Chapter 4
Back From the Past
I sat there listening intensively, as they repeated to us what this wizard Dumbledore told them, "Now here we are, retrieving you guys and then we will move on to find Lyra and Will! Now, what are you all thinking?"
Lewis just sort of stares about mindlessly as I tap the top of my hand staring at Harry and Hermione who are in each other's embrace.
I look them into eyes and repeat what I heard, "Now let me get this straight. You want us to come help you save the realms, us, two regular seventeen year olds? Yea, will just leave our lives and save the entire universe. You really expect us to do that? How do we know we can trust you? Hmmm, did you think about that?"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchange glances then Hermione tells us, "Look, it was hard to believe ourselves. But you have to help and we trust Dumbledore."
Lewis coughs coming out of trance, "I think you should give us some type of proof? The knife you talk about, let me see it in use."
Harry doesn't move for a second then Hermione gives him a nod, he removes the knife from his poach.
My eyes focus in on the splendor of it and mysterious nature of its drawings.
Harry takes the knife in the palm of his hand and does a weird movement with it, seeming to focus on a certain spot. His arm shakes at each move as you watch him. He yells, "found it" when his arms abruptly stops. As he drags his arm in lines forming a square and we soon see a whole different picture, as if painted right on that spot this moment. Lewis just stares in amazement but I take a step up to the whole. I see white sands and cool blue water in a jungle type scene. I dare to stick my hand through and I feel the soft warm breeze on my arm hair, making them stick up. I pick up the grains of sand with my hand and it runs through my fingers like wet putty. My eyes could barely believe what was there but I knew it was all so real.
Ron looks down at me and protests, "Do you believe us now?"
Lewis and I just nod with our eyes still on the window in the sky.
Harry paces a bit then stops to say something, "So are you guys in or not?"
They all look over at us, awaiting an answer.
Reluctantly Lewis comes through first, "I'll come! What the heck? Why not? It may make me feel like I'm crazy and not logical but oh well."
I look at Lewis surprised at his statement, those are words you barely ever hear from his mouth.
I work up the courage and decide to come too, "I'm coming too!" I take a hold of Lewis's hand for support.
They all smile and then Harry speaks, "Ok good. I'm guessing you have to tend to some waitress business but Lewis you can stay back here with us and look over instructions with us. Come back here in thirty minutes, Sarah, ok?"
I smile and answer with a nod then start walk to the back entrance into the restaurant.
Lewis screams at me before I enter, "Wait, I need to talk to you for a quick second."
I stop and wait for him to catch up, "Yes Lewis?" I say to him pondering what he has to say.
He takes me by the shoulder and stares me seriously into the eyes, "You're ok with all this, right? You know, you have so much going on. Braking up with Aaron-"
I cut him off and put my finger to his lips whispering, "I'll survive Lewis. I loved Keith, didn't I? And I made it through him, I survived his hurt. Don't worry. Nothing else is going to happen."
He nods and walks back over to Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
I see the assistant manager rushes to me with a worried look. He yells at me, "Where the hell have you been? The place is extremely packed, we need your help! Go serve table number 27."
I nod yes and run to the kitchen, pulling on my apron and grabbing my tablet. I rush to table 27, not looking up since I have memorized exactly where each table is.
I stop at the table and pull out my tablet fumbling to say, "May I take you order?" I finally look up and......
My whole mind stops and my speech turns into slurs and gibberish. I didn't even know what to think.
There sitting in that one sit was a ghostly presence from the past---- Keith! He stared too at me and his parents looked back and forth at each other. His eyes were still the true brown color, which transfixed me four long years ago. His body had bulked up and he had turned into a true blue hottie over the years. I can't help but yearn for him, as the seconds seem to turn into days. Yet just as I seem to get lost in the soul of his eyes, I get kicked back into reality of the day.
His father finally realizes who I am and grins at me.
I suck in my breathing, barely able to contain my screams, "Keith—ummmm--- What a ummm coincidence. It's been—"
He finishes my sentence, "A long time. How are you?"
