Chapter 3

White Water River was a few miles away from the Revolving Choc'lit Shop. It was the only place that Harlem could find sanction in Sunnyside. Between the West and the East side, there was really only a few interesting places to visit. The Drive-In, on Friday nights, the Gay bar that no one goes to. There's also a diner that many people go to for their milkshakes.

Although White Water River, is a peaceful river now that the kayaking incident occurred. No one dared go down to the river unless there's another murder that could perhaps take place. Which made it an ideal spot for Harlem to get an hour away from the chaos of her two brothers and their mother. When Harley was a little girl, nine to be exact, her father abandoned her and her brothers. Their mother couldn't afford to stay in Eastside for much longer, and when Child Services got involved they plucked the Triplets out of the Eastside and forced them to live with a Westside foster family. It changed all three of their lives.

With a copy of "Wuthering Heights" balanced on her lap and a flask of hot tea clasped in her palms, Harlem was in her zen. Her relaxing evening stretched out in front of her, the way a cat stretches out in a warm patch of sun. The sun had started to go down below the tree line, and the colours in the sky started to change into deep oranges and pinks. A gorgeous hour, the water dazzling downstream, and the magnificent smell of the earth was all Harlem needed to make all her problems disappear.

That silence, and peace was broken when footsteps sounded. Loud branches being snapped made her head turn. A boy was just visible through the trees. He was a work of art. Flowing brown hair that just reached his jawline. Green eyes that glistened like Emeralds, but a dark look to his face, almost as if something tragic had just happened. He made eye contact, and shone a smile that resembled a grimace. He looked familiar.

Harlem looked away and went back to her book. Sipping the tea, footsteps approached her, the next thing Harlem knew, this stranger was sitting beside her and grasping her book out of her hands. With a yelp of disapproval a giggle emerged from the boy. He seemed amuse that she was slightly disgruntled by him abrupt actions.

"Who.. Who are you?" Harlem finally manages to ask.

"Elliot Penworth at your service, most call me Ell. And you? What's your name?"

"Harlem. Harlem Redfern. So, why exactly are you interrupting me? Wuthering Heights is a fascinating read, that no one should be interrupting."

"Okay. So I like walking threw morbid places like this river. Such a crime?" Harlem shook her head. "I didn't think so. Trying to clear your head of all your girly drama?"

"Not so girly, and yes, to the trying to clear my head. Or waiting for another morbid accident." Both teenagers smile at the snide joke.

XXX

After a call from some mystery friend broke the spell cast on both, Harlem and Elliot, an invite was initiated, and a plan was made. The two kids, wandered back into town down the trails. They discussed all sorts of subjects, including family problems, past schools, fancy people, politics and all fun stuff that usually would be discussed over a long and stretched periods of time. Not for them though, they clicked, almost as if someone lit a fire between them that set of sparks.

As they neared the diner, Ell stopped Harlem,

"I want to just warn you, these people, they're judgemental, and frustrating. At first."

Harlem smiles,

"Don't worry about me. I'm used to that kind of crowd."

"Of course. Sorry, I forgot." Harlem nods. "Let's go in."

XXX

The diner was a magnificent red and white tiled restaurant, with an intriguing 80's style appearance, and the best milkshakes in all of Sunnyside. The booths were a burgundy red, with white marble table tops. Two kids sat together in a booth, but besides them, the diner was deserted, Harlem recognized the one girl, Victoria. The other boy was a stranger to Harley, but Ell headed right over as if they'd grown up together. Harlem followed.

'Harlem! I didn't realize you knew our dear friend Elliot?" Victoria peers over to Elliot and raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, well we just met about an hour ago, down by a graveyard." Elliot says with threads of sarcasm slicing through his voice.

"Oh really?" Harlem giggles.

"Of course, where else would I meet another morbid soul like me?"

"Hey Ell, lighten up a bit. Anyone want to introduce me?" The boy with his arm around Victoria's shoulders asked.

"Harlem, this is Leon, also known as Lee. He's Alice's best friend, and Elliot's childhood friend." Victoria smiles.

Harlem takes a seat on the booth beside Ell. An hour passed, with all four of them laughing and joking, until the topic of Lissa came up.

"She was so kind, in all honesty sometimes I wish it was Nova and not Lissa that died. At least Lissa was nice. Nova's just stone cold." Victoria mumbles.

"Nova isn't that bad, she just has a different way of dealing with her emotions. Power fills her with confidence that lasts all day until she gets home. She needs it." Harlem defends.

"Are you really defending our ice queen of Sunnyside High?" Victoria raises her eyebrow.

"Yeah of course, she's a close family friend. She isn't an ice queen."

The girls bicker for awhile, constantly hitting roadblocks as the talk.

"Alright, I'm going to retire to my house. I can't be arguing for another hour." Harlem chuckles and Victoria returns a smile.

"I'll walk you?" Elliot suggests.

After saying their goodbyes, Ell and Harlem set off into the cold night. Wind whistling by their red ears, snow started to fall. After a long walk home, and a goodnight to both, A long night of nightmares awaited Harlem. Nightmares that consisted of her past struggles in the Westside.