The mansion is deathly quiet. She is left alone. The periwinkle walls of her bedroom seem to be closing in on her. She tries to regulate her breathing, taking in deep breaths and releasing them slowly.
The open textbooks on her bed have been long forgotten. Tears cloud her vision as she attempts to get oxygen into her lungs. A lump seems to be blocking her airways as she tries to choke back a sob.
No one is home. She feels alone.
A buzz from her phone on the nightstand makes her jump in suprise. She reaches for her phone, pulling the covers back. She taps on the new notification.
Sawyer:
R u home? Wanna hang out?
She smiles a little at the text. When all else seemed wrong, he was there. When all hope was lost for her, he was there to find it for her. When she was sinking in depression, he was there to pull her out.
She hated to say it, but she needed him. He was like a lifeline. And little did she know, he felt the same way.
She breathes in and out deeply. Thoughts of him making her calm down. Making her feel better.
She was quick to type back a response.
I'm home. See you soon.
-
April Saunders
"Okay, class. I'm doing role-call, you know the drill." Mrs. Monson our artistic homeroom teacher says as the final few fill in the class. "Emily Abrahams?"
"Here!"
"Ben Damons?"
"Here!"
"Cecil Frank?"
"Present!" And it goes on and I usually relax since I know I'm closer to the end of the list. My senior class is quite typical. We have the different groups but most of them revolve around the same type. The girls are all beautiful and some of them are really nice. Though there are a few exceptions.
Most of the boys are nice. A lot of them ate athletic but in different ways. Some in soccer, track or swimming. And some in science clubs and chess teams. Those people represent the school well and are really nice.
And then there's me. The invisible woman. The wallflower. I like that one. Makes me sound special and pretty.
"-April, are you with us or what?" The teacher says jokingly. Snickers filter across the room and I feel myself turn red in the face.
"Sorry, Ma'am. Here." I say and she shakes her head and moves on to the next person.
The class falls into a peaceful chatter once roll-call is finished. I usually just do something on my phone until the bell for first period rings.
Emily,a friend of mine, chirps happily beside me to another girl in the row in front of us. We are incredibly different yet we get along. It's weird actually that we get along. Of course, we don't understand each other, but we can be ourselves around each other.
"-and there's a sale at H&M. I saw this cute pair of shoes online. We should go and look for them. You'll join me, Right April?" I'm barely able to catch a gist of the conversation after switching off my phone.
I look up to find her usual preppy face, a bright smile adorning her features.
"Uh, when exactly?" I ask, lightly playing with the sleeves of my grey hoody.
"Sometime this weekend. Tomorrow maybe?" She says and looks from the girl in the front row, Kim, and then to me. Today is friday and people all around class are already spurting out their plans for the weekend.
"Okay...that's fine with me." I tell her and she beams at me.
"Great! I'll pick you up." I'm not really one for crowded places but If it will make her happy, I'd sit through anything.
The bell rings for the first lesson and I grab my bag off the desk and make my way to Mr. Cheney's math class. I'm one of the first students in class and take my usual seat in the corner, right below one of many math quote posters that adorn the walls.
Are monsters good at Math?
Not unless you count Dracula!
Cheesy, I know. But I love it nonetheless.
I settle down in my seat and get my notepad and textbook ready. Emily has always teased me about how school ready I am, always bringing the essentials and I always brush her off.
The five-minute bell rings and the lesson begins. Mr. Cheney goes into a full blow explanation on Logarithmic functions. I follow along for the most part but thirty minutes into the discussion, and I'm lost.
The bell rings for the second lesson and I pack up my stuff into my bag, placing the books neatly alongside each other.
I'm one of the last ones to leave the class. I have History next and it's on the west wing of the school, do I pick up the pace, in hopes of not being late.
On the last corner before I reach the class, I swerve at it quickly, a rookie mistake if you think about it. In a second, my body slams into sonething.
Chest. Hard chest.
The impact leaves my feet jumbled and off-balance, almost landing on the ground. All that was avoided when a hand seizes my arm and prevents any further collapsing. A whiff of cologne clouds my senses for only a second.
"You okay?" A voice says from a few ways above me. Husky yet raw.
