Chapter 8: Chapter 8

I feel as though the memories are on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't narrate them out to myself. I glance at the window, looking out into the woods. The woods are clear from its usual fogs, making scenery a possibility and it's exquisitely looking with the sprinkles of the sumptuous sunny rays. I watch for minutes — five, I assume, but notices nothing. I didn't know I was expecting something that will never come. It was all my imaginations.

I turn to the bathroom's door, opening it, I hurriedly have a quick shower, dry my hair with a plain, emerald green towel, and brush my teeth. Getting in front of the mirror, I comb my hair, then, wear it into a bun, using an hair tie to hold it, firmly. The way I wear my hair brings out the silver gray colour of my eyes, exorbitantly. The few glitters of light entering the room only helps in adding more to my beauty as I'm in a purple, knit-made sweater, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and silver white cotton joggers. I slip into my flip-flops and walk out the room to the kitchen.

On the mosaic counter is Shade, packing baked fish into two porcelain plates, and a pack of sliced bread on another plate. I smile, approaching her to help out. I take the plate of bread from her.

"Now you are in a much better state. This is a good Rayne." She gives me a crook smile. She continues to lead the way to the living area.

"Sorry, I went out of league earlier. I'm myself now."

"Well—" She pauses, taking her seat with a slight grunt. She lays the plates on the black-tinted, glassy, center-table, and I do the same; placing the sliced bread on it. "At least you are okay now. That is all that matters."

"Was school canceled?" I change the topic after a minute. Shade is suppose to be at school... Oh, no. Don't say it is because of me — that can't be why she'd stay behind, right?

Shade doesn't answer right away. She takes her plate of baked fish, a fork, and picked two slice of bread from the plate. I watch her movement, waiting for answer, more importantly.

"No. Franklin wouldn't stop school even if there was an earthquake. If there is no classroom to savour us, I'm sure Franklin will find a way to make us come to school and learn on one of the fields." She turns the topic into a facetious matter. I frown at her, but she doesn't notice. She laughs more, and stop after a while. "That's how duteous our school can be."

"Didn't you hear the name 'Franklin'. It's all about being frank." She adds, more to her jocularity.

"Shade."

"Yep, sorry. School wasn't canceled. I didn't feel like going so, I stayed behind, and came to check on you when I notice the door was unlocked. Since you can't remember, I won't ask anything on it." She explains. Assuming I came home myself, it won't be possible that I would leave the door unlocked. I always lock the door for least security.

I pick a slice of bread to the plate, place it beside the grilled fish of mine, and eat it. Hm. This is some inviting food. My subconscious comments. I must agree with her.

"You are a great cook."

"Don't."

"Don't what?" I frown and squint.

"Anyways, do you have anything you are going to be doing for today?" Shade ask, changing the topic. I feel intrigue by the way she speaks.

"No, nothing. Do you?"

"Yeah." She drops her plate down onto the glassy table. "There's a night party tonight. It will be fun. I promise."

"Aren't they all fun and etched with promises, which ever has been been failing to the latter better?" I ask, daunting.

"Oh, those..." She trails off. "Oh, I promise, this will be interesting. Please, don't say no." Shade is actually begging me. Her hands clasped together.

"I want to visit mom at the hospital. You know, prepare her some food." I say, almost giving in earlier until this thought beams on me.

"Okay, we can. When do you want to visit her?"

"By night. Maybe eight?" I question instead. Shade goes thoughtful, not minding me. Her hands are on her jaw, her eyes are raised heavenwards. She snap her fingers at me out of the blue, and I make a playful, dumb expression.

"We will get away from the party earlier, by seven-thirty or before, then, we would take my car to her place." Shade explains her undeniable, beautiful plan.

"Why are you always so smart when trying to convince someone?"

"Some talents, maybe."

"Okay, let's do this. We are going to be preparing fried rice, there's chicken in the fridge, and fruit juice. That will help rejuvenate her from her hard works. I will also use that opportunity to know if mom knows anything about the incident."

"Sounds like a good plan." Shade agrees, picks up her plate, and eats. I giggle at her, finding it contagious, she joins me.

"Let's get wild, isn't that how it's said?" I ask, innocently

"Oh, yes. You drink?"

"A bit. If the place gets too crowdy, I might leave even without telling you." I warn.

"Okay, ma'am." Shade says, laughing. I brush her off, focusing back on eating.

Shade and I finish our breakfast faster, had a series of marathon watching of movies — season movies, included. Meanwhile, Shade falls asleep without me, knowing until she awakes, shuffling. Her sleepy figure doesn't look so bright as her active one.

We make laughs, occupying ourselves with discussion other than school talks, until we notice that five in the evening has clocked. We move to the kitchen to prepare mom's food.

Shade takes control of the rice, while I take control of the chicken, fried it. We eat some out of it, before packing the largest piece, abreast the fried rice into a iron flask to help in residing the heat till we get to mom's place of work.

I put the flask into a polythene nylon and pack it into the back seat of Shade's car since we are taking it. I should take my car instead since I haven't taken it out in a long time, but I don't want anything to happen it. Party and the commotions that accompany it. What if fights happens? I wouldn't want my car injured.

