Asazi
Chapter 24
"Now that's a dress for the prom."
I turned to see Elise looking at a midnight blue dress, a silky-fabric with a hardly noticeable design colored black across the front. I nodded my head in agreement and then turned my head back to the cashier.
We were out shopping for the prom. Elise being a sophomore that I befriended when I found out that her father left her mother when he found out she was pregnant. Her mother, a 15-year-old, didn't know what to do so she left Elise out in the cold, where she was found by the parents in which she lives with now… We seemed to connect right off but she is a little excited at times.
Delia suddenly whined, "Oh man! I'm outta cash!?" Delia and I are juniors.
I tried to hide my amusement. She complains about being out of money when I could complain about being in the middle of a gang war at the age of seven… I shook my head. They were so lucky…
I felt something touch my back and Elise's murmuring. I turned with a frown, "What're you—''
It was the blue dress that she was talking about. "It fits you perfect! Asazi let me tell you, Torin is gonna like this…oh yeah… It's perfect for you Asazi, just perfect. I'm tellin' you girl, Torin is just gonna freak out when he sees you wearing this…man I'm jealous…" She went on for another minute while I examined it. It came down about two inches above my fingertips which was against the prom rules but I knew several ways into the place without being inspected…
Delia looked my way and just shook her head. "Asazi, you seem to fit into everything." Jealousy and envy…two sins of the American ways.
I turned back to the cashier and said, "Could I go ahead and switch this red one out with this blue one?" I almost bought a nice red dress that would be perfectly fine but if I didn't buy the blue one, Elise would have a fit.
I didn't really care. There were more important things to be thinking about than shopping. Much more important… Travion and Summer weren't getting along too well since last week. Something got into them one night, after a prank phone call. And the past two days, every time I come home from school I see either Travion or Summer out shooting.
I wasn't stupid. They were scared. Something was up but they weren't telling me. That was okay, I guess but things like that have nearly killed me before…
I bought the dress and then left the store with Delia and Elise. Elise was hyper and trying to pry into my plans for the night…more specifically, my upcoming date with Torin…
Torin Carleston. The best person I know I right now, and probably ever, other than Xynan (no, I haven't forgotten Xynan…how could I?). Torin was very well-built, a very understanding person with nearly any situation, he could think quick, he "admired" me and wasn't cocky at all…he just…doesn't ever brag about how strong he is and gets along with everyone he knows…
He loves sports and we were planning on seeing a movie tonight, after that we would walk in the park, like we always do, then we sit on a hill and, if it's not too late, watch the sunset…if that's already passed, we just watch the stars, not speaking a word…
And even though Delia and Elise joke about it, we've never made out. In fact, I never have…in my own will, that is.
I do not like my past. I hate it. But over the years, I've learned to control my thoughts about it…Uncle Shawn, the bitch, was just suffering from a messed up life, like mine…but the reason he was still screwed up was because there weren't any Xynan's in his life…or Travion's…
I did. My adopted parents. How I love them…love…used to be something I never knew…and I still don't…but I would die for them. Without a doubt.
We left the mall and Elise dropped me off at the driveway to my house. It was 4:30; Torin would be here in 15 minutes. I jogged up our steep driveway to our house. I heard a gunshot but didn't flinch; I sensed it coming. I got to the bathroom, cleaned up a little and just as I stepped outside, I saw Torin driving up. I smiled.
"Asazi!" I whirled around to see Summer jogging down the hill. She was coming from little shooting range we made. Seeing the car before Torin would notice her, she slipped the Browning into her pocket and pulled her shirt down, stretching it. She waved at Torin as she approached me.
"Asazi," she murmured, "be on guard tonight, okay?" I nodded and she continued, "Take care of yourself and don't get too distracted with anything…that counts Torin too," she added, winking at me. With that she went inside and I hopped into Torin's car…and we were off.
