Gifted

It was hard not to look at him. His disheveled blonde hair gleamed in the sun and a tentative smile danced across his lips. I sat there trying to ignore him and looked out into the beautiful view that stretched out before us. People jogged on the narrow pathway lining a picturesque lake. The water shimmered as the light from the rising sun glanced off it. He knew I was annoyed with him just as well as he knew I couldn't remain so for much longer. I felt his doting gaze on me and against my strongest instincts looked back at him. As it always did, my lips slowly turned into a reluctant smile and a bittersweet taste flooded my mouth.

I knew I would remember that look, the smell of wet grass and the faint scent of paint and smoke that clung to him. Just as I remembered every moment of my life I had spent conscious. I had been diagnosed as having eidetic memory when I was very young and I had since been told it would diminish as I grew older. Yet here I was, sixteen years old and still stuck with every memory that crowded my head, along with a bizarre interconnection of scent and taste that accompanied each. People thought it was just grand, that it was an incredible ability. I was not so sure.

I had just turned sixteen the previous day. It had been a nice day, albeit quite a forgettable one. My friends had thrown me a little party, probably all Ned's doing. Mom forgot all about it and I hadn't really expected her to remember any more than I did my dad, who suffered from dementia. The only thing that slightly marred it was Andy's betrayal. Andy forgot my birthday, which was very unlike him! He always remembered my birthday and tried to make up for my parents preoccupied treatment of it. The present in his hand and the hopeful look in his eyes made it a little difficult to be indignant at his forgetfulness. He searched my eyes for the smile he knew would shine through. He found it and he beamed at me with a relieved grin I knew so well breaking on to his face. I just shook my head and reached for my gift.

With his usual mischievous twinkle, he said, "Not so fast! Or did you just agree to meet me for the present?"

I stuck my tongue out at him and dove for my gift. As always, he was a little too nimble for me and my clawing palms closed on nothing. He just laughed, his carefree chortle hanging in the air.

He said, "Oh this is just a fake present. Your real one is not yet ready. You'll get it when we meet for dinner tonight! What say, Eve? We have a deal on our hands here?" He noticed the slight hesitation on my face and added, "Come on, you don't always have to be such a straight arrow!"

He knew Mum wouldn't be ecstatic about me spending so much time with him. But did I really have the will to say no? I just nodded my head and started to reply when I heard someone call out my name from behind me. I turned around to find Ned strolling towards me, a concerned look on his face. I turned around to find Andy had disappeared into the passing crowd of people, just as I expected. He did not want me to get into trouble for being seen with him.

"Hey, was that your brother again?" Ned asked as I turned back towards him. I nodded a reluctant yes.

"You really should stop seeing him you know? It's not healthy! Would Mrs. Lamb want you to keep doing this after she warned you not to?"

I kept silent and looked away from him. They did not understand. None of them did. Not even Ned, who was the best friend I had. All they saw was the delinquent side of Andy. I was old enough to know about the drugs and the rough crowd he hung around with. But then again, he never treated anyone like he treated me. The thought brought a fierce rush of affection for him. I chose to ignore Ned's remarks.

I got up and beckoned Ned onwards. "Let's go! We cannot be late for the assembly again or Miss Creek will hand us a week's worth of detention this time."