Silence In The Trees

Chapter 2 (editing/revising)

"Okay, Mason. So which dress do you think screams 'my mother and little sister passed away barley a year ago and I'm still not over it yet, plus I'm kinda-sorta a total arse and I really don't want to meet you- but... I guess you make my Dad happy so I'll tolerate you,' better?" I sucked in a sharp breath after my incredulously long sentence.

   In one hand I held up a blue skater style dress. The dress went to about my mid thigh and had long, lace sleeves. More appropriate for someone my age, for sure. In my other hand was a red, rather tight fitting dress that had no sleeves and went down about three inches from my butt.

   The red one was a lot more mature than the blue one, and undoubtedly more revealing.

   Mason stared at me for a good minute. "As a straight, very hormonal teenage male, do you seriously want my opinion? Honestly?"

"Oh my gosh Mason. Yes, I don't just want your opinion, I need it. This is a big deal!"

Mason looked both dresses up and down before meeting my eyes again. "I say we go with the red one, only because it'll bring out your golden eyes more." He winked at me, mischief clear in his face.

   I'm certain he wanted me to pick that dress because it would bring out way more than just my eyes. However, he was right. I do indeed have greenish yellow eyes and though I loved them, I always thought that they would have looked better on someone else. Mostly my sister.

   I had always asked her when she was a little girl if we could trade eyes to joke with her. She had the purest blue eyes, brown wavy hair, tan skin, and a small up turned nose. She was beautiful.

   I, on the other hand have very odd features. My eyes stand out a lot against my olive colored skin, making me look almost feline. I have long, easily tangled, dirty blonde wavy hair that just doesn't seem to match with my skin tone. I was lucky enough to at least have a full ass.

   I always joke with my dad, saying I got that from him because I resembled my mom the most. I got her hair, skin, and eyes.

   The first month she died, my dad and brother could barley look at me without having to choke back their tears. It killed me.

   I stared at the red dress and sighed. "I hate dresses anyways. This is so dumb. Why can't she just come to our house to meet me? Why do I have to go to some fancy restaurant and why does she have to bring her daughter? They've only been together for like, a week. And this is the third girl in the past two months. This is all too much. It feels like dads trying to replace what he lost with anything he can find."

   I couldn't tell you how many times I've said that to Mason this past week. It's becoming a ritual. I felt bad for him to have to listen to my constant babbling about it. He was such a great friend.

   He pulled me into a hug and I felt him sigh against my hair. When he pulled away, he took the dress from my hands and smiled at me. I put the other dress back and proceeded to pay for the red one.

    Dad would probably hate it, but I didn't care anymore. I know he's having just as hard of a time dealing with Mom and Amelie's death as Caden and I, but it's like he can't realize he isn't the only person grieving. Caden lost his mom and his little sister, and I lost my mom and my little sister and now it feels like we've lost our dad too.

   Dad is just so caught in his own world. He doesn't ask us how we're doing anymore and he just shrugs when I ask if he's okay.

   It's become a ritual for Caden to come check on me sometimes at night now and when he sees me still awake, crying, he lays next to me, the only little sister he has left now and we both cry and hold each other. As depressing as it sounds, it's the truth. I'm not going to sugar coat it.