Obscure

Chapter 2

"Locks"

None of the lights seem to be on from the outside. The single lightbulb on the porch is flickering on and off, swinging left and right as the wind blows. No one must be home with how dead and silent it is. The Laclaire house is usually booming with deep chuckles and piercing screams.
I open the door and turn on the lights. My mother stirs up from her nap on the couch.
"Hi, Amy," she sighs. It's almost eleven at night. On a normal night she would be asleep by eight but thirty minutes ago, I called her. Letting her know there was a time sensitive matter to discuss that couldn't wait 'till morning.
In reality, it could have but I know myself. I would lay awake at night creating a list of reasons why I shouldn't go. I would talk myself out of the opportunity and miss my chance. If the idea really was insane, I'd let my mother and grandpa come to that conclusion.
"Hi, mom." I settled next to her on the couch. My aching legs grateful for the rest. After a two hour game and hour long talk with both my couch and the scout, they felt more like jelly than bones. We sat in silence until a short little man shuffled in the door, my heavy school bags in hand.
Immediately, my mother leaves her tired trance and the fire within her ignites. "Amy! Why is Papa carrying your bags? You have perfectly capable legs and arms to do that yourself!"
My papi laughs. He sets down the bags and shakes his head at my mother's concern. "I'm fine, ma vie. I just needed the exercise is all."
Her disbelief evident by the way she shakes her head and stares at me in disappointment.
I slide off the coach to make room for papi and to isolate myself as the only person in the room standing. All eyes are on me. Waiting for the grand presentation I'm about to give. I'm not even ready.
With a deep breath, I begin. "As you know... this season has been exceptionally well for me. So well," I slow myself down, trying to hide my huge smile about to break out, "that tonight a scout talked to me."
My sentence drowns in the loud shouts from both my mom and papi. Declaring their confusion and the stupidity of the scouts in a lengthy trial of obscene words. Then they stop. And then the shouts begin again. Except this time, they're celebrating. Congratulating me and suffocating me in bear tight hugs.
"That's great, ma poupette!"Papi kisses my cheek.
My mother holds me close and whispers in my ear, "You did it, Amy." Her hands clasped my cheeks and under Papi's racket, sneaks in, "Your dad would be so proud of you." My face softens against her finger tips. I can feel my cheeks warm up as tears threaten to spill from my eyes. I won't cry, I repeatedly tell myself, I won't cry.
The commotion dies down and we finally sit down and talk like civil people. Papi is the first to speak.
"What school?"
"Balcones Preparatory. In Virginia."
Papi is grinning the whole time. Awestruck at my luck. Mother, on the other hand, is not so dumbfounded.
"Balcones? That's not a college." I can see the gears turning in her head and she puts the pieces together. About how if I took the spot on their team, I would be moving across the state border. How much it would cost the family. How horrible this supposed "miracle" really was. "Amy... that's an expensive school. You know we can't afford that or even a plane ticket to Virginia."
Papi frowns now. Assessing the new information brought to light.
"Yes, but the scout mentioned a scholarship. And it's the second best team in the nation. The fact that Balcones even wants me is astonishing. And a scholarship... It's incredible!"
The mention of a scholarship alters the conversation. But there's still many other obstacles.
"The plane ticket is expensive," my mother counters.
"We can take a road trip," I offer.
"It's too far."
"But it's free," I remind her.
"Balcones...," Papi mutters, "Balcones, that sounds familiar."
"It's a new school, you won't have any friends."
I contemplate whether I should state the obvious introvert fact that I have no friends already. That I live off nervous, small talk with strangers for human interaction, but I don't want to worry her. "I'll make new ones," I lie. I know that's unlikely to happen.
Papi jumps up in his seat. "Balcones! That Prince girl received a scholarship there."
I use this new information to my advantage. "See! Francesca will be there so I'll already have a friend."
"Francesca? Our old neighborhood?"
Papi eagerly nods his head. Basking in his achievement of remembering that small detail, especially since lately, they haven't come to him easily.
"Hm." She registers this information for awhile. I don't speak a word. Waiting for her to give her final verdict. Secretly, I hope that without any interruptions, she'll come to the right decision. In my book, there's only one right decision and that's to let me go to Balcones. "Did the scout give you a number to call? I want to sit down with them first before I say yes to anything."
"Yes," I quickly answer. I don't bother hiding my excitement. I'm at home. Comfortable and safe. I can express myself here.

x

By twelve, I'm tucked away in my room. I can still here the low conversation between Papi and Mom about Balcones. Papi advocating for the move and Mom countering his arguments. I don't listen in. All my life I've cultivated the idea that if I mind the business of others, they'll mind my own. The philosophy has yet to fail and no doubt the scholarship from Balcones is evidence of my good karma. It took sixteen years but I'm finally reaping my rewards for ignoring curiosity.
I click through photos of Balcones on my computer. Admiring the Victorian exterior of the school and it's exemplary reviews and awards. Going through the online album, a set of photos catches my eyes. A virtual tour of their campus library captures my heart as I set my eyes on leather bound books and tall shelves reaching the ceiling. In my head, I tell myself I'm looking at heaven.
I imagine myself in the library. My fingers gliding against the decaying spines of the books. Reading the worn lettering and smelling the faint pine fragrance each used book carries. I marvel at how ideal the library looks. Grand and cozy. It's my type of hideaway.
I research Balcones further. Reading articles from their local and student newspaper. I'm about to close the computer when a news article comes up that peaks my interest. The headline reads:

"Alexandria Police ask for public's assistance locating missing child"

Besides it, safari shows an image of a girl. The familiarity of the picture reigns on me and I recollect running my hands through her silky, smooth hair. Everything about her causes lost memories to resurface in my head as scenes from my childhood play in my mind. The backflip in the shallow pool that caused the small scar on her chin. Her hazel eyes staring through me as she asked a long list of questions about a stranger we pass on the street. Early Saturday mornings at the ballet studio, laughing at our funny instructor. I click on the article, defying my promise to ignore curiosity. I never read it, though. The sound of my doorknob turning sends me into an adrenaline rush.
I close the screen and dash for my bed. Freezing in a sleeping position before the hallway light can expose me to my mother. She stands in the doorway for a second and then leaves.
I don't bother getting back up but rather let myself sleep. Tonight I don't escape to a world of ivies but rather retire in an old memory.
There's morning light shining through large panel windows. A forest of suitcases and check in desks surround me. A girl my age is looking at me, a pained smile on her face as she says goodbye. She turns her head and disappears down a long tunnel. The dream doesn't end with the sound of stomping boots. Instead, the loud turbulence of a plane whisks her away in the sky. Leaving me alone in an airport, crying in the arms of Papi as I watch the plane grow smaller and smaller until it's a minuscule dot among the clouds.

this story has already somewhat been written except it was a messy first few chapters that didn't tie together whatsoever, i'm aiming to rewrite the beginning to tie in details that come in later on and to write on a more consistent schedule so important details don't be left behind

so technically this is the second rough draft but it's still another three drafts away from being considered the final edit

note: i did change the MC's name from emma to amy; as someone who is friends with someone who is named emma, it just seemed odd to have a character with that name

same drill as always; vote, add, and follow to support the story and me as the author, it's very much appreciated

-roseliane