Chapter 9

I'm a working girl now, I finally got the job at May's Eat. This place is one of the popular hang out spots for the youth, more so local diners in BolardSweet Valley. This town is a small and sleepy town yet is still able to maintain, its natural beauty with the attractive site of the swimming hole in the local main river, that most teens hang out.

There are quite a number of hang out spots and diners, but at where I now work, it's popular with its touch of soulfood, rustic interior and good custormer service. In this town, it seems to awaken or be alight during the weekends. Bands come out to play,  parties are hosted, the youth takes reign of the town.

I know that choosing this place to work part time, wasn't really my first choice because of its popularity to my schoolmates. I had enough with seeing them at school but now, I would have to face them again and this time, I had no choice but to serve and attend to them, no matter who it was.

I kept reminding myself that I needed this job and I couldn't afford to lose it. I had also thought of maybe getting a second job, maybe at the library, but it's still a thought I need to go over.

Mrs May seemed to understand that I still have school and that I would work extra hard on the weekends, making up for the rest of the week.

I had let mom know about my whereabouts and that I had finally gotten the job. At first, she'd thought it to be unnecessary for me to work part time, especially during my senior year but I ended up convincing her, that I could handle it. I needed something to do apart from school, mostly to keep me busy.

Having had a day like I did today at school, I surely needed something to distract me and not make me, think much about it. I cant believe that Reece and I were in that stall, listening to some girls gossip about him and Colton.

It felt awkward and much more suffocated, with the whole situation. Ofcourse, their thinking was cheap and typical thinking, coming from girls who want the hot, popular guys just for the sake of reputation and for people. I dont care about all that, because being with someone for me, should be something to do with mutual feelings, sharing something that surpasses looks and status.

But that's just my thinking and I'll live by it. Not that I'm an expert when it comes to love and all things romance, but to me, the person's intention and nature, plays a big part to any relationship.

So having to listen to those girls, made me quite uncomfortable. Reece just made it worse. How could he sneak into the girls bathroom like that, resulting in us hiding like two thieves.

I dont understand why he keeps on insisting to being a part of my life, we had said goodbye 2 years ago. Why try open a door meant to be closed, I dont understand him or his intentions.

What happened today is something I wish to never happn again. I never want to find myself in such a situation. Not to mention how attention had fallen upon me when both Colton and Reece had attended to me.

I dont know why I seem to find myself in a situation that involves both Reece and Colton. It's outright weird and has me earning alot of attention at school, something I've always ran from, since I was little girl.

More so, two years ago.

My first day, I can say, wasn't that bad. Well, if we look past a couple of mixed up orders due to the nerves and ofcourse, having to mop a kid's puke because he didn't like what he had.  a first day and it hasn't been that bad. It wasn't long though, that I got a hang of it and now , I have just knocked off work.

One highlight that has stuck with me, throughout my walk home, is a certain custormer, a lady with her two year old baby girl. Such a beautiful little girl that was, she surely struck something in me with her gaze and her eyes, gosh her eyes.

Her eyes, I could have sworn were similar to mine, there was something about staring into her eyes that felt familiar. Something in me melted when I looked at her.

And now I am thinking about her.

I am now thinking about the baby I carried for all those months, the baby I gave birth to, my baby.

No, no....This is an error, these invading memories are and right now, I just want these thoughts gone.

My footsteps suddenly quicken, the distance between me and my house closing as I draw near. I dont know when I reach home but when I do, memories weigh heavy in mind when I get to my room. I do something that I thought I would never do again, take something in which I'd hidden and brought to light once again.

It's a white shoebox, that I'd kept safetly tucked under my bed, not wanting memories I'd placed behind to stare me in the face everyday, in the past two years. My throat tightens as something presses on my chest as I take a seat, on the floor, my back leaned against the bed. With shaky hands I reach into the box, digging out one of the pictures in it.

I realize too late what I'd done, just by looking at the sonogram picture, my hand had a mind of its own and had touched my stomach.

" No, no...." I murmur, dropping the picture on the floor.

