Remember Me?

Chapter One

(Just trying my hand in this tell me what you think and constructive criticism is welcomed)  

Everything was great, we had a house, a car, two kids, and even a dog. But when Elizabeth Martin came back into my life, our happy little life was sure to crumble. Elizabeth was one of those girls that mama would tell you to stay away from when growing up. With her dirty blonde hair, her ice cold blue eyes, and that old Harley she rode everywhere; everyone in Charlotte, North Carolina knew that when little miss Elizabeth Martin came to town it was time to hide your husbands, your kids, and your jewelry because she was one bad seed.

Back when I was a kid, Elizabeth and I were best friends. She taught me how to climb trees and shoot pistols before we were even out of primary school. We used to go to this old willow tree and we would just lay there for hours. Elizabeth would meet me under that tree every day after school, she'd just wait there puffing cigarettes back to back until I showed up. I remember June 23rd, 1963, probably the hottest day in Charlotte to date, Elizabeth and I were about 15 or 16 years old she was smoking a cigarette and listening to me drone on about what she missed in school that day. The sound of Liz releasing a deep, bored sigh caused me to cut my story short.

"What's the problem Liz?" I asked, hoping to get a normal reply, but this was no normal girl. A smirk snaked across her full lips and she took another drag from her cigarette.

"Do you really think I care about this stuff?" She let out a chuckle, "You should know by now that I never cared about those things Math, History, Science, it's all bullshit...not like I'll need in the real world." I stared at her for a moment, watching her pale, dirty hand run through her even filthier hair.

"You're right, as usual...I don't know why I always do this...it's obvious you don't care about any of this otherwise you'd go to school." I finished my sentence and let out a long held deep breath. Elizabeth put out her cigarette and smiled at me just for a short moment before standing up.

She shrugged,only to pull another smoke from her coat pocket and lighting it, "I just don't see any point in it.... but that don't mean you can't. Don't be upset, ok Dixie?" I smiled, for some reason the sound of my name escaping her lips always made my day, maybe it was because she rarely said my real name. Liz usually referred to me Dee or slick but never Dixie.

"I'm not upset Lizzy I swear it." I stood up and walked towards her, "We can talk about something else now..if you don't mind." Liz smirked snaked her arm around my waist pulling me closer. Her breath stunk of cigarettes but surprisingly that didn't make me pull away this time; I wanted to be near her. The flesh of her arm began to touch my back causing me to shiver.

"You know Slick, you're not all that bad..." She drew closer to me, I couldn't help but blush, "I like you, hell of a lot more than anyone has ever liked me." Lizzy's lips hovered over mine as she spoke.

"Do you like me too?" My eyes flickered up to meet hers and I nodded slowly.

"Yeah, I like you a lot. You're my best friend" I replied. Lizzy pulled away from me giving me a sort of, puzzled look as she took a few steps back for good measure.

"I ain't talking about no friendship Slick.....when I say I like you.... I-I mean it in a different way..." She seemed frustrated, her hands were shaking as she ran them through her hair, "Never mind it, it don't matter much anyway...You should get home....don't want mama and pops worried now do ya?" A soft chuckled escaped her lips as she started walking backwards disappearing through the trees. I was too in shock to say anything back. What did she mean she liked me more than a friend.. how else could she like me? As a sister truly....can't be anything more than sisters right?

After that day Elizabeth didn't come see me under our willow tree. I didn't smell the unforgettable smell of her camels as her breath left her lips while speaking to me, I didn't hear her husky yet somehow feminine voice call me Slick or curse at the wind. Eventually, I stopped going back to that tree. I stopped trying to will her back into my life because, after a few months I realized she would never come back.

August 3rd 1964, I was walking alone from my mama's bakery on my way home. That's when a familiar voice called out to me from the bushes.

"Hey slick!" her voice caused my head to uncontrollably snap in her direction. There she was... it's been a year now and she still looks the same, she motioned for me to come to her and I couldn't help my legs from jetting in her direction. A smirk slithered across her lips as she yanked me into the bush she once came.

" You miss me Slick?" she asked, holding her camel tightly between her fingers. God have I missed her, I just wanted to pull her into a huge hug and keep her with me forever. Instead of saying all of that, instead of admitting to her that I missed her so much it hurt to think about her I just nodded. A simple, emotionless nod. Liz pulled me into her arms and held me as if she didn't want to let go, but eventually she did and she sat on the ground and gestured for me to do the same. I followed orders and sat next to her, closer than maybe I should have.

" Listen, I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in a year..... I just after... that day I had a lot happen," she spoke slowly and her voice began to shake but she continued, "I'm sure you thought 'bout what I meant.... when I said I liked you. Trust me....I still like you, but the problem is.... I have to go....Atticus, my brother, he graduated and he's been tellin' me bout how he's gone take me away from my Pa, away from this shit hole town you seem to love so much." I parted my lips to speak, why would she leave? I just got her back now and she wants to leave again? What's wrong with her? How could she do this to me? As much as I wanted words to come out of my mouth, any word at all to show her that I don't want her to go; instead I got tears, fucking tears! Of all things why would I cry right now?? I tried to choke out some words, anything to get across my pain.

"Don't.....please...." That was all I could get all I could get out of my mouth. Liz stared at me, watching me cry like it wasn't anything she's ever seen before. I managed to get out a few more words, at least enough to make a sentence.

"Why do you need to go? What's so bad about this place?" Liz let out a sigh.

"You really wanna know why?" I nodded quickly wiping away my tears only to replace them with new ones. Liz leaned over to me and wiped my face before starting to speak.

" My Pa, he hasn't been the same sense mamma died, he drank before but nothing like this." she leaned against a tree and continued to speak, " He hurts me.....he makes me.... do things with him one second and the next punching me in the stomach because I was out a second too late....Atticus, he just wanted a better life for me and him.. he wanted us to run away from Pa and well now is our chance." My heart broke, I finally understood why she never wanted to go home, why she never wanted to talk about her family or her mother. I reached out to grab her hand and she pulled it away.

"I'm sorry Liz you can go, I don't want you trapped somewhere you don't wanna be," I reached for her again. she pulled me into a hug tears rolling down her face. "I'll miss you," she whispered softly I repeated her words back to her tightening my grip on her. Liz's blue eyes have never looked more perfect as they stared into mine. I smiled at her and kissed her cheek knowing this may be the last time I ever see my best friend. I didn't want to let go, I hated good byes.

"I love you Dixie, and I wish I didn't have to leave, I swear I'll come back to you, I swear it." Liz's hands were shaking, she was trying so hard to hold it together. Before I could speak Liz had pressed her lips against mine, she pulled me close to her and a loving embrace. I didn't fight it, I kissed her back with the same amount of passion she had given to me. Her lips were so soft, I loved them touching mine, I loved how natural this felt and I didn't want it to end. Eventually, Liz pulled away and her cheeks were a deep red which added a nice change to her otherwise ivory complexion. She waved to me and began to walk away, disappearing into the trees like once before.

That was the last time I saw Elizabeth Martin, and I can honestly say that I've thought about her everyday since then. Every year that passed, every season that faded I wanted her back. I longed to kiss her again, to lay with her, and be with her. In the course of time I began to lose this want, I began to lose the need to be with her, to have our lips touch once again. As time moved on, so did I.