I can only manage a nod and a hum. "Mhmm." I say and allowing my auburn, wavy locks to create a curtain around my face under the hoodie. "Sorry." I murmer and make my way towards the class, not even bothering to look at the boy I'd smashed into.
The cafeteria is already buzzing when I step through the large double doors. Round tables litter the spacious room and a queue is already forming on the lunch counters.
I swiftly make my way to the my usual spot. Cami is already there, chewing on carrot sticks as she taps away at her phone. She lifts her head when I pull my chair back and take a seat.
"April, my girl. How are you?" She beams and flicks away a strand of loose dark hair from her face and briefly scratches at her nose piercing.
"Hi, Cami. I'm doing okay and you?" I reply with a small smile.
"I'm great." She says with a smile a takes another audible bite from a carrot.
The last three seats are taken when Emily, Claire and Evan finally arrive.
"Good, everyone's here." Emily says first, pulling out her phone. "Well, ladies, I think we should go to the mall tomorrow."
Claire's face lights up like a child on christmas morning. "I'm down. I have nothing better to do this weekend."
"I'm in too. I need a break from all the studying I've been doing." Evan supplies.
That's what I love about this group. They crush every single stereotype out there. Though they all love fashion and all things shiny, they still make time for their studies and extra-curriculars. Emily is in cheerleading, Claire is in the swim team and Cami does Track.
I feel like my part is low-grade compared to theirs. I'm in the school orchestra and I play the piano.
"I'm down for a little shopping." Cami says with a smile. "You're coming, right April?" She beams.
"Uh, yeah. I'm coming." I tell her and her smile goes even wider.
"Good. Trenton's birthday is right around the corner and I want to give him something great. Something meaningful though..." she muses more to herself than to me.
I simply nod and smile at her rambling. Trenton is her boyfriend of three-and-a-half years and still counting. You'd swear they were married when you see them together.
The chatter in the cafeteria suddenly depletes drastically and I look up from my sketchpad on the table.
Luca Lores walks in from the double doors, tailed by his group, Brian Camp, Logan Camp and Reed Switt. The school's proud athletes and certified panty-droppers. I don't really see it. Brian and Logan are related, twins to be exact.
"Ooh, lover boy is here." Cami says teasingly to Emily.
"Shut up!" Emily whisper-yells back to her.
Luca and Emily have a bit of something happening between them. They're not dating, yet they're too intimate to be called friends. And I mean too intimate. And neither of them want to change that so its fine with me. As long as Luca doesn't go back to his fuckboy tendencies.
What I'm not ready for the guy who struts in as they all take their seats. The tall boy walks fluidly towards Luca's table and takes a seat. They exchange greetings as manly handshakes are passed around. He's definitely new.
I don't pay attention most of the time but I would have noticed him for sure.
"Em, Lores is flagging you over." Says Evan. Sure enough, Luca is waving to Emily. She blushes and grabs her bag and rises from her chair.
"I'll see you in study hall, guys." She says.
"Sure, sure." They all reply along those lines.
I watch as she crosses the room and settles down beside Luca, who gives her a kiss in greeting.
I realise I should stop staring at their table, much like the whole cafeteria is doing, but I can't seem to look away from the new guy.
"Noticed Sawyer Forster, have you?" A voice muses. I look across the table to find Claire's heated gaze burning into me. What?
"Uh, yeah... Who is he?" I ask.
Cami laughs a little. "April, I swear the world would be ending and you wouldn't know about it." She says.
"Don't you ever listen when we talk?" Evan says joining Cami. "He's been the talk of the week- since last wednesday." Huh?
"He transfered here from Florida. His name is Sawyer and I called dibs." Claire says coldly.
Oh, wow... dibs? I didn't realise that could also be done on people.
"Not likely, Claire. Here comes Lexi..." says Cami and we all turn to watch as Lexi struts towards Sawyer's table and drops down in a chair next to him.
Her white tennis skirt rides up her toned thighs as she crosses her legs and flicks her blonde hair as she talks to him. She laughs all too loudly at something he says and brushes a hand over his arm.
I look away first to find Claire seethingly red in the face.
"Really, Claire? You barely know him." I say lowly.
"Shut up, April." She snaps and me being the conflict avoiding person I am, I only sit back and reach for my sketchpad once more.
A deft silence silence takes over until Cami, bless her soul, cuts in. "April, I need help with chemistry, can you fit me in anytime next week?" She asks.
