After showing on Sunday, I figured I would walk around the neighborhood. Of course… Mattie and Grace both lived on the same street as me, but if I could keep my gaze straight then I wpuldnt have to deal with the thoughts they left me.
In the end this week I did manage to snag a blue ribbon on Goody, but blundered badly on the rest of them. I was just… so distracted. Of course, Adriano had helped. Even though he was only a friend. I had only truly known him for one day… but would he ever be more than a friend? If I allowed him, would he come closer? No. I was a fool for thinking such thoughts.
I just figured I would throw on a pair of relaxing clothes since the sun was setting. Black and white checkered shorts. A white tank top. My hair was back in a ponytail like it always was when I was around the horses, and when I slept. At this point I didn’t care. My best friend? Gone. My love? Gone too.
I yawned as I exited my house. I turned right for once, my normal walk being to the left. To the left was Grace’s house, to the right was Mattie’s. I guess… I guess I chose his as one last goodbye. The final adieu to what we were, and never will be.
It would have been nice if I had brought a knife with me. To just throw it at everything that moved. I found it enjoyable when I felt like I was going to explode with my anger and hatred towards Mattie, and I could just flick it off and watch it stick. It was so damn refreshing. And suddenly, I began laughing madly. I don’t need him! Look at me, I’m fine!
I realized I had broken a sweet with my sudden bout of anger. I looked down at my hands, where only yesterday Adriano was rubbing them, soothing me until all of my troubles floated away. Oh, Adriano. If I could trust one last boy on earth, it was him.
I looked up, and Mattie’s house came to view. It was a white structure, painted freshly The roof was a slate of gray that matched the stone steps leading up to it. In front, a few plam trees decorated the yard along with an array of flowers. A koi pond was in back, but of course, only I could possibly known that. I had been in that house too many times. And I was ready to move on when suddenly his door clattered open.
Ugh… It better not be him, running out to make some gooey apology. But no, it wasn’t. as I looked at the figure running out of the door, it was his little brother, Connor. Connor was at the age of eleven, and sported the same blonde hair and blue eyes that Mattie had. Except, Connor’s hair was big, and extremely curly. He was naturally short, and was all around adorable. He really liked horses too, but Mattie always told me he wasn’t gutsy enough to try riding. Instead, the little boy played baseball. In fact, he was chasing a ball across the street that somehow managed to roll out from his house. I would have stood and watched, but something caught my eye.
A fast approaching car.
“CONNOR!” I scream. He looks up. “WATCH IT!”
He realized the car too late. But not late enough for me. Before I realize what I’m doing, my legs are extending and I’m racing across the street. The car honks, but I ignore it. I scoop the little boy up, and we plunge onto the rich Florida grass. That was close.
He looked up, and I realized I had him flattened on the grass. His blue eyes were like blue orbs in the sunlight, wide and gazing in confusion. In his hands was the ball, which caused me to chuckle a little. He was so innocent, so innocent…
“Sorry about that Connor, I just didn’t want to see you get hit by a car.” I tell the boy, standing up. “I’ll be off then…”
I begin walking in the opposite direction, but not before Connor sets off at a jog. He blocks my pathway, looking up into me throwing that ball in his hands.
“Gee, Schaefer. I know how things must be for you. Awkward and suckish. Since you’re a girl.” Connor steps aside. “What a life. Let me walk with you.”
I raise a brow, but when I start walking, Connor does too. I realize I have no choice. That he will come with me. I really wanted to get away from Mattie, but how could I know with his brother tagging along? But I couldn’t say no. Connor never got into any trouble. He was just a little jokester.
“So Mattie kissed another girl.” Connor tossed the ball up in the air. “Jeebus. Let me be your therapist, Schaefer. How do you feel about that?”
Thanks Connor, I thought to myself. Like I needed to be reminded. “Honestly, I want to make him pay.”
“And pay he will.” Connor tilted his curly little head, eyes glowing. “But really, he’s an ass. Take it from the brother, Schaefer, take it from the brother.”
“Wish I knew that before.” I mumble.
“I should have warned you.” Connor pauses to shake his head and reach up to put his arm around my shoulder. “Keep walking. Just keep walking, sweetheart.”
I do keep walking, but I was already getting drowsy. Had I been alone, I would have turned back now and fallen right asleep. But Connor… How could I leave the silly, mischevious little boy? And yet in those eyes… I kept seeing Mattie… I just wished he never showed up. So I wouldn’t have to be reminded.
“You have… your brother’s eyes.” I whisper to Connor, who once more gazes into me.
