Flowers of Yesterday
Sarah Morgan (Mary-Kate Olsen)
Holly Morgan (Ashley Olsen)
“Life is rarely, if ever, fair. It pushes you around,
gives you a pop quiz in math then kicks you while
you're down spilling chocolate milk on your new
shirt during lunch.”
-Jeff A.
Chapter 1
Sarah:
I woke up groggily, grumbling I shot for my glasses that rested on her nightstand. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before placing my glasses on. I had contacts, but rarely wore them. Looking around me, I remembered she was safe… I was in her room, in my bed and lying with the covers securely wrapped around me. I rolled on my side, pulling the covers off myself, and stretched for the arm of my wheel chair, which sat fairly by my bed. I lifted up and sat down, rolling myself out of the door and down the hall to the bathroom, it was already occupied. I sighed.
“Holly? Are you finished?” I shouted through the closed door.
Holly:
I turned from the mirror to the door. “Just a minute!” I yelled turning back towards the mirror. Did she always have to have things her way?
“I have to go to the bathroom!” Sarah moaned. I sighed, turning the door and unlocking it. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” she added.
“Do what?” I asked, annoyed.
“That! Lock the door!” Sarah chided, “It makes it harder for me-“
“It’s not bothering you!” I snapped, being difficult, turning my back to her, and continuing to curl my hair. “It’s ashamed you cut your hair,” I added.
“It’s a shame you have to be like everyone else. What happened to you?” Sarah shot back at me. I rolled her eyes.
“Your so naive, Sar,” I began, placing her curling iron done, and admiring my work.
“No I’m not! But you don’t have to be like everyone else to fit in I mean-“
“Like you’d know,” I replied icily, “You know, you expect the whole world to feel sorry for you just because the way you are! You can’t keep using the same excuse. “Oh, just because I’m in a wheel chair everyone has to help me-” that turns people off Sarah, that’s why know one likes you anymore.”
“What do you mean? No one feels sorry for me because of the ‘way I am,’ how dare you say that to me, Holly! I’m your sister! Your sister. If that means anything to you, you have no idea what it’s like!” She cried, sighing, “You know what, you don’t know me at all then you know the back of your hand! We may be twins, but you know nothing about me! And for the record, I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. Wake up and smell the coffee Hal, where sisters, were suppose to care for one another and have each others back, but you could care less whether I live or die!” She shouted, “I turn people off Hal? Is that why know one likes me? Or why you don’t like me?”
“You’re too emotional and way to sensitive!”
“Oh,” “That’s what sisters are for-right?” Sarah whispered, closing the bathroom door.
Sarah:
I could feel the heavy emotions beginning to rise inside my body, my chest heaved uncontrollably, my face flushed with anger, and my eyes began to tear. I wiped my eyes, and splashed some cold water on my face. I could not control my body sometimes when I got real upset. Stop it! I scowled myself. “I’m just so tired of this,” I sighed, placing my head in my hands. Holly and I were suppose to be working out our relationship, but so far, it looked like I was the only one trying. Holly just would not budge, and what ever Holly called trying to ‘work on the relationship’ surely was not helping any. Holly is (probably) so consumed up with selfishness that she doesn’t see the wall that everyone (including herself) is painting around me! I thought grimly. No one liked to see a crippled roaming the school halls, or going through the lunch line first due to ‘disabilities.’ I was either treated like a doll-fragile and delicate, or like trash-people would bump into me trying to knock me out of my wheel chair, spit on me, talk about me behind my back, or even ram my chair into a garbage or the mud-something of that kind. People could just be so cruel!
Sarah pushed the thoughts out of her mind, apart of her didn’t care anymore-she was tired of dealing with her sister and everyone else as well, (sad to say.) She often thought she was an alien being cut of by the world or vice-versa or she was cutting herself from the world.
She was in a wheel chair-crippled ‘Temporarily,’ at least that is what the doctors had said. However, she herself didn’t know if she would ever be able to walk again, but for the past two years, there were no signs of her ‘coming round’ to walking again.
Nevertheless, one has to ‘listen to the doctors,’ -as Mom always said. Our mother had not yet given up hope to the fact that Sarah might walk again. Often that is what our parents often fought about, would Sarah be able to walk again?
“I’m sorry Joan but lets face it. It has been two years. Two years, and there hasn’t been any improving,” John Morgan tiredly told his wife.
