The Howling Prophecy

A New Friend

Kari wanders to the bench she became familiar with earlier that day. She could feel the breeze tickle her face as it cooled her flushed cheeks. Kari exhaled as she sat down, wanting to disappear from the spectacle she just made of herself. She tilted her bed back against the tree behind her and closed her eyes. She at once saw those steel eyes look at her causing her body to heat up. She opened her eyes with a sigh and shook her head to try to remove the impure thoughts rushing her brain.

What is wrong with me? Why does Trent bother me so much, he is just another looker is all? It's like my body reacts to his every move. I feel amazing when he is near me and comforted, but why? I just want this day to be over so I can go hide somewhere. I feel so confused and I can't stand all the staring this is all causing. I have never had attention like this before. Why is this happening? Usually, the jock will just get in his few jollies and leave me alone. Yet, Trent seems almost genuine in his attempts. Ugh...I just need to clear my head of all this and enjoy the quiet out here.

Kari starts to eat her lunch and a light snow starts to fall. She stuck her tongue out for a second to catch one. The cold frozen crystal melted, and she closed her mouth. Kari loved being outdoors and it made her feel free. She picked her head back up as she started to hear footsteps approaching. Part of her was hoping it was Trent, her supposed heart throb.

"Hi, is this seat taken?”

Kari looks at the new face that just spoke to her. A new blond-haired person pointed to the unoccupied half of the bench next to her. Kari didn't answer as she was waiting for someone to yell boo or whatever would come next in a moment like this. The blonde shrugged and sat next to Kari. She opened her lunch bag and took a large bite out of a sandwich. Kari gasped as she was stunned. For one, the girl sat down; two, nothing happened when she sat down; and three, a small blond-haired person took such a large not-lady-like bite. The blonde was wearing a short skirt and a jacket over a beautiful expensive blouse. She didn't seem to be bothered by the silence received from Kari or the cold. She kept on eating with a smile.

"I'm Lindsey by the way. I bet you are new to the school as I haven't seen you before. I saw you walk out here and thought what a great idea to eat outside today. I love it when the snow falls, don't you?”

"Uh...ya I like the snow and being outside," said Kari wearily while working on her lunch.

Kari felt unsure, but it felt as if she knew this girl. She knew this presence from somewhere. It was like a comfort blanket was sitting next to her. Lindsey's face was known to her and her kind words. Maybe a long-lost friend was found from her childhood or just finally someone that did not have an agenda.

"I saw you in my calculus class earlier, you must be very smart. I bet you do well in all your classes. I heard you have moved around a lot before; I mean my dad works with your dad. He told me you were going to be coming to school, but I didn't realize you were a McCoy." Lindsey spoke plainly as if what she said was just some random facts and no big deal.

"What makes you say that?" Kari was surprised at what Lindsey said. What an odd thing to say she thought. I wonder if my dad spoke with her dad, and they suggested she find me today to make me more comfortable or something. Something my dad would totally do, but I am not a child and soon I will graduate.

"Oh...you just don't have the same color eyes. I mean you just look different from your parents. You probably don't remember me, but we went to preschool together. We used to be best friends," Lindsey looked at Kari excitedly with her announcement. 

Kari froze when she realized that not only was she her friend from long ago, but her childhood friend also had an older brother. She flashed back to days filled with laughing and happy times. The three of them always played together and being with them made her feel whole. She felt safe and at home when she was with them and never wanted anything to change. The older brother would tease her, but he was always protective too and cared dearly for her. Always seemed weird coming from a seven-year-old since she was only four then.

"Oh...right, your Lindsey Winters. I remember you now. Your dad is the CEO or something like that for the company my dad works for. Wait, Trent....Trent is your brother! Did he tell you to come out here?!” Kari spoke full of hurt and anger that this nice gesture from her long-lost friend was actually due to her brother poking fun at her again. Kari was hoping it would finally be different, that she was going to have a friend and the stupid high school s**t was going to be over, but she was wrong. She started to pack up her lunch and stand up, but an arm reached out and stopped her.

