Best Friends, Remember?

The dust in the air

“We should probably go back. You see those clouds?” warned Jared; “come on, Genevieve. You too, buddy!” commended amused Jared to Jack.

Indeed. There were massive, dark clouds coming towards Hambleton Hill. The wind hasn’t become weaker since the situation from half an hour ago. Leaves were shaking on trees and Jared and Genevieve could hear a creepy whistle – wind was discreetly letting people know, that’s not the best time to go outside…

“I guess, we’ll have a storm tonight. Not good…”

“I don’t mind storms as far as I am at home” confessed Jared.

“True. Then me neither. I don’t actually have a disliked weather element or temperature. Only being comfortable with that counts. You know what

I mean? I don’t mind a rain if I have a proper clothing on. Or I can go for

a walk or do something outside, as far as the temperature doesn’t fry people alive”

Jared laughed.

“But you know what I mean?”

“Sure” responded Jared; “same, mate” he added.

They walked closer to the fence. That made Jared want to repair it as well later on. As a bonus for Stan. Wherever he is coming back…

“Shall we let Jack in?” asked Genevieve, seeing Jack climbing up the stairs to the porch.

“I think so. The weather is awful” responded Jared.

“I know, but… I mean, Stan won’t be mad, will he?”

“Can you imagine Stan NOT helping someone? I don’t thinks so” he shook his head.

“I guess, you’re right… Come on, come on!” she cheered to the dog and ran up the stairs with him. Jared joined them with a great deal of enthusiasm too. They went inside and switched on the light.

“Wow…” sighed Genevieve and looked around.

“What?” asked Jared.

“We did a great job, didn’t we? I mean…” she faded; “look, it’s almost shining. We did it. We cleaned Hambleton Hill up!” and they gave each other a high five. Jack barked happily, like admitting they’ve done a good thing.

“I only wish, we hadn’t spent the whole day on it” confessed Jared.

“Yeah, but it was kinda worth it, as far as we don’t know what to do” responded Genevieve; “I’ll draw some tea. Would you like some?”

“Yeah, sure”

Genevieve was preparing some black tea in the kitchen, while Jared was playing with Jack in the living room. She set the kettle, so after two minutes passed, it started to whistle characteristically.

“How much sugar shall I put?” asked Genevieve.

“Two spoons” responded Jared from the living room.

“Got it”

“I can’t make do without something sweet in my meal. I have always had sweet tooth” he giggled; “when I was younger, I would eat a whole pie. Actually… once I even did. My aunt baked a cherry pie and I ate it all by myself. My face was all covered with cherries, my clothes and hands as well. However, it didn’t look well. It looked like I did something bad… My aunt caught me afterwards, but when the pie was already gone. She was like: “JD, what have you done?!” I really scared her to death. Luckily, she calmed self down, when she saw an empty tray…” he laughed.

“Oh, my. What a story. She called you JD?”

“Yes. Everyone did” he responded.

“Everyone?” asked Genevieve, while carrying two cups of sugared, black tea. She passed Jared his tea and he thanked.

“Yeah – my family. Mum, dad, aunt, uncle and…” he stopped.

“What’s wrong?” worried Genevieve, sitting on the floor, opposite Jared.

“Nah… I just… avoid the topic of my family” and drank a sip of hot tea.

“Let me guess – it’s complicated?”

“More – it’s sick” he responded with irony.

“Okay, never mind. I don’t want to be nosy”

“Good…” responded Jared, rose his left wolf eyebrow up and sipped some of his tea. That looked like he wanted to be… flirty? This thought ran through Genevieve’s mind and she liked that a lot.

They both leant their heads against the furniture they were sitting in front of and after a minute of calm and not awkward silence, Jared surprised Genevieve with a super random question:

“You’re in high school, right? How old are you?”

“I’m eighteen. How about you?” she asked too.

“Twenty-one” responded Jared; “how is in your school like?” he continued asking.

