Tammi Lyn [DISCONTINUED]

iv

It was too bright for a Sunday. I was never really a morning person, and it would usually take me a while to actually get out of bed.

Today was no different.

I woke up slowly, my eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight, then I killed time by lazing around and only getting up when I need to pee or eat.

"Denver!" Mom called out, and I sat up slowly, setting my phone down on the bed, and getting off to see if she needed anything.

"Yeah mom?" I called out while climbing down the stairs.

She was in the kitchen chopping up carrots. When she looked up to see me, she smiled and said, "Hey hun. Do you mind going to the store to fetch some noodles? I forgot to buy some the last time I went." Her gentle smile turned sheepish and my lips curled up in amusement at my mom's behavior.

Putting on some shoes I answered her, "Sure mom. I don't mind."

I got the money from her hands and kissed her cheek before rushing out.

The road was a smooth gray that was wide and easy to walk on since there were no uneven bumps or bothersome cracks. The houses lined both sides of the road, each one different from their neighbor. Our house had three floors, with the third one being a sort of attic where remnants of our childhood were kept. Yeah, my mom was a sentimental person.

The store was only a few blocks away from home so I walked to a leisurely slow pace, though I hurried up a little when I remembered that mom needed the noodles for tonight's dinner.

The cold air of the store blew my short bangs away from my face momentarily as I stepped inside.

My eyes scanned my surroundings before I ultimately decided to ask someone so I wouldn't look like a lost kid. That would be embarrassing.

I walked up to a guard and asked where I could find the noodles. After pointing it out to me I went on my way, checking out various other items that were on display.

I wanted to buy a bag of chips, but I figured that the money mom gave was enough for a pack of noodles. Ugh, so much for all this effort.

Something fell close to my feet, and instictively I looked down to see if it was something harmful. It was only a packet of instant noodles, so I bent down to pick it up and return it to the one who dropped it.

Honestly, I think I should've expected the familiar face.

Tammi had her hair done in a half-pony, her attire consisting of a light gray cardigan reaching her wrists over a plain green dress that dropped till her knees. On her feet were a pair of black sneakers. Wow, she really did love dark colors.

Wordlessly, I handed her the cup back. She stared at it for a second longer before lifting her hand and taking it back.

"Sorry for the bother," she said with an apologetic look in those gray orbs.

I found myself shrugging carelessly. I shoved my hands in my pockets and we just stood there, our eyes averting each other's gaze.

There was an awkward silence around us as we proceeded to stand about three feet from each other. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why I continued to stand there like an idiot. It wasn't like I had anything else to say, nor did she. So why can't my feet move?

My mind suddenly flashbacked to our recent encounter in front of our houses that afternoon. How she asked if I ever wondered if the sky could be yellow instead of blue with that childish gleam in her eyes, like it was her first time to see something simple as the sky above. Asking about how the sky was blue was always a toddler's interest. We learned why the sky had that particular color when we were like, fifth grade. But with how Tammi's voice was higher and like that of a kid's, I begged to think otherwise.

Should I ask her about it? It seemed like I was intruding, but I was only curious.

Before I could stop myself, I found my mouth moving.

"Hey uh..." I could see I had her attention, so there was no backing out now. "That time when we were dropped home," I trailed off, my little courage leaving me like a balloon. But she just stood there, curious glint in her eyes. So I pushed forward, weirdly encouraged by her rapt attention. "Why did you ask me if I wondered if the sky could be yellow?"

The reaction that followed was something I didn't expect.

Her eyes widened questioningly, like I was the one who asked that strange question. I blinked up at her, waiting for any sort of response.

Her head tilted, and a brow rose.

"What are you talking about? I don't remember asking you any sort of question when we got home."

Huh? Did I just hear correctly?

My own brow rose.

"What? You - "

Her brows scrunched together, and she seemed to shrink in on herself.

"Are you trying to accuse me of something?"

Whoa.

She got defensive all of a sudden.

To somehow placate her, I raised both my hands in a manner akin to that of surrendering, and I said as gently as I could, "Whoa, chill out Tammi, I just - "

"Don't do that. Leave me alone, weirdo!" The last part became a shout, gaining onlookers that stopped to stare at both of us.

Slightly panicking, I looked around and heard Tammi's angry footfalls fade as she walked away, my head turning to see just in time her figure round the corner.

I hid my face by ducking my head low, robotically moving toward the noodle section and hastily grabbing one before paying and running home.

What stayed on my mind was how her voice suddenly turned biting and accusatory, her gray orbs flashing with something dangerous and unknown.