“Yes. Sucks to suck.” He nods in agreement. “Oh well. Mattie doesn’t have luscious curls! But I do. His hair is a floppy mess… But mine… Believe me, it gets the girls…”
I cant help but laugh. The kid could make an older girl smile. He was just a young boy, but instead of annoyance it was replaced with humor. “I must say. You do have great curls.”
“Thanks.” He tosses the ball to me, that I catch. “Have you tried talking to my brother?”
“No.” I say flatly. “That would just make me feel worse.”
“So then do something that will make you happy.” Connor shrugged. “Something to let loose the anger. You know what I mean. What makes you happy?”
“Well, my best friend, but she’s almost dead.” I guess I expected tears to come at that pointed, but none came. I had cried so hard over the past few days that there was no more salty liquid to fall out.
“Well, I’m just saying. Like my brother, yeah, he pushed me into a wall today. He’s been awful feisty! And, well, I decided to go play some ball to let out my anger. But instead I almost got hit by a car. Stupid thing. You know that phrase, what is it… Haters gonna hate? Potatoes gonna potate? Something like that. But now I’m thinking, hey, it’s fate that I run into you! Yeah.” Connor was nodding hastily now. “So. I vote you go do something to make you happy. Mhmm.”
“Well… thanks Connor.” I told him, but I wasn’t sure how seeing my dying friend could make me happy.
Even so, I left after that and made way to the hospital.
The room was like how it was on the first day, except this time there were several bouqets of flowers all strewn out around the room. As for me, I had made a pillowcase that was now being used on her hospital bed. She was just like she was when it all happened, Navaeh was. Totally blank to the world.
She was still hooked up to all sorts of different machines that checked to make sure she was still alive. Based off of the nurse’s calculations, she actually should have been dead by now, But she was fighting, I guess. Yet slowly falling down. It was only a matter of time before she slowly drifted off to a land of magic… Away from this rotten tragedy, to a place where dandelions and daisies grow day by day in a giant meadow and clouds float gently across the sky. Where everyone you ever missed is right there waiting, horses, horses everywhere- like Banner! Oh Banner, I thought to myself. How I wish you could have been there for me right now. In the midst of this all, I just wish I could have held you close, beautiful boy. And Blackberry! He was nearby, but just out of my grasp. Oh hell, what a life I had.
I slowly drifted towards Navaeh, hearing the beeping of the machines. Her head was bandaged above her forehead, covering up the ‘brain trauma’ or whatever that caused her to be like this. I crouched down, stroking her hair like I did the time before but making sure not to hit the gauze.
“When Connor asked me what made me happy, the first thing I said was friendship. You.” I say in a hushed voice into her ear. “I really don’t want you to die, Navaeh.”
And just like that, I began to cry. For about ten minutes, I just sat there, tears streaming down my face as my throat got dry and eyes red. But then I contained myself, but slowly. Had Navaeh been awake, she would have incased me in a hug and crack some joke that would bring a smile to my face.
“Remember how I said that I was going to win circuit champion?” I whisper to her. “Well, I got a blue ribbon yesterday on Marvel. Just for you.”
I think for a few seconds before speaking out again. “I want to stay positive, but its so hard Navaeh. Mattie betrayed me. Toujours is still gone… its so hard! But I spoke with that Adriano person. He seems great, actually.” My thoughts wander. “But I don’t want you to die. They said you would, but I don’t think you will. But… even if the worse happens… tell Banner I miss him. But you aren’t going there. Because you’re a fighter.”
I cry out one last time. “I only wish you would be alright.”
Suddenly, the door opens behind me. I guess it might be a nurse or something, and when I turned around, I realized I was correct. She was in that blue outfit of hers, reeking of disenfectants. It made me sick. But in her hands was a list of something, and she seemed sweaty. Surprised. Why did she look suprirsed?
“Are you her family?” She asks me.
I shake my head. “I’m… I’m her best friend.”
“Oh. Well, I actually have some news on Navaeh. I guess you would want to hear.” She tells me next.
“What’s that?” I ask her, trying to remain as cool as possible.
“We just got results back from a test. As of right now, it looks like Navaeh is actually going to make it.”
And then suddenly, I’m set free. Those thousands of stars come right back into me, and suddenly I’m crying, crying so damn hard into Navaeh. My best friend. My head then became buried in my hands as I began absolutely bawling, All from happiness. Oh my god. I could hardly even believe my ears! Navaeh… Living?
“Oh my god.” I cry. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Thank you Connor. Thank you God!”