Crossed Paths

The encounter

A thought crossed my mind: What if I had died too? Or maybe instead of. Three loving people would be alive and I'd be gone.

It's funny how life is taken from the lively and life is given to the unwilling. Not funny, but sad.

I'm Nalia Tanis Barren. I'm the unwilling and my family was the lively.
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Riiinng

The minute bell rang, but still didn't put me in any hurry. I'd say I was walking to 6th period, but it felt more as dragging my way along the hallway. Counting the steps as I walked to keep my thoughts in order. It was the only way to keep myself going. 'Chemistry was Kyla's favorite subject'- no I can't do that. Not right now. I have to keep counting.

1-2-3-4-5-6, and I arrived at the door. Not hesitating to open it seeing as I was already late. The teachers are still lenient with my tardies. Mostly because they feel bad. It would bother me that they pity me, but I don't care anymore. Mrs.Read looked up from her computer screen and probably marked me on time when she turned back to her screen. I took my seat in the second row, last seat.

"Take your notebooks out, we have plenty to get done today", Mrs.Read announced. I got out my notebook, but the last notes I took in it was October 16th.

And the teacher drained on while I starred. Out the window, at the teacher, or sometimes reviewing old notes from the start of the year. A note set on my desk interrupted my thoughts.

It was from Tom, my ex-boyfriend.
<how hav u been?>

I looked up and saw him give me a pitiful smile. I gave him a hopefully convincing smile and put the note in my binder. We dated towards the last of the school year and throughout the summer. I broke up with him at the beginning of October.

'I can't think about that!' my thoughts screamed at me. I dug my fingernails in the back of my hand in-order to stop the train of thoughts that might follow if I continue.

7th period was band class, but I don't usually go. The bell rang for the start of class and I went out the double doors of the school and into the harsh December air. With my gloves, hat, scarf, and jacket, I began my mile walk home. Well, to my aunt's house. I start counting.

"Excuse me..?" A timid voice spoke up. I looked up and saw an average boy. Maybe 5' 3'', dark brown hair that was matted down with his stocking hat. He wore holy gloves and a hoodie with dark blue jeans sagging down to his dirt covered nikes.

"C-could you spare a dollar?" He asked shyly.

He almost looked hurt by his question. He looked up at me the back down at the ground. My guess is that he was about 12.

"Where's your parents?" I asked kneeling down beside him. I quickly regretted the question I asked when I saw his eyes water and my heart broke a little bit more when his bottom lip began to quiver.

"I, uh... Never mind." He started to walk away. I stood up and gently grabbed his arm.

"Wait, uh.." Trying to find something to say, "Do you like gummy bears?"
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We sat at the white tiled kitchen table with a bowl of multi-colored gummy bears. The young boy, now named Carson, slowly ate handful by handful of gummy bears. I was only on my second handful, taking small bites. He reminded me of a little brother that I wished I had.

"Are you gonna tell me why you were outside in the cold? Shouldn't you be in school or something?" I looked at Carson questionably.

"Shouldn't you have been in school, too?" He questioned back. He had a point, but I wasn't going to let him redirect the question back onto me.

"Seriously, why were you out there?" I looked at him and Carson's eyes dropped down at the table.

"I don't like my moms boyfriend.." He answered sadly. He looked down at his hands that were resting on the table. His posture seemed so timid and fragile that made me want to hug him, but I sat there wondering what he meant by that.

The silence grew and so did the discomfort. I wanted to say something comforting, but my mind began to shut down like usual.

1-2-3- "Is there someone I need to call to come pick you up or do I need to take you home?" I took a deep breath.

He sighed. "Can I use your phone to call my brother?" Carson asked giving in.

"Ya, of course." I handed him my iPhone with a clear pink cover. He dialed and shyly walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. I could only hear muffled sounds.

I sat in the silence for a while, waiting for Carson to be done. My eyes wandered across the kitchen. It was a nice kitchen. A marble island with a countryside theme. The house was all together nice. My aunt was a lawyer so money wasn't a problem. I probably interrupted her lifestyle.

"My brother's on his way." Carson stands in the kitchen doorway.

"Alright..." I sat there awkwardly. "You wanna watch tv? I'll let you pick the show?"

"Sure, why not." He shrugs and we walk into the living room. I grab the remote and turn on the big flat screen tv and then handed the remote over.

It couldn't have been 20 minutes when I heard a knock on the door. I got up and answered the door.

Starting from the black converse, up the 5 8' figure, to the shaped face with fine lips, light brown eyes, and dark brown hair.

"Hey... Uh, I'm Logan."
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A/N
Bonjour! This would be the first book that I've decided to publish so comments are very much appreciated. If you catch a spelling error or something, don't be shy to comment! Don't forget to vote and tell me what you think^^
~Madeline