She knows I have nothing better to do on a weekday. "Sure. Just tell me when." I tell her lowly. She smiles and takes another bite of her carrots.
At the end of the school day, it seems everyone is always on a rush to get home. I've made a system for myself. Every Friday, I would go the library aftet school to return my last book and check out a new one.
The parking lot is not as empty as it should be when I usually come out. About five cars linger in the lot, their owners loitering against them. Most kids in our school are financially set, so sports cars and SUV's are the norm. I also own a car but prefer to walk. You know, preseve the earth. Plus my house is only a few blocks away.
Luca and his friends, and a few othe girls, seem relaxed against their carsand I spot Emily among them. She seems happy and she fits in.
I pull the hood of my hoodie closer to face and clutch my books tighter on my chest as I get ready to walk right past them. Emily would'nt be offended, I always do it when she's around them.
And they never even notice, and I'm very glad.
Though as I walk away, the hairs atvthe back of my neck stand at attention and I can feel eyes on me. I slowly turn back to see who's causing the intrusion and freeze when I see the new guy, who I now know is Sawyer Forster, staring at me. Everyone around him is immersed in conversation but he-
He's actually looking at me.
My breathing starts coming out short and labored as my heart starts racing. How ridiculous am I?
When I realise that I might look like a lunatic walking forward while looking back, I twist my head around and join the sidewalk that would lead me home in thirty-minutes tops.
When I finally get home, I reach through the side-pocket of my backpack for my keys and unlock the gate. It's another five-minute walk to get from the gate to the door.
Once I reach the front door, I insert the keys and push it open, relishing in the cool air that washes against my face. It's a mightly difference from the hot, thick air outside.
My all-time best friend comes racing down the stairs in a frenzy of barks and footfalls. I'm tackled to the ground by his large body, and soon an array of sloppy kisses adorn my face.
"Ew, Chunky, Stop!" I exclaim from the ground. He only barks in happiness and backs away, giving me room to get up and pick up my books.
"How was your day? Good?" I gush at him and scratch him around the ears. He barks and almost tackles me again, but this time I'm prepared.
"Miss April?" A familiar voice familiar voice rings out from down the hall, from the kitchen.
"Yes, It's me, Mrs. Sanchez." I reply, making my way into the kitchen.
She beams up at me when I appear. "You're back, dearie. And with a new addition, I see," she says gesturing to the book in my hand. "Let's see..."
I hand her the book and look at her as she scans through the book cover. A few stands fall free and fall gracefully around her face. Her olive skin all but gleams in the natural light flowing in from the window.
"Things Fall Apart, huh? It sounds dramatic." She muses after a while.
"African author, it should be interesting." I tell her.
"Of course, dearie. Are you hungry? I can whip something up for you." She asks, walking behind the island and pulling the fridge open.
"Oh, no. There's no need, Mrs. Sanchez. I can get takeout. Chinese maybe?" I say quickly.
"Nonsense. Why would you need that while I'm here?" She chides softly. "Now... chicken dumplings or pot roast?" She deadlines.
"Uh, dumplings." I reply and she smiles cheekily.
Mrs. Sanchez has been here for about eight years now. She's like the head of the household since my mother isn't here. She's married to this wonderful man named Gerard and they have a son who is my age named Elijah. He usually comes around when he's visiting his parents.
"I'll get them started. Your breathing is shallow, dear, go set up your nebulizer." She tells me.
"Really? I didn't notice." I said placing a hand on my chest.
"Well, it is. You also look a little pale. Now, shoo!" She says playfully gesturing to the exit.
"Okay, okay," I say in defeat, and leave the kitchen. Chunky, my loyalest boyfriend, trails behind me, licking my fingers every so often.
I reach my room in record time, and pack away my books on the shelf on the wall and change into a pair of sweat-shorts and a black long-sleeved t-shirt.
I grab my packaged Nebu-mist, along with.... fluid and a mask. I pull my balcony doors open, allowing a warm breeze to filter in. I settled on one of the couches on the south side of the room and plug in the nebulizer and insert the albuterol. The familiar buzzing brought me solace and somewhat comfort.
I put the mask on my face and a take deep breaths of the cool vapour, shutting my eyes in the process.
-
Fin.