My parents died last year in the fall. They say the roads were foggy; they say there were leaves that caused them to skid; they say that the air-bags malfunctioned. I don't believe them at all – my parents were murdered.
***
My mum came into the kitchen, lured by the smell of blackberry jam on hot toast.
"Ah, I love the fall. So many fresh fruits, right, Ani?" I nodded, my mouth full of toast.
"My favourite season is spring."
"All the baby animals, huh?" My mum pinched my cheeks, then frowned and looked closer. "Tch – you have no freckles, even after the summer we've just had - I don't know where you get your skin from, but it's not me!" We often joke that she's not really my mum at all; she's stick-thin and tall, pale, freckled, and has mad red hair with sparkling green eyes, whereas I have thick, straight brown hair, brown eyes, a year-round tan, no freckles and astoundingly average height and figure.
"It's from dad's side, likely."
"Your dad's blonde! You've always been different, Anita Gray."
"I guess. You say that like it's a good thing." She sat down and looked me in the eyes. I could see a hand sneaking towards my toast out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't want the rest of it anyway. She grabbed it and sashayed away, her long hippie skirt seemingly gliding behind her.
"I love you!" I impulsively called after her. She turned around and smiled at me.
"I love you too, Squish," she said as she left the room.
I remember the phone call later that day at school. I was in art, aimlessly doodling birds of different types. I remember Milo telling me most of them were crows, which must have been coincidental since I have no interest in birds whatsoever. I remember being told it was a car crash, and never doubting the lie.
The plural noun for crows is a murder.
***
My phone bleeps at me, the blue light signifying a text from Milo.
"Hey, want to come down the river today? I have a picnic with me" I pondered, happy that he remembered.
But today, I need to be alone.
"Sorry, foster parents don't think it would be good for me today"
"That's bs and you know I know"
"Sorry"
"STOP APOLOGISING"
"Sorry"
"Ani, I stg, I'm coming to forcefully grab you and drag you to the river. I haven't seen you at school recently"
"Catch me if you can"
"Ani?"
"Ani, are you being serious?"
"I'm going to kill you. You're hiding in the girls' loos"
"Just you wait"
"Don't underestimate me"
The air down by the river is nice, but I can't feel at ease today. Milo is still washing the makeup off in the river water, which causes me to chuckle.
"Stop laughing, Ani. It's your fault."
"You did it!"
"I didn't have a choice, did I?"
"I guess not. Sorry for hiding there."
"I'm hereby banning the word sorry." He's done, and as he's walking back, he runs his fingers through his now soaked hair, shaking his head to try and dry off.
"I guess I got the short straw having to be your best friend, huh?"
"If that's a roundabout way of teasing my height, I see right through it." He towers over me at six foot two anyway, but its magnified by the fact that I'm sitting on a picnic blanket. I guess he could be intimidating if you don't know him. He smiles, and he suddenly looks five years old again.
I'm reminded of a day that we were both playing in the field by the forest, our parents all watching from afar. My mum looked beautiful in her floaty light yellow dress, but I was occupied admiring the butterflies and getting Milo to release the ones he caught. I was wearing white dungarees and a cornflower blue polo shirt, with little pale butter-yellow flowery sandals. Milo had smokey blue pocketed shorts and a red tartan button up with little white converse. I know this because I have a polaroid picture of us both mid-jump, reaching for a bubble. It was such a happy day. I wish we could still have times like that, but we grew up, and my parents aren't here.
I've been looking at that photo a lot recently.
I come back to my senses as I feel Milo's thumb brushing my cheek, wiping away a tear. He doesn't say anything, but hugs me close.
"It's only been a year. How am I going to manage this?"
"You know how." I smile, and grab my bag to change into my swimming costume.
"You're right!"
I return in my new bikini. It's white, with black piping, and despite the lack of colour, I immediately warmed to it. I return, and Milo is nowhere to be seen. A crow flies across the river and I panic, then feel relief as I see Milo's arms lifting me up and carrying me into the river. I jump off Milo's back, and open my eyes. He's in his jeans, and I'm almost surprised to see that he's been working out.
"Enjoy it while it lasts," he says, patting his stomach, winking at me. "I had a summer job logging in the forest."
"Shame. Make it full-time." I splash the warm river water at him, soaking him again.
"Oh. My. Gawd. My HAIR!" He feigns distress, then looks at me seriously.
"What is it?"
"Are you wearing makeup?"
"And risk panda eyes? We're swimming, sweetie."
"Huh. You're really pretty."
"Naw, stop it, you lady killer, you!" We both start laughing hysterically, and splashing each other.
"You know, you're not bad yourself!" I yell over the sound of water.
"Pardon?"
"I said -"
"Hey, Ani? Milo?" I hear a high-pitched voice from across the water. Oh no.
"Hi, Melissa."
"Call me Mel, I told you!"
"Sorry. Mel."
"It's okay. I would join but I just did my hair and makeup..."
The amount of girls that would kill to have Melanie Jones wanting to be their BFF is insane, but I don't like her. She's from England, and is the most popular girl in the world. Or at least Crickstow High.
"Oh, that's a shame. Where are you going?" I ask, noticing Milo swallowing his laughter.
"I'm off shopping! We should go together some time!"
"Sure! You have my number, right?"
"Yah! See you Ani, and you, Milo."
We wait for her to be out of earshot, and Milo falls backwards into the river, in spasms of laughter.
"Hilarious, yeah."
"Have fun on your shopping trip, Ani!"
"Rot in Hell."
Once he has collected himself, he stands up, and looks at my solemn expression.
"At least you're not her enemy."
"True. I don't like the sound of either, quite honestly."
"You need more friends. Embrace this chance."
"OY!" I splash him, but he just grins.
I climb out of the river and check my phone. It's 15:07. A few more minutes. Milo sits by me.
We stay like this for a while, and I realise it's been 15:13 already. This time last year, I was being told of my parents' death. I look up slightly, and see Milo's eyes are looking a bit wet, but he blinks fast. He's trying to be strong, for me.
He looks down, and ruffles my hair. We both stand up, and I go and change back into shorts and a tshirt. He walks me back to the house, and smiles at me curiously before walking off.
YOU ARE READING
Butterflies And Crows
AdventureAni was told her parents died in a car crash。 Ani thinks otherwise。
