Hunter's POV:
Deafening silence penetrated my senses the minute I walked through my front door. A deep sigh flew from my mouth as I dragged myself up the massive staircase and into my two story bedroom. Turning on the TV for background noise, I then changed into some comfortable pajamas. An oversized t-shirt with oversized sweatpants was the mood for today.
Hearing and seeing Lauren's reaction to her mother's passing really hit me. I'd reacted almost the same way when my father died three years ago.
I'm aware that everyone thinks I live in a two parent household and both my parents have these fancy jobs so they're always really busy. The truth is, my mother takes the Ellis family name too seriously around here to have anyone thinking we're imperfect or 'struggling.' We literally have this fat ass house and money to last us two lifetimes yet my father's death is her definition of 'us struggling.' So now she acts as if his death never happened. Anytime someone asks about him she comes up with a very different and convincing lie.
I'm not allowed to bring him up at all. Anytime I do, she acts as if I've just threatened her entire existence and gives me the silent treatment. Did I mention she's almost 40, and gives her own child the silent treatment? Also, my mother is not very nice to me, at all. She's never been the nurturing type, but ever since my father died, she barely acknowledges my presence. It hurts, of course, but I try not to let it get to me. I realized, long ago, that she's a human with her own faults, first, before she is my mother. My disappointment in her is simply my own fault for having those expectations in the first place. It took a while for me to learn that.
As of now, we just stay out of each other's way. I don't bother her, and- not that she would- she doesn't bother me. Do I wish things were different? Of course. Everyone wants love and affection on some level, but hey, life's not fair right?
Since coming in last night, I've done nothing but sleep and watch TV. It was close to five in the afternoon now, and my mother still hasn't shown up. It didn't worry me much because sometimes she'll be in town, but would take forever to come home. As far as I'm concerned, she could stay wherever the hell she's at.
I've been laying around all day, and now I'm getting bored. Deciding to treat myself to a little dinner, I got up from my bed, threw on a decent outfit, put on makeup and perfume, then headed to my car.
Most of the restaurants in Florida usually have the same vibes. I mean, it's Florida. A while back though, I found this really nice joint that played live music and served some of the best food I'd ever tasted in my life. One day, I was sad and wanted to do something spontaneous like taking myself out to eat. Close friends aren't easy to come by for me, and my mother's, well....she's my mother. Then there's my dad, who's dead, so he was no help. Long story short, a bitch was lonely. But once I entered that place, everything I was feeling just kind of....paused. And I've been coming here alone ever since.
"You're usual table Ms. Ellis?" the hostess, and my good friend, Felix, greeted me. He's about 30 years old, but his personality really has no age. Dude gets along with just about everyone, and it's unheard of for someone to dislike him.
"As always Felix, thank you."
"Right this way. How've you been?" I let out a deep sigh,
"I've been okay. Just needed to get out of the house ya know?"
"Oh honey, don't I. How's school? Senior year going alright?" Another sigh flew from me,
"Well it's actually going better than I expected, I met some new people. Made a friend...or two" He quickly turned to me in amusement after hearing my last sentence,
"A friend? Or two?! Okayyy, look at youu" My lips curved into a bashful smile,
"Don't say it like that Felix....I can make friends..." He stared at me knowing, "I just choose....not to." Sticking my nose in the air, I playfully shrugged a shoulder. Felix laughed,
"Oh okay Hunter, if you say so." I giggled. "Here we are. Hi-C mixed with sprite, I'd assume?" Smirking at him, I flapped my hand,
"You know me so well." Felix laughed, waving me off as he turned on his heels and walked away.
"Your waiter will be back with it. Enjoy darling!" He called. I called back,
"Thanks Felix!"
Aria's POV:
"Thanks Felix!" A familiar voice pervading my ears caused my neck to snap in the direction it came from.
"That sound like Hunter to you?" Dylan said to me, looking on as well. I nodded,
"Yeah. I think I see her over there, hold up I'll be back" with that I scooted out of my side of the booth and made my way over to where Hunter sat.
"This seat taken?" I joked.
My voice startled her a bit, provoking her body to jump a little with her hand flying to her chest. "Dear G- Aria? What're you doing here?" Shrugging, I sat down,
"Dylan brought me here on a date." She nodded slowly. "The real question is what are you doing here, alone at that?" Her head hung and she began tapping her fingers on the wooden table,
"I uh- I come here a lot to kind of- get a breath of fresh air I guess. This place is kind of like my 'spot,'" she laughed nervously. My eyebrows furrowed,
"Okay but why alone? Don't you have like a thousand friends?" Resting my elbows on the table, I observed her. She didn't seem like the same Hunter I'd seen at school or at Lauren's house. This Hunter was quiet, reserved, anxious, and looked like she needed a friend. Shaking her head, she took her bottom lip between her teeth,
"No not really," there was that forced laugh again. "I actually don't uh- I really don't have any friends, well besides Lauren really. Until this year, I've kind of been a loner." I frowned as she shot me a subtle grin,
"You're serious?"
