Wayfaring Companions

i. Take-off

i. Take-off

It was cloudy out, Xander noted as he trekked up a familiar sidewalk, the soles of his sneakered feet resounding on the aged concrete in booming whips.

With his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket, he took in the quaint neighborhood, splattered with vivid green trees, white picket fences and the unmistakable vibrancy from the royal blue curtains lining the squared windows of Kira’s house.

He always loved his best friend’s house; it was so different from his own. While hers was filled with whites and blues and an undeniable sense of coziness and security, his was cramped and cluttered, for he shared it with his single dad who often treated the place as a misused bachelor’s pad.

The walk to Kira’s house was long and winded, but he didn’t mind. Xander found a certain sense of solace at the mere thought of the girl whom he had acquainted himself with at the beginning of high school. They stuck to each other like glue and despite their differences, they always saw eye to eye in the end. They understood each other, and it was the moments they passed with each other that were the most unforgettable.

A light breeze whistled in his ears as he neared the white wooden door of the Walker residents. He smiled to himself. He had always loved the gentleness of the Washington weather, and he knew how much Kira did too. People were accustomed to the start of the summer heat on the last day of school, and Xander found it odd that he needed a light jacket to blanket his slim arms.

He scurried up the shallow steps and hopped up onto the front porch before fisting his right hand and slapping his knuckles to the hollow wooden door. The sounds of the force echoed sharply twice in quick bursts before he paused and repeated the action once more. In the ninth grade, Kira had established an obvious desire to a secret handshake or a secret knock or a secret something to ensure their blooming friendship.

Xander was reluctant on having a secret handshake with Kira. Sure, he had some with his other friends, friends that were boys, but Kira wouldn’t have it. If they couldn’t have a secret handshake, then they absolutely had to have a secret knock. Xander wasn’t quite sure when they would use a secret knock, but he soon found himself walking with her back to her house after school to indulge in her mom’s sweet snack of apple slices dipped in peanut butter and honey. He fell in love with her house and everything inside of it.

The knock was nothing special and had been established out of their silliness on his second or third visit to her house, he couldn’t remember which. Nevertheless, Kira was adamant on having the sounds their knuckles made against the kitchen table showcased as their secret knock. Xander didn’t argue.

Xander frowned to himself, seeing that the front door still hadn’t opened. He raised his hand, joining his fingers into the middle of his palm, forming a fist before the door swung open revealing a pouting Kira. He dropped his hand to his side, holding back a smile as Kira turned on her heel quickly and trudged straight into the living room, plopping onto the faded old sofa dramatically where the pair would sit and pass hours on and they indulged themselves in their friendship and each other’s company.

Xander found himself shaking his head and letting out a small chuckle as he stepped inside, stomping his sneakered feet on the welcome mat lightly before shutting the door behind him with a click and slipping out of his shoes. He skillfully maneuvered through the miniature maze resting atop the polished wooden floor consisting of Kira’s book bag, jacket, shoes and plastic bags full of junk that had increasingly piled up in her locker throughout the school year.

Kira let out a muffled groan as she held a decorative pillow to her face while Xander’s socked feet found themselves sinking into the plush carpet before he collapsed tiredly beside her. He shrugged off his jacket, revealing a nice light grey button up Kira had practically forced him into wearing for the occasion of the last day of junior year.