“What about Dr. Wallace, John? She thought-“
“Well honey, Dr. Wallace is gone, and the other doctors aren’t sure about Sarah’s condition either!” He snapped.
“Well then maybe we need to see another doctor, then.”
“They’re are no other doctors!”
“John? I cannot believe you! This is our daughter were talking about! Surely, we can go somewhere else, and find another doctor, how about in a new state? I here in California they have great doctors,” Joan Morgan insisted.
“Joan? Wake up and smell the coffee, all right? Can we afford to go to anymore doctors?”
“Well I-I suppose not, but what about me? “
“What about you?”
“I can stop staying home and get a real job, babe. Yeah, remember, like before! What about it?” She asked..
“Joan-honey? C’mon, you have no working experience,” he soothed placing his hand over hers. She snatched her hand away, “They’re you go again, John!” She shouted, “Crushing my hopes and dreams again! Just like what you’re doing to the girls, John,” she cried frantically, pacing back and fourth across there bedroom
“Don’t tell me what I do and don’t do for my kids! I work 24/7, struggling to put a roof over our heads. What do you want me to do, Joan? What?” He gulped, “I want my girls to grow up and be somebody’s and have the courage and confidence to face the world when life gets tough but they won’t be able too when when you’re babying them like you do, how will they be able to face the world. The world is cruel and cold, Joan…” His sentence died off. Mrs. Morgan sat down at the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. John Morgan walked slowly towards her and cautiously set beside her, placing his strong arm around her neck. “Look, Joan, I’m sorry, I just- I want Sarah to walk again just as much as you do. I pray every night for a miracle from God, sometimes I just don’t think he listens to my prayer,” he sobbed. She turned to him, cuddling his head in her bosom.
“Shhh,” she soothed, “All I’m saying is I don’t want to give up hope, John. If she has any chance to walk we should look for it and do whatever we can to get her walking again,” she explained.
“I just don’t want my hopes raised up again, Joan, you remember what happened last time, don’t you?” She nodded, “Yes, but I’m willing to take that chance. Work until my hands bleed, be in debt for the rest of my life for my child-our child to walk again.” She sighed, “I don’t want the family to fall apart, John. And no I don’t want a divorce,” she answered.
“Huh?” He asked. She sighed again.
“You asked me last night if I was thinking about divorce, and I’m answering, “No,” I’m not thinking about it. Are you?” He shook his head no.
“It’s just were arguing so much… It’s tearing up the kids, just look at them-“
“John, when I spoke my vows on our wedding day I said: ‘I promise to love you, in sickness and in health till death do us part’- That’s what I said John, and I’m not going to let our arguing tear us apart. Everyone argues, that’s just what happens when you share you’re life with someone else.” She grabbed his hand and looked directly into his eyes and whispered,” I want my girls to be strong, compassionate, confident and courageous and as they’re parents we need to continue showing it, not just to them but to each other.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I am afraid to say but your daughter, Sarah is paralyzed waist and down,” Dr. Fern Wallace had told mom and dad.
Mom let out a shriek and clang helplessly to her husband. She knew if she could that she would do anything to let her daughter walk again whether it meant cutting off her own legs-she would. She hated to see her own daughter in the state that she was in it made the situation even more depressing.
“Are you sure Dr. that there is nothing that either my wife or me can do, I mean-“ Dad began.
“No, but I can promise you one thing, Mr. And Mrs. Morgan. If things improve and goes the way I hope, Sarah will be able to walk again,” she said sympathetically.
“When?”
“It’s hard to estimate. Most people once they become paralyzed it is permanent, but in Sarah’s condition the fractures are not as severe,” she told them.
Sarah wheeled herself back into her room; it was a bright yellow room, with white whicker furniture, all reminding her about her endless childhood memories. She looked at herself in the mirror-shoulder length strawberry-blonde hair that was starting to grow back again, with crystal blue eyes, rose-pink lips and cool pale skin.
She use to have everything (or so she thought-) Head cheerleader of the cheerleading squad, a lot of friends, a fully advantage in athletics, she played volleyball, soccer, tennis, and softball, kept a 4.0 (in grades), and was the first-the only freshman asked to the Prom by the Quarterback of the football team, Derrick Ross to the prom! The prom… The accident…. The unfortunate…
~*~*~*~*
[PAST]
‘Guess what!’ Sarah screamed to her best friend Sam on the phone. Barely being able to hold still-oh how excited, she was!