-_-
We watched a ridiculous movie…in fact, we walked out of it halfway through it, got our money back and went to a nearby outside café. He got an ice water and I had a hot chocolate, even though it wasn't cold outside. Just a nice habit I've developed over the years…
After wards we went to the park and sat on a hillside, watching the sunset…it was beautiful. The skies erupting into passionate, red flames, the circle of orange and yellow slowly sinking out of sight…there were clouds moving in from the west, the sun setting below them. It was definitely going to storm tonight. Torin's understanding eyes watched the sunset, his mouth silent, his ears deaf to anything that didn't involve me or the sunset…
I put my head on his shoulder and he smiled and we watched the sunset together…
A few minutes later, a breeze sweeped in, along with the oncoming clouds from west. I shivered quietly; trying not to show anything…a few seconds later, his coat was gently put on my shoulders. He catches everything…you can't hide anything from him… I smiled.
The night seemed to go by slowly. The nice and simple breeze, the stars, me cuddled up against Torin…it was so…perfect. It seemed like I was finally at peace again, after all these years…
I sighed and smiled…and quite suddenly, was soaking wet with rain. The clouds that had been coming in were suddenly directly over us, the rain pouring in sheets, so heavy that it stung lightly.
Torin started laughing and I did too. No reason why…just the fact that we were happy…
After sitting in the pouring, heavy rain, we ran back to his car and sat there, watching the rain and listening to a band called 'Third Eye Blind'…they were new but they were very good. Their CD just came out a month or two ago, featuring the song "Semi-Charmed Life". Very good CD…Torin and I both had it…
Suddenly he leaned over and kissed me. At first, I wasn't sure but after a few seconds, I kissed back. His hands never went anywhere and after what seemed like forever, he pulled back, smiling…, "Love you," he said…
My eyes filled with tears and I smiled with disbelief…
I couldn't help but ask, "Do…you mean it…?" I was afraid of the answer but without hesitation he said, "Without a doubt."
I cried as the rain poured. It was so perfect…I wish I could've stayed there forever, just watching the rain with him. But Travion and Summer would be wondering where I was pretty soon…
"I don't want—to go but I have to get back home," my voice choking out the words. He nodded, understanding as always and started the car. The song "Motorcycle Drive By" started playing and we both sang the words on the way home…and then came the song "God of Wine"…
I could never sing the words to that song…they were too true…
As we reached out property, I suddenly remembered Summer's words just before I left. "Be on guard tonight, okay," was what she had said.
"Torin," I said. He turned down the music to a faint murmur and I continued, "I'm gonna go ahead and walk up the driveway, okay?"
He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you want me to come with you, I mean, it's pouring outside, are you sure?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure…" My hand went for the door handle and tears came to my eyes…Why leave this perfect moment? The thought hit me like a hurricane. Because I have to, I replied to myself. I pulled on the handle and opened the door. "I'll see—," I started but my voice choked.
"You later," he asked.
I nodded and smiled. "Yeah…later…" I started to get out but I as I stepped out, I turned around, looking back at him.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow, I guess. Right?"
He nodded, gently. I closed the door and he rolled down the window, me looking through it.
"Okay then…uh…bye, I—''
The sound of splintering glass and a quick, yelp from Torin filled my ears. Panicked, I looked up at my house, half-a-mile up a steep driveway and then back at—
"NO!"
Torin's body was suddenly covered in blood, a hole in his chest about the size of my palm. The windshield was spraying glass everywhere and felt small shards go into my skin all over me. My eyes began to haze up and suddenly, Torin yelled again and in mid-yell, his voice was cut off by…death…
My breathing fast, my heart pumping, my eyes crying, I started to reach in but the window next to the driver seat exploded into pieces. Instinctively I hit the ground, my face now covered in mud. The window behind the passenger seat exploded into shards that rained onto my legs. The never-ending storm seemed to pour harder as thoughts raced through my head. It took me a few seconds but I soon realized what was happening…
A sniper.
Summer told me to be on guard. Something was happening, something…from my past…
As I got to my feet, I looked through the open window at Torin. His body was hardly recognizable. His head had been blown apart by another bullet that had also gone through the back window. His chest was all over the place.
A dark feeling seemed to come over me.
I silently stole into the woods of the mountain we live, crying over the death of Torin and the serenity that had seemed so real…if only it had lasted longer…
I raced through the woods, on trails that me and Travion had made just in case something happened. I knew them like the back of my hand, I knew this mountain like I knew Torin…and whoever it was that was here, would pay, drastically…
I ran harder, pushing myself beyond my own limits…and suddenly, something dropped from a tree and knocked my in the face, causing everything to go pitch-black, and a second later, everything……