Everything Has Historial Importance

Chapter One

Rookie, as always, holds the door open for us. Samantha goes first, muttering a quick thank you. I go in next and bow. Rookie giggles and Samantha shakes her head, making her long dark hair swing around.

"The usual, captain? And same for you, ma'am?" I ask Rookie and Samantha. They both nod. I walk to the line while they go to our table.

When I get to the front of the line, the cashier's eyes flash with recognition. Her name tag says Bella.

"Same thing?" She monotones.

"Yup. Two chocolate chip cookies, three fudge brownies, a hot chocolate cookie, and three milks." I smile. Bella nods and echoes my order.

"Here's your number," she hands me a small plastic disk with the number 25 on it. I head to the table, finding it among headphone wearing, laptop using, coffee drinking adults. Rookie and Samantha aren't hard to find. Rookie is bobbing their head, and Samantha is pretending to play guitar.

"Hey. What're you punks up to?"

Rookie stops the head bopping.

"Pretending to be rockstars, duh," Samantha pretends to put her guitar down. I pull my chair out, and see a small pale green piece of paper on it. I pick it up. It smells like the ocean, a memory from long ago.

"What's that?" Rookie points to the paper. I shrug and open it.

Mary,

Do you remember when we used to dance? On the beach at midnight. Do you? I remember that you would always end up tripping over your skirt. You would fall into the water, and laugh. Did I ever tell you that you have a great laugh? Sounds like what a violet would laugh, if that makes any sense. Your name should be Violet.

I'm getting off topic. I'm writing to tell you that my aunt died, and my mother is in a state of shock. You always lifted my spirits, no matter how down I was. Maybe you could come visit us?

Sincerely,

The writing stops. I hand the unfinished letter to Samantha, who reads it out loud. Rookie looks intrigued.

"Who wrote that? And who has the name Mary anymore? Also, why didn't the writer sign their name? And why'd they leave it here? It seems important," Rookie asks, rapid fire.

"I have as much information as you do, Jasper," I crinkle my nose. Rookie gasps.

"Why'd you use my, my name?" Rookie has their hand on their chest. I stick my tongue out and put my fingers in my ears. Samantha stands up.

"It's 4:30, I gotta go home," she packs her up her stuff.

"You're leaving early," I raise an eyebrow. She nods.

"My mom seems to think, well. Urm. She thinks that you and I are, uh, dating, Marlo." She twists her elbow skin. I laugh.

"But, I'm," I wave the air as if to explain. "And you, you don't even want that." I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, I know my own sexuality, thanks," Samantha sighs. "But you know my mother."

"Yeah," I look over at Rookie, who is completely red and giggling on the floor. I kick them lightly. Samantha swings her backpack over her shoulder and heads for the door.

"See you tomorrow," I call after her. She turns around, smiling. Rookie gets up.

"We should probably go too," they point out. I nod in agreement. We start to pack up.