Riley:
I wake up tired in my bed in the middle of the night thinking of Fyre. Just a few hours ago was unbelieve, and my night with her was more than i could have ever even think of imagining. It was...perfect.
Fyre. Her eyes. Her voice. Her lips. Her... everything. Everything on or about her is mysterious, yet perfectly beautiful and flawless and just everything i need. Everything i crave at this very moment after just thinking of her.
I sit up and decide to think about tomorrow. I will go to school and despratly long for sixth period when i will be aloud to communicate with Fyre alone. I sigh. I can here her laugh now, haunting my dreams with her glowing golden eyes waiting for me to crack. Because i know that's what she's doing. Everyone is curious about another one's nsecrets. And thats what she wants. She wants me to suddenly crack,a nd open my deepest secrets to her small, soft ears.
It wont happen, however, no it wont. I wont allow it.
She'll know as much as i'll allow her to hear.
I lay back down and try to begin dreaming again. Unfortunatly it doesnt work even with another sleeping pill. So i lay in my bed wide awake until the sun folds out over the endlessly long horizon. I beat my alarm clock when it begins to beep, and i hide my tird eyes under the pillow until i know i'll be late.
Mom comes in as she always does because she knows the alarm clock does not work with me. Well, now it doesnt work at all, im guessing, after i'd beat it to a million peices on the ground. She shakes me until i get out of bed.
She smiles, as if she's accomplished something, then tells me to get up, and then leaves my uncomfortable room. I stand up as she watching, then when when she's out of eyesight, i tumble back into my bed for another second or two, then get dressed, brush my teeth, and eat breakfast. Which is the same every morning.
Borning Old Cinnomon Toast Crunch.
Finally, it's time for school. I walk Rue to Elementry school, then i walk in the other direction to North High. When i get there, the usual people are staring at me, but i ignore them. I guess ignoring them will just have to be a daily thing now and i just need to get used to it. I already am.
That's when i see Fyre.
Just as i was to catch up to her, someone blocks my way.
I bring my attension to the boy. He is smaller than me. Skrawny, blond, brown eyes.
Dorky.
He looks like he doesnt have too many friends.
"Oh, i'm so sorry!" he begins his apologize over and over and over again. Eventually i get annoyed and tune out and watch Fyre enter her classroom over his shoulder. I sigh, then tune back into what the boy is saying.
"It's alright, man," i say. "Dont worry."
"Are you sure? I mean... i mean, i dont want to cause trouble." he says. It seems as if he lost his train of thought for a second.
Then he says to me, "I'm Peter. And you are?"
"Riley." i tell him. "I'm new."
"Oh, yah, your in Mrs. Yellow's clas with me." Mrs. Yellow's is Math class for me, and, now that i think about it, Peter's in that class as well. She's a younger teacher. Maybe late twenties, pregnant, always happy to see every single one of her students, and always laughing.
I nodd. "Yah. Homeroom, right?"
"Yah."
I shrug. "She's nice, isnt she?"
"Yah." he repeats.
I start to walk away when he calls after me, "Please dont go. I dont have anyone else to talk to. They all laugh at me."
I stop dead in my tracks. He's yet another one the locals shun. Just like me and Fyre. I cant just leave him all alone, what if Fyre had done that with me? Just left me alone, by myself, tolerating my life? I turn back to him and smile as kinly as i possibly can. "I'll talk to you. I'll be your friend, as a matter of fact."
"Really? You'll be my friend?"
I nod.
Peter is beaming with joy. "Thank you, thak you, thnk you! I havent had a friend since third grade.." he tells me.
I smile. "Any time, Peter," i say. "Well, actually, how about we get to class?"
"Sure!"
We walk quickly to Mrs. Yellow's class. I walk in silence, tuning out of Peter's constant chatter until we reach Mrs. Yellow's classroom. Peter sits two rows behind me, i notice him now that he's one of my few friends i have. Mrs. Yellow walks out and begins with her usual morning gabbing before we're forced to do the pledge of alligence.
After English, is lunch. I eat as quickly as possible, then race to the bench were Fyre usually sits at. And, sure enoguh, there she is. Doing her homework. Never eating a slice of food, or a sip of precious liquid.
I wonder if she ever just piggs out when no one is watching.
"I hear you';ve made a friend," she says as i sit down, she doesnt take her eyes off her homework until she's finished with such speed.
It's like lightning quick.
I nod. "Yah. His name's Peter."
