Fairy Eyes

Chapter 10: Ember

Oliva flipped her blonde hair off her face and sashayed her hips from side to side as the girls walked down the strip, puffing her chest out and hanging her shoulders back. She had worn an a brand new strapped, tight black dress for the occasion that showed off her body, as if she were a prize hen showing herself off at a country fair. The guys always gawked at her when they saw her: a hot blonde, surrounded in a Latino community in Miami of men that rarely saw blondes. They stare at her now as she walks down the sidewalk, while Marisol and Aqua try to surprise their giggles. Marisol and Aqua secretly made bets that, by the end of the year, Olivia would be pregnant with her first child. It wasn't the nicest thing to say about their own friend, but somewhere deep down there were just enough jealous of their friend in order to put judgements on her and feel better about themselves. They just didn't have the words to express their own feelings to one another, let alone her.

Olivia was fun. REALLY fun, confident, brazen, and slightly controlling. She always got the best drinks bought for her, always talked the loudest, and for the lengthiest period of time. Put Olivia in a room of people not talking to each other, and they would all crows around Olivia for the entertainment that she would bring.

At the clubs that they would venture to, the girls would let loose and dance all the moves they learned on Youtube or through their favorite songs. Olivia was always trying to get them to do risky things, such as talk to new guys or to skinny dip into the pool. The girls would let her act as a leader of the group because it simply made itself much more easier for introducing themselves to new people. In fact, it was because of Olivia that she, Marisol and Ember found themselves in senior superlatives as "The Most Unbreakable Triad" and had more fun in high-school from the attention than they imagined possible.

That night, another guy was cooing over her. She kept him at a distance but she enjoyed it. He whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and she smiled. She was intoxicated but Ember it was useless to try and get her to come home with me, so she her go. Olivia acted grateful for it.

"Thank you Ember" slurred Olivia, as Ember tried to swallow the feelings of Catholic guilt down her throat," I've always known that you can have my back. You are the best friend! THE BEST!"

Ember too was intoxicated, having one too many Coronas and Guinness to the point that she felt she was sick. It was supposed to be like this, wasn't it? She felt like I was living at the edge of the world. You know that feeling right? When you feel as if the risk you are going to take has serious consequences, but you can't stop yourself from doing it? That you even wanted to feel the consequences, knowing that you might not survive to tell the tale, loving the thrill of it? That's what she felt as she got into the car. It wasn't a thrilling moment or even a proud moment, but a silent echo of rebellion. As if you are about to do a bad thing, but you can't stop, so you do it anyway.

Ember came home that night, drunk and intoxicated. She saw that the lights were off in the living room, and decided that she could enter without waking her mother. Instead, she stumbled, causing a lamp to fall off the table. The lights turned on, blinding her eyes. Olivia's parents sat on the couch next to her mother, the later who looked heated with fury.

"Amber, where have you been? Have you been clubbing again like I told you not to?"

"No. Mom..."

"Do not lie to me! You want to know how I know you've been clubbing? Olivia didn't come home tonight. Her parents have been worried sick!"

Mr. and Mrs. Jones sat complacently. They were both somewhat elderly, having met in high school, and both were strong Catholics. Yet they claimed they didn't mind Olivia interacting with the other Latinos in the community, though it was clear that they wished Mr. Jones wanted a job in a more predominantly white neighborhood.!

"Olivia is troubled though. They should have known that" mumbled Ember. "They've always made it out like she's this special star that can do no wrong."

"Sorry Ember?" squawked my mother. "Her parents are right there, or do you not care? Whatever you have to say about Olivia, you can say to them! Do not hide behind your mother!"

"I'm just saying..." said Ember, giving a slight glance to Olivia's parents, "They should know about Olivia. They just don't want to tell her no. That's why they came all the way here. In hopes that I would have some influence on her."

"Amber, you DO NOT KNOW what a parent goes through. That's why I'm taking away your license..."

"No!"

"And your car! You will not be doing this when you get to college! You are going far away from Olivia, Marisol, and this community. You better hope that you wise up if you want to see her again! If I find out that you are clubbing again, I will send you to rehab. Thats final!"

"You are only this mean because Dad left" said Ember.

"What...did... you say?" growled her mother.

"I mean it. You want to pretend that we are some normal family, but we are a failure! You know this! Dad left! Stop hiding behind your white couple friends and accept it! Dad is not coming back."

Her mom's eyes flared.

"Fuck you" she whispered.

Tears filled Ember's face. She stomped away from the scene up the stairs to her room, before emitting one final battle cry, "I hate you!" before slamming the door.