Chapter 5: A best friend's comfort

Shyana went with Landon over to her house when the rain stopped. Her face felt swollen and her eyes still burned, her clothes were soaking wet, and her make up was smearing.

"Why were you out there in the rain this late? I mean it's like 2:00 am now." Landon was trying to comfort her, still not knowing exactly why she was crying in the first place.

"Its nothing . . . I just feel really sad. Everything in my life is going wrong." She didn't feel like talking about it, she was tired and the night was getting colder, so she was very vulnerable for a cold.

"You don't have to tell me. You don't even know me so I doubt you would. But still, does this have anything to do about Zack kissing Janis? Because you ran straight out of the building as fast as a torpedo when Zack kissed her."

Shyana could see Landon's eyes searching for a sign on her face. She didn't want to show that Zack was her weakness; she didn't want to show that she wasn't as strong as she promised herself she would be.

"I really don't want to talk about it, and I'm really tired. I guess I just need to sleep on it for a while, but thank you for everything Landon."

"No problem really, but I would like to know what was wrong. So can we meet up again, it doesn't have to be today, but I'd like to help you with whatever it is."

"Sure Landon, no problem there neither. Also, I don't think it could be today so, maybe tomorrow or something. I wasn't planning on talking to any of Zack's friends so, well umm . . . I'm . . . uh, busy now so, maybe . . . maybe later."

"Oh ok, I can call you up or you can call me. Because after you tell me what's wrong, if it's what I think it is we can help each other out ok?"

"Okay."

We swapped phone numbers and went out separate paths. I went in my house up to my room, trying to be as quiet as I could be. Even if I lost Zack, maybe I have a chance with Landon.

'What am I thinking?' Shyana thought. 'No . . . I can't do that. I mean their friends, and well if there is any chance that Zack may like me, I still have a chance. And it wouldn't be right to go out with his friend anyways.'

Shyana wrote down Landon's phone number as she remembered it, changed her clothes, and jumped into her bed. She covered her face with her pillow and breathed in the smell of her shampoo. She tried to take her mind off of everything else by focusing on that smell.

Roses.

Her shampoo smelled like roses. Even though it was supposed to smell like pine, it smelled like roses. That's what helped her fall asleep, feeling like she was lost into a garden of roses.

And she slept a dreamless sleep.

* * *

Zack sat underneath the tree. He wasn't going to go home anymore. He was going to stay in the woods. He was so scared; he didn't feel there was even any chance of being safe anymore. His father was probably trashing up his room again. He sat there under the tree in the rain. He listened to the sounds around him, hearing nothing but the raindrops. So he fell asleep under the tree, getting soaking wet, with nothing but his backpack and book. Wondering what the future will bring him, life or death.

* * *

When Shyana woke up she went straight to her kitchen, for her being sad brought hunger. So she headed for the fridge when she noticed a small note and a letter on the tabletop. On the note she read:

Shyana, your dad and I went to go get some food, the fridge is empty but I left some waffles for you. Don't forget to feed Muffin, she hasn't eaten yet. Oh and the letter is from Tricia, I hope she's ok. Love you! -Mom

"Tricia!?" Shyana was so happy her best friend had gotten out of her coma, now she could visit her in Florida. She tore open the envelope and quickly pulled out the letter. She read:

'Dear Shyana, What's up girl? I haven't heard from you in a long time. Well I probably wouldn't have been able to anyways, have been in a coma and all. Oh my gosh! I can't believe you already moved! Are there any cute boys there? My mom said I could visit in a few weeks, after all this stupid recovering junk, I mean I feel just fine! The doctors are so overprotective. Ok well I hope you're ready to have me come back into your life! We can go to Disney world! Ha! Well write back ok? I have to eat now, ewe, applesauce, and people, I am not a senior citizen! I am a perfectly fine (and beautiful) 18-year-old girl! Get a grip! Lylas girl! -Trish'

"Yes! Tricia is coming! I have to get ready!"

Shyana hurried to pull her clothes on while her waffle was toasting, she fed the dog and ate the waffle on her way to the post office. Her family didn't buy any stamps and envelopes yet, so she had to buy some new ones. And as Shyana wrote her letter to Tricia she thought that this way she wouldn't feel so alone with Tricia by her side.

* * *

While Shyana was at home sleeping, and Zack sitting under the tree, getting rest, but no sleep Landon was at his house writing in his journal.

Tuesday morning, July 14, 2003

'Yesterday I met this new girl who moved to Florida and had become Zack's friend. She's really pretty and I think she has a "thing" for Zack. Earlier she saw Zack and Janis kissing and she ran out of the building when she saw it. I saw her earlier this morning, she had been out all night in the cold rain crying about something, but she wouldn't tell me what. So I took her to her house and we gave each other our phone numbers. I hope to see her later on or to get a phone call from her. Oh and Janis got back with Zack, so I guess I'm free again. It's not too bad. Janis and I never really got along like how Zack and her did, she always talked about him and wondered how he was, she never actually thought about her current boyfriend, me, who is now her ex. Oh well, never dwell on the past right? -Landon'

Landon finished writing in his journal and went outside to play with his dog, Rascal, a golden retriever. They played Frisbee for a while and once, Landon was so lost in thought that he forgot to throw the Frisbee and was knocked over by Rascal.

He decided to call Shyana later on after he had some lunch. It was just 11:13 am and he thought that maybe Shyana needed some more sleep than just that. She had wasted a lot of energy crying outside, and probably didn't feel the need to be bothered.

So Landon went on to talk to his mother, who was in her office doing her work. She was a work at home mother. The walls of her office were covered in all the football trophies Landon won during the school year. He was the teams lead player. She was wearing her lamb pajama pants and her work shirt for a top with a tie and speaking to her computer.

"Now listen to me James the profit needs to go higher by twenty percent and no buts about it! Do you understand?"

"Yes Mrs. Matheson, boss.' The man on the computer replied.

"Ok good, now its time for my break I'll talk to you later James.' And Mrs. Matheson turned off the computer.

She turned on her chair to face Landon and took a sip of her coffee.

"Yes, dear? What do you need?" She placed her coffee back on its electric heater, and took her stress ball in hand and started squeezing it furiously.

"Well, I don't know, just wanted to talk. I've been feeling like a need to go somewhere new all of a sudden."

"Well here's twenty dollars, now make sure its something good ok? Maybe you can buy something for Janis, or me of course.' His mother emphasized when she mentioned herself, wanting Landon to always buy her something when she had enough money to buy a whole shop of Victoria's Secret.

"Well Janis and I broke up, don't ask, ok? Thanks for the money, I'll be back later, but I am going to buy something for some don't worry."

And with that Landon ran out of the room and grabbed his car keys and jacket, leaving his mother with her mouth half open, getting ready to question about Janis. So she closed her mouth with a snap and turned her computer back on, typing about something for a new sale of the diamond industry.

Tbc!