Looking Down at You

Part 1

Rain pounded steadily against the narrow window that overlooked the harbor district of Charleston. I starred out of it with puffy, tear-induced eyes, trying to avoid eye contact with the psychiatrist that sat at the opposite end of the room. I sat in the middle of a black leather couch, my knees pulled up to my chest.

"Olivia? Did you hear me?" Dr. Gerson said in a tone that was almost inaudible from the rain storm.

"Yes." I said, still trying to make the least amount of eye contact as possible.

"Would you like to answer? Let me repeat the question." She paused to write down something. Most likely it was my lack of participation. "Do you remember what you were doing when you got the phone call?" Of course I do, like it was yesterday, I thought to myself.

"Yes." I repeated, sounding like a broken record.

"Would you like to tell me?"

"Why not?" I said, finding the courage to sit up and swipe a piece of hair from out of my face.

"Go ahead, I'm all ears." Dr. Gerson took off her glasses and looked at me with mother-like eyes.

How could I not forget that warm September day a week ago? I was sitting on my bed looking over my senior year class schedule for about the tenth time that day alone. I still couldn't believe school was starting in over a week. The family of Warblers that lived in the giant Oak tree outside of my bedroom window sang their harmonic melodies, mixing with the faint sound of some Taylor Swift song I've heard over ten times coming out from my radio. My phone created an ripple of vibrations against my nightstand. Audrey's face popped up as the caller I.D.

"Hey." I said, putting aside the sheet of white paper.

"I need a coffee fix. Beans in ten?" By the sound of her voice, she was climbing in the driver seat of her white Mercedes Benz like she already knew my answer.

"Of course." I said, grabbing my tan hobo bag off of my dresser and headed out of the door.

Downtown Ledgewood Falls had steady streams of patrons coming in and out of restaurants and shops the lined the two-way street. I saw a group of girls whom I recognized from school carrying Steve Madden and Forever 21 bags walking down the sidewalk. The moment they saw my Honda CRV and my face, they waved to me. I waved back and smiled before turning into the Beans, a tiny coffee shop, parking lot. It wasn't hard to spot Audrey's perfectly self-curled auburn hair that complimented tan shorts and a bedazzled pink crop top.

"Why do you have to dress up for everything! Its just coffee!" I said, coming to her side as I looked over an all too familiar menu.

"You know my motto: 'Dress to impress!'" Audrey said after she gave me a hug. We sat at a table under a green umbrella after my iced chai tea was finished being blended.

"So, ready to go back to school?" Audrey said after taking a sip of her caramel macchiato.

"I guess so, this summer felt endless though."

"I know right? We did a lot." As Audrey told me her favorite trip to the beach over the dozens we've had to have taken, I went back to my favorite memory: going to the local amusement park for the entire day and spending the night looking at the stars. "Liv, did you hear me?"

"Huh?"

" I said, has Michael texted you back about dinner tonight? Victor hasn't responded to any of mine." Audrey skimmed through her Blackberry. looking for messages, having a confused look on her flawless face. I pulled out my iPhone from my purse and shook my head.

"Nada." I said, a worried tone in my voice. "He probably doesn't have service in the woods."

"Probably." Audrey said, throwing her phone on the table. "How long have y'all been going out for? I lost count." She giggled her classic Audrey May Payson giggle.