Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own this. Only the characters I created.

Author's Notes: Edited!Well, I'm finally revealing my first fanfiction creation.
I'm very eager to know how people react to this version, based on the new series. It took time and effort to convert my ideas into words and complete the first chapters. I advise you to tighten your seatbelts and hang in there for a very bumpy ride. You'll encounter some foul language, so if you're a delicate kinda of person and can't stand nudity, or your underage, this fanfic is not for you! Be patient... That's all I ask! I've put quite an effort in building this story, so I sure hope you like it.
I don't think I left anything out =P ...
Oh, one more thing! Any well-intended critique will be appreciated and considered. I would love to hear your comments and voices. So if you wish to, I'll be more than glad to read them! This is my first fanfic, I really hope you enjoy as much as I enjoy writing it!
Hugs to all! Thank you!

PS: Thank you all in advance! Hugs!

Chapter 1

Reia watched her friend walk in circles while she lay back on the grass staring at the sky waiting for the third member to arrive. They were waiting in Maryam's backyard counting the minutes like anxious children. It was a long-awaited reunion between old friends. Maryam's distress was completely understandable but unbearable.

The sky was a bright blue and a wonderful buzz of the old days resounded filling the two of them with great expectations of sharing their latest experiences and stories. Like they once did.

Reia felt her heart filling with joy watching Maryam lose patience with every step. She almost looked cute at first sight. Except for the constant low mumbling and sighs echoing from her mouth. She was much like a volcano sometimes. Bursting and melting her surroundings with that fearsome personality. Yet most times, she was like the Sun, shining so brightly amongst the three being the youngest of them. She was two years younger than Nadia and a year younger than her.

Ever since they first met as children at school, and despite the opposed personalities, they had connected instantly. The day of their fight ended in giggles and games.

Those memories seemed far away sometimes and reliving them meant home in so many ways to her. She tried to stay calm and preserved in an attempt to ignore Maryam's low frustrating curses.

It wasn't odd to see Maryam so temperamental; she always was the most emotional of the three. Her long black wavy hair danced with every step. Reddish highlights from the sun's beams made them seem like flames at the ends. Same big dark brown eyes decorated with those long fluffy and curly eyelashes. Those eyes had always been filled with youth and emotions like deadly but beautiful sparkly fireworks. She wasn't any taller than last year, but she kept the curvy figure as always. It suited her. Lately, she would be big T-shirts and baggy pants for some unknown reason. But her curves still stood out. Her olive skin shined with sweat as she paced her surroundings huffing and puffing and moving twigs around her. Maryam's face contorted between frustration and impatience. Her full lips twitched and her cheeks turned redder with ever curse. Her straight nose creased in a cute wild way defining the circled tip like a small glowing marble.

Nadia was an hour late as always and it seemed like forever for both.

"Maryam… Seriously! " Reia stared at her laying her weight on her elbows. "She's coming! You know how some people never change. They get worse…"- she sighed –"So in three years you should expect her to be three hours late or even more!"

With a long sigh, Maryam rested her forehead on a tree. Sulking over the time wasted. She looked at Reia while she turned laying her back on the tree and felt anger at her calmness.

Reia was always lecturing her on patience. Although her friend herself was spikey and immature, she still insisted on acting as the wiser one.

Maryam felt a deep disgust over her friend's actions, but she understood she was only trying not to fight and help her calm down. They both shared the witty emotional factor, always wanting to have the last word over a discussion. In the end, Maryam would win with her silent punishment and eventually, Reia had to give in. Maryam admitted to herself, that her friend would always be this temple of sweetness and consideration towards others. So innocent and fiery at the same time, and was always more understanding than her she thought. Normally Reia would be like a mom and sometimes even the sister she never had.

She was still unmoved sprawled over the green grass. Acting like an irritated sister, all mature and Zen-like. ¨No matter how hard it was to admit, her friend was in a weird way a temple of wisdom.

After years of friendship, Maryam gazed at her friends figure. Thinking how much they had grown in the last year and she still stayed. Now Rei was a little bit taller than herself, with long legs, skinny arms, curvy body but not as chubby as her. Shorter pitch black hair, entangled in a messy braid secured with a tight red ribbon. Maryam almost laughed at the fact of how different they were sometimes. Rei had brown eyes with a tingle of honey that turned them golden in the sunlight. Finer lips and thinner brows, unlike hers which were thick and arched in a menacing expression. If not for the refined nose with an arched tip, they could have been confused as sisters more easily. In the sunlight, Reia's hair had violet highlights to it. Maryam always admired that full black darkness of her hair. Maryam felt a tight knot in her chest while she realized, she didn't have a clue how Nadia would look like now.

