Unlikely Friends

Caia

Caia

"Caia... Caia, please come out dear." My mother was gently knocking on my bedroom door.

"I'll come down in a minute, I'm reading right now." Or at least trying to... I added to myself silently.

I heard my mother sigh and then footsteps going down the stairs. The truth was that I had been on my bed crying, staring at my ceiling, attempting to read a funny book, then repeating the whole process over and over again.

I couldn't sleep, I didn't have an appetite, and school passed in a blur. The only person I talked to outside of my immediate family was Andrew. Now most girls would be overjoyed to have their crushes calling them at least twice a day, but Andrew's persistent calling and worry only made me think of Cassy more.

I turned over in my bed and looked at the framed picture of my best friend and I.

"Oh Cassy..." A sob escaped my mouth as I buried my face in my pillow just as my phone rang. I gingerly took a deep breath and wiped the tear from my eyes. I picked up the phone and answered my voice cracking and sounding ragged, almost a whisper.

"Hello?"

"Get up."

"Andrew I appreciate it but right now I would really like to be left alone."

"Kai please okay? Get ready. We're going to the movies."

"Andrew-"

"I'll be there in 15 minutes." And he hung up.

I sighed contemplating what to do. I didn't want to go or do anything, but I had a feeling that if I wasn't ready to go when Andrew got here he would find a way to make me.

I walked over to my closet and shakily grabbed a white shirt with blue, black, and silver designs and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. I opened my door carefully not to make a sound and walked across the hallway to the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror and almost cringed. My face was ghostly pale, but my eyes were red and swollen, making it look as if I had been punched repeatedly. I turned on the hair-straightener and started washing my face while it heated up, then put on a little bit of make up.

When I finished straightening my hair I went back into my room and put on a pair of converses. I then grabbed my hoodie and zipped it up. Once I had stuffed a tiny bit of cash into my pocket I grabbed my phone and walked down stairs.

My brother was in the living room working on homework and my mom was in the kitchen, my dad must be in his study working.

I turned into the kitchen and when she saw me she smiled,

"I didn't think that you would go with Andrew."

"He was quite persistent." Her smiled widened when I sat down and nibbled on half of a grilled cheese sandwich

"So it's alright if I go?" I asked, once I had finished the sandwich and taken a sip of water.

"Of course, sweetie." She was careful not to bring up anything and I was grateful for that.

A knock at the door announced Andrew's arrival and I slowly walked to the door after giving my mom a kiss on the cheek and saying goodbye.

I opened the door and stepped outside, then closed the door behind me. I wrapped my arms around my chest and my shoulders slumped a little.

"Are you cold?" Andrew asked with a small smile. I shook my head.

"Oh come on Kai. You're not going to get all shy around me of all people!"

"I'm sorry. I-I just-"

"It's alright." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders in a friendly way and we started off down the street towards the movie theater.

"So what movie do you want to see?"

"Oh um..." I didn't even know what movies were out.

"Are you in for a horror story? A comedy? Action? Fantasy? Romance? Chickflick?" I laughed and he smiled.

"Comedy." I laughed a little harder; it felt good.

"Thank you." I smiled and put my arm around his waist and we walked together down the street.

After awhile he said, "You know, you're mom said we can stay out as late as we want. That she trusts me to look after you."

"Really. My mom said that she doesn't care how long we stay out?" I said in utter disbelief.

"Yup. And you know Kai, watching out for you means making you feel better too." He turned to look at me and I felt a lump building in my throat, I knew what was coming.

"Andrew I don't want to talk about-"

"I know you don't, but your mom is worried about you, and so am I. I want to help you, but you have to let me." He gave my shoulder a squeeze and we continued walking.

"I will. It's just hard right now."

"I know. But please promise me that you won't keep all of this to yourself, and that when you're ready you'll come and talk to me."

"I will. And when I'm ready I'll talk to my mom too."

"Good." He smiled and I smiled too.

He may be my only friend... I thought to myself as we reached the movies

Andrew went and bought the tickets while I went to go get us some popcorn and drinks. When I turned around he was right there and I nearly dropped everything I was holding.

"Andrew!"

"What?" He asked through fits of laughter. I though he was going to wet himself.

"I almost dropped everything."

"Now that would've been funny." He started laughing again while we walked toward theater seven.

The previews were still playing so I told Andrew that I was going to go to the bathroom before the movie started.

"Okay," he said.

I walked into the bathroom, which seemed empty. When I was finished I went to wash my hands and nearly had a heart attack when a voice behind me said, "Well aren't you a lucky one."

I spun around and instinctively put my hands up, flinging water everywhere.

"Who-who are you?" My voice came out as a whisper and I chided myself for being so shy.

"Well my dear open your eyes and you will see." I didn't even realize that my eyes had been shut.

When I opened them I am quite sure my jaw dropped because I saw a grown women before me wearing a feathery white shirt and white pants. Her hair was medium length and and auburn color, but what surprised me most was her mouth, it was almost like it was beak shaped.

"Um, I still don't know who you are." She made a tisking sound with her mouth.

"I am Mother Goose darling and you should probably put you hands down before you cause a flood in your untrained state." Okay I had no idea what that meant but I put my hands down.

"Good, well I expect you to be there on time. Also good luck on your crush in there." She winked at me. This was getting kind of weird.

"Okay um, lady, Mother Goose, whoever you are-" She cut me off

"Now now my dear I must be off, and so should you, the movie is about to start and Andrew is wondering where you are."

"But-"

"And one last thing dear, if your hands start to glow do not be alarmed. Now ta ta!" She waved and disappeared into a puff of smoke leaving a letter with a white feather on the ground where she had just been standing. Against my better judgement I gingerly picked it up and put it in my back pocket then ran off toward theater seven where Andrew was waiting for me.