Into the woods

Chapter 3: April's house

  After the weird questionnaire with the weird investigators or detectives or whatever they were, it was time for the 8th period. I had an orchestra. In an orchestra, I play bass. Bass always gets me away from reality, even though they never have the melody. When I was unpacking my bass, I saw April walk in. I see her walk over and grab a case. A very small case. Either a violin or a viola. I watch her walk over to the violin section. So, she plays the violin. And I play the bass. Summer played the bass with me. In the fourth grade. We started in 3rd grade. I remember she loved playing that bass of hers. She told me, "Next year, we should do a duo. In the talent show!"  I agreed with her. But we never got to do that.

  Ms. May tells us to take out Ancestors, which sounded pretty good, even to the basses. But I can't get myself to stop thinking about those people dressed in black. One of my questions for them was, 'why are they trying to solve the Summer case now? Two years after her disappearance!' Class was over in a whiz. Ms. May lets the basses pack up a few minutes early because they are tall instruments with huge, floppy, cases. 

  So when the class is over and Ms. May dismisses everyone, I am done, so I walk over to where I saw April get her instrument a while earlier. Just as I suspected, April came over. "Hi," she says.

"Hey," I reply.

"Are you in the orchestra?" April asks.

"Yeah. I play the bass." I reply. 

"I play the violin." 

"Cool," 

"So, you ready for my house? My mom is going to drive us." 

"Oh shoot! I have not even told my mom yet!" I exclaim. "Mind if I use your phone?" 

April shakes her head and takes her phone from her pocket. Then she hands it to me. I mouth 'thanks' and dial my mom's number. Finally, she picks up. 

"Hey, mom. I made a friend today. April. Is it okay if I spend a bit at her house?" 

"Today?" My mom asks.

"Yeah."

"Okay. Be good." 

"Thanks, mom," I say.

I hand April her phone back. "You ready?" she asks.

"Yup." 

  I walk to my locker, this time not alone. I have April now. And even better, no one tried to trip me in the hallway! April tells me to meet by the locker room to get picked up. While I load my folders into my backpack, I notice my writing folder is still missing. I guess I will just have to get it later. I put my jacket on. It is only 70 degrees, but I get cold easily. 

I go by the locker rooms. April is not there yet. I sigh. I wonder how long it usually takes her to get ready. Maybe I was just so late she left without me. No, I am sure she would never do that. Then, April shows up. "And I thought it took me forever to pack up!" I say, and we both laugh. 

"My mom is out front." Says April. "She decided to change where she was gonna pick us up." 

"I lost something prized to me today. And the superintendent said he was going to find it. Can we stop there real quick?" I ask.

"Sure." Replies April. 

  We get to the office. April waits outside while I go inside. I knock on Mr. Natale's door. "Mr. Natale?" I ask. I open the door. "Mr. Natale?" I go inside. The room is empty, he must've left early. I check his desk for my folder. No sign of it. So I decided to take a stop at Ingrid's room. I really do not want to, but I should. I knock on her door. "Principal Ingrid?" I ask. I do the same for Ingrid as I did for Mr. Natale. 

I go inside. Empty too. I guess everyone left early today. Even the office people are gone. I leave the office. I am immediately greeted by April. "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asks. I shake my head. "Bummer," she says. "Let's go." so we walk out the front doors and to a car. All the busses have left. April lets me into the car first. Her mom does not bother us the whole time. 

  When we get to April's house, we immediately go up to her room. I notice there is a picture on the floor. April goes and picks it up. Her room is very clean, just like Summer's. I say, "Your room reminds me of Summer's. She always cleaned it." I say.

"I do the same," replies April. 

"You and Summer are a lot alike," I say. 

  For dinner, April's mom orders pizza. "Do you have a dad?" I ask. I know it is sort of a bad question at a bad time, but I felt like I needed to say it.

"Yeah. He always works late, though," says April.

"My parents are divorced. They divorced after Summer disappeared. Because Summer disappeared." I say.

"I am sorry," says April. 

  After dinner, my mom comes to pick me up at April's. I say goodbye to April and thanks. Driving on the way home, my mom asks me a lot of questions about April and her family, and did you enjoy it, were you good, the usual. 

  After I got home, I got into my PJs and Hoped into bed. While I try to sleep, I think about April. She is a lot like Summer. Same spirit, same...everything.