"Right hand to the man."
Glancing, for a second, back at my table where Dylan sat, I then focused my attention back on Hunter.
"Would you like to come eat with us? I could actually use your opinion on something Dylan and I were trying to figure out."
"Oh no, Aria it's okay, you don't have t-"
"But Hunter I want to." I interrupted, not taking no for an answer. "You're way too cool of a person to only have one damn friend, so as of right now, consider yourself gaining another. Get ya ass up and come on." I stood and walked back to my table without allowing her a response.
Sitting back down in my spot across from my boyfriend, I patted the space next to me while looking at her. Giving me a shy smile, she obliged and sat down.
"Hey Hunter, how's life?" Dylan spoke. She sighed,
"It's... life-ing" We chuckled and I saw the tension Hunter held within her body die down a little.
"Oh hey- I heard you were there with Lauren when her mom passed. How've you been? How is she?" Dylan's question resulted in a spirit of sadness washing over her.
"Well I uh- I'm not sure how Lauren's been. The night I left, she wasn't doing too great. But then Sade showed up so I think that helped. Lauren hasn't responded to any of my calls or texts so I haven't spoken to her. I did get in touch with Sade though, and she told me she's not okay but she will be, so that's all I know."
"Yeah she hasn't responded to me either" I said, in deep thought about Lauren. That's my baby and my heart really broke for her, hearing the news. I knew Sade was with her so at least she has someone to lean on, but still. Losing a mother is no joke. I wouldn't wish that shit on nobody.
"Same," Dylan chimed in. Exhaling deeply, he put down his menu, "You talked to Sade today babe?" My attention drew from Hunter to my boyfriend,
"Uh no not really, I texted her this morning and that was it. I'll call her tomorrow, let them have some time." I shrugged, glancing down at my menu. Should I go with regular chicken tenders and fries? Or should I spice things up for a change?
"So what was this discussion you claimed y'all needed input on?" Hunter asked me, drawing my attention from my menu back to her.
"Oh yeah! It's about my birthday..."
"Ohh shit! Okay, how old are you turning?"
"18"
"Okayyy, the big one eight! So what's the plan?" Sucking air between my teeth, I grimaced, glancing at Dylan,
"See that's the thing-"
"Uh oh-"
"Right. So I was just gonna go with a simple little dinner with friends, but Dylan here" I gestured toward him, "suggested that I should go big and do a little getaway trip."
"See now Dylan is speaking my kind of language"
Dylan as subtly bowed his head shooting us a proud smirk. I giggled while rolling my eyes,
"Omg-"
"No seriously Aria, you're turning 18. And, might I selfishly add, a little getaway trip is definitely the way to go. This is a group thing right?"
"Yeah it would be a group trip." Excitedly clapping her hands at a low volume, Hunter then took a sip of her drink.
"So what about a trip to the mountains? Gatlinburg, Tennessee perhaps?" Intriguingly arching an eyebrow, I looked at her with a smirk,
"I'm listening..." she nodded with a small smile. Dylan attentively leaned forward onto the table. Putting her drink back on the table, Hunter began her explaining her idea,
"Okay so it would obviously be holiday themed, except the celebration is your birthday instead of Christmas. We'd go to a cabin for like the weekend or something once we go on break. And Gatlinburg has like a shit ton of stuff to do, so we wouldn't be bored."
I chuckled, "It's giving couples retreat. Pretty much all of us have a boo." Quickly, I glanced at her upon realizing what I said could've offended her, "no offense of course." She shrugged lightly,
"Oh honey, there's none taken. I'd love to have a fat ass room all to myself. Plus I'm friends with most of you so it wouldn't make me uncomfortable or anything." I smiled hearing her words.
"So it's settled then?" Dylan asked, still looking over his menu.
With a satisfied sigh, I took a sip of my drink, "I would suppose so."
"Hi there! You kids ready to order?" The enthusiastic female waiter asked us. We each nodded in response. "Alright let me know when you're ready" she said, pulling out her pen and pad.
Dylan went first, "I'll have the shrimp alfredo with the rolls."
Hunter followed, "Chicken Bryan please."
I went last, "chicken tenders and fries, thank you." Dylan let out a groan and rolled his eyes at me,
"Seriously A?" My shoulders shrugged as I smirked, pretending not to know what he was talking about,
"What?!" Hunter laughed looking between us.
