20

MICHAEL

It only took Cameron and me two minutes to drive here. I grabbed him from his parent's place near campus after leaving my apartment a few minutes early.

Okay, thirty minutes early. I just had to be sure.

I think the girls took the bus here, which couldn't have been the best experience. Last time I took the bus was first year University a few years ago. Some pervert tried to show a random group of teenage girls his dick. I almost got into a fist fight before the driver kicked him off.

I hope the three of them had a better experience than that.

Among the darkness, the grass is damp from a rainfall a few hours ago. I don't complain, and neither does Ember. I sit with my knees up as she wraps herself in my blanket, silent.

Part of me wishes I had kept that blanket for myself. These black slacks weren't cheap and now they're full of dirt.

Noor, Cameron, and Vanessa are anything but silent. Well, mostly Vanessa. I didn't think someone could be so jubilant.

As the last few cars pull in on either side of Cameron's mother's burgundy van and the trailers continue on the big blow-up screen, Ember straightens up.

"Michael..." she whispers, peering around.

I'm set on edge. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She gives me an odd look. "Nothing happened. Just look around for a second."

I frown, but swing my head one-eighty. Just a lot of families with their back hatches open, laughing and eating popcorn and candy.

My heart stutters a bit, but no one will ever know.

"It's all kids," whispers Ember, sliding a bit closer, clutching that blanket. "We're the only ones here without a family."

Family. What a loaded word.

"Michael?"

I snap back into reality, coming face to face with those two eyes.

"Are you okay?" Ember asks softly, her eyebrows together in concern.

Misplaced concern.

I nod with a smile. "Absolutely."

"IT'S STARTING OH MY—"

Noor cuts Vanessa off with a hiss that makes me flinch and move a bit closer to Ember.

I knock my shoulder with hers. "Your roommates are...interesting."

Ember's spine straightens. She keeps her eyes dead ahead. "You don't even know them."

I frown at the cold hostility in her voice and chose to leave it at that.

If she doesn't want a friend, so be it. I'm not going to waste my time.

I move back over a foot and a half until the temperature falls again and bumps erect under the black sleeves on my arms.

Ember glances to the space between us, then back up, unaffected.

Maybe this was a mistake. I don't even know this person.

The movie begins with a title sequence. It's Pixar.

That explains all the children.

Cam groans behind me and something small and round hits the back of my head.

"Mikey! What the fuck! We're not eight!"

Vanessa laughs a big boisterous laugh. "I wish I was!"

I turn around to see Noor under a black hood trying to blend into the darkness. She glares at me so I move my attention to Cam, who's looking at Vanessa like she's the second coming of Christ.

I make note of that.

Ember whispers something to my left. I turn back around to find her eyes trained ahead. One word reads on the screen.

Up.

The kids around us start cheering and clapping. Vanessa does, too, much to Noor's dismay, who groans loudly.

"What's Up?" says Cam, snickering.

I turn around. "Good one, weirdo."

He mock bows at the waist. Vanessa ruffles his shoulder-length black hair. He beams at her and leans into it like a damn dog.

I clear my throat and try one last time with Ember. "Have you seen this one?"

She stares dead ahead, my blanket around her shoulders, chin on her knees.

Fine, then.

I push down my irritation and break open the chocolates, piling a handful into my mouth all at once so I'll shut up.

Up, a movie I've seen a handful of times with Cameron's little siblings, is about an old man whose wife died, a small boy-scout kid, and a massive adventure with helium balloons.

For almost an hour, I sit with my jaw clenched in complete silence. Ember doesn't say a word--she doesn't even move. Maybe she's dead.

Behind us, there's the occasional snort, giggle, or exasperated sigh. At least someone's having a good time.

I'm an idiot.

Beside me sits a girl I don't know from my suicide bereavement group. Nice.

Since I met Ember I-don't-know-her-last-name, I've compiled a list of questions just bursting at the forefront of my damned mind, starting with that broken nose. Was she in a fight? Is she in an abusive relationship? What if I could help her and I don't?

Mom would help, and Mr. White would, too. He'd probably smack me in the head if I minded my own business about it.

On the screen, there's a house flying through the air attached to balloons.

I turn to Ember and just about open my mouth.

"I'm sorry," she says quietly, turning to me. Her eyes, dark in the night, are glazed with moisture. "I'm just..." She shakes her head, standing. She sways a bit once upright, towering over me. "I'm just sorry." She folds the blanket, drops it in my lap, then walks away.

"Chappy!" Vanessa whisper-shouts, but doesn't get up. "Don't go!" She whines.

Noor huffs. "That's abandonment."

"Abandonment isn't a word," says Cameron, resting his head on Vanessa's shoulder.