When they were little, Maryam remembered Nadia was the sweet doll of the three. Skinnier, with long honey hair, white porcelain skin and bright green eyes like emeralds stones. She was the cutest little girl in school, refined, smart, delicate and well-mannered; shying behind her glasses like an innocent dove.

After her twelfth birthday, Maryam remembered Reia had stayed close unlike Nadia. Who left without a word? She could feel the anger and reprehension she kept inside in a volt in some corner of her heart. She couldn't even begin to phrase what would be her first question. She hated as much as she loved Nadia. But then again, she never did understand her completely.

Nadia was never a people person. She was never nice and hardly ever showed emotions. She was a temple of maturity and good conduct. Despite her character, flickers of life crossed her eyes when they used to be friends.

Nadia never laughed after the age of seven. She simply smirked or gave that typical Mona Lisa smile. She wasn't very affectionate either. Unlike Reia and her who actually expressed emotions 24/7. It was odd to see Nadia smile. But she did bake sweets and showed her affections with gifts and homework assistance when they were little. After 5 years, Maryam was not sure who she would meet that day. Feeling her palms sweat, rage and confusion filled her heart. She was insecure and a little bit afraid of rejection. Why did Nadia agree to meet them after five years of no-show or maybe an occasional email with a picture and a phrase, was beyond her? She didn't understand, but she missed her like she would miss an elder sister if she had one. Reia was a year older, but the difference was hardly tangible sometimes. Maryam stared at her feet and slowly sank down hugging her knees for comfort. It felt awkward to wait for someone who she wasn't sure she wished to see. Was it anger, hurt or fear? She was sure she felt like bolting out of the place at any moment and Reia would surely lecture her on patience and consideration.

"I can't stand waiting for someone I don't even know anymore". She spat pressing her knees close to her restless heart, hugging her legs tightly as if it were to burst out of her chest.

"Maybe... But that doesn't mean we shouldn't give her a chance to explain. Or get to know her again" Reia said shifting to a sitting position as she examined her worried friend's expression. "I know you're offended and angry. But don't you want to know?"

"No!" Maryam sunk her head between her legs and continued talking in almost a whisper. "She never wanted to be with us. Maybe at some point, she liked us…But she left Reia, without even saying goodbye after nine years of friendship."

"I know… Maryam we don't know what happened, and there's a slight chance she might not explain herself. She was always the silent type. Some people just act. You can't expect everyone to act as you want them to."

"It's just I always feel like it's waiting when it comes to Nadia." Maryam raised her head with an angry glare "Waiting for her to adjust, to open up, to say something, to show a glimpse of understanding. Even now, we're here again waiting for her high and mighty ass presence!"

A chuckle escaped Reia's mouth as she lay down again. She understood Maryam's feeling all too well. She felt them. It had taken years for her to understand a different point of view on the matter. She had meditated and went through those last days before Nadia disappeared. She was not excusing her in any way, but she came to terms with considering other factors. No matter how angry she was.

"We are her friends M. We should accept what we get. "

"Was she ever our friend?" Maryam's voice faded with her breath. It pained her to say the truth so bluntly. But then again, she always said the harsh truth without thinking.

"Sometimes I don't know Maryam… And other times… I remember that day she made us cookies and almost cried because you didn't like the fact they didn't have chocolate."

"I remember that day. I was angry because my parents beat the hell out of me"

"And she gave you cookies…"Reia peered into Maryam's gaze. " She gave you hers and my share…Do you know why?"

Silence filled the air and none of them spoke until a leaf fell beside Reia thigh. It was hot and fortunately, the sun was setting. The leaf felt cool against her skin and she picked it up and headed to sit beside Maryam's side.

"I remember when she smiled that one time. Well,…it was the closest thing to a smile anyway." Maryam said lifting hair in a bun. "A kid was breaking her favorite Barbie doll. When I gave the bastard a good beating and gave her what was left of the doll…She almost smiled."

"She never was good at thank yous." Reia relaxed her arm around Maryam's shoulders.

"I…" Maryam stopped before saying anything else. The memories were too painful and sometimes even confusing to even talk about them. So she rested her head on Reias shoulders seeking comfort. Trying to cool off that raging bad habit called impatience. "Hope she shows up"

After two hours of waiting for the doorbell rang faintly. Maryam's heart bounced against her chest violently. She stood up nervous and full of panic.

