Reflected

Chapter 1.0

Words echoing around me as I stared blankly into the fading images of trees. The sun colors the sky blue as it reflects onto the metal of the bus. I raise my hand, feeling the warmth of the sun against my deep olive-tanned skin. I shiver as I felt eyes on me. I turn my head as I catch a set of familiar eyes that met my own.

Keith's deep chocolate brown eyes locked onto my own as if it was a lock, as I fell into a trance. Was my feelings not clear enough? I thought to myself as I turn my head away from the boy I knew nothing would come from. A deep quiet rest within me despite knowing most of the surrounding faces. What could I say to the people who were around me? Help, I am drowning within my own family by taking care of my nephew? Would there be anyone who understood?

Being in middle school was never the bad part, I thought to myself with a sigh as the bus came to a halt in front of my bus stop that stood at the top of the hill, from the left of my home. I slung my bag over my shoulders as I got in front of the boy I have recognize over time getting on and off the bus with me, not that I knew his name.

"Alyson!" a voice shouts as I felt my face rush with an unseen warmth. The strong smell of glue engulfing the area as the doors shut behind me. I look over at my seven-year-old little sister Zoe, with eyes telling her to be quiet. Zoe's smile brightens despite my warning as I walk down the hill and stop in the middle of my driveway as I see an unfamiliar person. "Who?" I question as I look at my sister for answers.

"Alys, I would like to introduce to you my friend Melody or Mel, for short," Zoe says with a big smile as her long chestnut-colored hair remains a contrast to my medium dark brown hair, with her eyes glimmering like an emerald with excitement. I nod my head with a smile that felt like armor similar to makeup.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you" I greet as I hear the sound of a creek of a door to turn my head to see my two-year-old nephew Brantley, his bright blonde hair blue-eyed nephew that was a huge contrast to our Filipino background, as his small standing on the concrete porch.

"Go inside" Zoe said as she walks over, climbing up the steps helping Brantley into the house. Zoe closes the door behind her as she turns back to Melody and I who were several feet a way with a smile. Zoe runs towards us "Sorry, you know Brantley"

"So how long have you known Zoe?" I turn looking at Mel who stood next to the boy I normally get off the bus with

"About half the school year, by the way this is my older brother Daniel" She gestures to her older brother and, in the process moving her long rope-like braids out of the way of her arm.

"Nice to actually put a name to a face, but you might have to tell me again later," I joke, despite being serious about my memory skills. "Anyways, how old are you and your brother?"

"So I'm nine in third grade while my brother here is twelve and in sixth grade," Melody answers

"Oh wow, so Daniel is the same age as Alys" Zoe looks between me and Daneil

"Yea, but he's a grade level above me" I look at Zoe, who already knew why "Tho I guess you and Mel met at the bus stop?"

"We did" Zoe as her way of talking came out sounding older than she currently was.

"Yea, your sister wanted to show me her giant pink eraser" Mel says as a laugh escaped her lips

"That erases all the mistakes?" I joke with her laughing as well.

"Mel" Daneil says gaining everyone's attention despite his quite voice "We gotta go"

"Okay" Mel says as she shoos him to go ahead and turns back to us "I'll try to see if I can come back tomorrow and stay later" as she waves to us following her brother down the hill.