Remember. (Sally Face)

Chapter 1. "Welcome"

P.O.V : Liliana

My father walked past me towards the apartment complex we were going to be living in. I griped the strap to my worn down backpack and walked up the sidewalk. We had moved because of me.

"She needs a new environment, it'll help her cope better"

I could still see the small reassuring smile my therapist gave me as she told me this would be best for me to leave my small childhood home. 

My dad didn't try to disagree because his job was closer to where we were now, so in the end this benefited him. If it hadn't, he would have never agreed to move.

I watched his back as we made our way to the entrance, he animatedly talked on the phone and I stared absently at the wedding ring that still sat on his finger. He refused to talk about my mom but I would catch the subtle longing looks as he passed by her photo in the hall way or the way he slowly twisted his wedding ring.

I shuffled slowly behind him as my dirty converse scuffed against the cement. I didn't have much of a say when it came to moving but I didn't particularly have a strong opinion for against it. I didn't really have any real friends, just a few acquaintances that I would sit next to for an assignment or would work with when it came to any major projects.

I wasn't very social and I tended to be to tired to try and keep a conversation going. It was a wonder to how I still made decent grades in school. My dad jabbed the elevator button and continued to yammer nonsense to whoever he was talking to. He was part of a big corporation that made boat motors. My mom use to gush on how smart he was but lacked everyday common sense, I felt a small smile form on my lips as I envisioned my mother giving a playful smack to his shoulder. My dad would pretend like she had almost killed him and they would usually end the banter in a fit of giggles.

These days it seemed it was a anomaly for my dad to even crack a grin.

The elevator dinged for us and slowly slid open. My dad gave a slight once over to the tall, lanky boy in the elevator and began to shuffle away from him. I hadn't really gotten a good look at him, once I had seen his shirt, my mind began to blank. I was a huge fan of 'Sanity's Fall' and he had a special edition shirt that had a couple of paint splotches on it. I grimaced slightly but stood next to him.

I could feel my cheeks getting flustered, how hard was it for me to start a conversation?

Just say hi, how hard is that!

"I really like your shirt" I muttered. My grip on my strap tightened. I felt him slightly look down at me.

"Thanks! Your a fan too?"

He kept a calm composure as his hands sat in his pockets and his eyes were half open. A lazy grin was plastered on his lips and I nodded slowly. "The name's Larry" He stuck one hand out and lazily held it out for me to grip.

I hesitated then took it softly. "Liliana"

He let go of my hand and looked up at my dad. "Oh, you guys are the Tilman's. My mom's the maintenance worker around the apartments, if you ever have any issues, just give her a call." He handed a small card from his pocket to my dad and my dad inspected it before slipping it into his coat pocket. 

"Dully noted" My dad mumbled out. The elevator dinged and my dad stepped out first.

"See ya around Liliana" He gave me a small wave as I followed my dad and then the elevator began to descend.

I hadn't noticed my dad was off the phone until his free hand ran through his tousled brunette hair. "That boy looked like trouble" He muttered to no one in particular.

We reached room four hundred and the entire length of our hallway looked new. "I believe they added on recently to these apartments, which means we should have a brand new place" 

He unlocked the door and the lay out was extraordinarily plain but was suitable for the two of us. The green carpeting was hideous but I decided to keep my mouth shut. I made my way down the hall and to my room. Boxes littered the walls and a plain bed with a wooden bed frame was pushed in the corner of the small room. I sprawled out on the bed and decided to rest before beginning the long journey of unpacking. 

I let my eyes rest on the window and it continued to rain, it had been raining since we drove through Nocksfell.

I missed the sun and the feeling of the warmth on my skin. Everything felt cold and since I had entered Addison Apartments, I had felt a strange and foreboding feeling that sent shivers down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck slightly stand up. I narrowed my eyes as I followed the small water droplets down the glass. Once I reached the window sill my eyes fell onto the small picture frame that was placed neatly on top of my dresser. 

My mother's beaming smile as she held me in a side hug. I analyzed every detail my eyes could possibly see of her, down to the small wrinkles that formed at the end of her eyes as she smiled. I tore my eyes away as I shamefully wiped the forming tears roughly away with the end of my sleeve. I decided to turn towards the wall instead and began to count the small cracks as the clock ticked the time away.