Zyreia: The Silver Woods

2

Tasha impatiently tapped her foot against the carpeted floors of Lola's Cafe, a small restaurant that served good food and smoothies.

Eric, Taylor, Aaron, Hailey, and Delaney were all talking about going running in the morning and at night.

Tasha scoffed, earning a deadly glare from Hailey. Who goes running every day and night?

Eric looked over at Tasha and gave a look that said, Start chatting with them. She glared at Eric and then plastered a fake smile on her face that hurt her in the cheeks.

"So, what's your favorite movie, guys?" Tasha said, having a sip of her Blue Lagoon smoothie

Delaney and Hailey looked at each other and shrieked, "The Notebook!", at the same time.

Tasha smiled at then replied that it was a good movie, though she had no idea what it was. Probably some stupid romantic movie...

"Mine is probably Terminator, I love that movie" Aaron said, with a dreamy look in his eye.

She looked over at Taylor and patiently waited for his response, he then smirked and looked at her.

"The Goonies..."

Tasha's jaw dropped, "Really? That's like my favorite picture of all time! I didn't think anyone from our generation had seen that movie!"

Taylor blushed, they began to get into a conversation about how nobody appreciated the Goonies anymore.

Eric, Hailey, and Delaney began to talk about fun places to hang out, like the mall and the movie theater.

And then, Hailey leaned in towards Taylor and Tasha and then pointed towards the counter.

"Look, there's Freak-E-Zoid over there" she whispered, Delaney giggled. Tasha looked towards the counter and saw a girl ordering food.

She wore black clothes that were two sizes too big, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her clothes and hair were all wet from the rain.

Tasha looked at Hailey, "What's wrong with her?"Hailey looked at Tasha and began to snicker.

"She lives in the forest with her crazy grandma and she's just... freaky. She's your type, if you ask me."Eric elbowed her in the shoulder and shook his head, as if to say Don't.

Tasha's flushed with anger, how could Eric be hanging out with someone like this? Hailey looked over at Eric and shrugged.

Tasha looked over at the girl, the girl turned around and then locked eyes with Tasha.

Tasha looked at the girl and gave her a weak smile, the girl almost smiled when she saw that Tasha was sitting with Hailey.

She scowled at Hailey and then she scowled at Tasha, Tasha mouthed "I don't want to be here, I don't like her."

She smiled and replied. "Me neither"

Tasha chuckled softly, Hailey looked at her and then looked back the girl. The girl scowled and then began walking towards the table.

No, no, no, stop! TURN AROUND. STOP WALKING TOWARDS ME. I JUST MOVED HERE NO MORE DRAMA.

Tasha tried to send mental messages to the girl, but she just kept stomping towards them.

Hailey and Delaney began to whisper to each other, while Taylor and Aaron looked up at the girl and Eric shrunk in his seat.

The girl flipped her hair to one side and then plastered a fake smile on her face, "Hi Hailey! How are you today, darling?"

Hailey looked the girl up and down and grimaced. "You have dirt all over your shoes, did you know that?"

The girl glanced down at her mud covered combat boots and shrugged. She then looked at me and smiled.

"Katie King, nice to meet you"

Tasha grabbed her hand and gave it a firm shake, "Tasha Wilson." She stared at Tasha for moment like she was just figuring out something, but then the look in her eyes disappeared.

She waved goodbye to everyone, took her take-out food, and left the cafe. When she walked out, Tasha began to stir her smoothie.

"Well, Katie seems nice..." she said. Hailey looked at me, a confused look on her face.

"How did you know her name was Katie? I never told you that" she said as she ate a spoonful of soup.

"Didn't you hear her introduce herself to me?" Tasha asked. Eric looked at Tasha, as if to figure out if what she saying was a joke.

"Tasha... She didn't say anything after she said 'Hello, darling' to Hailey" Eric laughed.

Taylor, Aaron, and Eric began to laugh as Delaney and Hailey whispered and giggled.

Tasha racked her mind for something that would prove that Katie-the girl- spoke. But nothing came to mind.

And then it hit her, Katie had never moved her lips when she introduced herself.

When she said her name, the words had seemed to echo in her head like Tasha's own thoughts.

Tasha suddenly stood up and took a final sip of her smoothie, she handed Eric a $10 bill.

"That's for my food, I'm going home" she said. Eric looked at her with a brotherly concern in his eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Tasha opened her mouth to say yes, but she blurted out "No" instead.

She turned on heel and flew out the door, not noticing that Katie had been waiting for her outside.