Memories

Chapter 7

I opened my eyes to find a young Kayla, Julia, and Cass sitting next to me along with many other kids I didn't know the name of. I reached my hand out towards them to find my hand was tinier than normal. Why was this memory surfacing? This had nothing to do with my father or the substance. It was one of my elementary grade memories, but why?

"April, let's go play on the swings when teacher lets us go play on the playground." Kayla giggled.

"Okay!" I giggled as I grabbed a pencil.

The other kids were sitting at their own tables in groups of four. In my group was Kayla, Julia, and Cass. They each were drawing pictures for their parents, but in front of me was a blank sheet of paper. It was empty and it screamed at me to draw something upon it. What was it I once drew on it? When was this memory anyways? I don't even remember this day at all.

"Class." A tall woman with blonde hair and hazel eyes said.

Everyone looked up except for Kayla, Julia, and Cass. I stared at the teacher as the classroom door creaked open. Someone stood in the doorway, but I didn't know exactly who it was.

"Please welcome your substitute teacher for now. As you all know, I am leaving to go to the hospital. I expect all of you to not give Mr. Winter any difficulties." The woman spoke.

The guy who was standing in the doorway walked in and my eyes locked on his blue eyes. His brown hair was cut short, and he was wearing a black suit. This man, if you replace his blue eyes with red eyes, he'd look exactly like Drake. How was that even possible?

"Teacher, how long are you going to be gone?" A kid I faintly remember being called Scott ask.

"Not too long, Scott. Just a couple of hours." The teacher said with a smile.

"Trace, don't worry so much. I think I can handle a few First graders." The guy whispered.

"Alright Drake...just no drinking their blood." She whispered before leaving.

"Teacher's first name is Trace and Mr. Winter's first name is Drake." I told Kayla, Julia, and Cass.

Cass looked at me with confused light blue eyes. Her blonde hair was down framing her childish face as she shrugged and went back to drawing her night landscape picture. Kayla was busy drawing a flower landscape and Julia was busy drawing a day landscape of Kayla and Cass's combined. I frowned and stared down at the empty picture in front of me as Drake walked over.

"Having difficulty with drawing a picture?" He asked.

I nodded as Kayla and Julia looked up at Drake. Drake crouched down and looked at the name tag on my bag before looking at my empty page.

"April Springs, why not draw a tiger running freely on an open moor?" He asked as Kayla chucked a coloring pencil at him.

He backed up and looked down at Kayla with a frown before picking up the coloring pencil and placing it back down. Kayla gave me a thumb up and I smiled at her while Cass and Julia frowned at us.

"What?" I asked them.

"Why did you smile when Kayla threw something at Mr. Winter? She could have injured him." Cass and Julia said together.

"I thought it was funny since he gives me the chills and the coloring pencil startled him." I said.

"Well, you may not get his help if Riley and Scott shove you off the swing again." Julia mumbled.

"If they tried, I'm sure Mr. Winter would turn a blind eye to the situation rather than stop them." Cass added.

"Well, we'd defend her right?" Kayla asked.