Missing her for seven years...
1507 Words
I woke up next morning with my face wet with dog drool. Coco was licking me awake.
“Eww… Coco!! Stop it. Down boy down.”
He gave a happy yip and with the satisfaction of successfully waking me up, bounded his way out the door and probably towards the kitchen for his breakfast. I washed my face and brushed my teeth and went down. Max was in the kitchen having a talk with April.
Hearing my footsteps, they turned. Max was really looking cute in that apron. I loved it when he cooked. I always felt he became more handsome when he cooked. He was not a pro but his food was not bad either. Whenever I came home tired from work, his food would help me cheer up again. A warmth it gave me always made me feel happy to come home. Home was my heaven. And here he was, cooking up a mountain I guess. The smell of pancake reached my nose and cradled them. My stomach growled in protest.
“Hey honey, seems like you are really hungry. You stomach says so.”
April giggled.
“Sit down sis. Max is making pancakes and bacon. He’s a wonderful cook by the way.”
“Compliments accepted. Come sit baby. Your pile of pancakes are waiting.”
I sat down at the table and he gave me a plate full of pancakes. With a small spoon of butter on top. He handed me the syrup bottle and I poured the syrup all over the pancake. Waiting for it to get a bit soggy but not too much. As I dug into it, the sweet syrup and the fluffy pancake filled my mouth. I had to sigh. This was the best breakfast ever.
April had to go to work today.
“So... your first day of work in your new office. How does it feel?”
“Actually, nothing excites me anymore. I feel like this is another boring day at work sis.”
“Cheer up April and let’s look forward to a wonderful day.”
We ate our breakfast and got dressed for work. Just then, my cell rang.
“Hello, Dr. June Havens speaking. May I know who this is?”
“Its me you idiot.”
“Excuse me?!!”
“Nice. You don’t even remember my voice. It’s been seven years and you already forgot me? How could you?”
“Mam I think you have the wrong number.”
“No I don’t. But you are right about one thing. I have made a wrong friend.”
Whoever this lady is, she’s making it so dramatic.
“June Havens, how could you forget you best friend?!!”
Evelin! The name clicked right in with the voice.
“Evie, is that you?”
“Duh! Of course it’s me you stupid gal.”
It’s been seven years since I’ve met my best friend and high school mate Evelin Baxter. Her voice has changed a bit, or was it my phone? I didn’t know what to talk anymore. I was in fact giggling like a crazy person, drawing curious glances from Max and April. They were mouthing at me, ‘Who is it?’
I mouthed back, ‘My high school bestie'.
April seemed to understand. She mouthed again, ‘Evelin?’.
I nodded. She turned towards Max and explained who it was. He gave me ‘I am happy for you' smile.
“Are you back from Europe?”
“Yea. Let’s meet up. Or is Dr. June too busy?”
“I’ll try to clear up my afternoon. See you at our old place?”
“Cool. See ya later June.”
She hung up.
I was really hyped to meet her again.
Max and April were having these smiles on their face. I may have been giggling too hard. My stomach hurts.
Max and I had planned on driving April to her office. But she insisted on taking the subway. We had to give up. Max called her a taxi. I was about to take our car out of the garage when I heard disturbances coming from our neighbour’s house. They were calling out someone’s name. Our neighbour, Judy, seemed to be searching something in their yard. Her husband was also doing the same.
“Hey there Judy, what happened.”
“Hey June, have you seen Tinkerbell?”
Tinkerbell is their pet ginger cat.
“No. I haven’t. What happened?”
“He is missing. He was not there in his pillow when I woke up this morning. I thought he may have wandered off to someplace. But he is still not back yet.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll be back after a couple of laps in the neighbourhood. I’m sure he has just went out for a stroll.”
Max came in search of me.
“June it’s almost time. Oh. Hey Judy, what happened?”
“Judy says that Tinkerbell may have gone missing.”
“He may be just walking around. Don’t worry Judy. He will be back.”
“You guys have to go for work, isn’t it? Off you go. We’ll wait till he gets back. Have a good day guys.”
“You too.”
********
I jumped off duty as soon as I got a chance, from the hospital. On my way, I was almost caught by Kevin, my colleague.
“Where are you rushing off to June, the chief had asked for you.”
Oh dang. Not now. Why? I have to escape.
“Kevin. I’m not really feeling well. Could you be a dear and let our chief know that I’ve taken a sick leave. Please?”
I guess I had to put on my puppy eyes mode.
“Well... “
‘I don’t have time to waste. Evie is waiting. Make a quick decision dude.’ I almost said that out loud. Why was he hesitating. More puppy eyes… c’mon that’s gotta work.
“Okay. I will handle it. You take care of yourself and get well soon.”
“Thank you Kevin. You are a diamond.”
I rushed off without a back glance. I didn’t have time to put on the ‘I’m too sick' look. I drove to the place where I hung out with Evie during our high school days. It was an old house in our neighbourhood. None of the kids were courageous enough to go in there. A story about how a witch lived there had made them all stay out. But not us. We were always the adventurous ones. The most bravest of ‘em all. We explored the place in and out. There was not a soul in that abandoned place. No ghosts nor witches. We made it our secret get together place. We even built our own bedroom with an old mattress and an old table. No one found out. And it seemed like no has till now. It was still our secret place.
I went into the house through the hole in the fence that no one has bothered to patch up. The wood was creaking under my foot. Many of the planks were rotten. The last time we were here was seven years ago. After high school, Evie had started out medical school with me. But her dad got transferred and they had to move to Italy. We agreed to meet up one last time at our place. We separated with tears and a promise to meet each other again one day. It may seem really dramatic, but girls tend to get a bit teary eyed. No judgments please.
I walked towards our old room. It was really empty. Rain had made the whole house damp and the musty smell from the floor boards gave the whole place a ‘haunted’ feel. I went into the room to find it empty. No one was there.
But she had told me she will meet me here. A cold air passed through the room making my hairs stand on its end. This atmosphere has actually started to creep me out. I called out her name.
“Evie? You there?”
No answer. Only the sound of the wind. I felt like something was behind me. I slowly turned to find out what it was...
********
Hey there,
Scarlett speaking.
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Read on for more amazing chapters.
What did you think June saw?...
Will June and Evie meet up?
Hang on for more in the upcoming chapter.
Love,
SB
- Writer
