Delicate by Young _Wizard

Chapter 9: Picture of the Past

>>Picture of the Past<< 

         I carefully took the picture in my hands and was surprised by how fragile it was. Even from the looks of it, it looks like it would collapse into a pile of dust in my hands. 

        The picture was rough, torn, wrinkled, and black and white.  

        The image showed Jackie with a little boy that had pale skin, shaggy hair, and calming black eyes. His eyes might have been another color, it's just that the picture didn't show it. 

        Jackie and the boy's arms were hooked together. They looked like they were best friends. Jackie wore casual clothes while the boy had trousers and a tuxedo on. The background looked like they were at an abandoned park. 

        I turned the picture around, and surprisingly found an address: 307 North Burgerar St. Nashville, TN  

        I gasped and clutched the picture more tightly in my hands. I finally found something! Sure, I don't know if this person, the boy, lives in this address, but it was worth a shot. If he's still there, I could ask him a few questions about Jackie. 

         I drink a sip from my juice that Elizabeth brought to me and it tastes like oranges. I savour the delicious taste, feeling as if it were the only thing good happening to be right now. 

        I stand up from my bed and glanced at the tray of foot. My sandwhich was half eaten, I didn't even eat my apple, and my juice is left still full. It would be embarassing for people to think I didn't eat it all when they gave it to me. 

        I decided quickly and sat back down on the bed, grabbed the tray and began to eat. I ate the sandwhich as fast as I could without choking, I ate half of the apple, and drank my juice down to the last drop. I didn't realized how hungry I was. I guess thrashing and swimming in water makes you exhausted. 

        I put the tray down on the bed, hoping Elizabeth would find it and clean it. Wait, that sounded selfish. 

        I scanned the room for a paper, and was greatfull to find a pile of postits on a table that I assumed was for studying. 

        I dashed toward it, smoothed a post it note out and began to write with a pen that sat right next to it: I'll be off somewhere, Elle. Please clean off my room... sorry for the demands, it's important. Thanks.  

        I stuck the note on the crumby tray and headed toward the door.

        Right when I was about to leave my room, I bumped right into someone and we both crumbled to in a heap on the floor.

        I groan and touch my forehead where we collided. It felt like hitting your forehead against a cement wall.

        "Aria?" Elizabeth called. I looked up and noticed her offering my a hand. I take it and she uses her body weight to pull me up.

        "Sorry Elle..."I gestured in the room, "I left a note out for you in case you were going to come in. But now since you're here, I need to ask you a favor"

        "Oh, alright. Out with it"

        "I need you to drive me to this address" I show her the back of the picture. She bites her lip nervously and looks at me.

        "Aria... what are you planning? Where did you get this picture? Why are you wanting me to take you to this place?" Elizabeth questions, tilting her head sideways while looking at me curiously.