Everything I've always planned to say to him over these years for all the things he did to me and the havoc he caused, fails at the sound of his voice, deep and seductive. Along with the bittersweet ambiance in his eyes as they look up and down my body I can still feel the heartbreak come over me. The hate for which he made me feel towards him starts to swell as memories rush back in my head.
All I can tell myself to say is, "Fine...." I don't finish my sentence I only drop my tablet as he continues to keep his eyes on me. It seems that his hate has decreased for me over the years or maybe it's just his hormones talking. I pick up the tablet, pushing my fingers through my hair, not knowing what to do in this situation.
His mom and dad sense the awkwardness and enter into the conversation, "Yea, wow isn't this odd. Do you guys remember all that happened those years ago! I can't believe you work here!"
I fumble for words. I want to scream and hug those parents I was once loved like my own but I'm only able to come out with, "I---I-I-I.....I- I will be right back."
I have no control over my heart and body now; my feet carry me into the kitchen. They run as if, running from the past, running from the pain. The feelings I felt too long ago, flow into my emotional flow and tears trickle at the corner of my eyes. It all came so unexpectedly, like I had always dreamed. He was out there, the one who ruined everything for me up in Maryland. I was glad to get away from it all when I moved but now here he is back again. And me only making a mockery of myself.
A thought is forced into my intellect, "Sarah, even though we don't go out...I still love you."
More tears come as I stare out the window, seeing him sitting there staring about and his parents whispering to him.
Sheri then walks through, she seems upset and roars at me from across the table, "Why are you not out there serving those tables? What the hell happened over at table 27? Huh Sarah? Did that hot guy hit on you or anything?"
I look stunned at her comment and only able to yell from the bitter hatred, "HE IS NOT HOT! HE'S SCUM! ALL SCUM!"
She puts her hand on her hip twirling her hair in confusion then tells me after looking out the window, "Well that scum is coming this way. I do not know what's going on but I'm going out back to my table before I get my ass fired."
She exits out the door and smiles at Keith as he pushed open the swinging doors. He stares at me from across the table.
He opens his mouth but says nothing. I glance over at him but say nothing either.
He finally breaks the silence barrier, "Look Sarah, I didn't expect this as much as you. I don't know what to say. But don't tell me you still hold stuff against me after all this time and have feelings?"
I look up at him angered and I remember the reason I despised him so, "I do not! Why would I still have feelings for an asshole like you? Why am I even talking to you? Oh my god! You have no clue how much I used to want to tell you that. You're a jerk Keith, you're an asshole. Get away."
He throws his hands up over his head in agitation and walks over to me, putting his hand on my stomach, I jerk back from his touch.
He then starts to raise his voice, "Come on Sarah! That was four years ago! People change, you said that yourself!"
He was right, I did say that but then I notice the clock above the stove and see thirty minutes has gone by. I rush muttering to him, "Look Just—lea- ve—me allonnee! I have no time for you."
He yells after me from the end of the hall, "Wait Sarah! Just wait!"
He begins to run after me and I begin running too, quickening my pace when he does.
I turn around and stomp my foot screaming, "Do not follow me Keith!"
His face turns red in anger, "You cannot avoid your problems Sarah! This is not middle school anymore!"
I can't believe what he said and I respond protesting against his words, "You stopped being my god damn problem a long time ago!"
He stops for a second and I stop too responding to him, "If you stopped, then why are you yelling at me? Do you really think I believe you?"
My mind has lots all logic and I just turn away, continuing to jog down the hall. He only follows me more. I try to ignore him and I run out quickly to the four of them.
I put my hands on my knees gasping for breath then tell them in midst of gasping, "Hurry! Let's get out of here now. Come on, we'll go out this window."
Lewis looks at me odd, "What's going on?"
I say nothing just push him through the crystal clear window and Hermione, Harry, and Ron follow behind him.
Just when I'm about to jump though the window, I feel a hand jerk on my shoulder. I ignore it, not thinking and jump though the window. I close my eyes as I leap onto the beach, and then fall hard against the sand. I feel a body slam down on top of me.
I open my eyes, wincing from the golden sun high in the sky. When my eyes our finally open, I look to see who is lying on top of me. I look to find myself in all to familiar situation. On top of me is of course- Keith.
