Odd walked slowly through the court yard of Kadic Academy. Even though Ulrich, the brown-headed boy, had told him he had lived there for almost two years, he still didn't remember a thing.
Some people stared as he walked by, whispering into their friends ears. Odd glanced at Ulrich who was walking beside him.
"So…is that it?" he asked.
"We covered the swimming pool, the art room, Spanish class, the science building, and the gym. I think so," Ulrich replied. "So ready to see our room?"
"Huh?"
"You're a boarder here, remember?"
"Oh…right," Odd said, embarrassed. He fallowed Ulrich up some stairs and down a hall. Ulrich stopped in front of a room and slowly opened the door.
The room was normal. One long desk filled with pencils, paper, and books and comics. Everything was neat. Two beds were pushed against the wall, a poster of Blink-182 hung over one bed wile a Samurai poster hung over another. Funky pillows were also all over one.
"Do you remember kiwi?" Ulrich asked, walking over to one of the dressers.
"Yeah," Odd replied. "My moms said I couldn't keep him."
Ulrich pulled a small dog out of one of the drawers.
"How?" Odd asked.
Ulrich handed him the dog. "He's yours."
Odd hugged the dog close to him. "I feel like I've missed everything."
"You have, in a way. Now shut up, we have to go to a funeral. Get ready."
"Who died?" Odd asked, setting the dog down.
"A friend of mine," Ulrich replied. He didn't look Odd. "You knew her, before…"
"What happened to me?" Odd asked. "How come I…"
"Not now."
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"Your late," Yumi hissed as she greeted the two at the door. "It's starting."
Ulrich nodded and Yumi lead the two into a large room. Few people where there.
"I can't see her parents," Odd whispered.
"She doesn't have any," Ulrich explained. "Her father died."
Odd nodded.
Ulrich quietly walked up to the casket and knelt down, saying a quiet prayer. Odd watched him as he made the sign of the cross and stood up. He could see small pools of water under his eyes.
Yumi nudged him from behind. "Your turn."
"But I didn't even know her."
"You knew her more then the rest of us," Yumi said.
Odd shrugged and uncomfortably walked up the casket and peered in.
A pink-haired girl laid there. Her skin was milky white and smooth, like petals. Her short pink hair was shining brightly. Her eyes were closed, but they looked they were going to open any minute. She was wearing a beautiful white dress with silver flowers and designs all over it. She had no shoes, making her look like a fairy.
Odd stared at the beautiful pink-haired girl. Something about her seemed so familiar. It was as if he has seen her before, in a dream.
"Odd," Yumi whispered. "Let's go."
At the cemetery, it was raining. The casket that contained the pink-haired girl was lowered slowly into the muddy grave.
Jeremie, who was leaning on Yumi's shoulder crying, made a run for the cars. Yumi fallowed with Ulrich behind her. Some old friends and kids and teachers from school all retreated to their cars. Only two men who with coffee remained to cover the grave.
"Excuse me," Odd said. "What does the grave say?"
"See for yourself," said the man and stepped out of the way. Odd leaned over toward the grave stone.
Aelita Stones
1993-2007
We loved her
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Odd breathed on the cold window, making it foggy. He then drew a smiley face with his fingers. But the face came out wrong, and looked like it was confused. Not smiling.
"I liked you better before," Ulrich said jokingly. He plopped down on his bed, thrusting his textbooks on the ground.
Odd turned to him. "Why?"
Ulrich laughed. "I'm just kidding."
"Did you like me more when I knew you?" Odd asked.
Ulrich shrugged uncomfortably. "You knew more, Odd…I guess. I mean, you used to be so happy. Now you seem confused."
"I am confused. I don't get anything you tell me at all."
Ulrich sighed. "You're a different person, Odd," he said slowly. "Your not anything like you were before. Now you seem so quiet."
Odd looked back out the window. Rain fell and covered the soggy courtyard of Kadic. Odd felt himself want to cry, and not for the first time. He shut his eyes and leaned against the cool window.
"Who was that girl?" he asked. "The one in the casket?"
"Aelita Stones," Ulrich said.
"How did I know her?"
Ulrich bit his lip. "You were her best friend."
Odd opened his eyes and stared.
"You loved her."
Hearing that, Odd shot up. "I couldn't of," he said. "If I loved her, I would remember her."
"This has nothing to do with love. It has to do with your concussion."
Odd angrily grabbed one of the textbooks off the bed and threw it. It slammed against the wall, some papers flying out of it. Ulrich backed away.
"I'm sick of people telling me who I was," he hissed. "I don't care who I was. I care who I am now."
"Calm down," Ulrich said, scared of his friend.
"No!" Odd shouted. "NO!" He grabbed his jacket and darted out of the room.
Ulrich sat there for a moment, playing over the scene in his mind. He knew, deep in his heart, the real Odd was gone. The new Odd was so insecure, unsure, and clueless. The old Odd would have never threw anything, or be so depressed. And he would have never forgotten about Aelita, who he had loved more then anything.
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Wet grass swished under Odd's feet. He walked quickly to the cemetery, thinking hard. There had to be something he could remember about his own past, anything. Could this girls grave really help?
Doubtful.
Odd sighed. The rain had stopped, that the sky was a smooth gray. Everything was still wet, and the cemetery was no different. The flowers that hung on some graves were drooping with drips and petals were scattered everywhere from the wind.
Odd walked down a narrow path and stopped in front of one of the grave stones. "Aelita Stones" was printed in neat letters.
"Tell me something," he said. "Anything." He knelt down and touched the cold stone of the grave, his fingers tracing the stone's engraftments until her knew them by heart.
After a long wile, he finally spoke. "Green eyes," he said. "She had green eyes."