“What?”
“Guess?” She urged her, finally sitting herself down at the edge of her bed.
“Hmmm… You some how flirted you way into Derrick Ross heart and he asked you out?” Sam guessed… Sarah paused, and with a loud gust of laughter-
“Yes!” She yelled, Sam gasped, “Are you serious?” Sam asked her.
‘Yes, Sammie… I couldn’t possibly be more real about something in my whole life!” Sarah gushed, twirling the phone cord around my finger.
“He did!” She yelled.
“Yes, today… Right after school… To their senior prom! I rushed home to call you…”
Sarah placed her books in her locker, once she shut her locker door; she noticed a familiar face gazing at her. “Hi,” she whispered, in between a forming smile.
“Hey yourself,” Derrick flirted back; he was a tall guy, with tan skin, dark piercing, chocolate eyes and dark hair. She thought her heart would melt as he smiled that lazy, mysterious grin. She placed her lock on her locker.
“Can I help you?” She asked him regaining her cool not trying to sound overly excited, placing her book bag over her shoulder and heading for the library.
“Yeah, actually… You can, Sarah.”
“Okay… but can we talk while I’m on my way to the school-library… I have to return this book.” He nodded.
‘So what do you want to talk to me about?” She said, intertwining her fingers in between one another, she did that when she was nervous.
“It’s about you…”
“Me?” She questioned. He stopped her short. Standing in front of her, arms hung loose till he placed his arms on her shoulders, and gazed intently at her. Girls were beginning to stare at them, and then whisper to each other while giving her a cold, dirty loook.
“Look, maybe it’s not a good time I mean-“
“Look,” he cut her off.
“I like you a lot, Sarah.” Sarah began to blush, and he laughed. She covered up her cheeks. ‘No, don’t…” He ordered her. She looked surprised at him.
‘Excuse me?” She whispered.
“Don’t cover your face… I like it that way,” he replied, in a hush-hush voice. Her smile only broadened; likewise, he thought her smile was nice.
“Oh… Thanks, Derrick,” for a moment, the two of them just stared at each other. None of them saying a word.
“Well? I came here to ask you-”
“Yes?” she breathed, her voice breaking and rising into her throat, where she thought she would not be allowed to utter another sound. He grabbed her hand and she could feel her hands beginning to sweat with perspiration, but he didn’t care, she was nervous just as he was.
“Will you go to the prom with me?” ‘Yes, I’ll go to the prom with you.” They noticed they had said their replies in unison, as if knowing what the other was going to say. She giggled at that.
“Yes, Derrick, I’ll go to the prom with you,” she repeated gingerly. With that, she kissed him, round and fully on the lips. With a smile, she left him staring after her and headed to the library.
“Hey! Maybe we can hang out this weekend?” He called after her.
“Okay! Do you know where I live?”
“I think I know where you’re place is.”
“Okay, call me.”
“Can I?” He asked her. She laughed, “Of course silly!”
“Alright then, this weekend you and me!”
“Okay, bye!”
“Bye.”
“So were just going to hang out this weekend,” she concluded.
“Hang out? With Derrick Ross?” She said.
“Yeah. What’s the matter with you? I thought you’d be happy for me,” Sarah said, feeling a bit hurt and rejected.
“I am. It’s just-“ “I dunno… You hear what they’re saying about him-don’t you?”
“Yeah. And forget it, it’s just rumors anyways.”
“How do you know?”
“Look Sam, you can’t judge a person based on hand-me-down rumors you hear around school. I really like him, and I’m welling to give him a chance first,” Sarah said.
“It’s just, people are saying how he went all the way with those other girls and I don’t want him taking advantage of you!”
“Yeah, I know, but we don’t know if it’s true!”
“Yeah but those girls didn’t deny it either,” Sam persisted.
“Whatever.”
“And he asked you out to the prom?”
“Yeah, I’m really excited.”
“Hell, I wish I were you.” Sarah laughed lightly. “Look, Sar. I’m not trying to sound all like ‘mother-hen’ or anything, but…”
“I know, I know. You were just looking out for me. That’s what friends are for and I don’t blame you for having doubts about me and Derrick.” “To tell you the truth, I’m kind of nervous.”
“Don’t be! It’s a piece of cake… Shout, man I wish I was you! Jump up and down for Pete’s sake, you the only freshman asked out to go to the prom by the one and only Derrick Ross-Quarterback of the football team!”