I shouldn't be doing this. She's not my baby, she's not my baby anymore.

At the feeling of tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, I quickly put the picture back and close the box, not wanting to see it again.

I made a mistake by digging it out. I made a big mistake. I'm now thinking about her when I told myself - no, when I'd forbidden myself from thinking about her anymore. I'm now in the midst of feelings compressed, feelings meant to have gone away along with her.

But it's not true, not right now it isn't. At this very moment I keep on battling with so many what if's and maybe's.

No, everything that had been done was for our own good. It was more then anything best for hers.

' Then why dont you share the same feelings towards those words?' My consciousness says.

I'm just tired and letting myself drown into memory lane. I should just forget, just like I have for the past two years.

' You might try and forget, but for how long will you do this?....For how long will you deny yourself and say, it was best for you.

How can that decision be best, when a big part of you didn't want to let go of your baby?'

At the sound of those words, a tear trails down my cheek, something I wasn't quite aware of.

I close my eyes and lean my head back, murmuring a little prayer so I forget. I want to forget. I want to forget.

How can you forget when your heart cant?

My eyes pop open then.

" I cant forget."

A knock on the door snaps me out of my staring, out the window. It opens at the momentbI glance away from the window, in peeks my mom, her eyes tell me everything, that she'd come to check up on me.

" Skylar, you haven't come down yet. I was worried." She says, opening the door wider.

" I'm okay mom, was just thinking." I say, moving away from the window and heading on to take my bag and things, from the bed.

" What were you thinking so deeply about?" She asks curiously.

If I told you mom, you'd be upset.

" It's nothing important." I mumble, coming her way.

She stands in my way, blocking my view. She places her hands on my shoulders as her eyes scan me all over.

" Skylar -"

" Mom, I cant talk right now. I'll be late for school." I step away from her hold before getting out of my room.

I grab a granoila bar on the way out, not having an appetite for breakfast but having the need to get out of the house.

" Skylar!" I stop in my tracks, not because of my mom calling me but because of my friends, who are standing leaned against Mikayla's car, infront of my house.

" Skylar I-" I hear mom stop mid sentence, no doubt she's just spotted my friends.

" Hello Mrs Grey!" Lucia waves at my mom.

" Hello girls." She responds before I feel her hand on my shoulder.

I turn around to face her.

"Sweetheart, I dont like not knowing what's going on with you. Your friends are here now, but later, we will talk." She says, her eyes showing concern.

" Mom-"

" We will talk Skylar Grey, I mean it." She whisper yells, her tone stern.

I sigh, nodding in agreement but inside, I'm dreading this talk.

" Can I go now?"

She nods, taking a step back.

I turn around and head over to my friends.

" What you guys doing here?" I raise my brow.

" We came to fetch you duh." Lucia rolls her eyes at me.

" I could have taken the bus, like I always do and you, wouldn't have to trouble yourself by -"

" Skylar shut up and get in the car." Mikaylar says.

" Yes mam." I do a salute sign before getting in the back.

They enter the car and Mikayla drives us out of there.

" What do you guys feel like listening to?" Lucia asks, glancing between us.

" Anything, I'm not picky." Mikayla says.

" Sky?" Both glance at me, but I just shrug my shoulders, looking out the window.

Music soon comes on and I let it usher me, through the whole trip to school.

Last night shouldn't have happened, I should not have let all those thoughts and emotions get to me so deep, that I find myself surrending to them. Now look at me, I've let all from last night linger in mind.

This is all my fault, truly it is.

The car stopping knocks me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

" We're all going to tonights party right?" Lucia asks, making me tense abit.

Shoot, I forgot that Colton had asked me come to one of his friend's party tonight.

" Which one?" Mk asks.

" There's only one that the school has been buzzing about this week. And remember Colton will be there." Lucia says as she glances at me, sneaking a glance my way.

" Count me out." I say, making both to look at me now.

" Colton asked you to come didn't he?" Mikayla asks, quirking her brow.

" Yes he did, but I didn't give him a definite answer. Besides, I'll be working tonight."

