Kianda

10 *Sasha*

It's Friday, so there's an archery lesson today. I ask Jake to come with me, as I don't know many people here. He nods. "Yea, when school has ended, we'll meet at the tree?" "Sure, see you then," I say, and walk to my lesson. I open my books, and write the needed notes down, but apart from that, I don't pay attention. As usual. I turn my pages in my notebook to the one where I've got my drawing. First, I start drawing some doodles, simple, small, easy drawings. They're all over the paper when I start continuing on the 'main' drawing.

At the end of the day, I walk to my locker and put the books of which I know I will not need, in it. I grab my coat and walk outside. But before I'm at the door, Katy stops me. "Hey girl. Have ya got some time to hang out? We could go to my house and watch some series?" she asks me. My answer goes: "Uhm... sorry, Katy, but I've got some things to do this afternoon. I've got an archery lesson and I want to finish my homework today, so that I can do fun things tomorrow." She grins, saying: "Ahh, that. I won't interrupt such a thing, ya know. Have fun!" Then she walks away.

I see Jake's there already. I walk straight up to him, and ask him if he's ready. I don't expect any other answer than 'yes', though. He nods and stands up, saying: "Let's go." We walk away, in the direction of the archery club. While we walk, we talk about lots of useless stuff. At one point, he asks me about my drawing while class. "I've seen ya drawing all the time, in your notebook. And it's one particular drawing, or different other doodles. Whatcha drawing?" he asks me. How am I going to tell him that? Should I even tell him that? I decide not to. "Oh, it's just any boy. Some sort of OC, if you know what that means." He nods slowly. "It's really pretty." I feel my cheeks burn. It's warm weather, though, so I don't think he'll notice it. "Thanks," I answer. The rest of the walk is kind of quiet, then.

"Ahh, welcome back! This one here, is your bow for now, Jake," Rick points at a wooden bow somewhere in the rack, "and that one right there would be yours," he points again and when I follow his finger I see another wooden bow. I walk up to it, and see that if you look closely, you can find some small details in the wood. Lines, circles and dots. They form a whole pattern which is beautiful. I grab it and feel its light weight in my hands. This would definitely do. "Ya like it, hm? Another girl used to shoot with it, she was a great archer. Nobody knows where she is, though," I hear Rick say behind me. Again that girl. "Anyways, let's not ponder on this for any longer. Let's hit that bullseye." Jake walks up to the line and so do I.

At about the end of the lesson, I ask again: "That girl you talked about, who was she?" "Her name was Sophie. I forgot her last name. Thinking of her, ya look like her a bit. Doesn't she, Jake?" Jake turns around to face us. "Yea, she does. I thought it was Sophie Shindes, wasn't it?" Rick nods slowly. "I think you're right. You have just the same blue eyes." I open my mouth to say something back, but no sound comes out, so I close it again. So it is Sophie Shindes. If she wasn't safe here, what about me then? "Sasha? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Jake puts his bow in the rack and walks up to me right away. Finally sound escapes my mouth. "I- I know, no I mean... I knew... I knew Sophie Shindes. She was my best friend... until certain events separated us. I never heard of her ever since." I feel tears burn in my eyes. It's weak, but I let them flow down my cheeks. I look at my feet. I just can't look in their eyes right now. All is silent for a few seconds. Then I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up right into Jakes eyes. They're filled with concern. Why is that? He's just a boy, and no boys care about how girls feel about their friends, right? "It's allright. That she disappeared, doesn't mean she's dead." I know that he's only trying to make me feel better, so I sigh. "I think you should go home," he says. Rick answers: "All fine by me. I'll stow away your bows, don't worry about it." He smiles. Jakes pushes me forward gently and we walk together in the direction of the school until we split just past school.