“Thanks for sharing his whole history, Sam. You really helped me to be less nervous,” Sarah said sarcastically.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah came downstairs; their mom was making breakfast, eggs and bacon. ‘Morning mom, where’s dad?’
“Oh, your father had to leave early for work this morning,” their mom explained. She was a tall, slender lady with milk chocolate eyes and light brown ear-length hair. She looked in her mid-forties but could pass for older due to her lack of sleep.
“Oh.”
“Honey, set the table for me,” “Holly, c’mon, dear, your going to be late!” Mom called, Sarah ate her breakfast in silence. Their Mom looked at the clock, then with some shock, ‘You guys, c’mon your going to be late for the bus!” She squawked, grabbing her purse. “Holly Anne Margaret! Get your butt down here this instant!” When mom got angry or something she always used my whole name. I hated when she did that.
Holly:
“Okay mom, chill,” I said, going passed her and heading for the car.
“Okay, girls, meet you guys in front of the school at three, don’t be late.”
“We won’t mom, were not kids anymore,” I sighed, getting out of the car, and running to the bus.
“Bye, sweethearts!”
Once on the bus, Sarah did feel herself get hot, but she slid past her anxiety emotions, and remained in the front. She had to. As the bus made its way to the next stop, more boys and more girls boarded.
‘Hey, Hal!” People yelled on the bus, at me. I smiled, and sat down with Jean. My other friend Darcy and Mallory sat a seat behind us.
“Hey, Hal,” Darcy whispered. I turned around and waved. Darcy loved to talk, she had crystal blue eyes and beautiful white-blonde hair, she could be a model; she claimed she use to be a model, but gave it up… Who knows, the pressure of Hollywood, right? Mallory on the other hand, was quiet with red thick curly hair and wore glasses, I have no idea how we were friends when we were so different. She, like me, struggled in school, I smiled a sympathetic look at her, but she just starred at the floor. I wondered what was wrong. Family problems again, I thought grimly. Poor Mal.
Jean was like me in a lot of ways, spite the fact I had strawberry-blonde hair, she was a brunette with milk chocolate eyes. We both appreciated the arts-photography in particular, and both wanted to get out of this town.
“Hey! Anyone do any of the math homework?” I yelled.
“Here, Hal,” Cindy Gardner said, giving me her homework. Darcy scowled me.
“What?”
“You know “what,” your doing it again!” She told me.
“Thanks,” I mumbled to Cindy. “Well if you didn’t do your work, you’d need to get it from someone else!” I said, sighing, “Look, I’m not in the mood for the third degree alright?”
“Whatever,” she mumbled under her breath.
“It’s just copying some numbers, big deal-“ Math was not my best subject. I was more of an art kind of gale. LOL!
I looked up, and there was my sister. Like a tradition, the taunting began again, some of the kids on the bus would throw spitballs at her or something of that sort, I often wanted to say something but then decided it wasn’t my place to step it.
“You’re not going to do anything?” Jean whispered in my ear. I shrugged.
“She can take care of herself,” I said, hurrying to copy down the math problems.
Sarah wasn’t the only one who got crushed after the accident you know. I did to. I had to watch my sister, my-twin-sister (like it or not), in a hospital bed, barely conscious, barely breathing… get placed in a wheel chair! Spite the odds; I was happy her when Sar came home. To get one more chance…
Though I didn’t always show that I care about my sister, I do, even though our relationship isn’t the best, whose is?
~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2
Please God?
Sarah:
The bus stopped in front of the school Lakeshore High, and boys and girls raced to get out. People pushed and shoved making it even harder for me to get through. The Bus Driver saw this but did nothing; I let out a sigh of helplessness and fought to get off the bus. It was like this everyday, nothing changes-I thought grimly. My hair was a little mangled… But nothing serious like nose bleeds or tore clothes, letting out a sight of relief.
“You okay?” Holly asked me. I nodded, the both of us heading for the entrance.
“Hey, Holly!” Other people replied.
“Hi!” She answered back.
“Uh, Hal, were going to the bathroom,” Darcy said.
“Okay,” she called, watching her and Mallory go; the two of us headed for the library.
‘What are you doing?” Holly asked.
“I’m going to the library too, I have a book-return,” Sarah answered.
