This is based on the movie Stand By Me :)
Reflection and Redemption
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
It had been a cold, windy day. I can remember that much. It was rather unusual for it to be anything below twenty degrees; therefore it stays present in my memory. We were visiting our first bar in Castle Rock. It was my first day in this town, and it was nothing like where I had left.
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Alice and I live in London, ahem, used to live in London. I'll admit I wasn't all that thrilled about leaving the only home I'd ever know for this place.
"Excited Al?" We were in the car, something which I never wanted to set foot in again, after spending an excessive time of eight hours in it, at least two more than necessary...mum and her hopelessness with directions..... I grunted at her, I hadn't wanted to leave my friends for this place but I knew she only did what she thought best. Guess I'd have to suck it up.
"Ahh Irby's Billboards, I believe this is the place." My mum sounded genuinely animated, I didn't have the heart to tell her it looked like any dingy bar you'd find in any town or city.
She parked the car and looked at me, eagerly looking for some sign I was enjoying myself. I plastered a big smile on my face and followed her from the vehicle.
It was just as I had expected, small and compact, where everyone knows everyone. So, of course, as soon as we walked in, everyone's attention was focused on us, the freaks from out of town.
I walked like I wasn't bothered by the unwanted attention, but couldn't help but blush when I heard a chorus of wolf whistles following in my wake as I hastily chose a table. I was just too embarrassed to look in the direction the noise had sounded from.
Luckily mum had chosen to visit the bathroom, I could just imagine her expression if her "little girl" was being picked on by teenagers, even if I was seventeen, roughly the same age as those who had made the sound. She acted like they were pervy old men.
I scanned the menu, and then rescanned it, not wanting to have to sit and pointedly avoid eye-contact.
There was a thud, as someone, who was not my mother, placed a glass upon the table.
I glanced up, and found myself looking a boy who was, at a glance, about eighteen,
"Can I help you?" I tried to speak coolly, although my heart was going thump...thump... thump!
"Just thought you might like a drink." He grinned cheekily.
"And you are?"
"Eyeball." He grinned at me, I did not return the smile, I could smell this type a mile off, he was undoubtedly looking for an easy girl. Well, I wasn't her.
Before he could bombard me with questions, I spoke first.
"Well Eyeball, it's been a pleasure." I abruptly stood up and pushed my menu away, I walked, as quickly as possible without drawing attention, to the bathrooms.
My mum was washing her hands, staring into the mirror. She caught my sight of my reflection in the mirror and violently splashed water everywhere.
"Oh Al, you scared me! Did you order yet?"
I shrugged, "didn't see anything I liked."
She tried to hide her disappointment, "well okay, I guess we can find out if there's anywhere else..."
She sounded so hopeless I instantly felt bad for taking my annoyance out on her, I tried to backtrack,
"Oh no it's fine, I'll just have a drink, I'm not that hungry anyway."
