The Promise

ten

Year 2004 - Fall

Louis' POV

Walking home from the bus stop was always kind of awkward. This being my first year of middle school, I'm now forced to take the bus. But walking home was somehow worse than sitting on a loud bus full of smelly, loud preteens. Lydia Thomas is my neighbor, and it's always an uncomfortable walk with her. I don't know whether to talk to her or keep my distance. For the past week, she's been walking kind of close behind me, not saying a word and I've been in front of her, thinking about if I should say something or not. Our moms are kind of friends, I guess. When we moved here a couple of years ago, Mrs. Thomas brought us some cookies and she comes over sometimes to drink wine with my mom.

I've never really talked to Lydia one-on-one though. Sometimes, a big group of us 7th graders hangs out in the quad at school and her and her friends are there, but mine are too so we don't really talk to each other.

I decide that today's the day to talk to her. There's no use in having an unpleasant walk home everyday.

I step off the giant, loud bus onto the pavement at the bus stop and instead of starting my walk like usual, I wait for Lydia to come off.

"Hey," I say as the bus begins to pull away. I stuff my hands in the pockets of my jacket and rock back and fourth on my toes.

"Hi." She replies, I notice her cheeks turning a light shade of pink and wonder if she's as nervous as I am.

"We should walk together today, yeah? I mean, what's the use of uh.. walking alone when we can walk- um.. together." I manage to sputter out. God, why was I so nervous? It's not like I like-like her.. At least I don't think I do.

"Sure." She smiles and we start the short walk to both of our houses.

It's quiet for a little while; with just the sounds of our sneakers on the concrete.

"So, um, our moms are friends, huh?" What the heck just came out of my mouth? What kind of conversation topic is that?

"Yeah, it's weird that we haven't been forced to hang out together yet." She laughs nervously, pushing a bit of hair behind her ear.

"Right? My mom usually always does that when she makes friends."

"Yeah, mine too."

Just like that, we're back to silence. I stare down at my shoes and concentrate on each step. Left, right, left, right, left, right.

"Well, here's my stop. Bye, Louis." She waves and walks up her driveway to the door decorated for the fall. I can't help but be jealous of her having both of her parents in there to welcome her home. Her dad will probably come inside from working in the backyard or the garage and hug her to ask how her day was and her mom will watch and smile down at the two of them with such admiration and wonder how she got to be so lucky.

I walk one more house down and start up my own driveway. Opening the door, I walk into the living room and see my mom sitting at the kitchen table talking to somebody, although from here I can't see with whom.

"John, we can't keep doing this," I hear her say.

John.

My dad.

I stay where I am, trying to stay as silent as possible.

"How can you say that, Johannah? After all we've been through. I can't believe you'd keep my only son from me."

"I want you to leave." My mom strongly states. I watch as she stands from the table and pushes her chair in.

"Jo, I'm not leaving. I won't. I love you and Louis too much. Why don't you see that?" He replies.