Back From the Past
I sat there listening intensively, as they repeated to us what this wizard Dumbledore told them, "Now here we are, retrieving you guys and then we will move on to find Lyra and Will! Now, what are you all thinking?"
Lewis just sort of stares about mindlessly as I tap the top of my hand staring at Harry and Hermione who are in each other's embrace.
I look them into eyes and repeat what I heard, "Now let me get this straight. You want us to come help you save the realms, us, two regular seventeen year olds? Yea, will just leave our lives and save the entire universe. You really expect us to do that? How do we know we can trust you? Hmmm, did you think about that?"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchange glances then Hermione tells us, "Look, it was hard to believe ourselves. But you have to help and we trust Dumbledore."
Lewis coughs coming out of trance, "I think you should give us some type of proof? The knife you talk about, let me see it in use."
Harry doesn't move for a second then Hermione gives him a nod, he removes the knife from his poach.
My eyes focus in on the splendor of it and mysterious nature of its drawings.
Harry takes the knife in the palm of his hand and does a weird movement with it, seeming to focus on a certain spot. His arm shakes at each move as you watch him. He yells, "found it" when his arms abruptly stops. As he drags his arm in lines forming a square and we soon see a whole different picture, as if painted right on that spot this moment. Lewis just stares in amazement but I take a step up to the whole. I see white sands and cool blue water in a jungle type scene. I dare to stick my hand through and I feel the soft warm breeze on my arm hair, making them stick up. I pick up the grains of sand with my hand and it runs through my fingers like wet putty. My eyes could barely believe what was there but I knew it was all so real.
Ron looks down at me and protests, "Do you believe us now?"
Lewis and I just nod with our eyes still on the window in the sky.
Harry paces a bit then stops to say something, "So are you guys in or not?"
They all look over at us, awaiting an answer.
Reluctantly Lewis comes through first, "I'll come! What the heck? Why not? It may make me feel like I'm crazy and not logical but oh well."
I look at Lewis surprised at his statement, those are words you barely ever hear from his mouth.
I work up the courage and decide to come too, "I'm coming too!" I take a hold of Lewis's hand for support.
They all smile and then Harry speaks, "Ok good. I'm guessing you have to tend to some waitress business but Lewis you can stay back here with us and look over instructions with us. Come back here in thirty minutes, Sarah, ok?"
I smile and answer with a nod then start walk to the back entrance into the restaurant.
Lewis screams at me before I enter, "Wait, I need to talk to you for a quick second."
I stop and wait for him to catch up, "Yes Lewis?" I say to him pondering what he has to say.
He takes me by the shoulder and stares me seriously into the eyes, "You're ok with all this, right? You know, you have so much going on. Braking up with Aaron-"
I cut him off and put my finger to his lips whispering, "I'll survive Lewis. I loved Keith, didn't I? And I made it through him, I survived his hurt. Don't worry. Nothing else is going to happen."
He nods and walks back over to Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
I see the assistant manager rushes to me with a worried look. He yells at me, "Where the hell have you been? The place is extremely packed, we need your help! Go serve table number 27."
I nod yes and run to the kitchen, pulling on my apron and grabbing my tablet. I rush to table 27, not looking up since I have memorized exactly where each table is.
I stop at the table and pull out my tablet fumbling to say, "May I take you order?" I finally look up and......
My whole mind stops and my speech turns into slurs and gibberish. I didn't even know what to think.
There sitting in that one sit was a ghostly presence from the past---- Keith! He stared too at me and his parents looked back and forth at each other. His eyes were still the true brown color, which transfixed me four long years ago. His body had bulked up and he had turned into a true blue hottie over the years. I can't help but yearn for him, as the seconds seem to turn into days. Yet just as I seem to get lost in the soul of his eyes, I get kicked back into reality of the day.
His father finally realizes who I am and grins at me.
I suck in my breathing, barely able to contain my screams, "Keith—ummmm--- What a ummm coincidence. It's been—"
He finishes my sentence, "A long time. How are you?"
