17 | H.S

Chapter 2 - Black Liquorice

2

Black Liquorice

Now

I have a hard time remembering anything after my black out that day. I know I was taken to the hospital because that is where my parents picked me up. And I know the Newspapers called it the "Elbridge School Shooting," from what I saw my father reading on the couch a day later. He assured me neither mine, Beth's or the boys' names were in there; just victim 1, victim 2, et cetera. I remember the announcement a couple days after the... accident that school would be finishing early that year. Not that it was a big deal. Finals were over and we only had three days left. I remember the broadcast about the shooter and how he was never found. That news caused me to sleep with my parents for a good solid week. I remember being able to get full nights of sleep every night. That doesn't happen so much anymore.

That summer I stuck to family. I would hang out with my mom every morning until she had to go to work. Then I'd take my younger sister- Isabelle, Isa for short- wherever she needed to go. Then I'd hang out with my older brother Eli until my father came home. Throughout the day I would jump from family member to family member. I was hardly alone. I skipped the concert Beth and I had tickets to and I skipped any memorial services anyone had for her, Ethan, or Jesse. I was practically dragged to her funeral though; Eli being the one to finally convince me to go. It was outdoors, probably because of the lovely Oregon summer weather we were having that year. It was closed casket and everyone wore black. Beth would have smiled; two things she loved, black and summer. I preferred the winter season.

We were a few days out of the next semester of school approaching and my mother was getting anxious for the both of us. The beginning of the summer her and my father sat me down and offered the idea of changing schools and even possibly moving, but I shied away from their ideas. I thought it would be pointless since I would be graduating this year. And I didn't want to rip Isa from her friends- even though I didn't have that problem since mine were no longer here. "Besides, in a few months I will be in a college far away from here like Eli will soon be." I told them. Eli was searching for colleges that summer. He graduated just a couple days before the accident.

My mom, Isa and I spent the day in the kitchen baking whatever we could. I think she was just trying keep us both busy so we wouldn't think about what was coming up in the next couple of days. "There are some new neighbors just right next to us and I thought it be a kind gesture if we brought over some cookies as a welcome gift!" She explained but I knew her better than that. I tried my best to smile and laugh with her and my sister but I couldn't find it in me. I hadn't laughed or smiled in months.

In the end, my mother sent Isa and I to deliver the cookies. I dreaded meeting new people and she knew that, but this was part of her master plan for me to "branch out" and possibly "make new friends." Although the second idea she kept to herself and just hoped that I might. But jokes on her, I was not planning on making any friends any time soon.

Isa rang the doorbell as I held the tray of sweets. When the door opened a lady appeared. She seemed to be around my mother's age and had a few features that resembled her. They both shared the dark brown hair and were about the same height. This lady just had blue eyes instead of brown and her hair was more wavy then straight.

"Hi," Isa greeted. "We are your new neighbors and our mother had us send over some cookies as a welcoming gift. I'm Isa and this is Nora."

"Well thank you so much!" The lady smiled a warm smile. "I'm Mrs. Styles but you can call me Anne. Please come in!" Her accent rang through my ears and I could tell she was from somewhere overseas. She took us into her house and guided us to the living room. "Just let me go put these in the kitchen, I will be right back." I took this as an invite to look around. The house seemed to be well unpacked and I spotted only a few unopened boxes by the stairs. I took a look at one of the walls covered in different sized picture frames and Isa's gaze followed mine. "Is this your family?" She asked and I turned to find Anne coming back into the living room to join us. "Yes that is my daughter Gemma. She's back in the UK finishing up her degree."

"And who's that?" My sister points to a boy around my age. He is taller than his mother and sister and has a much defined face. His jaw is sharp and his green eyes pierce through the picture. His curly hair is long but it suits him, very well. "Oh that is my son Harry." Anne's voice breaks me from my trance. "He will be attending Elbridge High this year as a senior. Do either of you attend at Elbridge?"

"Nora does." My sister points to me. "I'll be an incoming freshman this year."

"Oh well that's lovely!" Anne looks to me. "You will have to meet Harry-"

"Who will have to meet me?" A strong voice interrupts Anne. We all look up to the stairs to find a boy, I'm guessing to be Harry, standing there. Staring at us. Staring at me. I grow uncomfortable with his gaze and look away. He smirks.

"Harry this is Isa and Nora..."

"Madden." My sister says.

"Isa and Nora Madden." Anne continues. "They are our new neighbors. Nora will actually be attended Elbridge as a senior as well." When I look up Harry has already made his way down the stairs and is standing in front of us now. He pushes his brown curls back with his long fingers as he looks me up and down, smirking. He is wearing a dress shirt with an abundance of different patterns it is almost overwhelming. The sleeves are rolled as if a five year old did them and the shirt is unbuttoned exposing his bare, tattooed chest which is overwhelming. A white bandana hangs loosely around his neck befriending a couple of necklaces. His pants were black and tight and dress boots rested upon his feet. He had to vines of black liquorice in his large hand as he took one to his mouth biting it as if it were nothing. I cringed at his ability to eat that shit. He saw the disgust in my face and smirked another devilish smirk.

Anne's question breaks the building tension between the two of us, "So Nora you must've been there when the shooting happened last year correct?"

The numbness returned and I know you could see it in my eyes. Harry's head cocked in confusion with my response to her question and his eyebrows furrowed. But Isa was there to save me. Like always. I sometimes felt bad for her. The older sister should be the one protecting the younger sister; not the other way around. "Yeah she was but that was a blurry day... for everyone."

"Oh of course, of course."

"Well yeah, we should get going. We just wanted to stop by and say welcome to the neighborhood!" Isa says.

"Thank you so much for the cookies!" Anne thanks us again.

"No problem. Our mother baked a lot today. I'm pretty sure we are out of sugar." Isa jokes, but it's true. We did run out. Mom's a maniac in the kitchen. "Have a good rest of your day." Isa cheers as we walk out the door. I relax for now.