Looking for you

Part 2 Episode 1 (13)

Birds sang at distance, few green leaves in every size danced on its way falling to the ground and the sun shone over the trees, allowing all shades of green through their leaves. A twisted arm of the river ran few meters away, making a soft sound when water passed by the rocks below it. On the ground, Alex was sitting by a tree with Evelyn resting her head against the girl's leg, Alex was caressing her hair whilst Evelyn hold her free hand. They were with Evelyn's parents at a park by the forest´s border, her sister was also with them trying to set a net before organizing a volleyball game. The weather allowed it because it was not too hot under the sun rays not to play.

“I never thought being under a tree's shadow could be so relaxing…” wondered Alex “perhaps, I could only imagine it if you appeared in the picture.”  Evelyn smiled and sat up.

“Don’t be fool. I bet you do could discover this peace by yourself, you just haven't given yourself the chance.” answered Evelyn kissing her cheek. Alex hugged her.

“You're right. I couldn’t give myself the chance to relax after the talk we had yesterday with Jane. I swear, I thought we were death when she discovered us after kissing. It seemed to be the end of the world.” Alex add with a sigh trying to forget the anxiety she had the day before when Jane stopped them from leaving before asking for an explanation. Evelyn nodded and helped her girlfriend standing up.

“Good thing she calmed down and let us talk...I'm still not sure how she understood and agreed to keep the secret for us. But I'm glad she did”

They walked towards the tablecloth where they´ve had lunch a couple of hours ago; Evelyn's mother was arranging some things inside the basket while Susan was inflating the ball.

“You sure you´re up to this?” asked Evelyn looking to her father who started to warmup.

“I´m not a big fan of volleyball, can´t remember the last time I played it. But I couldn’t expect you all to play football just because I like it.”

Nodding, Evelyn knew her girlfriend was right. After all, her father was the one who arranged the ball game since they left home, and he wanted to see the girl doing something different than football.

Susan smiled as they approached.

“Glad to see you´re here. I didn´t want to go and have to get you two, love birds” Alex blushed furiously, Evelyn tried to reach her sister in an attempt to hit her on the shoulder. “Su!” Their father, Eric, asked Susan for the ball and approached the three of them.

“Well, Alex. You do remember the rules, right?” he asked, playing with the ball between his hands. Her wife also approached hugging him by the shoulders. Everyone turned to Alex for a response.

“I think I´ll manage, Mr. Wright” Eric nodded in enthusiasm with her response.

“Very well then. Let´s play! My daughter tells me you´re an excellent athlete. I don´t doubt her, but I prefer to see it with my own eyes.” Mr. Wright walked to the other side of the net, followed by his wife, Alice. Due to Alex´s lack of practice, Susan would be helping in her team alongside Evelyn.  

Fifteen minutes later, Alex was trying not to lose any other ball. They were down on the marker thanks to her lack of reaction lifting the balls up before hitting the floor. She´d rather be ready offering passes for Evelyn or Susan, who seemed to play more easily than her.

Mr. Wright suggested a break to refresh themselves. Evelyn offered a bottle of water to her girlfriend who thanked her and emptied the container.

“Where your parents part of an Olympic team or something?” she asked leaning against Evelyn´s shoulder, trying to catch her breath. Evelyn laughed. 

“Not that I know. But I believe that´s how they met at school… Am I right, Su?”

“Playing volleyball? I think so, yes.” said her sister.

“C´mon, let’s go for the end of it. Then we can head back home and rest properly” said Mrs. Wright.

“Alex” she turned towards Eric. “I believe we can let you use your feet this time.” The girl thought about it for a second. Was her game in volleyball that bad that she needed to change arms over feet?  Who was she trying to cheat? Most likely it was.

“Are you sure, Mr. Wright?” Eric smiled and nodded.

“Sure. I believe we could learn a thing or two. We´ll try it as well”

Alex and Evelyn stared at each other for a brief second, sharing a thought. Perhaps, Alex could get all those lost points back with the funny permission Eric had just given them.

They weren´t wrong.

