Except, the second those blue eyes opened, she found the bleak sight of Harper Rock before her, and her shoulders slumped in utter defeat. The clouds blocked the stars with the promise of snow, not sunshine. Once upon a time, the thought of snow had excited her. The mystical rain that had frozen, never to be seen in the heat of Australia. It was a dream. One that she wished she had never had. Snow was overrated.
Slowly, a smile crept onto her lips. Someone had told her that, a long time ago. Almost a lifetime, it felt like. It was a time when everything was so much simpler, when nothing phased her. Back then, the sky came in black and white, with no shades of grey. His face appeared in her mind’s eye as if he were standing before her, and she looked down. The day she first met him was the day everything changed.
[[FLASHBACK]]
“Aliyah, honey! It looks like we have new neighbors! Won’t you come help me bake cookies for them?” her mother called, standing within the glass sliding door with a wide smile as she watched her seven year old play in the yard.
The little blonde paused, picking her ball from the ground, head turned toward the house. The massive moving truck was a flurry of movement, a rush to get everything out as quickly as possible. The house had been empty for about a year, and she often played in the yard. She frowned, suddenly realizing that wouldn't be allowed, anymore.
“Aliyah?”
Her eyes scanned the yard, looking for any signs of who might be moving in. Coming up short, she turned, running off to help her mother with a silent wish that they would be nice.
__________________________________________
Her mother knocked on the door the next day, holding the plate full of cookies. Aliyah shifted from foot to foot, anxious to get back to other things. “Mommy?” she whispered, tugging at the woman’s skirt. “Do I have to meet them?”
It only took the stern look from her mother to get an answer, and her shoulders slumped down. It was time to play nice, but she had always been good at pretend. Maybe, they could be a family of bears, like in that silly book! A little giggle escaped her lips, her hand shooting up to cover it up just as the door swung open.
A boy stood there, looking at them in wonder. “Who are you?”
Adelaide Hawthorne blinked at the young boy, but recovered in a moment flat. “Hello, my name is Adelaide. This is my daughter, Aliyah. We were hoping to welcome you to the neighborhood. Are your parents home?” she asked, giving the small blonde a little nudge as introduction. Ali didn't say anything, staring rudely, instead.
Another hand joined the boy’s on the door, “Maxon, who is it, love?” The voice was nice and soft, a woman poking her head around. As soon as she spotted them, she ushered her son away and smiled broadly. “Oh, please excuse my boy! His manners need some work! Come in, come in! My name is Lydia. My boy there is Maxon.”
Aliyah’s mother returned the smile and moved inside, guiding her along. “Oh, thank you. I was just telling your son that we are from next door and wanted to officially welcome you here,” she explained, gesturing to their house. “I’m Adelaide, and this is Aliyah.”
The woman shook hands, exchanging pleasantries. Satisfied they were properly acquainted, they excused their children. Maxon lead the way out to the background, giving way to a tire swing and various toys scattered around the yard. Ali scanned over the yard with a wrinkle of her nose.
“Want to ride the swing?” he asked, stopping to stare at her, but with his finger pointing toward the old tire.
She was quiet for a moment, then shook her head. “No. Boys are gross. I don’t play with boys.”
Maxon’s face scrunched up, as if mad. “Girls are gross-er…” he muttered, leaving her there to go to the swing on his own. As the afternoon wore on, they didn’t speak, moving around the yard as if the other didn’t exist. Every now and then, her blue eyes would find him when he wasn’t paying attention, and she would cant her head. Like a moth to a flame.
[[END]]
Aliyah laughed aloud, turning her back to the window. Back then, she hadn't known he had watched her the same way she watched him. It wasn't until years later that he admitted to it, letting her laugh at his embarrassment. He hadn’t deserved it, but as usual, he took it. He took a lot.
Her hand moved to her pocket, freeing her cell phone. Teeth met her lip as she chewed nervously at it. It had been years since she last spoke to Maxon, their last time face-to-face having ended in argument neither of them had wanted. They said things better left buried, but it didn't stop the hurt. That hurt eventually led to silence, neither one willing to be the first to apologize. They were the same in that way, both so stubborn.
With a huff, she tossed the phone to her bed. He wouldn't answer. Hell, he might not even have the same number. A weight settled over her chest at the thought. It was entirely possible that she could never speak to her best friend, ever again.
If there was one person she wished she could have run to when all this began, it would have been Maxon. His arms that held so much comfort and warmth were exactly what she needed. Except, they were oceans away, last she knew. While she was stuck in the bitter cold of North America, he still walked the sandy beaches of Australia. Probably enjoying the life they said they were sure to have. At least one of them should have, anyway.
