Tidefall's Song

Part XI | Fading Flower

"...I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe
I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me."
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things."

-'Terrible Things', Mayday Parade.

• • •

A year had passed. A year since I moved on from Deirdre. A year since Ivan, Sarah, Deirdre and I got along as a little group. We weren't perfect - I mean, we had our fights over the pettiest of things as well - but we strived through the rain and the sun, the hurricane and the ice.

This year's our final year here. And we promised ourselves that we're going to make the best out of it.

"Can't believe the end is so soon," Sarah said one day, her face donning a crestfallen look as we agreed with her.

"Well," Ivan said, "I'm going to do my best this year. Don't want to work at McDonald's anyway."

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "What's so bad about working at McDonald's?"

Sarah clicked her tongue. "That's where the bad ones end up, Eli."

I shook my head. "It's a nobler profession than stealing anyway."

"True, but still. Anyway, I'm going to give this year the best shot!" Deirdre exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air.

"Me too!" Ivan shouted.

"Me three!" Sarah pumped her fist in the air as well.

I stood there awkwardly. "Uh... I'm just going to survive this year. Yay?"

I hope that we would still be a close group of friends after graduating. That would be ni-

"Wake up! Class is over! It's time to go home!" Ivan shouted into my ear, making me wince.

"Oh my goodness, Ivan! I might've gone deaf because of you!" I yelled.

Oh, what a thoughts destroyer, that Ivan.

"Get up now," Ivan said, "School's over. Let's go to the ice-cream parlour down the street."

The ice cream parlour became our official hang out place. We'll go there whenever someone's happy or someone's sad, and a bowl of ice cream definitely cheers people up unless you don't like ice cream. Now that it's nearly the end of our life in high school, I thought back to the conversation that was replayed in my head just now.

Sweet remembrancer.

"Come on now, Eli. Our life in school is almost at its end. We'll miss the ice cream parlour one day," Ivan said in sad and exasperated tone.

"You dramatic piece of shit who speaks the truth," I said.

"I'm going to miss the place, really!" Ivan cried out.

I nodded. "Let's go see what's at the end of the rainbow then."

• • •

Listening to Ivan harangued about his kindergarten's playmates reminded me of Nikki. It has been far too long since I last heard from her. But we're separated thousands of miles away, and I could only see her through social media. Her life had been busy, but I miss her so much. Her presence's definitely one thing my small group can never replace. I mean, she's been with me through thick and thim for the past nine years of my existence.