Everything I've always planned to say to him over these years for all the things he did to me and the havoc he caused, fails at the sound of his voice, deep and seductive. Along with the bittersweet ambiance in his eyes as they look up and down my body I can still feel the heartbreak come over me. The hate for which he made me feel towards him starts to swell as memories rush back in my head.
All I can tell myself to say is, "Fine...." I don't finish my sentence I only drop my tablet as he continues to keep his eyes on me. It seems that his hate has decreased for me over the years or maybe it's just his hormones talking. I pick up the tablet, pushing my fingers through my hair, not knowing what to do in this situation.
His mom and dad sense the awkwardness and enter into the conversation, "Yea, wow isn't this odd. Do you guys remember all that happened those years ago! I can't believe you work here!"
I fumble for words. I want to scream and hug those parents I was once loved like my own but I'm only able to come out with, "I---I-I-I.....I- I will be right back."
I have no control over my heart and body now; my feet carry me into the kitchen. They run as if, running from the past, running from the pain. The feelings I felt too long ago, flow into my emotional flow and tears trickle at the corner of my eyes. It all came so unexpectedly, like I had always dreamed. He was out there, the one who ruined everything for me up in Maryland. I was glad to get away from it all when I moved but now here he is back again. And me only making a mockery of myself.
A thought is forced into my intellect, "Sarah, even though we don't go out...I still love you."
More tears come as I stare out the window, seeing him sitting there staring about and his parents whispering to him.
Sheri then walks through, she seems upset and roars at me from across the table, "Why are you not out there serving those tables? What the hell happened over at table 27? Huh Sarah? Did that hot guy hit on you or anything?"
I look stunned at her comment and only able to yell from the bitter hatred, "HE IS NOT HOT! HE'S SCUM! ALL SCUM!"
She puts her hand on her hip twirling her hair in confusion then tells me after looking out the window, "Well that scum is coming this way. I do not know what's going on but I'm going out back to my table before I get my ass fired."
She exits out the door and smiles at Keith as he pushed open the swinging doors. He stares at me from across the table.
He opens his mouth but says nothing. I glance over at him but say nothing either.
He finally breaks the silence barrier, "Look Sarah, I didn't expect this as much as you. I don't know what to say. But don't tell me you still hold stuff against me after all this time and have feelings?"
I look up at him angered and I remember the reason I despised him so, "I do not! Why would I still have feelings for an asshole like you? Why am I even talking to you? Oh my god! You have no clue how much I used to want to tell you that. You're a jerk Keith, you're an asshole. Get away."
He throws his hands up over his head in agitation and walks over to me, putting his hand on my stomach, I jerk back from his touch.
He then starts to raise his voice, "Come on Sarah! That was four years ago! People change, you said that yourself!"
He was right, I did say that but then I notice the clock above the stove and see thirty minutes has gone by. I rush muttering to him, "Look Just—lea- ve—me allonnee! I have no time for you."
He yells after me from the end of the hall, "Wait Sarah! Just wait!"
He begins to run after me and I begin running too, quickening my pace when he does.
I turn around and stomp my foot screaming, "Do not follow me Keith!"
His face turns red in anger, "You cannot avoid your problems Sarah! This is not middle school anymore!"
I can't believe what he said and I respond protesting against his words, "You stopped being my god damn problem a long time ago!"
He stops for a second and I stop too responding to him, "If you stopped, then why are you yelling at me? Do you really think I believe you?"
My mind has lots all logic and I just turn away, continuing to jog down the hall. He only follows me more. I try to ignore him and I run out quickly to the four of them.
I put my hands on my knees gasping for breath then tell them in midst of gasping, "Hurry! Let's get out of here now. Come on, we'll go out this window."
Lewis looks at me odd, "What's going on?"
I say nothing just push him through the crystal clear window and Hermione, Harry, and Ron follow behind him.
Just when I'm about to jump though the window, I feel a hand jerk on my shoulder. I ignore it, not thinking and jump though the window. I close my eyes as I leap onto the beach, and then fall hard against the sand. I feel a body slam down on top of me.
I open my eyes, wincing from the golden sun high in the sky. When my eyes our finally open, I look to see who is lying on top of me. I look to find myself in all to familiar situation. On top of me is of course- Keith.