"Peter Factress?"
I nod again. "Yah. He doesnt have any friends, and i felt bad. And he's not that bad of a guy, you know."
"I know. I'm just not the social type, Riley."
"I know this," i say. "However, i am social. Just, not to people who dont really like me."
"What makes you think i like you?" she asks me.
I laugh. "That's easy: the way you look at me. The way you blush everytime i come near you. Must i go on. Fyrefly?"
She goes silent. "Yah, i guess i cant really lie to you, Riley."
"Dont put yourself so low, no one can."
Fyre laughs at this just a little bit.
"Hey, guys!" Peter calls and runs over to us waving his hands in the air. He sets his backpack down on the ground and sits next to me. His short blond hair glistening with lots of sweat. "Woah... just got out of P.E. Man, that class gives me a workout."
"It's suppose to, Peter Pan," i tell him, but Fyre has gone silent. But, it's jsut what she said. She's anti-social. She just needs to get used to Peter before she can begin to say anything to him, or to me in public.
Well, that's what i'm guessing.
Peter smiles at me, then looks at Fyre. "Hi, Fyre," he says. Fyre looks up, smiles, then looks back down at her feet ont he ground.
He looks at me. "Is she ok?" he asks.
I nodd. "Of course, she's ok, Peter. She's just... shy." Yah, shy is a good word to use. It's not mean, it's not to nice. It's right in the middle. Which makes it perfect. Just like her.
Fyre looks at me, smiles, then looks at Peter. She looks in deep thought before saying, "Hi, Peter." She looks at me, as if asking, Was that good enough? I nodd to her and put Peter in a headlock and give him a noogie.
He's laughing and yelling stop when i finally let go. He fixes his hair, then says goodbye when the bell rings.
Me and Fyre find our way to class, passed the formal posters in which are hung up almost everywhere, and into Mrs. Williams class.
"Now, class. Who has been working together already?" she asks the class. No one's hands come up at all.
Mine and Fyre's hand shoot up, btu once people start staring, Fyre puts her hand down.
"Ah, my star pupil and the newcomer." Mrs. Williams smiles at us.
My hand falters, and i look over at Fyre. She is resting her chin on the table and messing with a pencil. She acts as if she hadnt heard Mrs.Williams complement to her. The old hag-like teacher gives me a sypothetic glance, then it is replaced with a strict, teacher-like look.
"Any others?"
No one raises there hands.
Mrs. Williams scowls at the others, and wobbles off tio her desk to give us another presentation.
"Will Peter be there every day?" Fyre asks.
"Maybe. Why? You dont like him?"
"No, no, no..." she tells me. "I was just wondering so i'd be perpared. Are we still going shopping tomorow?"
"Yah. Maybe you could come to my house right after school, and we could take my mom's rental car?" i suggest.
"Ok, sure," she says. "So our plan is: we'll walk to your house. Then we'll get the supplies. Then Friday after school we'll head to the peir for some expeirimenting?"
I nod. "That's the plan."
She replies simply, "Ok."
Yes, indeed. That is the plan.
Riley:
After school i run down to the beach.
i sit in my usual spot and wait for Rose.
She never comes.
after a while, i get worried and look around for her. I find her with a guy buying ice cream. They're flirting, i can tell. And she's going along with it. Finally the guy asks her out, and she says, "Of course." Before she drags him to the spot i usualy sit at with her.
I should have known this would have happened. I predicted it my whole life. Girls are nothing but a weakness. They'll make you cry out weakness. They'll make you feel something you dont want to feel and then stab you in the back when your not looking.
I drag myself up a rock and watch them, hoping no one will see me up here. It looks like a homeless person lives here. i see a sleeping bag, some food piled up, and clothes to change into.
That's when Fyre climbs up the rock, wet and gasping for air.
"Fyre! Are you ok?" i immidiantly jump up and help her over to safety.
"Riley? What are you doing at my house--i mean, my rock?"
I stare at the things on the ground until i put two and tweo together. "You live here?"
"No.. i mean, yes.." She looks ahamed. "Go ahead and laugh if you want."
"I'm not going to laugh." i say. "What i am going to do is offer you a place at my house."
She looks at me. "You would do that for me?"
I nodd. "Of course, i would, Fyrefly. Your my...best friend."
"I am?"
"Yes."
Fyre settles this in her brain, and a wide smile spreads across her face. The smile is awkward and sweet, i can tell she hasnt smiled this real and this big in a while, if not ever.
