Three Empty Words

Chapter 1

  

The sunset was beautiful. It was that kind of pastel pink and orange that is just so satisfying, I thought to myself. "Hey Daniel!" someone called out behind me. Turning around I saw my best friend, Maya, walking towards me. She was a shorter girl standing 5'2" compared to my 5'10". Her hair was darker than mine and looked like she never saw the sun.
   She walked with purpose but had a concerning look on her face. She made it to where I was sitting at the hill by the north end of my high school.
   "What are you doing here? Didn't you have football practice today?" She asked

   "It was cancelled so I came to watch the sunset. Did something happen?" I responded mimicking her worried face. She sat down next to me and said
   "Well I was just watching your practice when I saw you talk to your coach and just leave." She glared at me with a "caught you" look. I started to frown. 'Damn it' I thought to my self 'of course she knew she knows everything.'
   "So what happened did coach take you off starting receiver or was it your girlfriend again?" I could tell by the look in her green eyes that she already knew but still I tried to lie.
   " I just wasn't feeling it today." I said and looked back at the sunset.
  

"Well I just thought I would ask because I saw you and her arguing during passing period." She glared at me again with the same look.
   " Your such a know-it-all" I said and playfully hit her on the arm. She turned her head towards the horizon rubbing her arm.
   'I guess she decided to let it go.' I thought to myself. We sat there in silence watching the sun go down. My legs started to ache and Maya looked like she was going to pass out any second so I asked
   "Do you need a ride home? I can take you if you don't have a ride."

  

"Actually can I stay at your house tonight I don't want to go home."

  

" Is your Dad drinking again? You know you can't run from him forever." Her eyes started to tear up and she responded.
   "please just don't make me go home I would rather sleep in the street.

  

"Yeah you can come home with me just promise me that you will go home tomorrow." She lifted her head up and the tears had started to dry making red streaks down her cheeks
   "alright I promise just not tonight please."

   

"Okay come on my car is in the east parking lot."
   We walked across campus to the east lot. Halfway to the parking lot Maya looked up at me and asked
   "My legs are tires you should carry me." I glared at her and responded
  "Are you serious you really want me to carry you all the way across campus?"

  

"Not all the way we're already half way there, duh"

  

"Ugh fine get on." She jumped on my back and wrapped her arms around my shoulders and I hoisted her into the air.  She laughed and yelled                     "Onward my trusty steed!" We both laughed as I ran across the now empty school campus.
   I set her down in front of my 1967 Impala.  Looking up into the sky she stated
   "It got dark fast the first stars are already visible."

   

"It's only 6:30 but we should head home.", I responded and gestured to the car.  We got in the car and Maya only made it to town before she fell asleep.  While in town I stopped for gas and made sure not to wake her up.  It took seven minutes to get to my house and the whole drive was silent. 
    I pulled into the drive way and picked Maya up gently as to not wake her.  I carried her into the house and to my room.  I laid her in my bed and went to the living room.  I grabbed some blankets from the cabinets and laid down on the couch.  The last thing I remember is whispering "good night"