4 'More than a Mystery'

We were out of the school now, walking together and talking. I found out that we shared almost all of the classes except biology. She had asked me to fill her in with what happened between me and Tyler like it was something huge, while it wasn't.

I told her how he bumped into me and I ended up cursing him out loud. She laughed and told me how hilarious it was because no one had ever cursed him on his face, at least not a girl.

She complimented me on my eyes. She said they were beautiful, but she can't seem to guess the colour of my eyes. How could she, when even I didn't know exactly what colour they were. I also confessed how warm her actual smile is, and her dimples are adorable to which her response was unexpected.

Her dark eyes, dark enough to hold galaxies in, expanded in disbelief. Her incoherent thoughts as well as her awkward chuckle made it obvious that she wasn't used to compliments.

I got to know a little about her family, her mischievous little brothers who love to ruin her makeup. I told her about how I grew up being the only child of my parents. The conversation got deeper and I realized she's a really good listener and we vibe well together as friends.

After we reached the bus stop, she took her leave. And my home was just a few more minutes away from here. Talking to Emalie had really lifted my mood. Now I could enter my home and pretend like my first day—which was awfully long, had been great so my Mom wouldn't worry about me.

I rang the bell standing at the front porch of my place and my Mom answered the door with a calm and huge smile. "My Angel's home!" She exclaimed affectionately.

I hugged her and entered, passing the foyer into the hall. Emptied Cardboard cartons were scattered near the couch. "Just need to throw them out, finally, everything is settled down." She sighed looking around at the hanging paintings and pictures. "Are you sure you still don't want my help in cleaning?" I asked.

"No, it was your first day, you must be tired," She assumed, "How did it go?"

"I'm not tired." I shook my head in denial. "It was a great day, I made a friend and she's actually nice. I'd still be careful and not do anything that would make us move places again," I told her optimistically while crashing on the couch.

She slumped beside me. "Linnet, don't worry about moving and stuff. Enjoy your life, understood? All I care about is you. You know you're everything to me." "I know, Mom." I toyed with my butterfly choker. "When would you be joining the law firm?" I changed the subject.

"From tomorrow. It's a well-known law firm, moving here was a good idea."

"If it's a big one, I guess I'd see you less often." I sulked in. "I can't promise, but I'll try my best to make time for my angel," she cheered me. "Now go to your room and get fresh. I'll cook something delicious." She stated which instantly made me bounce back up from the couch in excitement.

I darted to my room stepping up the wooden staircase from which I had once fallen and got a minor fracture. Dad had tried to bribe me with chocolates and strawberry milk to calm me but I wouldn't stop crying. I had convinced myself that I'd have to spend the rest of my life with the cast on my leg.

Only a few days had been passed since we moved here again. After the separation of Mom and Dad, I had never expected that we'd have to move here, in San Fezas of all places. This locale and particularly this house replayed many of my memories, although Furniture and paint of almost all areas in here were changed but the nostalgia was still there, intact.

While taking a shower, I found a place; the side of a cabinet. Where I had pasted stacks of stickers they all were of Princess Ariel and Tinker bell. I remember being obsessed with the mermaids and fairies once. Dad had even promised that he'd take me to see mermaids If I let the dentist pull off my infected tooth.

Reminiscing about the past, I changed into my favourite baby blue ice cream print pyjamas. After a while; when I was finishing off the homework that was assigned to me today, I heard my mom calling me downstairs for dinner. I impatiently went to join her, not bothering to even close the opened notebooks.

She had set our small dining table. There was creamy pasta in serving dish. My mouth watered at the sight of it. I tugged the white wooden chair and crouched on it. I instantly served myself some pasta from the dish and without wasting a second more, I started munching my food. "It tastes delicious mom!" I commented excitedly with my mouth full. "Eat well." She smiled warmly.

As I was busy in savoring my food, the empty chair made me wonder what it would've been like, if Dad was here too. However, he loved his work more than us. I didn't have any complains, at least he visited us once in a blue moon and sent me gifts on my birthdays. Not that I loved the materialistic things he'd send me, I'd just be contented by knowing that he remembers my birthday, and that I still mean to him a little bit.

After finishing my food, I did the dishes. Mom insisted to me that I should rest but I did not listen to her and helped her tidy up the backyard too. After all, it was my fault that we had to move here. The memories of here, the happy memories—when dad wasn't so obsessed with his business— would surely be affecting mom too. Only If I didn't trust the wrong people.

As I was lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling above, I couldn't help but think about how easy my life would've been if I was like others. If I couldn't read minds. If I had been oblivious to how ugly people can be, behind their pretentious smiles. I would do anything to just get rid of this unwanted gift I possessed.

On the other hand, I couldn't quite comprehend the fact that I wasn't able to hear his thoughts. How could I not hear any of Tyler's thoughts? I had never been around anyone whose thoughts I couldn't hear. He was more than a mystery to me. And his pendant? The crystal stone of his pendant was weirder. I was certain I saw it glowing in the shade of that tree.

I wondered what was going on in his mind that I somehow wasn't able to hear. What does he want from me or who he is? The sweet guy that apologized to me for ruining my morning. Or, the expressionless guy who had a gruff voice.

Whoever he was, he was popular and I needed to avoid him from now on. So I would not have to face situations like I had faced today.

The window on my left revealed a deep black sky with grey clouds. The soothing sight made me want to emerge as one of those clouds and drift away, wither into this misty summer night and evaporate somewhere far, over the hills.