“It’s okay, I guess. The teachers are good, the classrooms are clean… Well, if I’m being honest – food sucks, but I always have some snack with me. Hey, you know what? I think, I actually have something with myself right now. Hang on…” she reached her backpack from the upstairs and immediately sat opposite Jared again; “Whoa, I don’t recall buying this… “she said looking at Secret chocolate bar”;Am I mad or I bought another one? Oh, well… Maybe I am mad” she giggled cutely; “Wait…” she panicked; “where the hell are my books and notebooks? I had my pencil case in here, headphones… Oh, great!” she disappointed”

“Crap… maybe you left them on the bus?”

“Gosh, I don’t remember. All I remember is, that I had my books at school and headphones on my neck when I met Stan. And when I entered the Mist Hill they just… disappeared!” She sighed heavily and passed the chocolate to Jared; “Sorry, I’m just disappointed”

“That’s okay, s**t happens. Here you go” he broke the sweet in half and passed Genevieve one part.

“Thanks” she responded smiling.

They enjoyed the chocolate very much. It was a classical, milky chocolate with crumbled nougats in it. While eating, they also continued talking about Kingston High. Genevieve has told Jared about her classmates, teachers, Rebecca and finally – her friend’s boyfriend…

“Rebecca and Liam have been dating for a long time. At first I didn’t feel jealous – more, I was super happy for Rebecca, because she had found someone that took care of her and spent time with her, when I was absent. And Liam is great, but not my type – to be clear. Anyway, after months passed I realised, that I’ve become bit envious, but never showed it to Rebecca. That would kill both of us. After losing my parents, my home and contact with Giselle, I’m not ready to lose my friend as well. But I just realised, that despite of how many people surround me at school… I’m truly speaking… alone…”

She lowered her head and shed little bit of tears.

“Oh, Genevieve…” worried Jared.

“Sorry” she said, wiping her tears down; “that’s so pathetic that I cry, isn’t it?”

“No, of course it’s not, how can you say that?” calmed her Jared; “That’s not your fault. You know – the thing that happened to your parents”

“I guess, you’re right”

“You see? Really, don’t blame yourself of anything, because it’s not up to you”

He saw, that sadness didn’t disappear from her face, so he came closer

a bit shyly and gave her a warm hug.

“Come here”

They were hugging a long moment, so Genevieve felt better. She cuddled up with Jared and could feel the smell of his denim jacket. It smelt like wind, leaves and ground. But she also smelt some metallic hint. She put her hand on his nape and smoothly went further to reach his curly, brown hair. Jared happened to discreetly smell her hair too. Their hearts started beating faster and they seemed to have common rhythm.

Jared and Genevieve slowly straightened again with tender smiles on their faces. Their eyes sparkled magically. Jared decided to finally say something:

“You know… we are stuck with each other… in a foreign place… and we happen to have only each other at this point, so… why don’t we be best friends?” he asked shyly, because he didn’t know what to expect from Genevieve to say.

“I’d love to be your best friend” she said touched. Jared came closer and put his little finger towards her. She did the same and they held each other in a promise gesture, still not stopping smiling.

“From no one, we’ll take care of each other and no one can tell us what we can be” said ceremonially Jared.

Genevieve nodded her head in agreement.

“We’re the partners in misery”

Genevieve laughed because of these words, so did Jared.

“I could not capture our situation better” she admitted jokingly.

“You know…” Jared took a bite of his part of chocolate; “because of lack of food in Stan’s fridge – which still shocks me a bit – we are totally out of it” he said with a bit more serious face than before; “So I suggest we should go to town and buy something. What do you say?”

“I think it’s a good idea. Where’s the nearest town?”

