Silent Memories

Chapter 5

"What are you doing up?"

I turn to see Sara sleepily rubbing her eyes and squinting at me. I didn't think I made much noise while making the tea.

"Nothing Sara. Go back to bed," I shoo her with my hand.

"They've started again, haven't they?"

I avert my eyes from her probing ones.

"No of course not. I'm just not tired."

She snorts loudly.

"Yeah right. You cannot wake up before dawn. You're out like a light. "

I purse my lips in annoyance.

"Can we please not talk about this? I need to sleep.  I'm going to bed. "

I quickly wash my cup and power walk to my room, hoping she doesn't pursue this topic. I never want to talk about them. The silent memories. They are part of an old life. One that is not worth remembering. Some things are better left in the past-- forgotten.

"C'mon Drea! You have to talk about this. You have to talk about them. Don't you miss-"

I whirl and face her.

"I said no Sara! I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to talk about them. You keep pushing and pushing and pushing! I don't need to talk about them. They are dead to me,"  I say with a tone of finality as I slam the door in her face.

I then jump onto my bed and wait for sleepiness to overcome me, hoping I don't have that dream again.

***
Carefully, so as not wake Sara, I take an apple and rush to the door, closing it silently behind me.  After yesterday, I mean earlier today's fight, I'm trying to avoid her. I feel slightly  guilty for blowing up on her. But she should know that it's a very sensitive topic for me. I was so distracted that I couldn't complete my Physics project. Guess I'll have to do it at school.

I glance around warily as I walk. I was smart enough to store my phone deep in my bag. It might be cheap, but it is a phone nonetheless. It is very dangerous to go walking out here this early. Once someone was stabbed to death while being robbed for money. He was left to rot in the middle of the road. Safe to say, the ambulance took quite a while cleaning up his intestines from the ground.

Once I'm about a block away from the school, I hear footsteps. Glancing back subtly, I see a gang of four stalking me. Careful not to tip off that I saw them,  I walk faster. The footsteps behind me increase as well. I don't know how I didn't hear them before. I guess I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice. Thus had to be the moment of absentmindedness.

I quietly mutter, "Almost there, almost there."

I am approximately ten steps away from the gate when a hand lands on my shoulder. I stiffen immediately. Slowly I turn to see the threat. I breath a sigh of relief once I see who it is.

"TG! You scared me half to death!"

TG laughs boisterously. His friends join in. It's then that I notice another familiar face.

"Shaunee! I though I'd never see you again!"

I jump into TG's arms, getting the familiar feeling I haven't had in a while. Family. I then barrel into Shaunee, squeezing the life out of her too.

"Wow Dre. Ain't you so big now. No more so puny," TG says affectionately as he playfully messes my hair.

"Gotta say the same TG. You are huge. I told you not to talk those steroids. Now look at you. "

I gesture to his bulging muscles. Heck, I can even see the veins! I have to look up because he is so tall. His brown eyes twinkle with amusement as he runs his hand through his curly waves while casually flexing. He somehow manages to look both intimidating and cute at the same time. Lucky bitch. I'm just stuck with... this.

TG's booming laugh fills the quiet morning once again. How I missed his loudness. It added colour to my bleak life.

"Please Dre. We both know this is the real deal."

Before I can snort and tell him where to put his 'real', Shaunee interrupts in her typical country twang.

"What you doing walking all alone at this time Dre? You know how dangerous it is out here. How's little S doing? She still living with you?"

"Yeah I know Shau. Don't stress. And Sara's fine. Yeah, she's still living with me. You know how close we are."

"Y'all were like two peas in a pod. As tight as ever. Look Dre we have so much to talk about. How bout we meet up next week and catch up huh? Looks like school's starting."

I look towards the school to see students moving to and fro. She is right.

"Okay okay. See you guys later."

Regretfully I give them hugs before watching them walk off. When they are all but tiny specks I walk into the school. My earlier brooding mood is gone. Seeing them has made me so happy. It has been so long.

With happiness in my heart, I walk into my first class.

Hi guys! This is unedited. Hope you enjoyed!