Almond Boy

Almond Boy - 20

Emma's gone the next day. Elliot knew she'd be gone, getting prepared for surgery. He was expecting the day to be pretty bland, and it is, for the most part. But, the thing about no longer waiting for Emma to show up, it seems to give him a clearer mind. He is able to observe, and observe he does - and one person in particular is acting really strange. 

Sarah Stykes.

He almost doesn't recognize her; he thought the blonde was a new student who needs better running shoes than converse, but no - it's Sarah. She is trying in gym, she is running, she is wearing gym clothes (thought they are splattered with paint and have holes in them). Her hair is not crimped and heat treated, and she's allowing her dirty blonde roots to show. She has almost no makeup on, and she doesn't ring as she walks because she no longer has her weight in jewelry on her. Her blue haired friend is ignoring her completely, and she doesn't seem to mind. 

Sarah has radically changed, and somehow, in the fog of the past few weeks, Elliot had missed it entirely. Was it a slow change, or a quick one? Why? He used to be able to ignore the questions and just admire the observations, but now he's becoming like Emma: he's curious. 

It's when Sarah Stykes walks over to Elliot on the bench does he notice something truly peculiar: she no longer smells of cigarettes or pot, yet her eyes are still bloodshot. 

"Hey, Elliot." Sarah's voice is quiet, but not kind. In fact, it holds no emotion at all. 

"Hey Sarah," Elliot replies. "What's up?"

"I saw Emma here yesterday," Sarah says. 

"Yeah." 

"Is she coming back?" 

Elliot sighs and leans back, munching on a few almonds as he does so. "No, I don't think she will." 

"Like, ever? Or just for a few more days?" 

"I don't know." 

"Oh." 

The silence fills in then, and Sarah shuffles around in the dirt in front of the bench. Elliot munches on almonds and waits for her to continue the conversation - he doesn't know how to himself. 

"I need to talk to her," she says suddenly and Elliot's eyebrows tangle together. 

"Why?" 

"I think she'll understand something, I, I need to talk to her." 

"Okay . . . ?" Elliot's hoping Sarah will elaborate, but Sarah doesn't. 

"Do you think you could text her my number. Um, here." 

"Sarah, she's kind of in a really -"

"it doesn't have to be this instant, but, you know, when she's better. Or I suppose better enough. Soon but not now, you understand?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." Elliot takes her number from her hands and stuffs it in his pocket. Sarah looks around aimlessly, like she's a bit lost. "You alright, Sarah?" he asks. He pulls out an almond from his bag and flicks it at her with his thumb. 

She catches it and the corners of her lips turn up, but it's still not quite a smile. She looks down and pushes her hair back behind her ear. "I'm . . . yeah, I'm alright. I'll see you later, Elliot." 

Sarah walks away from Elliot like she's fleeing a crime, going from a quick walk to a jog and then a dead on run back to the fields. 

Elliot slumps back, sitting very lazily on the bench. His mind is just reeling. Everyone seems to be changing drastically around him, and he can only wonder: is he changing so much, too?