Faded Memories

Chapter 1

The calm lapping of the ocean could be faintly heard from where I was laid on the sand, the hairs on my arm standing up from the gentle breeze. The sky was clear tonight, much clearer than the past week that I have laid out here. I stared up at the sky, wondering how many other people were staring at the same stars that I was. I waited patiently for a shooting star, always hopeful that I would finally see one. I never did.

As I felt my eyelids drooping heavily, I brushed the sand off of myself and headed back towards the house. It was a short walk to our house, only a few streets from the beach. Nonetheless, as a child I was never allowed to do the walk alone. Not because I was a bad child, I was quite the angel, but because of other people - or that's how my parents worded it to me anyway, most likely to not make me feel like I was the problem.

I unlocked the front door, instantly greeted by the large mirror that stood in the hallway. I looked like I had been tackled into a bush or something of the sort, with my caramel hair dishevelled into knots from the wind on the beach. I had worn a simple floral print mini dress, a stupid idea really as we neared autumn - shown through the prominence of goosebumps on my skin. I smiled to myself, thinking of my mother's face if she saw my lack of clothing for a cool day - especially highlighted by the fact that I had not worn shoes. I had simply forgotten.

I brushed the sand off of the soles of my feet once again, before heading upstairs. The whole house had tones of beige and white running throughout, it was really quite beautiful inside. My bedroom was situated on the right of the house, the windows looking out of the front of the house and towards the sea. As a child, I had learnt how to climb onto the roof through my window - making the view of the sea even more spectacular. I never thought my parents knew, but looking back they must have known. Parents know everything, don't they?

My bedroom had all white walls, with a wooden double bed facing the large windows. I adored waking up and being able to face outside immediately, and the white walls allowed the light to fill the entire room as much as possible. I had a twin bathroom that was shared with my brother Joe's room, although since he didn't live here currently it was all mine.

Tonight felt... peaceful. For the first time in a long time everything seemed quiet, as if I was the only person alive.

I sat outside on the sheltered porch the next morning, idly watching as the rain poured down onto our back garden, flooding the pool. I had not figured out the entire adult world enough to know what to do when the pool floods, I was just going to let it happen. This had quickly become my routine over the past few weeks, sitting out in the rain and watching the world go by. I sat out here when it was sunny too, but I honestly preferred when it was raining.

"Amelia?" I heard a voice shout, as the gate to our garden quickly opened and their body appeared on our porch. "Ellen wanted me to bring this over, we got your mail again." Trevor announced, walking over to me and taking a seat on the bench next to me.

Trevor lived next door with his lovely wife Ellen, moving in a few years ago to enjoy their retirement in a quieter part of the country. They reminded me of my own grandparents, always bickering but being truly and madly in love with each other. Trevor and Ellen were God's gift to earth. He slowly sat down next to me, staring out towards the sea which you could see in the distance, the waves strong as a reflection of the storm brewing.

"You shouldn't have brought it over in the rain, Trev." I scolded, kissing his cheek and muttering thank you regardless. "How is Ellen, this morning?"

"She's doing better. Almost over her darn cold, but rain like this doesn't help. If I keep finding you out here in the rain you'll be joining her and that cold of hers on the sofa, young lady." He took his turn to scold myself, acting like the grandparent that I didn't have around. My heart melted.

"I know, I know." I mockingly held my hands up, surrendering. "You know I love being out here though, Trev, I can't help myself." I bumped my shoulder against his, as he chuckled quietly and shook his head, not understanding my obsession with the outdoors but accepting it anyway. "You should be getting back, you can't keep Ellen waiting and I don't want you catching a cold because of me."

Trevor stood up again, stretching his muscles as he did. A few bones cracked, a chuckle escaping my lips as he winced at the loudest crack that came from his elbow.

"Don't grow old, Amelia. It's no fun." He chuckled, waving as he began running back towards his own house. "I'll be seeing you, Amelia." He yelled over his shoulder.

"I'll be seeing you, Trev." I whispered to the air, as he had already left.

I jolted awake from the sofa a few hours later - my phone vibrating continuously in my pocket, my brain still in a daze from the unexpected nap that I had ended up taking after breakfast on the porch. The days were quickly becoming very repetitive and I was getting extremely tired of doing the same things - sleep was my favourite way to ignore those feelings. Especially when I realised how lonely my life had become recently, but I couldn't let myself dwell on that. Not anymore.

I adjusted my eyes to the light, before reading the text that had come through to my phone.

L: I'm assuming you haven't heard, but there's an end of summer party tonight at Gray's house. Figured you could use it to make some actual friends your own age, Mills.

I rolled my eyes, not needing to agree to go as he knew I would have nothing better to be doing. I texted Liam back shortly after, having nobody else to talk to. I was not in the mood for a party, but if I wanted to even think about sticking around, I would have to admit that I needed to put myself out there and make a few friends.

Me: I have friends my own age, Liam. They're just not in this town.

L: Exactly. You'll need some friends for when you start school next week. Don't want to be a loner, now, do you?

Confusion laced my face, I was not planning on going to school here. This was a short term plan, this house, this town. I was not in the mood for education. Not here anyway. This town was so small, I couldn't imagine the drama that was involved with a school where everybody knows each other. I did not want everybody knowing every detail about me.

Me: School?

L: Joe didn't tell you, did he? Sneaky bastard, leaving me to do his dirty work. He made me sign you up I'm afraid, Mills. You start next Wednesday.

I didn't respond to that text, instead throwing my phone to the other side of the room. I was feeling dramatic, so that's exactly what I was going to be. I can't believe Joe is going to make me go to school, he's on the other side of the world and he's still trying to control my life. I guess Liam was right, I was going to need to make friends tonight if I didn't want to be a loner next week.

I threw my phone onto the chair in the corner of the room, suddenly sulking that I was being forced back into education by my older brother. I had no energy to get ready for a party tonight, especially one where I only knew Joe's best friend Liam. And he definitely did not want me to be sticking to his side tonight, not when the girl he fancied was going to be there.

I huffed once more, before dragging my feet up the stairs in order to shower. I hadn't showered since coming back from the beach yesterday, and sand was definitely still in some uncomfortable places. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a good look for a party like tonight's, but I would most likely not remember it in the morning anyway.