“Do you have to read all the time? And I’d prefer if we weren’t seen together.”
“What’s the point? Were twins anyway.”
“I know, but since I can’t change that…” Her sentence died off.
“Whatever.” Maybe you should try to do a little bit more reading on your time, she thought.
A guy coming out of the library, held the door for the two girls. “Thanks!” They replied in unison. Summer is almost here, Sarah thought to herself. Maybe it was time for her to get a tan, she was tired of having that same boring pale skin completion, compared to her sister, she had the perfect peaches and cream completion. Why can’t I look more like that? Sarah wondered, but the stopped abruptly, comparing herself to her sister? That was crazy! The two of them sat down at one of the library tables. Holly took out her agenda, and start organizing her plans for the weekend.
“I can’t wait, summer is almost here! Cape Cod here I come!” Holly gushed.
“Wow, I’m so happy for you-“ Sarah said blankly.
~*~*~*~*
Holly:
Just then the bell rang, everyone descended to his or her classes and such. Slowly, Sarah gathered up her stuff. Anxiously I had to leave her behind. Jean caught up with me, “Girl, why didn’t you wait for me?” She asked.
“I had to finish my homework,” I lied.
“Hey, Holly, looking good,” some boys said in a group as we walked by, I tried to cover up my grin with a frown. “You too, Jean…Shake it!” The hooted, she sighed in disgust.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“Nothing,” she mumbled. But there was something. Something she wasn’t telling me, I could see it in her eyes and her face. I shrugged it off though, she’ll tell me when she wants to, I thought.
Sarah made her way to her class. Geometry. She had a mid B in that class, and was hoping she could raise her grade up. As she sat down, paper from spit balls were everywhere… She grumbled at that. Were kids always going to act this low? All around her, people laughed, talked, yelled, shot spit balls at each other, littered… She doodled in her notebook, board.
Why? (She began to write…)
Why does it always have to be like this?
Us fighting, negatively colliding….
As she wrote, she just tuned out. “Please God, make me disappear,” she thought, as words describing the way she was feelings flowed like juice to her head. She quickly scribbled them down.
Chapter 3~
Tune in Anytime
[PAST]
“C’mon, Sarah!” Dad yelled. She was the point shooter for the basketball team, The Sparks. There was 8 seconds left in the 4th quarter. The Sparkers vs. The Comrades. #13 (Adriana Wilson) passes the ball to Sarah, Holly watched in amazement as her twin sister whipped over the floor. Then Sarah trips! Sarah let out a gasp.
“It’s alright honey!” Dad reassures her, halfway calm yet yelling. The ref tells her she gets two free throws. She takes them. She had her feet planted securely on the floor, lifts her feet a bit, and swish-swish… The ball makes it! Visitor: 32 to Home: 34. She jumps a bit higher to take the second shot… Nothing but net! She makes it again. Sarah yells with joy as the crowd cheers, “Sparks, sparks, sparks!” Final Score: 32 to 36. Sarah is jolted into the air, by her teammates, a bright smile forming her flushed face.
‘Aita’ girl!” Dad yells from their seats. Holly felt happy for her sister, yet something was still pegging her. The auditorium cleared, and Dad and Holly spotted Sarah coming towards them with her gym bag.
“Congrats!” Dad replied, hugging her and kissing her on her cheek. Holly rolled her eyes.
“Good job, Sar. Nice shooting,” Holly said dryly.
“Whose up for Baskin Robins?” Dad cried.
“Me!” The girls replied in unison.
“Well then c’mon, let’s go!” Dad hollered, him and Sarah racing to the car. Had they forgotten me already? Holly wondered.
“Holly! C’mon!” Dad yelled from the car. Holly looked around her; she was in the middle of the parking lot, just sitting stone cold still.
‘What’s your problem?” Sarah asked Holly.
“Nothing.”
“Yes, I’d like a banana-split. Dad finally replied, after he had just finishes trying all 31 flavors with the little pink spoon. With vanilla, chocolate, and black walnut, fudge and nuts.” He answered. Turning towards his daughters he asked, “What do you girls want?”
“Chocolate-chip cookie dough.” Sarah whispered.
“Mint chocolate-chip,” Holly replied.
~*~*~*~*
Holly:
I took my math test. Turned in my English essay and now was heading for lunch. I bought 2 cookies, chips and a slice of pizza. I saw Tracy Evans and her clan setting at the far side of the cafeteria. I made my way over there.
