July 23, 2017

October 2013

The open window caught my attention, the october breeze easily taking hold of my thoughts. I could only dream of other places better than this old, stuffy classroom. A field that stretched across the horizon, wild flower scattered across the dirt giving the earth her freckles. The hue of the sky blending into itself. Changing from the light blue into a warm orange, and various shades of pink and red. The clouds just dancing at a lazy past across the well blended atmosphere. I could not help but let my thought get taken across the field, with the breeze lightly pushing everything in its own cycle.

But reality had a different course. I blinked and the wonderful scene returned to the gray, emotionless day it was. The sun clearly blocked by clouds but the light grey clouds show no sign of rain. I sighed as the class continued to drag on like the weather. The board was covered with examples and dates of tests. In front of me was a recent test we had taken, the kid behind me was derailing the class from getting answers. Half the class, like myself, had been daydreaming out of the same window, and to my dismay the teacher took hold of the class.

"Now to get back on track. Elizabeth, could you read question 16 along with its answer?" Mr. Hardner smiled.

"Out of the following men, who discovered America First? The answer is B. Leaf Erikson, becauses he arrived in 1001 AD. while Christopher Columbus founded it in 1892" I said lazily, not even turning my head from the window.

"Next..." He continued seamlessly, and the class continued with the subject change. While I continued to look out of the classroom, and try to keep at least some of my attention on the class. But it was difficult to with my friend practically falling out of her chair. She had almost fallen asleep and fallen out of her chair. So she not only caught my attention but also the teachers.

"Still fighting battles Toby?" My teacher called.

"Yea, if you call the amount of homework you give us a battle," she rubbed her eyes and tried to not be embarrassed. She easily composed herself, and checked the last few questions on the board and with the person next to her.

I looked to her, and she mimicked him. She silently laughed then pointed at my arm. I looked at it. The flames starting from the base of my forearm and they danced up to my hand and they zentangle was of a simple pattern and it built the flames, but as it slowly reached my fingers the pattern die down. It was nowhere near my best work and it had many smudges from throughout the day. I looked back to her and she concealed her laughter. She clearly saw my judgmental look at my arm. Before she could say anything about it, the bell rang.

"Now I'll need your tests and we will be continuing to correct them Monday, have a great long weekend with no battles," Mr. Hardner called out to the class.

Toby and I quickly packed up our things and rushed to beat the rest of the school trying to get out and enjoy the weekend. She went left as I went to the right of the classroom, easily blending into the traffic, becoming part of the rushing crowd. I quickly got to my locker and collected all my books and homework. My things nice and neat as i tucked them into my bag. Just as I was zipping the bag closed, I could hear the voices of my friends as they walked down the hall. Each pair speaking about their perspective things, Mikala talks to Toby about the the new music they got in band, while a few others made their comments here and there. I quickly collect myself before joining the group as they pass my locker, jumping into conversation. The topic of today, like most days, Rise Of the Guardians. Toby insisting that they were real, while Mikala and I just thought that her imagination had finally took hold of her.

"I'm just saying that it would help explain a lot more than you think it would," She insisted, trying to prove us wrong.

"Toby, I'll believe that they are real when you actually finish a year of school, or once you finally don't have a new scratch on your arm. Or when you finally tell us the truth," Mikala started hinting at her theory.

"So you'll believe in the myth that I'm a demigod, but these mythical creatures that can protect children and change the seasons is childish and unreasonable." Toby countered back. Before Mikala or I could agree with her statement, her phone rang.

"Son of my Mom"

"Hello?" she answered, holding the small flip phone to her ear. As she argued with her older brother on the phone, our friend Jamie had joined up with us. He happily greeted Mikala with a warming smile. His brown hair just reaching his eyebrows, and he smiled to me, and waved to Toby. She responded with a half hearted smile.

"Why? I have things to do. I can't just skip again. You're asking me to put everything on hold for this. Horace," She tries to continue but by her silence it is clear. He does not care for her plans. As we walk down to the band room, their conversation continues. Mikala, Jamie and I talk about the long weekend, and plans.

