CHAPTER TEN; Where it all began
935 Words
"Some memories don't fade. They simply wait for the right moment to return."
The final bell echoed through Westbrook High.
Students hurried into the hallways, eager to escape another day of classes.
Davi carefully packed her books, slipping the Polaroid camera into her bag before zipping it closed.
"You coming?"
Aya appeared beside her desk.
Davi nodded.
"I just need to stop by the library."
Aya's lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Oh, right."
"The project."
"The project," Davi repeated.
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Aya chuckled.
"Fine, fine. I'll leave you alone."
She started toward the door before pausing.
"Oh... and tell Henry I said I hope his ankle survives."
"I will."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you."
The library was quieter than usual.
Rows of books stretched toward the back wall while sunlight poured through the tall windows.
Only a handful of students sat scattered around the room.
Ethan was already there.
He looked up as Davi approached.
"I was starting to think you'd changed your mind."
"I almost did."
He smiled.
"But you didn't."
"No."
She sat across from him, placing her notebook on the table.
"So..."
"So."
They both laughed.
"We really have to stop doing that," Davi said.
"I was thinking the same thing."
They spent the next twenty minutes searching for articles, exchanging ideas and comparing notes.
It wasn't awkward.
If anything...
It felt surprisingly easy.
"You write really neatly," Ethan commented, glancing at her notebook.
She looked down.
"I've heard that before."
"I wish mine looked like that."
She peeked at his page.
"It doesn't look bad."
"It looks like a spider learned cursive."
She laughed.
"I wasn't going to say it..."
"But you thought it."
"...Maybe."
He smiled.
"I'll take maybe."
Davi stood and wandered toward one of the magazine shelves.
She scanned the covers absentmindedly until one caught her eye.
Summer Hairstyles.
A little girl with neatly braided hair smiled from the front cover.
For some reason...
Her fingers froze.
Braids.
The scent of hairspray.
Women laughing.
The buzzing sound of hairdryers...
The library slowly faded away.
Ten Years Earlier
The ladies' salon was busier than usual.
Hairdryers hummed.
Stylists chatted with their customers.
The sweet scent of hair products filled the room.
Seven-year-old Davi sat on a chair near the waiting area, swinging her legs back and forth while her mother, Olivia, chatted with the hairstylist.
"Davi," Olivia called gently.
"I'm right here, Mom."
"Don't wander off."
"I won't."
She picked up the children's magazine lying on the table but quickly lost interest.
There weren't any other children.
At least...
That's what she thought.
Across the room, a little boy sat quietly beside a woman having her hair braided.
He wasn't reading.
He wasn't playing.
He simply sat there, holding a small blue toy car in both hands.
Every now and then he'd roll it across his knee before stopping again.
Davi tilted her head.
She'd never seen someone so quiet.
Olivia noticed him too.
She smiled warmly at the woman beside him.
"Your son?"
The woman returned the smile.
"Yes."
"I'm Grace."
"Olivia."
The conversation came easily.
They talked about schools, neighborhoods and how Grace had only recently moved to Westbrook.
"It's all still new," Grace admitted with a small laugh.
Olivia smiled kindly.
"You'll settle in before you know it."
While the adults talked...
Davi kept looking at the little boy.
He looked...
Lonely.
She slid off her chair and walked over.
"Hi."
The boy looked up briefly before looking back at his toy car.
"I'm Davi."
Silence.
She wasn't discouraged.
She pointed at the little blue car.
"I like blue."
He looked at the toy.
"...Me too."
It was the first thing he'd said.
Davi smiled.
"I knew it."
He frowned slightly.
"You... knew?"
She nodded confidently.
"Blue is the best color."
For the tiniest moment...
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"My name's Ethan."
"That's a nice name."
"...Thanks."
Another silence settled between them.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
Davi reached into the pocket of her little denim jacket.
She pulled out two strawberry lollipops.
Her dad always made sure she carried one for later.
Today...
She had two.
She held one out.
"For you."
Ethan blinked.
"For me?"
"Mm-hmm."
He looked toward his mother.
Grace smiled and nodded.
"It's okay."
He carefully accepted it.
"...Thank you."
Davi grinned.
"My dad says candy tastes better when you share it."
Ethan stared at the lollipop for a second before smiling.
It was small.
Shy.
But real.
"I've never been here before," he admitted quietly.
"I come here a lot."
"Really?"
"My mom changes her hairstyle all the time."
Ethan looked genuinely surprised.
"Why?"
Davi shrugged.
"I don't know."
The two children laughed.
From across the salon, Olivia glanced over.
"They seem to be getting along."
Grace smiled softly.
"I'm glad."
"So am I."
"Davi?"
The voice pulled her back.
She blinked.
The salon disappeared.
The library returned.
Ethan was watching her from across the table.
"You've been staring at that magazine for almost a minute."
She looked down at the hairstyle on the cover.
Then back at him.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"The salon."
Ethan frowned slightly.
"What about it?"
"We met..."
She laughed quietly, almost to herself.
"We met in a salon."
For a heartbeat, Ethan simply looked at her.
Then a familiar smile appeared on his face.
"I was wondering when you'd remember that."
Davi's eyes widened.
"You remembered?"
"I never forgot."
The library suddenly felt much quieter than before.
And somehow...
The project no longer seemed like the most interesting thing on the table.
- Writer
