Silent Roses

Chapter 1

I tried to contain my giggles as Lydia dialed her crush's number. She never once tried to talk to him over text or call, only little hellos and smiles in the hallway at school. She was shy, yes, but she was way too pretty for him not to like her. Her hair's dirty blonde with a slight wave and her blue eyes were soft and welcoming. I was sometimes jealous of her looks. I always wished my mom would let me bleach or dye my hair another color. Or at least let me get contacts, I hated my clunky glasses. When the phone picked up it was him, and Lydia went bright red. I kept my mouth shut, not wanting him to know I was there. "Hello?" He asked quietly. Lydia looked at me, I nodded back. "Hi, Elliot." She whispered. "Lydia? Oh hey." His smile was evident in his voice. This was going well, my best friend was finally gonna talk to him. "I was wondering if you..." she mumbled. "I, I'm sorry I can't hear you." His voice faltered. "I wanted to know if you..." she was too nervous. "Lydia, you're really quiet." He sighed. "Nevermind, I'll see you at school." She said quickly before hanging up. She let the phone fall into the blankets. "I knew it wouldn't go well." She put her hands on her face. It was my idea for her to ask Elliot out, or at least talk to him. But I didn't consider her feelings. She's too shy to just ask someone she hasn't talked to yet. I guess I just thought since she was older than me, she might have a better way of talking. In general, she did, but not when it came to Elliot. "I'm sorry L." I sighed. I put an arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her. "Maybe let's go do something else, try to get it off your mind?" I suggested. She looked at me slowly before giving me a soft smile. "I'd like that."

I got up and jumped into my sandals with my hands on my hips. "The beach is waiting madam." I gestured my hands to the door. It wasn't a beach, it was a lake. But it was the closest thing to a beach in all of Michigan. She giggled, standing up and getting her Tommy Bahama flip-flops on. We walked out the door to the path leading to the lake. The sun felt nice on my skin as I leaped into the water. "Brook!" Lydia called. "You're not wearing a swimsuit, neither am I." She panted as she caught up. "I know," I said smugly before pulling her in with me. The lake had drop-offs all along the shore. Lydia's parents never let us go to the lake without an adult forever because of them. They were afraid we might fall in. They were right of course, I always fell into one if they weren't there to spot me. I knew where the drop-offs were now, especially the ones I fell into. We both swam up to the top again, Lydia frowned at me when I looked back at her. "Brooklyn." She pouted. I puffed my cheeks, hoping she wasn't mad at me. She began to laugh, pushing off my legs to wade. "You're lucky my flip-flops came off before I fell in." She smirked. "Oh, your Tommy Bahama flip-flops?" I mocked. She wasn't shy anymore, she never really was around me unless something happened. "Yes, and your shoes are probably lost in the sea." She laid her head back and floated. "Nuh-uh, they're right here." I lifted my feet out of the water with all my strength. "Ew gross." She laughed, swimming away from me. "It's not that bad, I said before swimming with her back to the shore.

"My moms gonna be mad if we get lake water in the house," Lydia whispered. I huffed, yeah she would be. "Then let's stay out here for a while." I smiled. She sighed, "Where?" Her foot brushed the sand. I thought for a moment but then I remembered the mini fridge my mom had gotten Mrs. Schroeder for her birthday. It was in the gazebo next to the bench and outdoor coffee table. "The gazebo, there's food," I said with my finger in the air. Lydia chuckled. "There's drinks." She rolled her eyes. "Is food the only thing you think about?" I put my hand to my chest in offense. "No, there's you," I smirked. "Fine." She walked into the shade of the gazebo and sat down. I did too, but I grabbed a Doctor Pepper from the fridge. "Are you gonna start applying for colleges?" I asked. She was going to be a senior this year, I was only a junior. "Yeah, I've got two in mind. Neither is Ivy if that's what you were hoping." She leaned on the armrest. I didn't care if she didn't go to an Ivy, I wanted her to stay in Michigan. I wanted her to still be near me so we wouldn't slowly drift apart. "Where are you planning?" I asked softly. "Probably either the University or that one Christian college down south a little." She shrugged. I sighed with relief. She wasn't leaving, I didn't really expect her to. She loved home, I wouldn't be surprised if she moved close to her parents when she gets her own home. She was just like that, never wanting to leave and was comforted by the slowly changing seasons of Michigan. I scooted close to her on the bench, leaning my head against her shoulder. She was warm, even after we had just been in the cold lake. "I don't need any boys right now." She breathed out. "I've got my best friend." She hugged me to her side, smiling down at me. "Yeah," I whispered in reply.