The day was over, and I just could not wait to get back home. I've had enough weirdness for one day. Clara, Raphael, and I stood at the exit, exchanging numbers as the rain continued to pour down on the earth heavily.
"So, you guys live far?" I asked after saving Clara's number and tossing my phone into my bag.
"It's a thirty minute drive; our dad should be here any minute," Raphael answered, and I could not stop my face from morphing into one of shock.
"Our?"
"Yeah, we are siblings," Clara said with a small laugh. "Isn't it obvious?"
My eyes jumped between both of them. "No, it is not. You two look nothing alike!"
"That's because we are both adopted."
Oh.
Raphael's phone started to ring, and he nudged Clara's side and said, "That's him." He looked towards me, and we did a bro handshake. "See you later, dude. Don't die on us." He said that before pushing the door open and jogging under the rain.
I faced Clara, who was standing and watching me with a hint of worry in her eyes. "Are you okay? Do you feel strange or anything?"
For some odd reason, her question warmed my heart. It's been a while since anyone has bothered to ask me that. "Yeah, I am okay."
"If anything comes up, I am one call away." She said it with every bit of seriousness.
"Yes, ma'am." I mocked and she slapped my shoulder. I expected her to leave, but she didn't. Instead, she kept staring at me. She looked almost nervous. "I said I will be-"
My words were cut short as her arms were suddenly around me. I was frozen on the spot, and I felt bad. I wanted to hug back, but it felt like something was holding me back. Clara didn't meet my eyes when she pulled away. I barely got the chance to say anything before she was pushing past the exit door.
Well, that was awkward.
I opened the exit door and was soon drenched by the rain. My feet jogged up to my car, and I quickly pulled out my keys and hopped inside before shutting the door. I started the engine, and just as I was about to drive out of the school premises, my eyes fell on a dark figure standing still under the rain.
It was a girl.
It Mira.
She just stood there without moving a muscle, and I found myself stopping my car right in front of her. I whined down the window of my passenger-side door and stretched my torso so I could get a good look at her face.
"Hey, need a ride?" I asked, but she quickly looked elsewhere.
I didn't mean to pout my lip, but I was doing it anyway.
I tried again, "Do you have someone coming to pick you up?"
Although she wasn't facing my direction, she shook her head negatively.
"I can't leave you out here. "Please, you are going to get sick." I was surprised by my sudden concern for her. I mean, I know she's cute and all, but I was always one to be nonchalant toward everyone, no matter how attractive they looked.
After a while she didn't say anything, and I was starting to consider leaving her, but then I heard my car door open and she hopped in.
I don't know why I was smiling.
"So, where do you live?" I asked, but she only pointed ahead. I nodded in silence before restarting the engine of my car. I followed her finger as she continued to point in the direction of her home. There were a few twists and turns, and I had to stop myself from watching her so as not to miss a turn.
"I saw your drawing," I decided to say, hoping to get a reaction out of her. but as always, there was none. "It was really nice. You're a really good artist."
I shot Mira another glance. Her face remained stoic, and I found my smile slowly disappearing. The rest of the ride was spent in silence, and I felt a piece of my heart crumbling.
What was happening to me?
She retracted her hand, and I took that as a sign to stop. I tilted my head to get a good look at her house. It looked normal, nothing like a home where a girl who is cursed would live.
"Nice house," I said, and surprise surprise, there was no response. I looked at my steering wheel in defeat as I waited for her to leave the car.
There were several moments of silence. She didn't move a muscle, and for some reason I felt a tinge of fear
Why was she still sitting there?
"Thank you."
And she was out of my car in a blink. I watched her walk into her house as her voice settled into my memory. It was the most calm voice I had ever heard.
I started my car and made my way towards my house.
Even though I was alone, I could still feel this odd presence around me, like there was someone else in the car.