"I'm so excited about joining the marching band on Friday. Like we get to play Good Time and I already have it memorized," Mikala jumped excitedly.

"That's great! I bet you'll have a good time," I said, enjoying the excitement radiating from her.

"I have only half of The Middle memorized," Toby quickly commented.

"Your part is so easy though!" Jamie stated.

"I've been a little busy with a certain older brother of mine. Yes, I'm talking about you," She rolled her eyes as she continued to argue with her brother.

We reached the instrument room, and everyone grabbed their cases. Toby struggling to put half of her books in her bag, and carry her case along with speaking with her brother on the phone. Jamie went to grab his trumpet case, while Mikala went to get her flute case and say goodbye to the band teacher. I went to grab my violin case, then tried to help Toby get her instrument and bag together. It did not help that she had to carry a trombone case, and another instrument. I put her things all together in her bag, nice and neat. She continued to fight with her brother, and almost forgot her case and his.

"I'm walking out now! Bye" she ended the call before he could even answer. "Oh god I hate when he does that. I just want to be able to get out of the school without forgetting...," she stopped remembering something she forgot.

"Do you want us to wait for you?" Mikala asked adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

"No, I can just run back to my locker to get it. Thank you though. I'll see you at the game, or text you guys," She quickly collected her things and ran back down the hallway, waving goodbye as she went.

"I wonder what was up with her brother this time," I pondered aloud.

"It's the anniversary for their mom," Jamie supplied. "I think that Horace wants to take Toby back to her mother's grave."

"I bet she'll have a great time. Get some quality sibling time," Mikala said.

"I doubt it. Things between them have gotten rough," I spoke up. "She has been fighting with him a lot lately." We started to walk out of the school. The crowd of students slowly dying as each kid either went to their bus or to their parent's car. Jamie, Mikala, and I continued our conversation about the weekend until we all had to go in our separate directions. Jamie and I went to our busses as Mikala walked to her mom's car. Each waving to each other and say that we would text later.

As I get to my bus, I greet my friends with a simple hello. I am quickly sucked into the conversation and we all happily talk on the way home. Everyone bringing up the next topic. The conversation constantly changing from student to student. Even the bus drive enjoying some of the childish jokes we had, and she happily said goodbye to the students as they got off the bus.

"Enjoy the weekend!" she would call, as each child safely went down the steps. Soon it was my stop, I said goodbye and wished my bus drive a lovely weekend. I easily got off the bus and walked to my house.

I take my time walking up the driveway, preparing myself for the horrors that awaited inside the house. I hear my mother calling for my brother, Tammy. He had apparently cleaned the bathroom with the toilet water. I cautiously entered the house, slowly opening the door and easing my shoes off. I quickly climb the stairs and chuck my bag into the room. I quickly began to get out of my school clothes, and ran into the bathroom joined to my room.

I turned on the shower, and turned to myself in the mirror. My hair was an acorn shade of brown with lighter shades of red that just reached the middle of my back. I looked at how my body was covered with freckles and how they moved across my skin like the night stars. Or at least that's what Toby has told me. She has always been able to see that in others. What she say was completely different from what I did. She said I looked cute today, but in reality I looked like I was asking for it. Plain out. I always did, but it's not like I did anything to try to fix how my short torso met my short legs. My stomach not fat, but it was clear I never worked out. My face was chubby and I had these large, grey eyes that blended roughly into a blue, and my teeth were just slightly crooked. Not enough to tell unless you looked really close.

I quickly showered. Fearing the wrath of my mother if I had taken too long. I stepped out not even bothering to look at the fogged mirror. I did not want to even see what the water had washed away.

I looked at my small room, my bed in one corner and my desk next to it. With my dresser and bookshelf on the other side of the room, leaving the wall that faced out into the street bare with only the open window. I gracefully flopped onto my bed, tossing my clothes from the school day to the small pile next to the basket. I laid on my bed and took out my phone from my bookbag. I saw that I had miss several texted from the group. I just tossed my phone aside, and went to my dresser to grab some clothes to change out of my towel.

