M U T E

|| 30 ||

Something is missing.

I've been feeling this way since February. It's the beginning of April now, and spring break is coming up. That means Easter. This is my favorite holiday for one reason. Egg-hunting. I love it. I love the joy of looking around for small colorful eggs that are hidden. My mom always hides one golden egg in a special place. It's different every year, but always the hardest to find. Whoever finds it gets the big prize. I've found it every year. 

Things have been changing this past month. Bryce and I hang out here and there, but I work a lot, so we aren't able to hang out too much. Myra and I are becoming closer than before, and I talk more to her than I have in the past. I even sometimes dance with her in my room doing silly moves. 

Jocelyn and I didn't speak for a couple weeks after our talk. It was hard for us to be around each other. We still aren't best friends or close at all. We can stand each other now. We are aware of all the pain the two of us have caused for each other. We don't want to hurt each other more. It's a working process to bandage up the wounds. These things take time. 

It's Wednesday now, and I'm putting up Easter decorations with my mom. Two more days till spring break starts. We have the egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Myra always comes. This year, I also invited Bryce. Our cousins come over every year as well to join us. Most of the family comes to our house for Easter. However, the hunt consists of the kids only. Except my uncle who loves doing the hunt. He challenges me every year for the golden egg. It's always the same results with me finding it. My uncle always says I'm quiet with a lot of wit.

I have 6 cousins that are joining in on the hunt. 

Marco and Jay, they are fraternal twins (boy and girl), and they are both 5 years old. Ariana is 7. My brothers are constantly messing with her, and they get competitive during the hunt. Hunter and Myraga are my age. They don't care much for it, but participate anyway. Then, there is Riley. She's 12, and she loves the hunt as much as me. Actually, she does pretty well. We are quite similar to each other, both of us being quiet and have a love for books. 

Mom and I finish with decorations, and she suggests the idea of taking me out to lunch. I agree, and we go. I like any time I can spend with mom.

* * * *

"Reyna!" I hear the voice of Bryce's Aunt Jess calling my name.

She rushes up to us and gives me a hug.

"What a coincidence seeing you here!" She turns to my mom, and reaches a hand out to her, "hi, you must be Reyna's mother. I'm Bryce's Auntie Jess."

Mom shakes her hand, smiling at her, "nice to meet you." 

"You should come sit with us. I'd love to get to know you," Jess suggests.

Mom loves that idea, and we follow Jess to a table. Bryce is sitting there, and suddenly, my heart starts racing. I take a seat by Bryce, and my mom sits across from me, next to Jess. Bryce smiles at my mother.

"Hello, Mrs. Murray. How have you been?" Bryce greets.

"I've been great, how about you?"

They go into some small talk as I look at the menu. I feel something brush up against my hand. My heart starts racing again, and my cheeks turn pink. Seconds later, Bryce takes my hand in his. Our hands are hidden under the table. 

I lean over to whisper in Bryce's ear, "C-can you order for m-me?" 

 He laughs, "yeah, of course."

I hold onto his hand tighter as my nervous levels sky rocket. I point out on the menu what I want. When they waiter comes by, he orders for the both of us. My mom and his aunt are really getting along. They have been talking to each other the whole time while Bryce and I have been quiet. The last time he held my hand like this was at the concert. I don't know why he's doing it, and it's got me so confused. He lets go of my hand when the food comes. He just acts so normal while I am mentally freaking out. I have that weird feeling creeping up in every part of my body again. What is this?

* * * *

It's finally Easter. All my family is over. Bryce and Myra are here as well. I'm sitting on the floor in the midst of everyone's chit chat. I'm trying to place out where the golden egg has been hidden over the past years, and where it could possibly be this year. Then in the midst of my thoughts, I feel an arm around me.

"Whatchu thinking about?" Bryce asks. 

 I quickly push him off and hug my knees to my chest. 

He chuckles. "Sorry," he says.

"So, who's your boyfriend, Reyna?" My Aunt Crystal asks.

Oh, no. 

 "Woah, Reyna has a boyfriend?" My uncle now walks in the room, "oh, look at that! There he is! A handsome one, you found yourself." 

Then it starts. Everyone starts asking questions. They don't give us a chance to tell them that we are certainly not together. Bryce stays pretty calm, though. He puts his arm around me, and easily answers all their questions. He doesn't say that we are dating, but doesn't mention that we are not.

After all of that, it's the most exciting part of the day. It's hunting time! All the eggs are readily hidden in the backyard. The backyard is decorated, and has many hiding places. We have a little woods part as well. My mom liked to look in some cracks of trees to hide eggs there. I went for some easy findings first. 

I eventually found myself in the woodsy part of my backyard. I think this is where that golden egg must be. I think there's this perfect hollow where my mom would think of placing it. I turn around a tree about to get to it, but-

Oh my god. What?! I quickly hide behind a tree. Jocelyn. And-and Hunter. My cousin?! They met today! Yet, here they are kissing in the woods. Not only that, but it is also right in front of the tree I was looking for, not like it matters.

I mean, I did see them flirting before.. I guess they were flirting. I just didn't realize till now. They just met. I walk out of the woods part. Oh, perfect. 

Bryce is holding the golden egg up high. He is showing off a brilliant smile. I roll my eyes. 

"You got me," I say to him in a quiet voice. 

He pulls me closer to him in a side hug. Everyone goes and congratulates Bryce in his winnings. He's the first person to beat me, so they are making a real fuss. I am staring at the woods waiting for the two lovebirds to walk out. They do. They look perfectly normal as if they weren't just kissing back there. 

"Hey, Reyna. I have something for you," Bryce whispers in my ear.

I look at him, and he is smiling back at me with that brilliant smile of his.