Troubled

FORTY SIX

KYLE GARCIA

With Ray I always knew what to expect, I know he is going to try and be the adult in every situation. He was the voice of reasoning, stick by the rules kind of guy. Statue of morality, parents saw his face and the first thing they see is a trust worthy person. He had nothing more than those, he was mostly quiet, giving his observation after monitoring all the activities. He held us down mostly, even if he smoked as well, he knew when to stop. He is matured after all.

Dawson is the most predictable person ever. He is the classic always get in trouble guy. Ironically he is the son of the chief of police. He was actively looking for where trouble laid, when he saw it, he took it by the bull. He was the one that got into trouble everywhere we went, no voice of reasoning when it came to him. He was the one that made our trio the most lively. Sometimes his idea of fun was a little too much, other times, it was appropriate. The two of them balanced each other out just fine.

I was so used to predictability that each time Cora did something, or said anything, I was thrown off guard. But I liked that about her. She was unpredictably predictable. You can predict she's not going to act in the certain way that you think she's going to act, she won't be giving you that satisfaction.

When she tells me to run away from her, I'm honestly floored. I don't know what to say to her, I don't think anyone would know what to say after they have been told to run far away from them.

I would like to think she knew I was not going to run. Or else, she doesn't even know me at all.

"The girl is frightened.. she had somehow killed her pet rabbit she loved with the whole of her heart. And by accident, she killed it. She is scared of what she has done, she knows what she had done, she knows her pet rabbit was never coming back and it's too much emotion for such a small child." I say as I look at the sheet of paper in my hand. I felt the girl's sadness, and fear at the same time.

"So I did good then?" Her voice was surprisingly shaky.

I raise my eyes to scan her face, it struck me that is the girl in the drawing. She is the girl she drew. She drew something that happened to her. Was this why she said to run from her?

I give her a broad smile. I couldn't even fake a smile around her. It was all genuine.

"I did feel her emotions. If that was what you were going for, I give you an A."

Her eyes look relieved.

"I really did put in a lot of effort, I deserve the A."

I chuckle. The sun was blistering hot, I was starting to sweat. She was too, her hair was starting to stick to her forehead.

"I have a really crazy idea." I tell her as soon the idea formed in my head.

"I don't know if I want to hear it."

"You can think of it as your reward for making this drawing."

"Do you think I'm going to like it?"

"Oh you will love it."

"I don't like the gleam in your eyes, but let me hear it."

I chuckle lightly. The girl always kept me guessing her next move.

"Ok, do you want to skip Miss Suzie today?"

Her eyes held a flicker of surprise.

"Only you would think of missing sessions as rewards."

I roll my eyes teasingly.

"Oh don't give me that, you know as much as I do that she just screws with your head, she doesn't go in it, she won't do us any good. Skipping it won't hurt a soul."

"Even if she's a quack, she will make us pay for it somehow."

I laugh at the way she said quack, like she really believes Miss Suzie was nothing more than a quack.

"Whatever punishment she has in store for us, the entire day will be worth it."

"Are you kidding? An entire day with you, worth it??"

I laugh at that so hard. The girl has jokes.

"An entire day with me Cora, you will absolutely love it, you are already loving it right now. Besides, you will have so much fun."

"You're not really convincing me."

I groan.

"Think of all the possibilities. Think about everything we can do in this one day."

"I'm pretty sure we can do them on other days as well."

I groan and look away from her, she had the perfect rebuttal for everything didn't she?

"You had me at ditching Miss Suzie from the start. I can't believe you gave up trying to convince me so soon." She says while reaching for a can of soda.

My mouth drop open in shock. The girl was so calculating, sharp and precise. She knows what she wants, and knows just how to get a reaction from me.

"You're crazy."

"What can I say? I went crazy with the world."

I cannot stop the laugh that tumbles out of my lips. She was using my words against me.

"Ok then, get ready to have the best day of your life, it's going to be fun filled, and will definitely go down in history."

"I hope you won't disappoint. Men are usually all talk." Her tone is so bored that I laugh. I know she's excited, her eyes tell me everything she doesn't want her face to tell me. So I know what is coming out of her mouth is tad different from what's she's really feeling.

"Have you ever felt the wind in your hair?" I ask her.

"No, but I know when to get out the sun." She starts to pack up.

The sun was scorching by this time. It felt like it was coming down on us. I was not feeling it through the thin shirt I wore. But it was obvious she was cooking in her hoodie.

"Hey wait up." I say as I follow behind her.

She pulled her hoodie down while using her sleeves to clean the sweat.

"I'll turn on the air con as soon as you get inside."

"I have an idea of what I want to do today."

When I turn to look at her face, she had a gleam in her eye that had me gulping.