Malediction

5 - Medic

"What a jerk" Skyler contorted her face as we walked alongside each other, our dogs Mollie and Rascal pulling us frantically forward

"It's Mathews fault, he's the one telling these things to him"

"Typical, I don't even know why you dated Matt, he's vile" She sighed

"It was a temporary lapse in judgement, I saw a very minuscule gentle side in him and I surrendered" I justified my 3 month relationship with Mathew Dolby

"What about this party on Saturday, Paisley said you were going?" She changed topic

I nodded "Yeah I need a night out, this week is suffocating me"

"Drinking isn't going to make the problems go away Emilia" She scolded like my mother would have

"I know that, but if I can forget about them for a few hours and just have fun, then I won't go crazy"

Mollie pulled forcefully on her lead, her small fluffy Shitz Tzu build stronger than it appeared.
Rascal, Skyler's golden retriever began to bark, hollow and loud towards the dog park two blocks from home.

"Wait, isn't that your brother?" Skyler squinted toward the open green field fenced off, bushland surrounding the edges

I spied closer, approaching hastily "Yes it is, and is that?..."

"Andy" Skyler finished for me

Once inside the park, we released our pets who darted in the boys direction, eager to chase the soccer ball the pair kicked between each other.

"Hey" I called as Skyler and I slowly moved closer to the pair

"Hey" Luke responded glancing quickly between Skyler and I.

Like our last encounter, the space between Andy and I grew thick and uncomfortable. I watched him, waiting for him to acknowledge our arrival with even the smallest of greeting.

"Hey Andy" Skyler attempted casually

"Hi" Andy grumbled, exactly like he had with me a day earlier, his head not even moving in our direction

"Right" Skyler mumbled, slightly insulted

"You can go away now" Luke glared at me, his eyes wide, embarrassed that we had caused an awkward vibe

I took a hold of Skyler's arm and removed her and myself from their space. The instant we were distant from them, their game continued happily.
Andy was completely different with Luke than he was with me, or with Skyler. It was as though a new person took over when others invaded his space.

"I told you it was an opposite sex thing" Skyler mused as we stared toward them, the sky above us grumbling.

Dark clouds and an ominous storm had unknowingly grown above us, warning with growls and flashes of its angered teeth.

"I have to be home in fifteen" Skyler informed me as we stood against the tall wire fence, watching the boys and our dogs run in chase and fight for the lone soccer ball.

"Why so early?"
Skyler and I usually spent at least an hour at the park, wearing Mollie and Rascal out, chatting about school, boys and parties. Now she was ditching me, 30 minutes early.

"Dad will be home for dinner tonight, for the first time in a month, mum wants me home to help her cook and set up" She sighed, re-tying her hair into a neat low ponytail, the ends reaching the middle of her back

"How is he holding up?" I asked, cautious on the touchy subject

She shrugged "He's doing alright. The drive is killing him, but the doctors say Nan has less than a month left. She's weak and her organs are shutting down"