Dis-cuh-laimed!
The Beginning of The Middle
Massie Soon-to-be-Jacobson stepped onto the pavement sidewalk of Westchester, New York, and floods of memories of when she considered this place "home" ran through her mind. But these memories weren't like normal ones. When most people remember things, they remember the names of all the people. But Massie couldn't think of any of their names. There was a girl with dark, shiny hair, a girl with wild red curls, a sporty one with dirty blonde hair, and a sweet one with blonde hair. She had blocked these girls from her mind for years, and was just finding the courage to come back to it all. The click-clacks of her shiny three-inch heeled ankle boots filled her mind, sort of a meditation. She could feel her curled up-do bouncing. Everything was a fresh start.
Although Westchester was, for the most part, the same, Massie noticed some different things, such as a store called "Alicia's Dresses" that displayed everything from wedding gowns (which could come in handy, Massie thought) to ballet tutus. The movie theaters showed ads for a new movie that was starring Stacey Fisher. But the first thing Massie really noticed was a girl. She was tall and skinny, and her red hair was straight and perfectly highlighted with strands of gold. Her blue-green eyes were bright as she talked on her iPhone. "I know, Jess, SOOOO exciting. I just don't know what color the bridesmaids should wear, because Sam said definitely NOT lime green... I KNOW, a tragedy... huh? Ehmagawd, YES! He'll DEFINATELY love mint. Buh-bye."
Massie had to turn. Redhead probably thought she was staring. Which she was. But that was completely against the point.
There was just something about the way she talked. Was it the accentuated words that appeared in all her sentences? The girly tone? But then Massie realized...
Ehmagawd.
She said ehmagawd.
Massie's word. The word of her childhood. The word of her now.
She had to be one of them. One of the ones she had avoided for ten years, the ones she hadn't seen since she was 14. Redhead was one of the ones who Massie had blocked out of her mind.
Her fight-or-flight instincts took place, but they were more flight-or-approach.
And Massie didn't choose flight.
Her quickly thought-up plan took place. Massie started walking backwards in Redhead's direction, pretending to be texting. BOOM.
"Ehmagawd, I'm soooo sorry!" Massie said. Their eyes locked.
"I-it's fine," said Redhead. Massie couldn't move her amber eyes.
"Mass?"
Massie gasped. "Dylan?"
