Reflections Of Us

Echoes Of Home - Chapter 7

🎶 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0alCMZUCPisRCnvLtwv9XY?si=Hy3XVgZ2S2C67Mnm_8U9nQ

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Zeva's POV:

I turned the corner just in time to see them face off. Jazmine and Kiante's banter was sharp, almost like a sparring match, and I stayed back, biting my lip to keep from laughing. They seemed... oddly matched, like fire against fire.

Eventually, Kiante shook his head and walked away, leaving Jazmine fuming with a tiny flicker of a smile I couldn't miss.

I approached her softly. "Rough hallway encounter?"

She huffed. "You have no idea."

"Come on," I said, linking arms with her. "Let's get out of here before someone else walks in and joins the fun."

She huffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah... I just needed to let off some steam."

We made our way back to our dorm, the chatter of students around us fading as we settled into the quiet of my room. Jazmine flopped onto my bed.

"Okay," she said, grabbing her notebook. "Time to switch gears." We have that exam coming up, and I refuse to fail it just because I was stuck in hallway drama."

I smiled, relieved at the distraction. "Fine. Let's get to it."

We spread our books across the desk and bed, pens and highlighters ready, sunlight spilling through the window as we dove into formulas and vocabulary. The world outside didn't exist for a while — just us, the notes, and the quiet hum of concentration. Jazmine flipped through her notebook, muttering formulas under her breath, while I scribbled down key terms, trying to memorize them. The tension from the hallway, from Kiante and Jazmine's banter, slowly melted away as we focused on the exam.

"Okay," Jazmine said, tapping her pen against the page, "one more round of flashcards and then I swear I'm done."

I nodded, chewing on the end of my pen. "Yeah... me too. I think I actually understand this chapter now."

Just as I started to relax, my phone buzzed on the desk. I froze at it — an unfamiliar number flashed across the screen. Hesitant, I answered.

"Hello?"

A calm, somber voice replied, "Is this Zeva Love?"

"Yes... who is this?"

"This is from your grandparents' estate office. I'm very sorry to inform you... Both of your grandparents passed away last night."

My chest tightened, and my pen clattered onto the notebook. "W-what...when?"

"They passed last night. Some arrangements need to be made... You should come to the house as soon as possible."

Jazmine grabbed my hand across the desk. "Z...are you okay?"

I shook my head, tears welling. "I...I need to go. Now."

"Then I'm coming with you," Jazmine said firmly. "You're not going through this alone."

I grabbed my keys and phone; books were forgotten and were scattered across the desk. Jazmine stayed close, offering steady reassurance as we walked toward her car.

"This is going to be hard," she whispered, "but we'll figure it out together."

And as we drove, my mind raced with memories of my grandparents, the house I hadn't seen in years, and the knowledge that this day would change everything.

My phone buzzed. Glancing down, I saw Kiante's name flashing. Hesitant, I answered.

"Z... are you okay?" His voice was tense, almost shaking with worry.

"I... I just got the call about Grandma and Grandpa," I said, my voice catching. "They... they passed last night."

There was a pause, then he spoke again. "I... I got the same call. I'm so sorry, Z. I wish I could be there with you right now."

Tears pricked at my eyes. "I don't know what to do."

"We'll get through this," he said firmly. "I hate that I can't come down there — the home game is this weekend... I just can't miss it."

"I... I understand," I whispered, feeling the ache of his absence.

"I'll call as often as I can, okay? You're not alone, even if I can't be there in person."

"Thanks, Kiante," I murmured, blinking back tears.

Jazmine glanced at me, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "See? You've got people who care. We'll face this together."

I nodded, trying to draw strength from her words. "Yeah... together."

The car fell into a quiet rhythm, the anticipation of arriving at my grandparents' house mixing with the weight of the news, and I braced myself for what we'd find.

The gravel crunched under Jazmine's tires as we pulled up the driveway. My grandparents' house loomed ahead — the same warm, welcoming home I remembered from childhood, yet now it seemed quieter and heavier.

Jazmine parked, and we stepped out, the cool air brushing against my cheeks. I hesitated at the front door, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Memories of holidays, laughter, and bedtime stories rushed through me. Slowly. I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

Inside, the air smelled faintly of lavender and old wood. Dust motes floated in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Everything was in its place, yet there was an odd stillness — like the house was holding its breath.

I wandered toward the living room, my fingers brushing along the edges of the furniture, taking in every detail. Jazmine trailed behind, her eyes scanning the room for anything that seemed out of place.

I slid open a drawer near the fireplace, revealing an old, worn lockbox tucked carefully among the papers. The edges were scratched, and the tiny keyhole gleamed in the sunlight.

"Z, maybe we should check what's inside," Jazmine suggested, curiosity lacing her voice.

I shook my head, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Not right now. We've got so much to sort through already. Let's focus on the rest of the house first."

Jazmine nodded, a little disappointed by the understanding. "Okay...if you're sure."

I closed the drawer, my attention moving to another stack of papers. The lockbox stayed in my mind, but I didn't think much of it for now.

We moved through the living room, carrying boxes and setting aside items that looked important or sentimental. Jazmine handled fragile picture frames carefully, while I carefully sorted through stacks of letters and old notebooks.

The house felt alive with memories — the faint scent of my grandparents' lavender perfume, the soft creak of the floorboards, the quiet ticking of the clock that had been in the living room for as long as I could remember.

"This place is incredible," Jazmine murmured. "It's like stepping into another time."

I nodded, though my thoughts kept drifting into the lockbox. For some reason, it felt... important, but I couldn't put my finger on why. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the present task.