“Oh, hi, Holly,” she grimaced, eyeing what I had on my tray.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“Oh, no,” she lied, giving me a disapproving look. I sighed in disgust, and went to the table right across from Tracy’s, where Jean was laughing up a storm with Brie, Calvin and Will.
“Hey you guys,” I mumbled.
“Awl, what’s up with Ms. Holly Morgan?” Will joked. I stuck my tongue at him; he was so annoying!
“Awl, why you gonna do a brotha’ wrong?” He asked. Jean, Brie and I laughed.
“Brotha?” Brie asked.
“Yeah! You know you want some of this,” Will insisted. Brie laughed again.
“Right,” she giggled snuggling a bit closer to Calvin. Brie was black. And one of the most beautiful black women I ever set eyes on. She had butter-brown caramel skin, with dark chocolate eyes, and a long dark brown hair, and she loved to dance. And yes, Calvin was white. With dark hair and blue eyes, one of the mysterious looking types. An interracial relationship, which I had no problem with, unlike other at our school who strongly disagreed with it, and Will as you could guess it, was white and nothing but your average American white-guy.
“I’m going to the bathroom, be right back,” she said, with that, she pecked Calvin on the lips and left.
Just then, Tracy came up to our table, with her crew giggling loud behind her. “Hey, Calvin,” she flirted, squeezing in next to him.
“Hey,” he said. Tracy shot Jean and I an icy glare, and then turned back to Calvin saying,” I was wondering if you’d like to go to the No Doubt concert with me?”
“Uh, look Tracy, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he stammered.
“It would if I invited your little friend to come along,” Tracy insisted.
“Little friend? Tracy, you’re talking about my girlfriend,” he said. Tracy laughed.
“Yeah right.”
“No. Brie is my girlfriend-“
“Yes, Brie is his girlfriend, Tracy and if you have a problem with it than buzz off!” Jean cut in.
“I believe I was not talking to you, Jean,” Tracy snapped.
“I don’t care who the hell you were talking to! I just want you to know that ‘yes!” Calvin and Brie are going out, whether you like it or not!”
“Whatever.” She said, then turning back to Calvin, she whispered something in his ear that I couldn’t quite make out, and got up and left.
“So?” I asked.
“So what?”
“Cal, what did she say?”
“None of your business!” He snapped.
“Fine,” I mumbled. Darcy and Mallory walked up.
“Hey, Darce, hi Mal,” I said.
“Hi,” Mallory whispered, sitting down.
“What’s up with her?” Will mouthed; Jean shrugged.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” Darcy asked.
“Nothing much,” I replied.
“Oh, girl, don’t look now, but guess who just walked in here,” Darcy whispered.
“Who?” I said beginning to look around. I caught his eye.
“Oh no,” I breathed.
“What is it?” Jean asked, beginning to look around.
“It’s Mike, and his crew,” I said. Jean’s smile faded from off her face. She paled. “Jean what is it?” I asked her, seeing she began to get up.
“Uh… I have to go,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because, I have some stuff I have to take care of.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll go with you,” I said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 4~
A Little To Late
Sarah didn’t go to lunch instead she just went inside the girl’s bathroom to eat her lunch. She saw Tracy Evans and her group of friends, laughing. They stopped when they saw her. “Oh, it’s the crippled one,” she murmured to her friends, they giggled after her as Sarah made her way to the biggest stale.
“I was wondering why they used to have a big stale. Now I know!” Laughed one of them, Sarah felt her eyes began to water. She hated going through this. Being treated like some… Trash. Come to think about it, Sarah realized she wasn’t very hungry, so she just waited in the stale till the bell rang. Next class would be choir. One of her favorite classes, she enjoyed singing a lot. A whole lot, the teacher Ms. Roberts suggested Sarah singing in representation of the school. Sarah told her she’d think about it.
“I really think you’d be great,” Ms. Roberts had insisted.
“Oh.”
“You have so much talent, and I know you love doing it, I can hear it in your voice and I can see it in your eyes,” Ms. Roberts replied. “Sarah, just think about it okay?”
“Okay.”
Ms. Roberts was a beautiful women, she was in her late twenties, and was extremely under weight for her age and height. With crystal blue eyes, pale skin and short brown hair, curled under, she dressed sort of old fashioned, but she was still beautiful. The day ended slowly, her last class was her poetry class. She had began working on a poem in Mr. Pugh’s Geometry classes, but never finished it. Oh well, she thought.