I picked out a black shirt, and a pair of shorts. I threw on my clothes and tied my hair in a bun to get it out of the way. I soon make my way down stairs and greet my mother. She had been in a better mood, because she returned to helping Tammy clean, and once she was certain he would not be using the toilet water again she had asked for my help for dinner. I agreed, and helped her make some pasta for the night. My step brother was coming to see his dad, my step-dad, this weekend and pasta was his favorite. As mom and I were cooking she asked about school.

"How was that history test you were studying for?" She started off with.

"I passed that test, but it was easy stuff. But the math test wasn't bad, I just have to ask Toby about the corrections," I informed her and stirred the noodles.

"I hope you still passed that test right?" She pushed.

"Yea, I only missed like two things. Nothing major." I brush her off.

"Good, I am glad that you have started taking an interest in your grades now," She said, only a small amount of pride showing.

"Yea," I softly responded. Before she could continue, the front door opened and David and his son, Travis, came in. I could not help the feeling the rushed through me, begging to leave the room. It's not that I hated my step-dad or his son. I just could not help the feeling they brought with them when they would walk into a room.

I felt like running. They were nice people it was just something off about them. It was something that became recent, but i figured it was just me. My step dad greeted my mom and his son. The talked about the day's events. Travis said hello, and went to hang out with Tammy. I helped mom finish cooking, and quickly got out of the way.

I told my mom that I had homework to do, so I planned to go upstairs and eat by myself. My step dad made a comment, but my mom told him to stop and she let me go. I tried to calmly walk up the stairs but I was too relieved to get out of the kitchen with him in there.

I actually start to eat the food i brought with me, and start working on some of the corrections. I quickly pulled out my phone and sent out a quick text.

(Lizzy/ Toby)

Hey Toby, do you have the correction for math?

Yea. But I'm not home. They should be posted on the website. Mikala should also have them. I sent them to her like a few hours ago.

Okay, thanks. Horace take you out?

Yea, we are going to visit my uncle. He is having trouble with her being gone for ten years. I know that he is going to see us and start bawling.

It might help to not just see him during the holidays.

If he wanted to see us any other time, he could call or text us. Like the only way we actually go to family events is because my grandmother actually tells Horace.

Yea, but still. Your grandmother shouldn't have to tell you.

I know. But I just rather not be told that i look just like her, except my eyes. "If they were only her shade of blue"

I rolled my eyes, she always brought up the fact that everyone in her family disliked her father. Even Horace. I thought that her green eyes were a nice shade of a forest. Mostly littered with dark greens but had flecks of a neon green scattered.

I think that if your mom wanted to be with him then they should all shut up, because no one can change you. They can't change you unless you let them.

You're right. Thanks, I have to go we are at my uncles. Bye.

I continued to work on my homework and got the answers for some of the things I did not have from Mikala. I quickly finish things up and it is roughly around ten o'clock. I clean things up and start to lay down in my bed. It was too early to sleep but a little too late to actually do much of anything.

I lay in bed on my phone. Then Mikala called me.

"Heyy!" I happily greeted her.

She laughed, "Hi! How are we this fine evening after all the homework?"

"Dead," I laugh with her. "I just finished the math. Why did she have to assign like ten things for break? Like half of the band kids will be too busy to do it."

"And the other half have a short getaway planned with their families," Mikala finished.

"Exactly!" I sat up in my bed. We both started to laugh.

Tik Tik Tik

The noise at my window caught my attention. I went to the window and looked out to see another rock flying through the air just missing the window and landing on the ledge. I looked out to see nothing. This aggravated me, but I just ignored it and continued to talk to Mikala. We spent an hour talking about school and the basics of the day. All small talk nothing major, but we could still get a few rants in here and there.

By the time we had to go, it was almost midnight.