"Kari stop, please calm down. I came out here because I was hoping you would remember me. Remember that we used to be good friends and I have missed you so much. I am here for me, not my brother. I just wanted to see if we could be friends again, as we always had so much fun together. Besides, don't you remember how much fun we had teasing him and annoying him with his buddies?" Lindsey let out a giggle as she remembered all the games they played with her brother. 

Kari took a deep breath and let it out loudly. She was so tired of all the high school games and each one being the same as the last. The bullying was frustrating and always getting old. It made it all very difficult to make any friends before, let alone trust anyone. Kari sat back down and looked at Lindsey. "I am listening."

"I honestly wanted to just say hi and see about kindling our friendship. I doubt my brother even knows I'm out here." Lindsey smiled sweetly at Kari.

Kari started to relax and took another deep breath. She really did miss her friend, her only friend. Her heart was racing with excitement about having a friend again.

Maybe I will finally have a friend with no agenda and have a good rest of the year. That would be nice.

 Over the next week Lindsey and Kari quickly became best friends, as if they never left each other's side before. However, Kari noticed her heart still felt empty and her thoughts were still surrounded by Trent. Trent oddly hadn't been around or seen since that day in the cafeteria.

"I saw you in my calculus class earlier, you must be very smart. I bet you do well in all your classes. I heard you have moved around a lot before; I mean my dad works with your dad. He told me you were going to be coming to school, but I didn't realize you were a McCoy." Lindsey spoke plainly as if what she said was just some random facts and no big deal.

"What makes you say that?" Kari was surprised at what Lindsey said. What an odd thing to say she thought. I wonder if my dad spoke with her dad and they suggested she find me today to make me more comfortable or something. Something my dad would totally do, but I am not a child and soon I will graduate.

"Oh...you just don't have the same color eyes. I mean you just look different from your parents. You probably don't remember me, but we went to preschool together. We used to be best friends," Lindsey looked at Kari excitedly with her announcement. 

Kari froze when she realized that not only was she her friend from long ago, but her childhood friend also had an older brother. She flashed back to days filled with laughing and happy times. The three of them always played together and being with them made her feel whole. She felt safe and at home when she was with them and never wanted anything to change. The older brother would tease her, but he was always protective too and cared dearly for her. Always seemed weird coming from a seven-year-old since she was only four then.

"Oh...right, your Lindsey Winters. I remember you now. Your dad is the CEO or something like that for the company my dad works for. Wait, Trent....Trent is your brother! Did he tell you to come out here?!” Kari spoke full of hurt and anger that this nice gesture from her long-lost friend was actually due to her brother poking fun at her again. Kari was hoping it would finally be different, that she was going to have a friend and the stupid high school s**t was going to be over, but she was wrong. She started to pack up her lunch and stand up, but an arm reached out and stopped her.

"Kari stop, please calm down. I came out here because I was hoping you would remember me. Remember that we used to be good friends and I have missed you so much. I am here for me, not my brother. I just wanted to see if we could be friends again, as we always had so much fun together. Besides, don't you remember how much fun we had teasing him and annoying him with his buddies?" Lindsey let out a giggle as she remembered all the games they played with her brother. 

Kari took a deep breath and let it out loudly. She was so tired of all the high school games and each one being the same as the last. The bullying was frustrating and always getting old. It made it all very difficult to make any friends before, let alone trust anyone.

Kari sat back down and looked at Lindsey. "I am listening."

"I honestly wanted to just say hi and see about kindling our friendship. I doubt my brother even knows I'm out here." Lindsey smiled sweetly at Kari.

Kari started to relax and took another deep breath. She really did miss her friend, her only friend. Her heart was racing with excitement about having a friend again.

Maybe I will finally have a friend with no agenda and have a good rest of the year. That would be nice.

Over the next week Lindsey and Kari quickly became best friends, as if they never left each other's side before. However, Kari noticed her heart still felt empty and her thoughts were still surrounded by Trent. Trent oddly hadn't been around or seen since that day in the cafeteria.