“Let me see…” Jared reached his bag and started to seek for something. He put out a map and pointed a single spot by his finger; “This is Mist, this is where we are. And the nearest town is… five miles away… Well, he could carry home anywhere else, but he did it at a place, where no one ever goes, that’s clever. I mean, if he wanted that. If that was his choice…”

“I deeply hope, that they have some amenities. I desperately need to buy us toothbrushes, a shampoo, some clothes apparently…”

“Us?”

“Yeah, we stick together, remember?” astonished Genevieve.

“Yeah, but… it sounds so nice… I haven’t stuck to anyone for a while, believe me”

“Well, there are some thing that are about to change” she cheered him up and they both stood up.

It was getting late, so they decided to go to sleep early – they were about to go to town the next day.

Accompanying each other, they laid down across each other on the same bed as the night before.

This time, Jared’s thought didn’t focus on dark images from his past. Tonight, his head was full with Genevieve. Her dark eyes, he was looking deeply into. Her hair, which hung funnily on her arms. Her lips – full and rose. Her wide smile when he tried to cheer her up and adorable laugh when they were enjoying themselves. When he was holding her today, lying on her on the ground, after her brave act of saving Jack, he felt something crazy in his stomach. And also something warm in his heart. From that moment, all that mattered for him was to protect Genevieve. To make her stay safe as long as he could. More, he didn’t want to leave her alone. He always wanted her to be his company.

Jared, lying across her in the same bed, didn’t feel weird, but it was something unusual to experience, as far as he had another perspective to watch from. Genevieve was his priority in life.

He knew it. He felt it.

He fell in love.

“Jared… Jared… Jared…”

Genevieve couldn’t get him out of her head. No. She didn’t want to. She was constantly thinking of him. How he was holding her in his arms in the face of danger. She will never forget his sight, this frightened and then suddenly chilled sight. She could feel his breath on her face. It seemed that they were breathing to the same rhythm. That they were breathing only for each other.

She knew it. She felt it.

She fell in love.

The night passed in an unexpected calm. Jared and Genevieve finally could sleep. When they woke up the new day seemed to be just great. Their plan was to visit the town and pursue something to run a normal life, until things go straight again.

“Good morning” said Genevieve to Jared with a smile on her face.

“Morning” he responded, also smiling.

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah, sure. Let me just find my cap. I’m sure I left it somewhere here…” said Jared and started to look around to find his denim cap.

“Here it is” said Genevieve passing it to Jared; “I dusted it. Don’t worry, it’s still your denim cap” she laughed.

“Oh, thanks” answered Jared; “that’s really nice of you”

“Felt necessary, we should take care of each other. We’re best friends, right?”

“Sure thing” he winked to her.

They both understood being best friends as an opportunity to stick close all the time, help each other and to be a huge support, whenever it’s possible. The only thing that felt uncomfortable for them was: if they ever wanted to move forwards, they couldn’t be friendzoned.

Jared put his cap on with a silly smile on his face. He noticed that Jack has slept then, so didn’t disturb him. They went outside and left the house.

The way to the town was very long, when it comes to walking on foot. It was a very cold October Wednesday, so it wasn’t so pleasant to walk around a foreign place, while shaking from freeze. But the thing that cheered Genevieve and Jared up was that they were having a very energetic conversation. They felt comfortable with each other and didn’t have to make themselves to start

a new topic. It came straight away. Topic by topic.

The sky was in gloomy shades of grey. Even it was around ten o’clock it became dark. Stronger wind has blown and then Jared said something:

“I think, it’s about to rain”

“I guess, you’re right” responded Genevieve; “I only hope that we’ll be under some roof in some warm place”

Jared nodded in agreement.

After forty minutes of walking some buildings eventually started to appear at the horizon. They weren’t as tall as these in London. But they were quite neat, maybe not as much as in London though. The walls weren’t scribbled by graffiti – some old posters from sixties and seventies were hanging there instead.

Streets weren’t crowded at all. It seemed that they found a ghost town. Only couple of people were sitting inside some shops – and they were the assistants. Genevieve and Jared thought that people were probably afraid of the upcoming rain. No wonder why – clouds were hanging on the sky and watching the earth suspiciously. Jared looked towards the sky and realised there was no much time left for them to stay dry outside.