~ Two Days Later ~
Sade's POV:
"Where the hell are the chocolate covered strawberries?" I whispered to myself while browsing the ice cream aisle at Target.
Earlier this morning, Lauren was losing her damn mind. Yesterday, she was quiet and calm like her mother hadn't just passed a few days ago. Today, however, she doesn't know what to do with herself. She told me, "it feels like I'm on a rollercoaster that never ends and I can't get off. Like my strap is stuck and the only way out is to jump from 30 feet out of the air." When she said that, I just nodded my head, even though it kind of scared me. I hoped those thoughts weren't roaming her mind, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were. I won't act as if I understand the depths of how she feels, but I will try my best to be there for her in any and every way possible. If she wanted to cry, I'd be her shoulder. If she wanted to run away, I'd drive her. If she wanted to scream, I'd hand her the bullhorn. And if she wanted to be alone, I'd be in the next room.
Whatever my girlfriend wanted, whatever she needed to get through this, I'd be there for her. How could I not?
Mr. Johnson, who prefers I call him Keith, was out with Audrey, which left the two of us alone for the day. I was sitting on the couch as she went into the kitchen for something to eat. Lauren had barely been eating this entire week, even before her mom passed. I was glad to see her trying now though because no matter how hard I'd tried, she would not budge. She'd take like two bites then leave the rest, so for her to willingly go get something for herself made me smile to myself.
That was until she broke down crying out of nowhere. I rushed over to her, rubbing her back as she leaned over the counter. Resting her elbows on it, she had her head in her hands. Once I asked my girlfriend what was wrong, I couldn't help but laugh under my breath when she told me there wasn't shit to eat in the fridge. The fridge was in fact full. I told her to just tell me what she specifically wanted and I'd go get it from the store. When I asked Lauren if she wanted to come, she told me no, and that she'd rather take a nap. I understood. The next thing I know, here I am.
Lauren requested some frozen chocolate covered strawberries, chicken flavored ramen noodles, plain glazed donuts, watermelon, and pineapples. Weird assortment but whatever.
Walking back into the house, my girlfriend was nowhere to be found, so I assumed she'd taken a nap up in her room. After putting the stuff from the stores where it went in the kitchen, I headed upstairs to check on her. The bedroom was empty though, once I walked in. My movements stopped to listen for a second to see if she'd be in the bathroom. Nothing. I was about to call out her name when I heard sniffles coming from her closet.
"Lauren?" I called softly as my footsteps slowly made their way to the closet. According to what I was hearing, she was trying to gather herself before responding,
"I'm okay Sade."
I didn't say anything back. Instead, I just quietly came in and sat down, with my legs crossed, beside her. She had this beautiful decorated box sitting in her lap. It was opened, revealing a whole bunch of letters, one of them residing in her hand. We sat side by side against the wall. Lauren's head leaned back on it with her eyes shut as a river of exasperated tears, old and new, streamed down her face.
Leaning her head on my shoulder and keeping her eyes closed, she spoke in a tone laced with emotional fatigue,
"This was the last letter she wrote me" her hand held up the piece of paper just to then plop it back on her leg as if it weighed 100 pounds. Cautiously taking her other hand in mine, I interlaced our fingers as my thumb rubbed against the back of it. Feeling as if she needed to just vent, I kept silent still.
"She wrote me letters often b-because she c-couldn't always c-call." I squeezed her hand. "And this was her last one." Lauren's silent cry broke into a sob, "these letters kept me going Sade. Whenever I needed her, I'd have them. And now she's g-gone. This- this is the last one I'll ever get from her Sade. What am I supposed to do now?" Her head lifted, prompting her bloodshot eyes to meet mine as I turned to her. I really didn't have an answer, but the pleading look she had let me know she really needed one. Whether it was useful or not.
"You could always write her back?" Sniffles came from her as her eyes trailed back to the box of tear stained letters.
"I can, can't I?" she asked, more to herself, while staring down at the box. Only a nod drew from me in response. I felt her squeeze my hand as she glanced back over at me, "can I- can I just be alone for a second?" her eyebrows knitted as she asked. Without hesitation, or a verbal response, I kissed her forehead lovingly and stood to leave the closet.
"Hey Sade!?" She called just before I could exit her bedroom. Turning on my heels, I made my way back to the closet and peeked my head in the door,
"Yeah baby?"
A profound, loving gaze from my girlfriend peered into me, "I love you Emerald" she whispered. Softly, a smile tugged my lips,
"I love you too Honeybee."
"Will you eat my snacks with me? I'll be down in a second I promise, I just-" a deep sigh flew from her, "I need a minute." In understanding, I nodded while keeping my expression,
"Of course babydoll. Take all the time you need. I'll be here when you're ready, okay?"
"Okay."
~~~~~~~