Naomi's POV.
Everything was so bright. The sky was mixed with colours of pale pinks, oranges, and yellow. The green grass tickled my bare feet as I stepped over it. Everything was just so…calm. Just the way I liked it. I lay down on the grass, arms stretched, embracing the warmth of the sun.
"It's quiet isn't it?"
Mmm…yeah. It is.
"Maybe you should close your eyes?"
Yeah, maybe I'll do that. Suddenly, a whole lot of pressure weighed down on my body and when I finally opened my eyes again everything was dark.
Something smooth was laying there on top of my face and once it was picked up, I saw the face of my very best friend, Peggy, throwing away the pillow.
"Finally! I've been trying to wake you up for the past half hour!"
Still in a daze, I groggily sat up and looked out the window. The starry sky shone through the night like a beacon of hope for those in need of a guide. I could create a good poem out of this.
I began staring at the stars through my window and everything seemed to just drift away, and soon, my focus was on just one star. Like in movies, I didn't see this star just zip past, but in slow motion almost as if it was a gift granted just for me.
"Legends say shooting stars grant wishes to humans. Maybe you should make one."
Let's see. A wish.
"I wish for a more exciting life."
The star, still in my sight, continued on drifting by and I repeated my wish but louder.
"A more exciting life? But isn't your life exciting enough as it is?"
Peggy's voice snapped me back to reality. Did I just say that out loud?
"Oh yeah. A shooting star just flew by. They say that you shouldn't say your wish out loud or it won't come true."
Peggy's face smiled a trickster like smile. Peggy and I have been friends since middle school. Best friends in fact; and now, we're high schoolers both attending Sweet Amoris. My attention diverted to the sound of a clattering object. Peggy was tinkering around with her camera trying to replace the memory card with a new one.
"Did you take a lot of pictures recently?"
"You bet."
"It's the middle of night. Do you have to do this right now?"
Peggy looked at me scornfully. Yes, we're best friends but taking photos of such events seem quite unnecessary to me. Fortunately, Peggy and I balance ourselves out making our friendship work. "Of course we have to do this right now! I keep on telling you that your apartment is haunted and I'm gonna find proof!"
She almost shouted. I pulled my finger to lip and replied in a very quiet tone. "Quiet down a little! Grandfather is a very light sleeper! And this building is only 10 years old!"
The intensity in Peggy's eyes seemed to calm down but I could still sense some frustration behind the mask. Her hand grabbed mine and she pulled me off of my bed and silently opened the door. Down the oh so tiny hall, we could hear Grandfather's snoring boom from his open door.
Peggy began fast walking down the hall as quietly as she could while carefully holding her camera when a creaking sound came from the hardwood floor.
"Careful!" I whispered in a desperate tone. If Grandfather finds out I'm awake he's not going to be happy.
The creaking wood echoed through the hall and into the the main room. Grandfather's snoring stopped for a bit and I saw a shadow shuffle in and out of my sight. Peggy began to tremble and pointed at the flower vase in the middle of the living room.
Followed by the table it was sitting on, and then my family photos hanging onto the wall began to clatter.
SNaP!
FLaSH!
Even though Peggy was frightened, she continued on snapping pictures of my living room. Another shadow whizzed by my eyes.
Creeeeak!
I peered into the slightly ajar closet but could only see darkness. Darkness, enveloping the light and tearing away all hope along with it. I sighed. I always end up thinking deeper into smaller things, making them seem huge and poetic like.
I took on last glance inside the closet when a hand shot out and began pulling me towards the darkness. Next, a yellow cat eye began eyeing me followed by a little snicker. I screamed and Peggy reached for my hand and I was being stretched by the mysterious creature in my closet, and my best friend.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see anymore of what would happen when a laugh murmured from the closet. The laugh grew bigger, and bigger, until I deciphered who it belonged to. Quickly, I pulled open the closet door and found Auntie curled up in a ball laughing hysterically on the floor.
Another laugh chirped in behind me and this one belonged to Peggy, who need the wall to support herself.
Auntie rubbed at her eye and got up, making sure to embrace me in a hug. "Oh how gullible you are Naomi."
My face grew red and I pulled Auntie away from me. "You mean, this was all just a prank?" I turned to Peggy. "How could you betray me like that?" I said sarcastically.
Peggy shrugged while doing one of her trickster smiles again. Joy filled inside of me and I lightly punched Peggy in the shoulder.
"What's going on here?"
We all froze. Froze at the sound of Grandfather's cranky voice. Followed by a few mumbles, Grandfather slowly walked down the corridor and stared daggers at us.
"Oh. Father-in-Law! It's so nice to see you again!" Auntie raced up and gave Grandfather a big hug. "I was just dropping in to say 'Hi' and I ended up scaring the girls. Sorry."
Grandfather looked from Auntie, to Peggy who smiled nervously, and then to me who still had schlock hanging onto my facial expression. He smiled down at Auntie and patted her on the shoulder. "Next time. Visit during the day. And feel free to call me Father."
Auntie smiled. Grandfather then left with his daughter-in-law and showed her to her room. He then shooed Peggy and I back to my room. A simple apartment can be really squishy, but I'm used to it.
By the time we got to my room, red and blue flashed before our eyes. We both quickly rushed to my bedside window and we saw a whole trail line of police cars speeding by towards my favourite place in the world. Musée de Louvre. Home of the famous Mona Lisa painting. One of my favourite paintings in the world.
"Quick! Turn on the news!" Peggy cried. I hastily shuffled to my computer and found a site which had a live report on the latest news. I tapped my fingers on the desk and bit my lip while I waited for the video to buffer, but sadly, it wouldn't stop.
As soon as I was about to exit the site to find a new one, the image of a woman holding a microphone began speaking about the crisis.
"My name is Jennifer Lawrence and I am currently standing outside of Musée de Louvre. We currently have no information on what the issue is just now for the police are not answering our questions at the moment.; but we will come back with an answer. Back to you Mike."
The video's main focus changed and so did the background. This time, it was portraying a man who looked no later then 40 wearing a very sophisticated suit.
Peggy stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Seriously. When I become a reporter you're never going to see me dress up the way these people do."
I shoved my hand to her face to keep her from talking as soon as the main anchor received upcoming news from Jennifer. "And now, back to Jennifer with her findings."
In my screen, Jennifer nodded and continued on. "We have just discovered that the world famous Mona Lisa painting was stolen. I repeat, the world famous Mona Lisa painting has been stolen and there have been no traces of the thief so far in the investigation. Police officers are currently discussing the situation and are holding a meeting later on today, once the sun rises. That is all. And I hope to provide further information in the future."
Without thinking, I turned to computer off and stared outside the window. There, in the night sky, I saw a distinct shadow of a man being pulled on a rope. "Peggy. Come here, look."
Peggy's eyes followed the direction of my finger and she gaped in awe at the shadow which looked strangely like a helicopter ride in, and out of sight. "Those pathetic reporters and officers. We're only 16 and we already have a clue on the thief." Peggy began murmuring some other interesting substitutes for curses under her breath until she bent down, and pulled out the pullout bed from my own bed and fell fast asleep.
I took one last glance out the window before falling asleep as well.
I wonder. If my wish will ever come true.
