Wish You Weren't Here

Memory Frame

Memory Frame

I raise my hand to the Kent's door to knock reluctantly. After about a minute of finding all of the escapes out of his house, trying to think up ways to get out of this, and reviewing with myself on how much I hate Cody, I finally knock. Kody opens the door, already smirking. He's already taken off his jacket, leaving him in a Great Big World t-shirt. I love A Great Big World. I'm the one who introduced Cody to them. How dare he wear their merchandise.

"Come in," he welcomes, extending his arm and gesturing me inside.

I sigh and enter the big house. I'm not poor or anything, but I'm certainly not rich. Cody Kent is rich. Like, he probably owns three cars, just in case. We sit at the counter in the kitchen, and he offers me something to drink, as if he's a gentleman. As if I want anything form him!

But, you know, sometimes you just really want a root beer.

We're halfway through math when I hear a car pull up in the front. A few minutes after, the front door is opened, and cool, sophisticated complaints echo through the vast house. Inwardly, I groan, remembering that Cody has a sister. I only met her once while Cody and I were together, and it was not pleasant. I can hardly remember anything about her.

Someone (I'm guessing his sister) calls Cody's name, and he looks up. "In here, sissy!"

I hear heels on the tile floors, then from around the corner appears a tall, slim teenaged girl, her long blonde bob catching the afternoon sun. I can tell she's glaring at me, even though I can't see past her RayBans. She's sporting designer jeans, a silk blouse, a rich-person necklace, and a Coach bag. She tucks her shades in her purse, exposing her pale green eyes. Her sharp gaze softens as it turns to Cody. "Co-Co!" She exclaims preppily.

"Hey, Rae!" Cody replies, embracing her.

Her face sours again. "Who's that?"

"That's Summer. Summer, this is my sister, Rachel."

I raise my eyebrow. "He looks like his mom, I look like mine." Says Rachel, responding to my confusion.

She continues with a wave of her hand. "This is Ashley Fenton, and this is Anna Collums. But don't worry if you can't remember their names; they aren't as important as me anyways." She giggles, an expression that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

I draw my attention to the girls behind Rachel. Anna is just a little shorter than Rachel, but her hair is longer by far. It tumbles down her back in soft, golden waves. Our eyes meet, and I can't quite decide what color her eyes are. They seem to contain everything: green, brown, blue, gold, gray. She has a distant, unintelligent expression permanently etched on her pretty face, and I decide that she's plastic and superficial, moving on to the last girl.

I'm just going to be honest here - Ashley is short. I mean really short. Like, probably five feet. She has brown hair, and it's curled. I guess green eyes run in the friend group, because hers are like emeralds. Her clothes are a little sportier looking, but probably still designer. She gives Rachel a quick glance every once and a while, like she wants to impress her. Rachel glares at me, and Ashley follows suit.

"I like your shoes," Anna remarks stupidly, gazing down at my Vans.

"Anna," Rachel hisses.

"What?"

Rachel rolls her eyes. "Never mind."

She gives me one last glare, then struts away, presumedly to her expensive room, followed by her minions. Ashley glares at me as well, but Anna gives me a sweet, ditsy smile and waves a goodbye. I smile back.

"So, that was my sister. Don't displease her. Or underestimate her. Ever. The other ones were Ashley and Anna. They just kind of follow her around like puppies. Really hot puppies. Ashley is pretty quiet, and when she is talking, it's gossip. Anna was the blonde. She's just stupid."

"She seemed nice. Nicer that the other two, at least."

Cody shushes me. "Don't talk bad about her. She has ears everywhere."

I frown. He seems almost. . . not intimidated, just. . . inferior. That's weird and completely unlike him.

Well, I guess everyone's inferior to Rachel Kent.

We get around to homework eventually, but then his younger brother, Tristan, and his girlfriend come home and start making out in the neighboring room, so Cody casually suggests his room to finish tutoring. I look at him like he's crazy.

He laughs. "What? Are you scared?"

"No," I scoff. "Yes. I don't know. Sort of. I guess I'm just expecting to walk in and see people passed out on the floor and strippers lying on your bed."

"Come on, Sandy. It's Monday. Parties are only on Fridays."

I agree to his room after much convincing, knowing that I have a phone in case of emergencies. I climb the stairs following him, and enter his room. It hasn't changed much since sophomore year. The same gray walls, the same gray bed, the same green accenting, the same sleek black bookshelf and desk. I pass by the bookshelf, looking at the trophies and pictures, when something familiar catches my eye. A framed memory, an image of two naive teenagers on Halloween, wearing black leather clothes and lots of hairspray. I look different than I did back then, but I was also wearing a blonde wig, red heels, and tight, tight clothes. I was grinning and laughing, my eyes squinted close, and he was kissing my cheek and smiling. My hand was on his chest, and one of my legs was popped up. In the original picture, Kris and Gabe Adams were next to us, dressed as Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. He must have cropped it, because this one was just of us. I blink, confused as to why he had kept that picture. And cropped it. And framed it. And put it on his bookshelf next to pictures with his family and best friends. I begin to wonder: he was a big part in my life, that's for sure, and maybe my heart still was holding on a little, but I was positive he was over me before we even broke up.

Could he still be holding on to me?

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Hello!! Hope you liked that little background info. Are you confused? You should be. Tell me what you think of the new characters in the comments. Big shoutout to @annacollums @Fangirl_over_books and @Ashley_Fangirl for the fabulous characters and ideas!! Ps, yes the three populars are based off of them.

~AC