I smile back.
'Alright," i say, "I suggest we pack up your stuff, and then we can get to my house before dinner. Deal?" She nodds and begins to pile her clothes into her sleeping bag along with all her other posessions. "Done?" She nods yes. "Alright, let's head home."
As we're walking, she seems to be bouncing with excitment. "Are you alright?" i ask her.
She nods. "Yes, Riley, have a little sympathy. I havent lived in a home since..." She pauses, as if she's thinking, then continues, "Since i moved here from Bakersfield."
I chuckle. "Sympathy is a weakness." i say.
"Oh?" Fyre asks, "And what else, in your mind i must add, is a weakness?"
I blush. "Well, crying, for one. Then, girls."
"Girls? Oh, so im a weakness?"
"No." i say. "Your my friend. Technicolly you cant break up with me."
Fyre is quiet for a second, then she says, "If we dated. Would you break up with me?"
I hesitate, wondering if this is a trick question, before answering, "No."
"Oh.." she says. "Because over the years, i've heard of friends dating and then it ends up ruining there friendship because the other is, as they say, a 'douche.' You know, i've never learned what that means. Could you explain it to me?"
My eyes widen. "You want me to explane to you what a douche is. Am i hearing this right?"
"What is it?"
"An insult."
"No shit, sherlock, but what does it mean?"
I sigh. "Well, the technicol definition is 'A shower of Water--"
"I know this. But people dont go around calling eachother showers." she says.
We reach my street, and i say, "Look! My house! Come on, let's go in."
I drag her in, and run into my mom.
"Riley, dinner is almost done!" She sees Fyre, and she looks at me, "Riley? Who's, uh... whos your friend?"
"Oh, Mom, this is Fyre. She's uh... she needs a place to sleep. Can she stay here until further notice?" With Fyre right next to me, there's nothing my mother can do but agree or else she'll be freaking out that she sounds rude.
"Of course," she turns to Fyre. "Hello Fyre. I am Angie, Riley's mother."
Fyre smiles, but says nothing.
"Come along, you two, Rue has made dinner tonight."
"Great. Do we die from the toxic fumes, or the poison she's injected into it?" i say jokingly. I see my mother and Fyre suppressing a smile.
"Hey!" Rue calls from the kitchen. "I heard that!"
I call back, "Good!"
We sit down at the table, me across from mom and next to Fyre, when Rue hands us our plates. "Mm," i say, "Mac and Cheese and hot dogs."
Rue sits down nex to Mom, and watches us eat.
"Do you like it, Fyre?" she asks.
Fyre swallows before saying, "Yes it is delicous, thank you."
"Yah, sweety, you really have a gift," Mom tells Rue. Rue beams with excitment, while i finish off my hot dog and begin the mac and cheese. Normally we dont finish our food, but tonight, to make Rue feel better, we all ate everything on our plates.
"You guys must have been hungry," Rue says when she joins us all on the couch. Me anf Fyre sit on the long couch, while Rue and Mom sit on the love seat together.
"I'm sorry, Fyre, but you have to sleep on the couch, because our only two rooms are occupied completly."
I shrug. "She can sleep in my room."
Mom shoots me a glance, and i keep quiet.
"No, Mrs. Hamilton, really, it's fine."
My mom heaves a sigh before saying,"Fyre, whatevrr happened to your house?"
"Mom, no--" i try to warn her to stop, but Fyre's voice stops me.
"I dont have a home, Ms. Hamilton." she says simply.
My mom seems shocked. She doesnt say a word except for, "Oh..." Then it sinks and she says, "Oh, i'm so sorry! Are you ok? Where's your family?"
"Dead." she whispers.
My mom drops the subject, and Rue brings it up. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen," she says.
"Oh, did you just turn eighteen?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"In Novemeber."
"Ah."
Mom stepps in now. "Rue? I think you should take a shower and go to bed."
"But--"
"Rue?"
Rue gives up and hangs her head low. "Yah, mom, sure. Goodnight, Fyre, night Riley..." her voice trails off as she walks down the hall into the bacthroom.
"I'm so sorry--" my mother begins, but Fyre finishes.
"It's alright, Mrs. Hamilton. Really. She's a sweet girl."
Mom smiles, then follows Rue down the hall. "Hey, Riley??" She pokes her head out of the hallway. "Help Fyre make her bed before you go to bed, please?"
I nod. "Of course, Mom."
She walks away, and i'm left i a room with Fyre.