Different expressions play on their faces, Lucia's being quite funny I must say.

" Oh yeah, you started working yesterday. Well this reminds me." Lucia says, grabbing her bag and digging into it.

I watch on curiously until she pulls out a medium sized box.

" We're sorry that we couldn't come by yesterday. And this is a little something for your first day at work."

" Guys, you didn't have to. But thank you." I say, recieving the gift and opening it.

I feel them watch me as I do. My heart warms when I see all the treats packed inside, along with a note that says Working Girl. I look up at them and offer a kind smile.

" So, tell us how your first day was?" Lucia says.

The smile slips off my face when I think about yesterday, that little girl and her mother, not to mention the after, where I had an inner battle with my thoughts and emotions.

" Skylar, are you okay?" This time Mk asks.

" Yeah. Um, my day was okay. I messed up a few times because of my nerves."

" That's understandabke, it was your first day." She says with a reassuring smile.

I nod, putting the key chain away.

" Charlie's here, I'll see you guys in class." Lucia says, taking her bag and getting out of the car.

I prepare to get out too, when Mk calls me.

" Are you sure you're okay?" She asks.

" Yeah, I didn't sleep well that's all."

" Nightmare?" More like uninviting memories.

" Something like that." I mumble." I'll go in so long." I mention, this time really getting out of the car.

" Wait for me!" She calls out, pulling me to a stop.

Mk and I walk into the school building, walking past Lucia and Charlie along the way. Lucia is seated on the hood of his car, her arms wrapped around his neck while he stands, between her legs, his back to her.

" So have you told Colton that you cant make it to the party tonight?" She asks as we head on to my locker.

" No, not yet. I didn't get a chance to yesterday, I was pretty tired after work."

" I cant believe you are a working girl now. "

" Yeah me too."

" I think I should also get myself a part time job." She says.

" Will you be able to juggle everything, especially with sport demanding your time?"

" I could try and see how it goes. But it's not something I'm considering now."

" Your parents huh?"

She sighs, nodding.

Mikayla's parents have always been a little hard on her, when it came to school and sports. There was no doubt that they wanted what's best for her, but sometimes, they could push just a little bit harder. Mikayla has told me that her mom has always wanted her to be more girly, to look towards Ballet or modelling. Mk didn't want either and settled for sports.

Her dad however, had no problem with her doing sports, infact he encouraged her. It's just that he pushed for her to get excellent results, that proved to be a little more pressure on Mk.

I worried about her but still encouraged her, reminding her at times to take it easy. She was only human.

" I just wish - " She stops mid sentence when she glances behind me.

" What?" I follow her gaze.

I see one of her vollyball teammates calling her. I gesture for her to go ahead and that we'll meet in class.  When she finally goes, I watch her for a bit but mistakenly glance elsewhere, where Reece is stood by the lockers, busy in conversatiom with a girl.

She's part of the cheerleading team and she's one of the hot ones. I shouldn't pay much attention to them because what they do is none of my business, but I cant help my gaze lingering on them, especially when Colton's words come to mind.

'Yeah..besides he always preferred blondes with blue eyes. That was who he was mostly attracted to and would talk about.' He's said.

The girl in whom Reece talks to, matches everything Colton had told me. It makes sense just by looking at them and that's why, I choose to turn away and dont glance their way again.

                         ******

I've always been a fan of piano music. That's why, the sound of a beautiful melody from the piano leads my feet towards the music room.

I see him there, Colton.

He is so lost in the music and I cant help but to watch him. Everything about him right now is such a sight to see, I find myself standing at the doorway, simply watching him.

I nearly close my eyes and let myself fall completely into the music, but he soon senses me watching, therefore glancing over his shoulder and meeting my eyes.

" Skylar." He simply breathes out, making my heart to jump.

I wave shyly at him.

" I was uh- passing by. Then I saw you and - That was beautiful." I finally let out, after embarassing myself so much with my rambling.

" Thanks." I shift on my heel awkwardly, looking around the room.

" Are you busy?"

" Right now?" He nods.

I shake my head.

" Good, then join me." He says with that same smile, he seems to always give me.