He's...he's wearing the onesie. He's wearing the panda, black and white onesie Vanessa was wearing not thirty minutes ago and she's left in a white shirt and shorts.

I look at Noor with a what the hell happened face, pointing to the oddball pair feeding each other popcorn.

Noor stares ahead blankly, lights bouncing off her sharp face, then flips me off.

I rock forward on my heels, hunched over my legs. The blanket is warm to the touch and soft on my hands. It smells like citrus and something like an ocean would I think. I've never been to an ocean, but I will. I will.

I grab the blanket and throw it around my shoulders, choosing to leave the rude girl to stalk off and throw her fit by herself.

It's not my problem.

The movie rolls on with moments of sadness, moments of turmoil, and moments of triumph. I sit on the ground surrounded by scents of a lemon sea, unable to enjoy one second of it.

The three behind me are relatively silent. Noor is like a statue. Every time I turn around, she's in the same position—back against the side of the van, one knee propped up, head cocked to the screen, eyes dead.

Guess she doesn't like Pixar. She doesn't seem like the family-movie type.

I try to watch the movie. I really do, because it's a good one, but my entire soul is being pulled to the left where she disappeared. 

More questions bombard my head. Where is she from? What's the real reason she doesn't believe in ghosts? Why is she so defensive?

And finally, the one question that hasn't gone away since I saw her sitting in that circle.

Who did she lose?

I squirm, jaw clenched. It's too dark out. The movie is too long. This dress shirt is too black and too itchy. Why the hell did I think it would be a good idea to dress up for this?

I jump up, cracking my neck, hoping to release some of the energy slithering around my spine.

Looking at Vanessa, I point in the direction Ember disappeared thirty minutes ago.

"Are you not going after her?"

Vanessa's face pinches, but she shakes her head.

Noor scoffs. "Finally! You made a smart choice, Nes. I'm proud."

Cameron buries his head into Vanessa's neck, a panda hood over his head. He mumbles something, then giggles.

I stalk over and take out my phone. I throw the hood off his head and roughly grab his chin, shining a light in his eyes.

"Are you fucking high right now?!" I seethe, noting the distinct pinpoints of his pupils.

Cameron swats me away. "Dude, chill. You're so--"

"Give me your keys," I demand, letting him go. "Right now."

"Dude, calm d--"

"Now."

Cameron swallows roughly and reaches back, fumbling until he pulls his mom's keys and places them in my palm.

Vanessa holds out a bag of gummy worms. "Here's the evidence, officer." She purses her lips, then lets out a big laugh. Cameron joins in.

I turn to Noor. She rolls her eyes and gets up, taking the keys. "What's the address?"

My brows come together. "How do I know--"

"I'm not high!" she bites, stealing the keys. "I'll take Thing One home. Thing Two and me will take a cab back to our dorm."

For some reason, I trust her. I give her Cam's address.

As she mother's them into their seats and puts their seatbelts on, I flex my fists, my heart rate too high.

"What about Ember?" I say, pointing backwards as Noor slides the door shut on the two who are having a thumb war in slow motion.

Noor raises a brow, crossing her arms. "She's a grown ass woman," says Noor. "Do you know how maybe times Nes has tried to be her friend? Too many. Ember's a lost cause. And a horrible fucking roommate. I suggest you save yourself the time and leave her alone. Don't go after her."

I frown. "I wasn't going to go--"

"Then why do I have these?" She holds up the car keys.

I raise my chin, jaw clenched.

Noor nods and gives me two sarcastic thumbs up. "Yeah, good luck with that, big guy." She walks around the side of the van, but halts and then turns around slowly. She slinks closer to me, sharp face something to be feared.

I shuffle back a step.

"One more thing," she says lowly. "If you hurt her, I'll cut your dick in half and choke you with it."

My hands hover over my groin and my face drains of warmth. 

I fucking believe her.

"Get me?" she says.

I nod. "I'm not--I'm not going to hurt her," I say honestly. "I'd never do that. To anyone."

Noor stares at me for too long before turning around and jumping into the driver's seat. She speeds off onto the road, heading south in the night. I watch until the van's lights can't be seen.

I turn around and just see the movie's heartwarming end. Then, with a deep breath, I start jogging in the direction the tall girl with long penny-copper hair disappeared, hoping this isn't a mistake.

A/N

Vote if you're enjoying the story!  

Okay okay, if you could describe Cameron and Vanessa in one word, what would it be?

Now describe Vanessa and Noor in one word.

I feel so evil with where these story lines are going. 😈 You're in for one hell of a ride.

We're heading back into Ember's head next chapter! 

I hope you stick with me! It will be worth it, I promise ❤️ 

-Laurel  😎🤏  😏🕶🤏