having a party?" I asked, shoving the quarter in the little pocket on my shirt.

"Yes, at the park by Pizza Hut." He said as he led is back inside.

"Can I come?"

"Ok."

I went to his party and we have been inseparable ever since. I blinked sadly as I looked one last time at the run down laundromat as it reminded me of my first paintbrush which is now all split and stained, just sitting in my closet.

"Thanks for taking me here." I said, finally taking my face away from glass and turning to Parker, gorgeous Parker. He stood with his hands in his pocket and nodded his head before cracking up laughing. I smiled and started laughing too, having no idea what he was laughing about.

"What is it?" I giggled.

"You look like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer." I chuckled as he led me back onto the motorcycle. I started laughing again as I realized that me pressing my nose on the glass for so long must've made it red. Parker turned around with my helmet in his hands and he brushed my wild brown curls behind my ear, only making me blush furiously, and gently put the helmet on me.

"Ready?" he asked, turning around and shoving the helmet on himself. I blinked a few times and it felt like the butterflies that he brought to my stomach were just digested.

"Yeah." I said, wrapping my arms around him and closing my eyes, not opening them until we got to the garage.