“Let’s hurry up, Genevieve or we’re gonna get wet”

“Right”

They went into the first building they had seen. It turned out it was clothes shop. Luckily for them, as far as they had only clothes there were wearing then with themselves. They entered the shop quickly with a bell ring. As soon as they had done so, it started to rain. They breathed with a deep relief and also with worry.

The shop assistant spotted new customers and greeted them. Jared and Genevieve said hello politely as well.

“Now, let us seek something to wear” suggested Jared.

Genevieve was thinking about something and responded to Jared:

“Or maybe you’ll chose something for me too and I will buy needed things from the chemist’s? Then I’ll come back, pay for stuff you’ll pick and we’ll go to the grocery together. How is that?”

“It’s actually a good idea” admitted Jared; “but still – I don’t want you to freeze out there. It’s cold and it’s raining, Genevieve. Here, take my jacket” offered Jared and took it off his back.

“No, no, you’ll be cold too” protested Genevieve.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be here” he insisted with a delicate smile on his face. And that smile convinced her eventually. He put it on Genevieve with care.

“Okay, I’ll be soon as possible” she said and rapidly ran out of the shop. Jared watched her receding behind the glass, which was all covered with raindrops.

The shop assistant smiled at Jared, so did he.

“What a nice girl, isn’t she?” said the assistant.

“Yes, indeed” responded Jared.

“My name is Ed. What are you looking for, sir?”

Ed, a nice shop assistant, was Jared’s and Genevieve’s peer. He was a tall, handsome and very kind African-American. He was wearing a red, checked shirt which was put on a white, plain t-shirt and some old jeans.

“Hello, I’m Jared. Um… I need something simple and comfortable for me and my friend” he answered.

“Sure. For your friend, you say? I thought you two were a couple” he said turning to the some shelf and put out a pack of crisps.

“No, we’re not” he said; “unfortunately…” he added and panicked;

“I should’ve bite my tongue” he thought.

Ed made a surprised, but also an amused face, and treated Jared with his Doritos Guacamole. Jared took some and thanked.

“Now, let me see…”

Ed went closer to some chests of drawers and showed their content to Jared.

“This is the male section. And here…” he moved freely to another room; “you have the female section, for your friend”

“Thanks” responded Jared.

“Make yourself at home, Jared. I’ll be at the cash desk”

“Thanks again” said Jared and began to look around the shelves.

“What can I possibly get for a girl?” he whispered to himself in desperation.

After he quickly took three plain t-shirt for himself (grey, black and white) he finally started to look for something for Genevieve. Jared found some modest and neat t-shirts as well. However, he wanted to buy something else. Something extraordinary and unexpected, that will surprise her. That was quite a big challenge for him – he didn’t want to mess up. He literally struggled to find “something perfect for a perfect girl” as he called it in his mind. And he found. On the hang in a nearby wardrobe, there was

a beautiful, long-sleeved, navy blue dress. It had a collar, with a white lace. The sleeved were laced too. But the most fantastic thing about that dress was that it was all covered with silver, shining zirconias. It literally swept Jared of his feet. He stared at the dress for

a minute, then Ed spotted him.

“This one, huh? A good choice”

“Yeah, it’s lovely, but…” he checked the price; “I’m afraid I can’t afford it” he explained sadly. He’s wallet was full with an amount of twenty dollars.

“Is this for the girl?” asked Ed.

“Genevieve. Yes, why?”

Ed looked at Jared, thinking about something.

“I just… noticed how you look at her. You can’t hide it, you know it, right?”

Jared’s heart started beating faster.

“Wow… it’s that so obvious I have crush on her?”

“But don’t worry, dude, I won’t tell. I can be your winger if you want”

“Um… okay?…” said Jared confused.

