After school, I needed to be on my own to think so I decide to spend some time at the park. I switch on my laptop and watch an episode from a new series I started watching last week. I turn the volume up to mute the sound of children shouting in the background. The sky is still covered in gray clouds and it is probably going to rain any minute. I manage to finish watching the entire episode when the first drops of rain fall down on the screen of my laptop as I am shutting it down. I did not bring my umbrella so I have to run back home, but at least I have the hood of my jacket to cover my hair.
About three minutes later, I arrive home. I find my sister, Claire Bolton, in my room and we start arguing as usual. She is going through my stuff and I dispise that. She knows this but she does not care.
"What are you doing in my room? Can't you read the sign on the door?" I had put up a sign that says 'Emma's room.' The sign has been there for almost five years now. "This is my room, not yours."
"I just need to borrow a pen." She huffs. She finds a pen in the first drawer of my desk and shakes it in front of my face to show me that she found what she was looking for. "You are such a pain."
"You are a pain," I retort. "You should have asked first."
"Don't be such a baby."
She leaves the room, taking my pen with her, before I can say anything else.
"Bring it back after!"
She either did not hear me or ignored me. I believe it is the latter. I just let it go because she always gets her way. She does whatever she wants just because she is 21 years old. I am five years younger than her so she sees me as the baby of the family. She is studying at the local college so I am stuck with her. I wish she went to the farthest college possible.
I also have a brother, whose name is Luke. He is 17 years old. Unlike my sister, I never fight with him. He is like my best friend, probably because we are so close in age. Sometimes, he even squabbles with Claire in my defense - best brother ever.
I shower, change and put on some light make-up. I put on a flowered, beach dress, tights, cardigan and flat shoes. I am on my way out when Claire comes down the stairs asking me where I am going. She is always up in my business.
"It's none of your business," I reply rudely.
"Let her go!" Luke's angry voice comes from behind her. "She's right, it's not your business."
"No one talked to you," my sister tells Luke. She always gets annoyed with him for defending me.
I leave the house without replying to her because I do not feel like getting into another argument with her. I appreciate my brother sticking up for me. On my way to the beach, I send a quick text message to him saying 'Thanks dear bro.'
Thankfully, the rain has stopped pouring. However, it is still a bit windy so I hold my dress with both hands. I meet my friends at the sandy beach. The waves are moderately high. There is no way anyone can swim in those waves but it is fascinating and relaxing to watch. As usual Lizzie is looking at her own reflection in the pocket mirror she always carries with her. She probably values that mirror more than her phone. Nate is talking to Nick and he does not notice my arrival at first.
Steph is the first one to notice me. "Hey Em, I'm so glad you came."
I smile at her. "Hey Steph." I give her a tight hug. "What are we going to do? I am definitely not swimming in the rough sea."
"BBQ," Lizzie answers before Steph.
Nick and Petra take over the cooking. Lizzie spends most of the time taking selfies in different positions and in different spots on the beach. She spends most of the time complaining about the lack of light. She even asks Steph to take a few photos for her. The BBQ is a little bit dull at first but then I start talking to Nate.
"I'm sorry," he says before I greet him.
"For what?" I am taken aback by his apology. I do not reckon there is anything he had to apologize for.
"Because I'm not talking to you as much as I used to." He looks at me timidly gaging my reaction.
"Oh. Don't worry about that." I do not want him to feel guilty. I understand that he might feel awkward.
"If I could do anything to bring back your parents, I would do it. I mean it." He sounds remorseful. What happened to my parents was not his fault - just an accident caused by a drunk driver.
I shake my head. "It doesn't matter. What happened last year cannot be changed. No one can change the past. I have made my peace with that fact. All I can do now is carry on with my life. Like Freddie Mercury said, 'the show must go on.'"
"I'm not a counselor," Nate continues. "I don't know what to say in these kinds of situations. That is why I have been avoiding you." I knew that because I know him so well.
"Don't worry about it," I assure him.
The conversation ends there. It was short but it was more than what we have said to each other in almost a year. In the past we used to have endless conversations about everything - music, books, movies, food, school and much more. I need to move on from the topic of the accident. I need to move forward.
We gather with the others in a circle. We eat sausages and burgers while we talk about random things. After we finish eating, everyone packs everything and cleans up. It is dark now so I call my brother to come pick me up. It does not take him too long to arrive since we live close by.
As we pull into the driveway at home, we notice Claire sneaking out of the house, probably to meet with her boyfriend, Eric. So much for being sneaky. I argue with my sister a lot but, deep in my heart, I still love her and I do not wish her any harm. I believe her boyfriend is trouble. I suspect he messes with drugs but I have no proof.
YOU ARE READING
Trapped (Book 1)
Teen FictionAfter her parents died in a car accident, Emma tries to continue moving on with her life. Things change when she meets Chris, a new student. Chris has a secret and he is not the only one. What happens when Emma finds out his secret? And who else is...