It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times

Four

The day began with a milkshake.

More accurately, the day started with a text message from Leah at three minutes past midnight.

12:03- I am hungry.

Just that, simple, short, and if I'm honest, a bit creepy. I didn't reply. She was in the bunk below me, she could've just gotten up if she wanted to talk.

12:04- No, really, I'm STARVING. Can we go out to get milkshakes and fries?

"Leah, why are you texting me?"

12:04- Because I want milkshakes.

12:05- And fries.

"Leah, I am right here. You don't need to text me."

12:05- Please??

"Let's go."

12:06- Yes! Thanks(:

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"I cannot believe we are here right now, Lee."

"Why's that? We've hardly spent any time together and today os the fourth day here. We were supposed to hang out all day every day," she replied, sounding disappointed.

"I know. We hung out that first day, when we were unpacking." I was defensive.

"Yeah, but then you went to watch TV and I went to bed. We were only unpacking for twenty minutes." So was she.

"Okay, then there was the game day on Sunday while the adults were at church."

"But Josh and Claire were there, it wasn't exactly best friend bonding." She sounded irritated, now.

"Yeah but today- well yesterday, now- we went to the beach and had fun!" I didn't like it when she was irritated.

"Then you met the sexy blonde," she joked. I still saw disappointment in her eyes. Disappointment in me.

"His hair is brown, Lee!"

"Oh."

We laughed for the whole of five minutes.

"That wasn't even funny," I managed to say in between breaths.

We laughed more.

"It's because it's so late," she said, confidently.

"Early."

"Yes."

"Do wanna go for a walk, Lee?"

"Yes."

---------------

We spent the entire day together. She showed me around, introduced me to several local diners, and we visited her favorite shops.

"Damn," I said after lunch, "I love tourist towns."

"Me, too. There's always something going on. A few buildings down there is this bench where I usually sit and people watch."

"Did you bring your notebook?"

"I bring my notebook everywhere," she said. It was almost as if I could hear her rolling her eyes. It was a dumb question. Of course she brought her notebook everywhere.

"Good."

Leah writes. She is constantly scribbling something in her notebook that no one is supposed to see. I look at it sometimes, though when we are sleeping over at each other's houses and she's asleep. It is a jumble of paragraphs of stories that she's writing, ideas for characters, sketches, and outlines for a plot. She often visits the advanced creative writing teacher about her work. She often tells Leah that what she writes is wonderful and has great potential, but it should be organized. That's not Leah's style. Leah understands things when they're messed up. She works better that way. Anyway, to her, it is properly organized.

"Lee, when can I see your notebooks?"

"When I'm done. I've said that."

"You've finished so many of them, though. You've been doing this since you were in first grade."

"Well yeah, but my early stuff isn't very good. Usually I have about seven notebooks for each story and for this one I'm only on my fourth."

"Your early stuff is still important to you, right?"

"Of course."

"Then it's important to me, too."

"It is?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

---------------

By the time we headed home, the sun was setting and we were taking the "scenic route" back home, arms linked, and listening to our music together. She had the left earbud and I had the right.

I didn't notice at first when she started singing along. I finally realized when I though about how she said a while ago that she didn't listen to this music. I asked her about it and she said that now she understood the lyrics. That scared me a little.

"Why do you understand them?"

"I don't know. They just make sense now."

"Yeah, I get that but they shouldn't make sense. Not to you."

"Thanks."

"Don't be sarcastic, you know what I mean, Lee."

"Yeah. I do."

"So why do you understand them so suddenly?"

"I just do. I was listening to this band because you love them so much and it just dawned on me. It makes sense now, don't look into it too much. Don't worry about me."

"Okay."

I still worried. I would always worry.

***************

So I have been working on this for a while, because I have been sorta busy. If I don't update in time (hopefully at least once a week) please don't get mad, I'll try my best.

This chapter is dedicated to my new follower @Hilaleifmax because it makes my day when I see that someone followed me. I'll never not freak out when I get that notification. Thanks!

I will try to update by next Saturday, but again, no promises.

P.S.: The next chapter is where the plot really kicks in. Enjoy...

UPDATE 11-2-14: Pictured is Alyssa and Leah