“Now class, we’ve looked at a whole bunch of poems dealing with friends, relationships, etc. We have read many poets, Dr. Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Shakespeare, and now I want to read some of your work.” Mrs. Coatts said.
“You will make a series of poems, a poem book,” She said handing the students each a rubric of her expectations. “I want your poems to come from the heart, something that really means something to you, with emotions, each linked with each subject we talked about.”
“Uh, Mrs. Coatts, how many poems are suppose to be in there?” Asked a girl named Laurie Burns.
“At least 10, if not more. I want you guys to be creative, run wild, any thing less than 10, I can’t guarantee a passing grade.”
“Awl.” Came sighs from the room.
“Well if you don’t like it, too bad.”
“I think it’s a great assignment,” added Laurie. Mrs. Coatts smiled.
“In addition, there will be a contest, whose ever book I like best, will be able to publicly read it aloud at Poetry Night, along with entering it in our schools newspaper and the poetry contest.
“What poetry contest?” Came shouts from across the room.
“Is there a cash-money prize to it?” Mrs. Coatts laughed, “What happened to the ‘Awls?’” She laughed, “Now I will pick 3 people, and those 3 people will pick one poem that they wrote and read it to the class, and you guys will have a final say in who wins,” She said. “I’m also making a class set of these poems, everyone will get a copy.” “And for the remainder of the period, you guys can get to work. There is construction paper, glitter, markers and stuff in my drawers. I have poetry books, y’all can look at for ideas, and stuff, and if you guys have any questions, I’ll be at my desk.”
~*~*~*~*~*
Mallory, Darcy, and I were at Jean’s house, claiming to be studying, eating pizza and talking.
“So, y’all, what about the cabin?” Darcy asked.
“Darce, are you serious?” Mallory asked, looking up from her plate of food.
“Yeah, I mean, were still going right?”
‘I can’t believe your asking that Darcy!” Mallory shouted.
“Look, I’m not going to spoil tradition.”
“Tradition? Don’t talk to me about no God-damn tradition!”
“Get over it Mal, Frankie is dead, she’s not coming back! Deal with it. The rest of us have!”
“Don’t tell me what to get over, how can we just forget about her, like she was yesterday’s trash?” She yelled. She wiped the sweat forming on her face. “Look you guys, she was our friend, you guys don’t actually still want to go, do you?” Mal asked, which sounded more like a plea.
“Let’s have a vote,” Jean offered. “All in favor of not going to the cabin, raise your hand.” Mallory with no hesitation raised her hand.
“All in favor of going to the cabin raise your hand?” “Mal, your going or not, won’t bring Frankie back, if she were alive, don’t you’d think she’d want us to continue on? Don’t you think-“
“Well she’s not alive okay, Darcy! Damn it! She’s dead okay, she’s DEAD and not coming back again! God!”
“Mal you okay?” I asked.
“No! No I’m not okay!’ She yelled, snatching her stuff and heading out the door.
“Mal?” “Mallory wait?” I called, running after here.
“Mal wait up!” I called, Mal was walking really fast, making it hard for me to catch up with her. “C’mon, Mallory, I thought we were friends,” I began.
“Well I thought we were to Hal.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?” I asked.
“You figure it out!” She snapped.
“Mal, c’mon now, don’t take your frustrations out on me.” Mal stopped walking and starred at her.
“Don’t take my frustrations out on you, Hal?” Mal grinned a crazy gin, “Yeah right, don’t take my frustrations out on the princess!” She laughed.
‘Mal stop, this isn’t fair-“
“Your right this isn’t fair. This isn’t fair. Life isn’t fair! It’s bull ****!”
“At least it wasn’t you in the car, Mal.”
“Well I wish it were,” she replied, walking again.
“Please don’t do this-“
“Look, your sister is still alive, you have no idea what it’s like for me!” Brie snapped. “You’re the one who is popular, who has to have everything! Who has the perfect family… I don’t! Frankie was the only thing to me, who was really my family.”
“Yes I do-“ I began, grabbing her by her arm. “My sister almost died last year, came very close-“
“Yeah, well she didn’t.”
“I know, but she came close, and I’m great full to God everyday for it! But not going with us, isn’t going to bring Frankie back! She’d still want us to go, Mal. And maybe Darcy does have a point.”
