CHAPTER ONE.
I noticed my uncle left a note on the table. "I'll be out all day, make yourself at home." I sighed in exhaustion. I use to live with my grandmother; she was always there to keep me company. I had just arrived here yesterday and I already felt alone. But I was use to it by now. I started to remember something I knew I never wanted to bring up in my mind again. How my parents died when I was only 10, but since I was so young I barely could remember that moment I found out they had 'left for a while' my grandmother use to tell me when I stayed at her house. I'm 17 years old now... able to take care of myself.
I decided after a long night that I would go out today for a while. I got dressed and went next door to where my best friend Jen lived.
Jen's mom answered the door "Oh Hi Kristen..." she said in a cheery voice. I didn't have to respond because she was already calling her. "Jennifer! Jennifer!? Are you awake yet honey?" She closed the door, so I waited patiently. The door quickly opened.
"Hey Kristie" She said leaning on the door. Her hair was messy but still looked nice. She was my height with short dark brown hair with red highlights and her eyes were a deep green.
"Hey Jen wanna go out today?" I said looking up into the sky. I could see the sun in the cloudless sky.
"Yeah that would be great she said."Just let me go and change." She held up on finger and closed the door behind her.
"Hey Bestie" Jen said and hugged me. "So where are we going today?"
"I don't know. I'm feeling spontaneous today" I said with a smile because it was true. I was feeling happiness and I'm not sure if it was the beautiful August sun or the fresh air but I felt... different.
"Alright then" She said walking down her driveway
We walked down the sidewalk talking about random things. Until we came to "Eats" my favourite restaurant. It wasn't small and it wasn't big either the whole restaurant was an inviting shade of blue with while decor. But it wasn't the inside that was the only thing that was nice. It was the food too... everything about this place made me feel 'at home.' I always use to eat here as a kid when I visited my uncle for school. We sat down where the waitress seated us.
"How's living with your uncle?" Jen said fixing her napkin and plate.
"It's been only one night and kind of a morning but he's gone to work..." I said looking down.
"That's too bad. Well if you ever need me I'm right next door!" She said laughing.
"So how's Jake?" I said watching her expression.
"Good. It's been 7 months now" she said smiling.
"That's great Jen I'm happy for you" I said.
Our conversation was interrupted by a waiter at our table.
"I'll have an orange juice and eggs with bacon" I said handing him back the menu. I didn't need to look at the menu I had memorized it after all these years.
"I'll have orange juice too, with eggs benedict" Jen said handing back the menu as well.
The waiter left which lead back to our conversation.
"We gotta spend the whole month of August together and we gotta have classes together! Just like last semester" She said with a joyful expression.
"Of course. I would love that." I said with the same expression.
Just then I noticed something. I looked there sidetracked for a second...
There this person sat... looking at me. I wasn't necessarily looking at him or meeting his 'gaze' but his eyes were so hypmatizing I had never seen anything like them. They were so extremely... blue. Our eyes locked for a moment or two and I quickly looked away.
"... and that's why my mom..." Jen was still talking. I felt bad that I didn't know what exactly she was talking about, my thoughts went somewhere else and I was already behind in a conversation.
I listened more but I couldn't help but feel curious of who this person was and why they had such interest in me? Was there something wrong with me..? I saw myself in the mirror this morning. I didn't look that bad. I let impulse take control and I subtly glanced in his direction.
He had dark brown hair long but beautiful. He was thin wearing a black tank top. He was talking to someone I couldn't see. He was facing my direction but the person accompanied by him was facing the opposite direction and blocked by a booth. He turned his head and looked at me again for just a quick second and looked down.
"... Kristie...?" Jen was waving her hand in front of my face.
"Ohh sorry... "I bounced back to reality.
"What you looking at?" She said turning around.
"Wait. Don't turn around yet." I said.
"Why?" she said concerned.
"Trust me." I said. I saw in the corner of my eyes he was looking. I didn't want him to see her turn around and look it would make it obvious we were talking about him.
"There now look. He's been looking at me... I dunno if it's paranoia but it's not the creepy kind of look.... I dunno how to explain it." I said when I saw that he looked away.
She glanced over.
"Whoa. That one?" she said pointing.
"Yeah..."
"He's wow." she said finally turning around. "Go talk to him."
"UMM. NO." I said laughing. "He might even be with another girl. I can't see who he's talking to" I said.
"We're gonna wait here until he does then."
"No... Lets not. I got better things to do today then wait for some stranger to come and talk to me."
"haha. If you put it that way it sounds bad. We're just going to wait till he leaves."
"This may sound odd. But he looks familiar." I said confused.
"Have you met him before?"
"I don't think so... it's just a strange feeling" I said still uncertain.
Our orders came and I tried to ignore the guy sitting in the corner. I focused on plans for the summer and what I was going to do today. I looked on my watch, and it was 1:43.
I looked up and noticed he was standing up with another boy much shorter then him. They walked past us and I felt apart of me sink with disappointment. We were done too so we walked out into the summer sun.
"Let's go back to my house" I said. Bored of anything else. We went to my uncle's house and sat down outside talking. Hours passed it got later in the day.
"Time goes by quickly" Jen commented.
"Yeah it does." I agreed.
"Wait a sec..." she said looking off down the street.
"What..?" I said looking in the same direction.
