Shattered Sparks

Chapter:08

The girls headed towards the side of the garden that was away from the bustle of the party. They reached the maze that held so many fond memories of their childhood,the maze was a small one and well kept, thanks to the helpers in her father's house.It had sensors installed that lit up along the path,when people walked through it.

"People,we've got together the first time since college.Don't you think that this little time should be spent reminiscing and not digging the dirt?" Asked Isla.

"yeah.." Dragged Lyanna looking sorry, she was always quick to apologize.

"Ok," Victoria said finally,after looking at Lyanna's truly remorseful face.With the motive to change the topic she asked, "What are you guys doing these days?"

"I'm working as an intern at an IT company," Lyanna replied.

"I'm just helping around my dad's store, but I think I might give up on that sometime soon," said Maisie. At Victoria's questioning look she continued, "you know,I do have to enjoy some time for myself before my marriage," she said haughtily.

"You're engaged!" exclaimed Isla.

"No,I will be.I'm sure he's going to propose within this week or so."

"To whom?" Victoria asked curiously.

"To Jeremy, her father's business partner's son," Lyanna answered instead.

"He's so dashing, and has a personality to match," Maisie said with a dreamy look on her face. "We met up at work and Father also approves of him."

The girls sighed,Maisie always found her flings 'dashing'."Maisie...Never changed much, did you?Still a hopless romantic," said Victoria.

"You were once a hopeless romantic too," reminded Maisie.

"But not so dense like her, to think that every guy who spoke to me would propose to me," Victoria countered .Maisie was always interested in a guy and went on and on about how she envisioned a life with them. Sadly, these flings just lasted a month or two, after which she would mope around and start her the cycle back again. Maisie had once been like her, a tomboy with wild dreams, a thirst for adventure and a will to leave a mark on the world. She had been her closest confidant. But, after they had chosen different fields in Twelfth grade,they didn't meet up often and when they had met up,she didn't see the same Maisie she knew.They had drifted apart like most friends did,even after all of the promises that everything would stay the same.

The Maisie she knew now had no other interests except to secure a good husband and be a trophy wife, which Victoria thought was stupid and this was why she never got along with Maisie anymore. It exhausted her to be around Maisie,whose speech constantly irritated her.

" Ugh!I give up. Listen Victoria!Jeremy and i......"

A sudden ruffle startled the foursome, who had walked to the centre of the maze while they were talking. Victoria whipped her head to look towards the noise.She took a few steps towards the darker side of the maze, where the noise had come from.

"What was that noise?"Asked Lyanna,her voice dropped to a whisper.

"I don't know," Isla whispered fearfully.

Maisie looked alarmed and focused. "I don't want to find out.I think we should just go back."

Victoria ignored Maisie and continued to step forward,until a tug pulled her back.

It was Lyanna,she had pulled her hand. "No,Tori!"She beckoned towards Maisie and Isla who looked terrified.

"This can't be any ghost,stop being scared," she told the two.

"There are things even worse than ghosts Tori," said Maisie.Victoria shook her head in confusion.

"Tsk..Just look at those two,Maisie's trembling," Lyanna said.

"It must be a spoilt kid playing pranks,I wouldn't be surprised if it was my brother and his friends," Lyanna said after a while of silence,trying to calm both Maisie and herself.

"Yeah,that must be it," said Maisie,motioning them to the path that they had just come from.Victoria rolled her eyes at Maisie's drama,but maybe this time Maisie was right,the kids do love hanging around the maze. "We used to scare people too here, do you remember?" Maisie asked.

There was a hum of agreement. "Uh.huh. Let's go back then.The feast might be over and I would be lying if I said I just came here to socialize," Tori said which made the girls laugh.

"Tell me about it," said Maisie. When they were walking back, the girls started to recollect their past, when they had so much fun together playing pranks on teenagers. They hadn't a care in the world, and had enjoyed the bliss of innocence that was brought only by childhood. When Victoria thought about it, she realized how boisterous they had been. The monopoly games, which ended with the board being flipped, the bicycle rides, the so called civil tea parties, all of it just brought a smile to her face.

"Aren't these just like old times?"Lyanna asked smiling.

"Just like old times," Victoria repeated, a serene smile on her face.