Polaroid

Chapter 6

daisy was amazed to see ainsley back in the store. “ohhh, you’re back! hello ainsley dear, i didn’t expect you! how are you dear?” ainsley had forgotten how cluttery the store was. “i’m great daisy, how are you?” daisy was absentmindedly cleaning as she responded. “i’m alright dear. thank you so much for dropping by!” ainsley smiled kindly. “no problem.” daisy seemed to remember something suddenly. “would you like to come upstairs? i live above the store, i can make you a sandwich, you’re so skinny…” ainsley started following daisy upstairs.

daisy’s house was very stereotypical old lady house. filled with lace and frills, ainsley just knew there had to be a cat somewhere. she looked at the pictures on the walls of family members, and walked into a pleasant kitchen where daisy was fixing sandwiches and tea. “so how do you like school, ainsley? have you made any friends?” ainsley took a bite of her finger sandwich, and nodded her head. “i’ve made a few.” daisy gasped and sat down next to her at the table. “tell me all their names.”

ainsley described all her new friends, leaving eli for last. when she finished, daisy gave her a look. ainsley copied her. “what?” daisy smiled knowingly. “sounds like you like this eli boy.” ainsley gasped. “what?” daisy got her more tea. “they way you talk about him. and the look on your face…” ainsley could feel her face get red. “i’ve only just met him two days ago…” she sipped her tea. daisy sighed. “have you never heard of love at first sight?”

ainsley left daisy’s house feeling confused, and like she was in some cheesy, poorly written novel. love at first sight didn’t exist. she wasn’t even sure if love itself existed. ainsley decided to push the conversation to the back of her mind. she’ll worry about love and eli later.

but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen. ainsley was idling at a stoplight on her way home when she heard honking next to her. she looked over, mildly annoyed, but the driver was the last person she expected to see. eli was leaning out his window, telling her to roll hers down. ainsley listened to him and leaned across the car. “hey! follow me.” so when the light turned green, ainsley got behind his car and followed him to a park. she got out of the car, and walked over to the sidewalk. eli came to her side, and smiled. of course.

“hey,” he said again. “hey,” she mimicked. “what were you doing out?” he asked.

“i was just going home from a bookstore. what were you doing out?”

“i was going home from andy’s house. did you know none of his family eats meat either? i haven’t eaten cheese pizza since his 15th birthday party.”

ainsley laughed. “why did you bring me here?” in front of them was a deserted playground. eli started walking up to it, and sat in a swing entirely too small for him. ainsley sat in the swing next to him. “this was my favourite place as a kid.” ainsley looked at his face. it was built like a 17 year old, but his eyes had the glint of a mischevious 4 year old. it was an odd combination. “i never had a favourite place. i never even had a semi decent place.” he met her gaze. “what do you mean?” ainsley sighed and looked away.

“well, i’ve never liked being at home. and school was a drag. i never had anyway to get away, if that makes sense. nowhere was home. and i guess that really pushed me off course. i hated florida. and i still hate home. but at least now i have friends. and, you know, i don’t absolutely hate waking up in the morning.”

ainsley regretted telling him that much almost immediately. she had said too much. it looked like eli didn’t know what to say. so, like always, ainsley apologized. “i’m sorry,” he shook it off. “you shouldn’t be. i just expected your answer to be more like, i dunno, light, if that makes sense.” it was ainsley’s turn to not know what to say. “sorry,” she said quietly. eli breathed out hard. “well. are you looking forward to tomorrow?” because they were going to dreyson’s the next day. “oh, definitely. i’ve never gone over to a friend’s house before. sorry. i didn’t mean to make it negative again.”

eli laughed lightly. “you seem to be really good at that. ainsley laughed in response. she started to say “i guess” when her phone started ringing. she pulled it out of her pocket, and her eyes widened. “are you going to answer that?” ainsley looked at him and put a finger to her lips before answering the call.

“where have you been!! you should know to call us, you worthless brat!! come home right now if you know what’s good for you!!!!” ainsley hung up the phone without a word. “i have to go, they’ll be trashing my room soon --” eli held up a hand. “wait wait wait, what happened?” ainsley didn’t wait though. she was off to her car, and almost left without answering. “that was my mom, she’s really manic right now. call me later, okay?” and she drove off without another word, leaving eli waiting on the sidewalk.