"That's that guy! Look he's alone now walking." she said surprised
"Do you think he followed us?" I said a little frightened.
"No. how could he we were here for hours. I think he lives here" she
Said and we both watched him open the door to a house down the street.
"Hmm. Maybe what's why he seemed so familiar? I must have met him when I was a kid."
Days Passed. Until one day when I was outside again alone. Waiting for Jen to come outside
There he is. I saw him. Walking down the street, then I saw him look to my direction. He watched me for a while and I did too.
Hey what the hec, I thought. You only live once.
I took a couple steps but decided to wait. Maybe he'll get the hint and come to me. I watched him carefully but looked away occasionally to control the temptation. I looked to my left and he came to me closer now. He wore a blue shirt this time. A T-shirt, with jeans. His eyes were bigger in person than and as blue as the ocean.
"Hello..." He said nervously.
"Hi." I said in a friendly voice
"This may sound strange... I don't know if you remember me but we use to play together when we were kids. I remember because my mom was friends with your uncle and grandmother." He said in a calm southing voice.
"Oh really?" I said feeling fulfilled that I was right and not going crazy. I have met him. I knew it.
"That's ok. It was a while ago. You might not remember because you had other things on your mind. Your parents had just died..." He said trailing off.
I flicker of memories had just flooded my mind. A little boy around 10 years old with gorgeous blue eyes and funny jokes. Always made me laugh when I would cry.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry! How could I forget? You just changed so much!" I said realizing what I just said was stupid. How could you not change in 7 years?
"That's ok... I only recognized you a couple of days ago. Are you here for school too or just the rest of August?"
"Both" I said hopeful.
"That's great. So maybe I'll see you sometime." He started to walk
"Ok that'd be great!"
"OH." He stopped. "Actually I don't know if your uncle told you but he's having a party tonight and my mom and I are invited. So you might see me sooner then you thought." He said smiling.
"I had no idea there was a party...." lost my thoughts for a while. Trying to retrace my steps if my uncle ever left a note or told me about this party. "He doesn't tell me much these days" I said lightly laughing. "I'll see you tonight then"
"Ok, see you." He walked down the street to wherever he was headed before.
Jen came outside and I explained to her what happened
It was 7:00 and I was inside when my uncle came home.
"Hey Kristen!" He said cheerfully
"HI uncle. Is there some kind of party tonight?" I said unaware
"Yeahh. That's right" he looked at the calendar. "Most of my friends are coming over. Is that ok? I'm sorry for not telling you. I just didn't think it would be a problem."
"Oh it's not a problem at all" I said. A spark of excitement went through me when I remembered who else was coming.
"I'll go get ready. What time are they coming?"
"8:30" He said walking into the living room.
"Okay. That should be all the time I need."
I went upstairs and tried to decide what to wear. 7:15, 7:50. It had been an hour. I looked on my bed to see all my clothes pilled on it. Maybe I should try this with this…
Guests arrived and I made my way downstairs hoping he was there.
There was a buzzing sound throughout the house. People talking, screaming yelling over each other. I went into the living room where all the commotion was. I looked around searching everywhere. Until I met his eyes again…
"There you are!" My uncle interrupted my temptation.
"John, Peter. This is my niece Kristen" He said proudly
I shock each of their hands and tried my best to be polite even though at the moment my mind was somewhere else…
The small talk was quick luckily for me. I looked over to where he was standing before but to my surprise he wasn't there.
"Hey Kristen can you take this into the kitchen" He said handing me empty cans of pop.
"Sure uncle" I walked to the quiet kitchen and put the pops in the recycling.
I looked up and there he was.
"Hi again" He said friendly
"Hey." I said trying not to sound too eager.
"Crazy party over there eh?"
"Yeah."It's just too loud." I replied looking into the living room.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere quieter..."
"Yeah okay." I said. Normally girls would be suspicious if a guy asked them to 'go somewhere quieter' but I figured if anything got out of hand I could defend myself. After all I was 17.
We went into the hallway and I sat down feeling awkward to stand.
"So do you remember anything about when you were young?"
"Some things. Not everything of course but I do remember you… How long have you known my uncle?"
"I don't know your uncle that well but him and my mom are pretty close."
He sat in front of me now in the long but narrow hallway. The width of the hallway was small which made us closer together.
"You've changed a lot" He said in a sweet voice.
"Everyone changes after 10 years old." I laughed.
He looked so different. So 'attractive.' I think that's why I was feeling nervous even talking to him.
"I wanna know you better..." He looked away shyly.
"Yeah I'd like to get to know you too." I smiled at the fact that he was shy.
I decided I would say something extremely dangerous. It could make everything awkward. I thought. But I figured if it did it wouldn't matter. I don't want to start a friendship and then not say anything with the fear of it being awkward. I would rather say it now and get it over with. Or at least hint at it.
I spoke in a soft voice still a little nervous.
"I would like to know you more then a friend…" I looked down as a spoke unable to look up because of fear of what his facial expression was at this point. Many different images came into my mind.
Why did I have to do that? He doesn't like me. I always kill a moment. I decided I would look up.
He was just looking at me. Not surprised really, and not disgusted. Just looking in a nice way.
"More then friends?" He said in a soft innocent voice. "I'd like that."
Just then a part of me was filled with joy and the fear had disappeared.
He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.