Evelyn

We finished the game with my parents and sister trying to do as Alex did. My parents laughed by every missed attempt of saving the ball they had. Susan kind of managed herself but she seemed to be the official passer in our team. I had learned to handle the ball a bit with Alex some weeks ago, after watching her practice and sharing a funny moment when she tried to teach me a trick or two. And Alex, well, she was a fish swimming in water again. We called it off when the match reached the draw and collected our things to head back to the car whilst my mother talked with Alex about my sister´s job, and some shameful stories about our childhood.

            Given the entire time we had spent with my family so far, I could tell Alex had let go the previous shyness and doubts. Now, she was totally calm, even enjoying the time and company of my family. I wanted her to be able to enjoy this and have it always. That only made me think that perhaps, we could share a future similar to this one.

            We chose to go through the river after walking some meters by its side, the level was low and there was a short path made of small rounded rocks that allowed us to cross over. My sister was leading the way, I was after her, Alex was following behind, then came mom and dad.

“So, what have you thought about our little scape, Alex?” asked my father. She turned a bit to look at him but kept on walking.

“I´ve had an excellent time, Mr. Wright”

“Just wait until we get home and eat anything mom had cooked. Then, you´d have an excellent time” added my sister. My father couldn´t avoid the chance to comment about mom´s cooking.

“Delicious lasagne… It could be a good option, right?” he said, as he threw the car keys to Susan; Alex had just turned back to look at him while speaking, the keys going in direction to her face. She barely avoided them with a move of her head and torso. A small stone bellow her at the bridge path got loose and she lost balance plunging, hand first, to the water.

“Alex!” I yelped with a sad attempt to grab her arm. A moment later her head emerged from water´s surface, getting sited over the rocks below, dripping. A funny and strange expression on her face. My sister couldn’t stop laughing and my father made an attempt to refrain his smile. Susan crossed to the other side waiting for me to try and help my girlfriend out. My father cracked in laughter when reassuming his walk and my mother reprehended him behind. Alex rolled over her right-side lifting weight from her left hand. Fine red threads drifted with the river´s course.

“Are you all right?” asked my mother when seeing it. My father stopped laughing, I got closer to the shore to try and get her up.

“I´m all right, don´t worry. It´s just, someone left a piece of glass down here” she answered picking it up with her right hand from between the rocks and lifting her left hand outtotally out of the water.

“Did you get cut?” asked Susan.

“I did…the glass seemed small but it must have entered a bit too much ´cuz it´s bleeding a lot” said Alex. Taking my hand to get to the shore I saw the cut on her other hand. She was right it seemed deep but not something to be too worried about.

“I´m sorry Alex, when I threw the keys I didn´t think you could fall” started my father.

“And I wouldn´t have laughed if I´d known about your cut…” Susan added.

“It´s all right, don´t worry, it´s no one’s fault. It was refreshing, actually” insisted Alex.

We had crossed the other side of the river and my father proposed to walk ahead and search for an aid kit he used to keep at the car. By the time we arrived he had got it out and had left the doors opened for us to keep our stuff inside. My mother asked Alex to sit by the co-pilots seat as she started to tend her cut.  “I promise I´ll try to be as gentle as possible” said my mother.  Alex only nodded, she sited and I tried to be around without being too intrusive. I could tell she started to get nervous, her jaw was tense, my mother took out a bottle of alcohol, cotton, gauze, thread and needle. I squeezed her shoulder the entire process trying to distract her and reassure her that everything was fine. She seemed to relax a bit better than when she had the accident at school. She fixed her sight at things that were nearby and they appeared to be interesting for her. If that was what she needed to get distracted, I thought it was perfect. When my mother finished, we checked to have everything we brought to be in the car before leaving. On our way home, my mother and sister fell asleep, and I have the feeling that I´ll follow them very soon. Alex was by myside and seemed to have forgotten about the previous pain in her hand. She was hugging me and I´d changed my position so I could rest my head against her neck.

“Hey. Are you tired?” I faced her and chuckled a bit before resting my head again.

“Yes. I think it was too much for me. I´m not used to exercise so often like you do.” She caressed my head and then gave it a kiss at the forehead.

“Then sleep. I´ll wake you when we reach your parent´s house.”