Mascara Tears [ON HOLD]

3. Her Thoughts

Ava

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Pasta. Ava liked pasta. But after having had it three suppers in a row she found her appetite failing. She stabbed and rolled at one of her meatballs around for a while as thoughts danced freely in her mind. Ever since her friends brought up the ‘stalker’ boy she couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was as if the mere mention of him had triggered something within her, her memories suddenly blossoming and bringing with them questions she’d ignored for the past few days.

‘Ava, if you are not going to eat your food then at least put it away for later.’ Her mother scolded.

‘Sorry.’ She stood and absent-mindedly fetched a plastic wrap for her plate.

‘Can I also put mine away?’ Genevieve asked hopefully.

‘No honey. You need to finish your supper, otherwise your cold won’t go away. You don't want to miss your play now do you?’

Genevieve frowned and spared a glare for her sister who didn’t seem to notice.

‘I’m going to be in my room.’ Ava said.

‘No Mario Kart?’ Her dad asked.

He rarely spoke during supper or any other time for that matter. Unless he really had to and on the rare occasions when he’d have to break an argument between her and her mother, and of cause, when he wanted to play Nintendo games.

‘Let her have some rest honey, besides, shouldn’t you be fixing something?’ Her mother seemed to be able to read her mind, for every time she needed space her mother would make sure she had it. And if it was company then her father would be there with his video games.

Thankful for her mother’s keen apathy, Ava slipped out of the small kitchen and soon found herself lying on her bed, not having bothered to get into her pyjamas.

Finally alone, she completely gave in to her wandering mind and returned to her reminiscing of the boy. It had been a while since she had last seen him, in her thoughts as well as in reality. A week had passed and each night she’d looked out her window with hopes to see his figure standing there under the streetlight. Each night, there’d be no one standing there. It made her feel as though a piece of her was missing. As if he had betrayed her despite not having made any promises.

It was not that she enjoyed being stalked. No. In fact, she’d been scared at first. She’d gone and reported to her mother who had called the police on the boy. Three times they came and three times he evaded them. One night her dad had personally walked out to confront him. It was on this night that she caught a glimpse of his face, a face now unfamiliar to her as the depth of her subconscious had swallowed the memory. But she remembered a scar. There’d been a scar on the boy’s face. One that had turned her fear to the curiosity she now held.

Who was that strange boy in oversized clothes? He had looked to be in the same age group as her. The dirt on him had suggested that he may have been a homeless street kid though his bearing and the way he seemed to be conversing with her dad made him seem much more. There was a story there, in each word he mouthed and in every glance he stole at their surroundings. He hadn’t been uneasy or the least bit threatened. Just wary, cautious and very much in control.

And so it was such that when her father came back and told them not to fear him, but also not to never under any circumstances, approach him, she understood.

It had been years since that day. Years of her curiosity building up inside her. In those days she’d look out the window to see him standing there, illuminated by the street lamp’s orange light, face always masked in darkness, watching. She’d tried waving at him once and to her surprise he’d waved back. When she’d tried again the next day though, he did not respond.

She’d even gone and told her friend at school then. But that had only led to teasing and a kind of attention from her teachers that she did not quite enjoy. So she had made the whole thing a joke and allowed it to fade.

Ava’s phone rang and she was yanked out of her thoughts. She picked it up and answered, her voice sounding irritated.

‘Hey Ava. Am I interrupting something?’ It was Nevaeh.

‘Uh… no, sorry. Just a little out of it today. What’s up?’

‘Yeah… Just wanted to invite you to this after exam party one of the boys in our class is throwing. Now I know you are not a party person and all but as this will be our last get together, I was hoping-’

‘I’ll come.’

‘Huh?’

‘I’ll come.’ Ava repeated. ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind and really need an outlet. So I’ll come.’

Nevaeh, usually quick with an answer, paused.

‘I mean, I’m happy you are coming and everything, but are you sure, there’ll be a lot of people there.’ She finally said.

‘Yes Nev, I’m sure.’

‘Well then. I’m glad I don’t have to use the speech I’d prepared to persuade you, I’ll send you the dates and venue via sms. See you then and good luck with the exams.’

‘Thanks.’ Ava smiled to herself. ‘See you then.’

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