Hidden In Plain Sight

The Door

"I will because I can."

My walk home was complete torture. A massive headache kept me company along with Ivy, Shaun and Stewart as I tried to think about ways to help Natalie. At first, when she came to ask for help I was a bit surprised. I just thought she'd always ask that boy, until I realized the problem was the boy. Ivy currently had Shaun on her back, carrying him ahead of Stewart and I as he ranted about his first two days. I wouldn't lie and say it wasn't nice to have them back again. I had missed all of them over the summer and definitely needed the excitement. Especially now.

'You're making new friends.' Stewart randomly blurted out.

I cocked an eyebrow. 'What?'

'I saw you earlier. You were talking to that girl from yesterday.' Stewart pointed out. His tone was accusatory.

I narrowed my eyes. 'I'm allowed to talk to other people, aren't I?' an image of James quickly flashed through my mind. I grit my teeth.

'I'm not saying that.' Stewart stopped and sighed. 'I missed you a lot. It's not fair.'

'What? You're confusing me.'

Without warning, Stewart pulled me into him and nuzzled into the top of my head. 'We used to always be together. What happened to that?'

I lightly jabbed him in the stomach before wrapping my arms around his waist. 'We still are. You're just jealous, Mister.'

Stewart let go and chuckled. 'Yeah, I guess so.'

Ivy and Shaun had stopped, watching and waiting for us. Though, the tense silence had disappeared, I felt the hole in my stomach grow bigger and the weight on my shoulders and back heavier. Shaun slid off Ivy's back.

'I should probably start running now. Mom'll kill me.' he gave me a tense look. A look I hadn't seen before. 'Sorry, Helena.' he said before running down the street.

'He mentioned his mother.' Ivy said, noticing my confusion.

'I don't see why he has to apologize for it.' I mumbled. 'I'm not sensitive about it.'

Stewart shook his head. 'Don't worry about it. He's just watching out for you.'

Ivy and Stewart insisted they walk me home. Well, Stewart did and forcefully dragged Ivy along, saying that she was like a "bad person deterrent". Ivy didn't like that.

'Do you need us to come in with you?' Stewart asked as I started to unlock the front door.

Ivy snorted. 'What do you think is going to happen? Her mom'll attack her?'

Stewart grabbed her into a headlock. 'You worry too.'

Ivy didn't answer, making me smile. I waved goodbye as I shut and relocked the door. My house, as usual, was silent except for the hum of the furnace. Mom was in her usual spot by the kitchen table. She didn't make any sign of noticing my presence and I felt a pang of guilt that disappeared as fast as it came. I ran upstairs, not wanting to have to be in the same room as her longer than I had to be. I slowed once I reached my door. There were three other doors in the dark hallway; all of them long abandoned. I walked over to the farthest door on the right, the one next to mine, and stood there. The hole in my stomach slowly shrunk as I grasped onto the dusty door handle. This house had changed so much during the past three years; except for this room.

The door opened with a screech and I was welcome with a cloud of dust. The room was bare, just like it had been for the past three years. I didn't know why, but part of me had expected there to be little toy soldiers, poetry books and old movie posters that wouldn't stick to the wall anymore littering the floor. In the midst of it all would be the young blonde boy with the curls of an angel, pondering how he was going to clean his mess. I sat down in the middle of the room. There was no obvious sign that anybody had visited the room, hardly lived in it, for a long time. I don't remember how long I stayed like that, in the dusty old room. I also don't remember how I had somehow awoken in the middle of the night, tucked warmly in my own bed. Beside me, on the bedside table, was a cold bowl of Kraft Dinner. The only thing I remembered was falling asleep to the memories of the young angel's laughter. A laughter I'd never get to hear in person again.