Shade goes back to her house to have a shower, and get dress, while I stay at my place to do the same, except showering, of course since I have just few hours earlier.

I change into a curvaceous, crimson red gown, stopping just above my knees. There's an open design of a star shape at the back, revealing my skin, but doesn't go down than my ribs' area.

I take Mom's ruby red heel shoes, and put it on. My golden bracelets from last year's Christmas, received from dad adjoined. I pack my darker, blonde hair to cascade down my back, before drawing all the strands to slide down my left shoulder, making me look seductive in some ways. I smile to myself. There is no way Mom wouldn't know that I went to a party, before coming to her place. She won't be annoyed at all, but she will surely ask about the sexual-protectiveness questions that always irks me.

Seeing myself beautiful enough, I walk back to the living room when after five minutes, the front door opens, and Shade enters. Wow. My head lights up, seeing her.

Her golden, caramel skin blends well with the golden, shining gown she is wearing, having a design made with beads at the chest area. The rims stops at her cleavage, as it is sleeveless like mine. Her gown opens at the back in a likewise design as mine, revealing more of her golden skin. I beam a smile of approval at her, definitely reaching my eyes.

She adds a copper, four inches heel shoe to her outfit, and a purse of light cream colour. She looks like a determined woman; confident, beautiful, have guys-falling-at-her-knees, guys-yanking-out-their-hearts-just-for-her kind of girl. She's damn beautiful.

"How do I look?"

"Ravishing." I state in the one word that comes to my mind, the moment she asked me. I look down at my dress.

"How do I look?"

"You are standing awkwardly."

Unlike Shade who knows how to lift her legs in alliance with the heels, I'm a contrary.

"It's the heels. I can't really move it."

"Oh, don't worry, you will when you start to walk. Just walk next me in case anything funny happens." She says, checking out my outfit.

"Oh, thanks." I break into small fits of laughter, as my feet vibrates, occasionally losing equilibrium.

"You aren't using makeups." Shade sounds like she's asking me a question instead. "You are very beautiful, Rayne, but you'll need some makeup still — some light mascara to bring out more lashes to lessen your big eyes." She says, checking me out.

"Why aren't you a makeup artist?"

"I might be, but I prefer art — painting, and drawing is my everything for now. I have a couple of works, you might wanna check out. They are beautiful."

"I trust you to make a perfect job."

"Let's put that aside, but intensify your beauty, pronto."

Shade leads me back to my bedroom. She position me in front of the mirror, and stand behind me to check me out before she starts to pick out items from her purse. Oh, now you know it's function.

"Is that all what you put in there?"

"Mostly. There are other items like money, passports, cards and some more."

She continues with her work. In twenty minutes more, we are ready to go.

The drive to the party is mostly shared in silence, none of us, talking much, expect when we see things amusing, or drool-worthy on the roads while we pass by.

Within minutes more we get to the community where Shade informs that the party would be taking place. It's dead silent when we enter the area, causing my heart to spike up an abnormal beat. There's no light from the houses on either sides of the street, except the street light as usual to situations like this.

"Shade—" I begin my complaint, but she stops the words within my throat.

"We are okay, Rayne. We live in a small town." Is she making me recall that? "There's a Franklin community area, made by the students. Something like a frat house, but a community instead." She explains, making me calm from the fear, creeping up on me. She wouldn't hurt me.

As Shade had informed me, when we drive inside increasingly, we come across the booming sound of the fast music from afar, directing to a main house.

Getting closer to the place, the music becomes lucid that Shade sings after it. I stay silent, watching the big, clubby house where the party is taking place, before we park at the lots. We get down, and Shade takes my hand. I blink up at her.

"I don't want you lost."

"Thanks, Miss possessive." I tell her, smiling. Shade snicker.

We enter the room, and I'm first being blinded by the ball-shaped, rotating lights, emerging different colours. I use my free hand to face-palm, covering myself from the punishment-causing light. Shade laughs beside me.

She looks around like the light is nothing affecting to her. Her eyes are wide, wandering.

"What are you looking for?"

"Who." She corrects. "Mia, oh, there she is." Her mode brightens, pulling me with her to where Mia is. I'm astound, my legs are still surviving..

Mia's colour of dressing is complex to explain since the light's translucency on some colours changes them to another, reciprocating. She's wearing a gown as us too, an heels, a bracelet, and a purse. Her hair drawls down her back.

"Mia."

Shade pulls her into a tight hug.

"Shade. I thought you wouldn't come." Mia responds within the hug.

"Why won't I?"

Shade pulls back, letting Mia sees me. She takes a stand from the booth to pull me into side, light hug. She pats my back with a very light touch, and I do the same.

"How are you doing, Rayne? I heard about it." Mia tells me. I look over to Shade. She's raising up her hands in a surrender mode, freeing herself from any guilt I might want to lay on her.

"Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone." Mia assures, adding. "And I won't."

"Hmm. Thanks. I don't want many people knowing about the accident." I clear my throat. "So, what are we going to do?"

"For now, we take three shots and get wild." Mia wails, flipping her hands above her head in a swaying way. Shade and I laugh at her.

"Mia, pour us the shots, then." I say, turning my voice into as husky as I can.