‘Yeah, and I think I do too,” she whispered, walking away.
~*~*~*~*~*
“Hal, what happened?” Jean asked, when I walked slowly back into the house.
“Nothing,” I mumbled. I sat back down on the couch, “She’s just really upset, is all.” Just then the door bell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Scott called, coming down stairs. Jean rolled her eyes.
“Your brother is so cute,” Darcy gushed, Jean rolled her eyes again, “Whatever Darce, your not the one who has to live with him,” Jean said.
‘What is he doing here?” I mumbled, Jean turned around to look.
“I don’t know, but I’m certainly about to find out,” Jean said firmly, getting up and walking briskly over to Scott.
“Hold on a second gentleman,” Jean replied, closing the door on the guys’ faces outside, she could hear them hollering outside.
“What the hell did you do that for, Jean?” Scott yelled at her.
“Scott? I just-“
“Stay out of my life Jean, you had no right!”
“Scott, please, listen to me!” She begged.
“No!”
“I just don’t feel comfortable with them here, is all,” she explained.
“Why? Your friends get to be here.”
“Fine, they can leave, it’s just-“
“No, Jean. You always want things your way-“
“Scott, don’t you care about my personal feelings? You heard them.”
“Heard what?”
“Scott, don’t try and cover up for those jerks! I can’t believe you didn’t hear them! You must hear them at school! They’re hassling me all the time!”
“Look Jean, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you just doing this for attention, or are you trying to jeapordize my chances on the team?”
“No! Scott, I’m your sister, I would never do anything to jeapordize your chances with the team! But is it really worth it?”
“Jean, just mind your own business alright. I know what I’m doing, stop telling me what to do, and being so god damn bossy!” He yelled, with that he opened the door and left outside. Jean sighed, heading back for the living room.
“You okay, Jean?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she mumbled, racing upstairs to her room.
“I’d better go talk to her,” I suggested, getting up.
“No!” Darcy called, “I will.”
“Ugh!” I growled, “Why won’t he just stop coming around?” I headed for the kitchen for another milk shake.
I grabbed some Oreos and ice, and dumped them in the blender and took the ice cream scoop and scooped balls of chocolate ice cream in the blender. I really felt bad for Mal, and about what she said. Jean being upset was making me upset because she wasn’t telling me what was wrong. And then Mike had to show up!
Then she felt familiar hands touch her hair, and her neck and trace quicky down her back. Her body went cold-she froze. She turned her head around. “What do you want?” She asked. He laughed.
‘I can’t come say hi,” Mike replied.
“Hi, Michael… I see you everyday, a ‘hi’ is nothing new to me,” she said, coldly. Continuing to make her milkshake, she poured some of the shake into a cup.
“Why do you have to be this way?” He asked her.
“What way? Which way? The one where I won’t give you the time of day, or when I ignore you?” “Take your pick, because I’m cool doing either option.” He grabbed her angrily, his eyes burning fiercely into hers.
“I hate you sometimes!” He shouted at her. She just stared at him. He didn’t know why he still loved her so much.
“What do you want from me, Mike?” She asked him. He looked at her, her beautiful face… Drinking in her shape, everything about her: Her body, her hair, her scent, and eyes… Undressing her cautiously, she caught his eye, and scowled disapprovingly. She was wearing a pair of Lee jeans and a black back out, which showed her perfect back.
“I want us again,” he admitted. He got on his knees, and hugged himself to her. She was shocked.
“Mike-“ She began… He sighed, as he breathed in the scent of her.
“I don’t want to let you go.” He whispered.
“We are over. Why can’t you just accept that like I have?” “I don’t like you!” But he didn’t seem to hear her, unless he didn’t want to. “Michael?” She repeated. His grip tightened around her. “Mike?” He didn’t say anything. She pushed him off of her. He looked angry, his face beginning to twist. She backed up. “Why don’t you move on and leave me alone? I hate you!” Hadn’t he understood her when she said ‘can we still be friends?” This proves he hadn’t.
“Holly, please you can’t do this to me!” He raged. The phone began to rang. She starred at it; he starred at her.
“Mike, leave me alone right now-“
“Hal, you need help or anything?” Darcy called, coming into the kitchen. Holly nodded yes and slid past the both of them. “What’s her problem?” Darcy asked after her. Mike shrugged.
“Women and their time of the month.”
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