Looking for Reias assistance desperately she gestured her friend to walk inside and open the front door.

"It's your house…You open the door" Reia spat crossing her arms in defiance.

"My home is your home. You can open the door whenever you want" Maryam raised a brow and smirked.

Reia observed Maryam's tense gaze and almost felt her heart sink. She never saw Maryam so scared before. It was sad to see her admit she couldn't open her own door out of fear.

"Ok…I'll open the damn door!"

Reia walked quickly to the front door and opened it. Shocked and still while she felt her eyes turn from determination to disappointing heat. She felt anger swell in her belly like a dragon before spitting her fire. She watched a young mail boy dressed in blue and a cap, all perky and with a wide smile who said "Hi there! Mail delivery for Maryam Abbas"

Reality sunk in like a cold blade in her heart. Deep down she knew Nadia wasn't coming and she had denied that premonition. She had hoped she would be wrong. Her tongue was tangled inside her mouth.

"Excuse me…Are you Maryam?" The boy frowned at the lack of response- "Can you sign this I need someone who can receive the package so I can continue my route"

"Sure…" She signed stiffly holding the electric pen with strained hands.

The boy gave her the package and smiled. Her head lowered observing what she held and reading the sticker with Nadia's name on it. Anger filled her cheeks like a blunt slap. Maryam's rant would be a bliss compared to this disgusting treachery. Nadia had bailed again after five years.

Now it was Reia's turn to be angry. Was this a joke? Maybe something happened. She cursed herself for excusing her ex-friend again.

Reia closed the door behind her and stood silently looking at the package in her hands like a child who hadn't received what she wanted for Christmas. Not being able to speak, she slowly walked towards Maryam who was observing with confusion from the hall.

"What's that?"

Reia remained silent. She passed Maryam's side and slid to the kitchen. She laid the box on the table in the middle of the room ignoring Maryam's eyes and sat down. Suddenly she managed to say something shrugging her shoulders avoiding Maryam's gaze.

"Nadia…" was all she managed to utter.

Maryam looked at Reia full of confusion. She wanted to demand and shake the hell out of her friend's disturbing state. She watched those eyes looking at the box in front of them. Not being able to bare her zombie state she sat down and took the box in her hands. It was the size of a shoe box she thought. A big sticker had an address and Nadia's name on it.

"Is this a joke?" She spat angrily "What the hell does this mean?"

Suddenly she realized Nadia was not coming. Till now this would be the only thing that could answer their questions. She sunk her nails bitterly in the package and stared at it in silence. None of them said anything for a long while. Until Reia's voice shook every fiber of her being back to the present.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Reia murmured placing her hands on the table.

"I'm so sick of this" Maryam observed Reia's defeated state and resolution showered her head "Ok. I'll open the damn thing and then so help me God I'll never think about her again"

Maryam started tarring the paper. She placed the box on the table again, went to look for a knife and she opened the top slashing the tape. She took a large breath and opened it. Pushed the white fluffy stuff aside and saw a small notebook with stickers and hearts on it. She gasped when she saw scribbles of their names. The notebook cover was black bathed with "eye" stickers and drawn hearts. It was beyond sweet and creepy at the same time. Her hands trembled. Her heart raced trying to understand what she was staring at. She sheepishly took the book and threw it in front of Reia. Maryam saw a rainbow of feelings on Rei's face. Probably the same feelings of confusion, anger, creepiness, and pain she felt. Tarring her gaze from Rei, she continued moving the fluffy stuff to make sure there was nothing left. Her hand bumped into two things, another smaller leather box that could fit a watch that she placed aside without regard, and then she picked up a round Frisbee-shaped thing. It looked like some sort of electronic watch, blue with a small rectangular screen. Bitterness and curiosity strangled her stomach.

"I need alcohol, cigarettes, junk food and my sanity. We're going to the lake nearby. We need to clear our heads and check this shit. I need fresh air."

Reia's eyes popped open like two tennis balls.

"It's been years since we've gone to that lake" She took the notebook in her hand and continued her protest "Why do you want to go back there?"

"Because it was the last place we were together before she left. It's where we should say goodbye"

Reia analyzed Maryam's face for a while thinking of those last memories when Nadia started acting funny. Going back to the place that was once filled with lovely flashbacks and ended in a creepy and sad moment the last time they went there. For the first time in a long time, she was scared. Frightful of that moment they both knew they had erased from their brains. But Maryam was right to suggest it. It seemed the perfect place to end this never-ending sea of doubts and seal once and for all the hole in their hearts.