My Dad sped of to work and I entered. Though the bell just rang a lot student were still standing around ignoring the bell. The new grade eighths were hesitant, not knowing on where to go. It was Wednesday 21 January, which meant assembly, well isn't that just loveliest lovely .
News had traveled fast about Martin. Walking past people, I heard the conversation and it was all about Martin. Though it had always been about Martin Mayfield, the star athlete, the hottest guy, the prototype of what a perfect guy should be. Everyone knew that Martin but nobody knew the broken Martin.
Some saw me and they said "I'm really sorry " and "It must hard on you, sorry" in the most sincere voice.
I got a lot of those I'm- sorry- I - know- what - your - going - through - looks or the half smiles and a-" you'll be okay " as if the repetition of the words will make me believe that I will be okay. Or that the those words were part of some spell that would make pain and sorrow just magically dissappear .
But it won't...
I didn't want cry, not here in front people. I'm going to be strong. I hate it when people saw me crying. In fact only one person has seen me on the edge of a emotional break down.
"RoRo wait up " I heard someone shout from behind while I was busy putting my bag beside the lockers closest to the hall. It was her , that one person Cindy
I saw her coming towards me. She had a new hairstyle, pixie cut. She still had that light blond hair colour and now wore thick rimmed red reading glasses.
We embraced each other. "Crushing my ribs here " I said mimicking breathlessness. "Sorry " Cindy said letting go " I just missed you so much you know." she proclaimed.
" I love your new hairstyle" I complemented her while we entered the hall. "I just wish my Mom would say that too" she said sadly. " Still superficial" I asked referring to her Mother. "As alway but it probably has something to do with me sneaking out at night and getting the haircut at the new 24-hour hairdresser " she smiled reminiscing her adventure, if you can call it that.
I laughed and didn't ask any further questions.
Cindy and I were the best of friends since age eleven . We met at the hospital and became friends it's a long story that Cindy probably will repeat to anyone who doesn't know it already.
While moving through the passage that separated the boys and girls seats I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I saw a brown eyed and haired guy it was Nick, Martins best friend.
Everyone knew that Nick and Martin were deadly competitive "Hey Rose... I'm so sorry about Martin. All the teams are sad to lose such an epicly fantastic guy" he sympathetically said and hugged me.
Though I didn't want people to feel sorry for me or to hug, but the hug made me feel a little bit better. "Thanks " I half smiled "See ya " I turned and walked to where Cindy was sitting. At the back of the hall, wonderful.
It's not a long passage but if you can feel people staring at you and hear people whispering about you, then it's a heck of long walk.
"The holiday did him good;the tan, he looks hotter than ever and his arms. " Cindy said while staring at Nick. She then looked down and kept reading her murder mystery book , How to get away with murder.
She is obsessed with murder mysteries, it's the seventh book I've seen her read since last last year, December .
This book was about a woman detective that killed people and cleaned up the crime scenes or something along those lines..
When announcements were during assembly it meant assembly was finished.
Not this time though . People were getting up but it was told that we all should take off seats. People shared questioning looks at each other whilst sitting down. The lights went off and the song Let me go home by Michael Bublè started playing. The schools monitor started flashing Martins photos and achievements and then ended it with a photo of me and him together.
I was okay I think tears danced at the rim of my eyes but it didn't fall down on cheek.
Nicks eyes met mine at the end of the slide show between the ocean of heads that turned and moved , but we didn't break the stare until Cindy placed her hand on my shoulder.
The day went by uneventfull. By the end of the day when teacher, friends and random people stopped saying 'I'm sorry ', I was numb to all the emotions.
...
I the rode on the school bus after school. Total silence enveloped the bus when I entered.
It was silent the while riding to where I get off. Mr Richardson, the accounting teacher who drives this bus dropped me at my house.
I thanked him and made my way towards gate. I noticed the moving van infront of the house next door.
New neighbours.. I then opened the front door. But weirdly enough it was not locked. "I could have sworn I locked it this morning" I told myself. I'm so in my own world I could have forgotten to lock it.
My phone rang and I got a message :
Cindy : If you need 2 talk jst shout.I smiled she was being so supportive. I trust her so much. We actually never have fights but there was the fight last year 30th of December .
Cindy got jealous and angry because me and Martin hung out a lot . We sorted it out though. But ever since then I could sense the tension between Martin and her.
I entered my room and the smell of chlorine filled my nose and made remember this morning. I went to the box and took out the red hoodie.
It was the same hoodie. The right side of the pocket was sewn with a maroon thread .
It tore once and he begged me to fix it. I didn't have the matching red thread but I had maroon.
Memories made me tear up.
I placed the hoodie in the table.
In the box was a silver necklace, Martins silver necklace . It had a arrow at the end. He always wore it but why do I have it.
There were candy wrappers , Minties , the brand Martin loved.
I couldn't understand why I had it, I tried to remember the party but I couldn't, nothing.
What is going on...
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YOU ARE READING
Past. Present. Future? [Wattys 2015 ]
Mystery / ThrillerHeadline and first line in an article published on the local newspaper : Drowning shocks locals . Martin Mayfield a 16 year old boy was found dead in the early morning of Sunday 11 January 2015 in the local gyms swimming pool.