I nod, feeling quite nervous but entering anyway.

He shifts aside and creates space for me. I take a seat next to him, my own shy smile lifting on my face.

" I uh didn't know you played." I say, looking at the piano.

" Yeah well, I try."

" That was definetly more then trying, you're really good. You could even do your own piece, something created by you, your own piece.......That would be, wow. " I say, trailing my fingers on the piano.

I feel him watching me and I turn to him. " Sorry." My eyes drop to my lap." I spoke too much didn't I?"

He tilts my chin up and out and our eyes connect again.

" Actually, I like listening to you talk."

" And I like listening to you play." I admit, quickly breaking eye contact when I feel my cheeks getting warm.

I start pressing on keys, testing out the sounds when his hand covers mine, stopping me.

" What do you want me to play? "

" You want to play for me?" He nods.

" Like right now?" I ask, looking around as if someone will just pop in here.

He nods once again.

" Okay then, anything is fine with me." I shrug.

He looks at me for a moment before facing ahead, then he starts to play. From the first note, it captures a string of my heart, making me fall under the storytelling of his fingers.

Colton Davies is surely full of surprises.

By the works of his hands, he brings the music to life, in ways unheard of in my ears and I start letting my mind travel, to places unknown. I find myself so intune with the music that my eyes close on their own, my body disappearing to the awareness of my surroundings.

When the music stops, the song coming to an end, I feel a gaze on me, this surely bringing me back to the music room. My eyes pop open as I jump slightly, due to the sudden sound of hands clapping.

We glance at each other before we do to the door. The drama teacher Mrs Roselli enters, carrying a box in her arms.

Colton rises to his feet and goes on to help her.

" Thank you young man." She says.

Mrs Roselli is a beautiful woman who looks to be nearing, the early 40s. She has shoulder length, auburn hair, with rather pale skin and green eyes. She is a curvy medium height woman, who is admired for putting up really nice drama's and shows.

What I've learnt about her is that she really likes music and has a very beautiful voice.  She's only ever sang twice on one of the shows.

" I see that you two have made yourself comfortable in here." She says, glancing between Colton and me.

I quickly rise to my feet.

" We're sorry for being in here, we didn't mean -"

" Relax Miss Grey. I was simply teasing you."

I nod, though I'm beyond uncomfortable and find any moment, with a teacher alone, to be very awkward.

" Actually I'm the one who invited Skylar in here. " Colton speaks up.

" I see." Again, she glances between us, making me shift on my heel awakwardly.

" I should uh get going." I say, already taking a step back and wanting to get out of here.

" Mr Davies, stay behind for a minute." Mrs Roselli stops Colton as he is about to come with me.

" Stay Skylar." He suddenly says, him now being the one who stops me.

" I'll wait outside." I say, glancing between him and Mrs Roselli.

He nods, though his eyes disagree.

I walk out and decide to wait by the class, only to overhear their conversation.

" I never thought I'd see you play the piano again Mr Davies."

" Yeah me too. But dont worry, I was just messing around."

" And that same ' messing around' has impressed me. Not to mention your friend Miss Grey."

He doesn't say anything.

" I know that you were only playing for her just now, dont worry, your secrets safe with me." My cheeks suddenly feel warm.

Feeling like an intruder to their private conversation, more so embarassed by the teacher's extra attention to Colton and me, I push off the wall and walk away.

I dont get far in my escape when I see Reece coming my way, my feet faulter in their steps and I just remain frozen in place. The events of yesterday come into mind, us in that stall and him being so close to me.

He too takes notice and pulls to a stop, just a short distance from me.

We dont say anything but just look at each other, standing in the middle of the school hallway. I dont know the reason for us just standing here like this but we do, and we dont seem in a hurry or intention to move away.

" Skylar!" I blink at the sound of voice calling me.

And it's not Reece.

I glance behind me to see Colton, having come out of the classroom and has now found me. He pulls to a stop when his eyes move past me, glancing at Reece.

Something passes across his face, something expressed from within yet exposed outward and I dont know what it is.