Broken

Chapter 3

Memories, people say you hold onto them for a lifetime, me? I think that memories are things you think about when there is no good left to think about or your are trying to recreate the past and pretend that you can make those memories the present, when in actuality they are the things that are supposed to make you happy but end up making you upset when the person who made the memories is gone or arren't able to connect with you the same way.

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"I think you are sitting in my lab partners seat" This blonde about my height looks at  me doesn't seem upset but that she is confused. She places her chemistry book on the table next to me in front of the empty seat next to me "Umm are you talking about Maya? She umm..... she was transferred by Mrs. Bellins I umm..... think. Anyway I'm your new lab partner as long as your ok with it. I mean, umm.... I could try to get moved if you prefer that." I tried as hard as I could to not look at her.

"No its fine I just didn't know that she was moved. I'm Carley with an "ey" I'm your new lab partner. What's your name?"

"I'm Riley"

"Nice to meet you Riley."

"You too." In class our teacher assigned us a project we had to do with a partner, Imminently she spun to me and asked if I wanted to work with her. I agreed but I told her we wouldn't be able to work at my house. She was fine with it and offered to drive me to her house so we could get started on our project and she said she would drive me home.

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We met up after 8th period by the auditorium. I told Dylan I wouldn't need a ride, she stopped by Starbucks about bought us a drink before we g ot to her house. Her house was  in the best part of town, the complete opposite of mine. It was a 3 story with a basement, flowers covered the front of the house, it was white, like bright white. She lead me inside from their 4 car garage. We ended up in the kitchen she wrote a note for her mom saying that I was over and we would be in the basement study working on our chemistry project and then she said how much she spent on coffee and gas for that day. I thought telling her mom these specifics was strange and pointless but I did't question her about it. She brings me to her room to get her laptop. Then we went to her den which was the size of 4 or 5 classrooms at school. They had a theater type area with big couches and a large T.V. with a mini kitchen/ bar connected to it then lead to a huge library with her moms office to one side of it. We walked through to the opposite corner which lead to a a room with a couch shaped like a "L" in the corner, a desk with a bookshelf to its left, there was a small table in the middle of the room with a T.V. hanging on the wall.

"You can put  your book bag and shoes and stuff over there." She points to the end of the couch. I place my stuff there and get out my notes on the project and chemistry book. We work for a while on her laptop connected to the T.V. After an hour or so she suggested a break which I was perfectly ok with.

"So tell me about yourself Riley, you seem like a very interesting person." She flips to the other side of the couch with her feet hanging off the side. Boy she has no idea how interesting my life is, but I could never tell her that so i just pretend to be an ordinary girl and say I'm not special in anyway.

"Of coarse you are. Everyone is and those that say they aren't are the ones who are the most." I wasn't sure if that was true or not but I had to think of something to talk about so I said I had a large family and talked about how we all live together. She seemed to be enjoying the stories I told but then she said something that made me shiver.

"What's the story with your dad?"  

"What do you mean?"

'Well you haven't said anything about him and your youngest sibling is like 3 and you didn't say anything about different dads. Do you guys have different dads or something?"

"Oh  umm no we all have the same dad."

" So why haven't you said anything about him, I mean you've told soooo many stories and he isn't in any of them."

"Ohh my dad isn't really there when good things happen, I guess is the best way to put it." I hoped that was all she was going to need but just in case I barged in. "What about what's ypur story Blondie?"

She laughed "Well, I'm an actress at my mom's country club in Beverly Hills, I am also the mathletes captain, and a cheerleader. My mom is a manger for singers, bands, and actors and stuff. My dad is like this big lawyer. Honestly though I would rather have poor parents if I could spend more time with them, that's why I love family trips because we have this small rule where a phone call involving work can't last more than 30 minuets so I get to spend a lot of time with them." In that moment I realized we were complete opposites when it comes to our family. She wished her parents had more kids than just her, and that she got to spend more time with them, I want the exact opposite. We work on our project a little more before she gives me a ride home we make plans to hangout after school tomorrow after she has cheer leading practice. In the car we listen to music singing all the songs that come on. It was different for me how quick I became comfortable with her, I'm only like this with Dylan and barely Ashley, and to have just met her and already feel comfortable to be myself makes me really happy, I think I've found a really good friend here.

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I walk in the door and my mother grabs my arm, she look worried "Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick that something happened to you. Do you know how much you scared me?" She starts off yelling but calms herself as she finishes.

"I was at Carley's house. Remember I called you and told you. I'm also going to her house tomorrow after she has cheer leading. I'm going to study with Dylan in the courtyard while she's at cheer leading. Now calm down mom I'm home and fine. Now I'm going to my room to finish my homework." I released her hand from mine and walked toward my room.

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While lying in my that night thoughts of what Carley said to me. The memories of my father would always stay with me but I would never talk to someone like I was to Carly about my father. I tried to remember any memory of my father that didn't make me want to cry and after 20 minuets I remembered that memory that made me cry, but not of sadness but of joy. The most important memory stored in my brain was the one with my father, the one I wish i could reenact. That scene played in my head all night as tears flowed down my face. I drifted away to a calm sleep.