Short Stories

Roof Tops

The sun had just begun to set, and there was a light summer breeze blowing through the trees. Ella sat still on her roof, her dark wet eyes trained unblinking on a stray dog down the street. The tears stopped, but she no longer had the engery to wipe her tired face.
She could still hear her parents' loud voices through her closed window, breaking the silence with their angry words. She knew it wasn't entirely her fault, but nothing could convince her that she didn't play some part in her family's falling apart. Ella took a deep breath and let it out a few seconds later, running her fingers through her short, messy auburn hair.
She again fixed her attention on the dog down the street. It sniffed a bush then suddenly darted out of the middle of the street to avoid getting hit by an oh so familiar car that bounded toward it. The old, rusted dark blue Cadillac rolled to a stop in front of Ella's house with a sputter and groan.

"I think it's time to retire Old Delilah, man," Clark said as he threw his long legs out of the passenger side. Ledger slamed the driver side door behind him and raised his sunglasses, glaring at Clark who immediately regretted saying that.
"Come on boys, let's not fight over this." Lydia told them as she closed the back door and flipped her jet black hair upside down to pull it up.

"All I'm saying is," Clark nervously ran his hand across his light brown buzz cut, trying to choose his words wisely, "is that she might break down for good one day. What are you going to do then?" Ledger shook his head and pulled his sunglasses down again, ignoring Clark's question. He took a few steps towards the house and almost didn't notice Ella watching them.
"See?" Lydia announced to the boys as she grabbed the ladder that lied in the grass and put it up against the house. "I told you she'd be up here."

One by one they climbed the ladder and joined Ella. "Hey babe," Lydia greeted as she sat next to Ella and slung her arm across her shoulders. Clark sat on the other side of Ella and Ledger sat next to Lydia.
Ella sighed, "Why are you guys here?" Lydia cleared her throat and elbowed Ledger in the knee.
"Oh um, when you weren't answering my texts, I figured something had happened so I called them." Ella leaned around Lydia to look at the curly haired blond boy staring back at her. She smiled lightly and put her hand on Ledger's leg.
"Thanks Ledge." Then it was Clark's turn to clear his throat.
"But it was my idea to come and see you though. So really, I should be thanked." Lydia rolled her deep blue eyes and scoffed,
"Oh shut up Clark." Ella giggled and hugged Clark from the side.
"Thank you too, Clark. I appreciate it. All of you."
Ledger rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "We're just sorry you have to deal with this sh-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ella's window creaked open to reveal her older sister, Winter. She tucked a piece of her long wavy blonde hair behind her ear and sighed.
"Do you guys mind if..?" She trailed off and the friends stared at her, unsure what to say. Winter shook her head and scrunched her nose. "Oh never mind. It's fine." She went to close the window, but Ella stopped her.
"Win, come out here." There was glimpse of a slight smile on Winter's face before she opened the window wide again and climbed out.
"So," she started, taking a seat next to Clark. "What are we talking about?" They looked at each other, not really sure what they were talking about.
Slightly uncomfortable and desperate for a topic, Winter focused her attention on Lydia. "Did that hurt?" She asked, gesturing to the silver ring in Lydia's nose. Lydia's hand went up to her nose. She spun the ring and laughed. "It definitely hurt as soon as the needle went it, but after that it was fine. It only lasted a few seconds."
Winter nodded, then shook her head and looked at Ella. "Think Mom and Dad would kill me?" Ella's head flung back in laughter. "Honestly Winter, I don't even know if they'd notice with everything they have going on right now."

None of them said a word for ten minutes. The sun was completely hidden and earth was a deep, blue-purple. The five friends sat motionless, just listening to each other breathe. It was so quiet, you could almost hear each of their thoughts. Finally, Ledger spoke up. "Winter?" She hummed in response. "Have you heard from my brother lately?"
She sat up from her leaned back position and frowned at him.
"Yeah. You haven't?" His disappointment could be seen despite the dim lighting. He quickly looked away from Winter's sympathetic eyes. Ledger's older brother, Phoenix, had dated Winter before he left for the army. Ledger had only received one letter from Phoenix, who had been gone for over six months.