“So, as your new advice giver, I really recommend taking this dress”

“But it’s too mu-”

“For free, for God’s sake! Can’t you see I’m trying to help you, dude?” said Ed jokingly.

Jared rose his eyebrows in surprise and then slowly and delicately smiled to Ed, but still not sure about this idea.

“Are you sure? I mean, it’s kind of you, but I will feel bad anyway”

“You shouldn’t. It’s a gift” insisted Ed. Jared looked at him with appreciation.

“Thanks, man, means a lot” he said, hugging him.

Ed took the dress from the hang and put it into a cardboard box.

“Where do you want me to put it, Jared?” he asked.

“I’m not quite sure. If Genevieve sees this there will be no surprise. But

I don’t have enough space in my bag to take it with myself” he complained.

“I have an idea. I’ll keep it for you in here, and whenever you need it, you’ll come and get it” proposed Ed.

“Okay, great. Thanks, Ed”

“No problem. Oh! She’s coming!”

Jared turned his head to see the glass door. He saw Genevieve trying pull the handle, but she couldn’t. She was full with paper bags in her arms, her hair and clothes – including denim jacket borrowed from Jared – were all wet. Jared rapidly ran to the door to help her. He opened it and Genevieve went inside the shop.

“Thanks” she said sighing.

As soon as Jared had closed the door behind Genevieve’s back, a blinding lighting appeared on the sky and a powerful thunder stroke.

“Harsh weather, isn’t it?” laughed Ed.

“Oh, yes. It is” Genevieve laughed too; “Hi, I’m Genevieve” she introduced herself.

“Ed” he responded and they shook hands friendly.

Genevieve turned to Jared with smile on her face:

“I bought us toothbrushes, soap and a shampoo. They only had one type. But that doesn’t really matter… Anyway, I bought some food as well. Bread, tomatoes, cheese, milk and eggs. Oh, and some tea for the cold autumn evenings” she said smiling warmly. Jared’s heart happened to melt because of that; “I spent everything I had on it. I’m sorry. I’ll pay for myself, I sw…”

“No, no, that’s okay. You bought us food, I will buy us clothes. No big deal”

“I’m not convinced about that…” she said; “I will feel bad”

Ed smiled to himself unnoticeable, because he heard almost the same thing from Jared couple of minutes ago.

“How long do you guys stay?’ asked Ed changing the topic. He didn’t want to make his customers feel awkward any more; “I suppose you are not from here, are ya?”

“No, we’re not” responded Jared.

“I’m not sure how long we are staying here, Ed” informed him Genevieve.

“Oh, you don’t like it in here?” asked worried Ed.

“It’s nothing personal” assured him Jared.

“It’s a long story” added Genevieve.

Ed nodded.

“But I do feel bit weird in here, you know?” confessed Jared.

“Yeah, me too. I don’t know what that is, but it’s like… Very old-fashioned? I don’t know…”

“No, it’s normal, don’t worry” Ed tried to calm them down; “I have lived in Foggy Corner since I was a child. And I have never noticed anything changing”

“This place is called Foggy Corner? We’re in Foggy Corner?” asked Genevieve.

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, it’s just… Mist…, Foggy Corner… Good one”

Genevieve switched the topic again.

“Okay, Jared, have you found something nice?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure. Here you go;” he passed Genevieve three colourful t-shirts. The first one was black and long-sleeved, the second one had short sleeves and orange and blue stripes, and the last one was olive.

“Oh, great choice. Thanks, Jared” she replied. He smiled and said that it was no problem. Jared looked discreetly at Ed, he did the same. They thought about that surprise-dress for Genevieve, waiting in the box under the counter.

Jared paid for the clothes, so Ed packed them in a new box.

“Now, we’re out of money” worried Jared said quietly to Genevieve; “what are we gonna do?”

It turned out, that Ed heard it anyway and asked:

 “Do you, guys, want a part-time job?”