The Endless Night

Chapter - 4

Hannah was holding me, helping me climb the tree.

I sensed something behind us coming closer but before I tilt my head, a really loud barking sound made Me and Hannah jump out our skin. Hannah lost grip and I would've fallen down if I wasn't holding on to that branch.

"Jay? You freakin' idiot!" Hannah yelled as loud as she could when Jamie came into the view from behind. She kept hitting on his shoulder ang Jamie kept laughing hysterically.

"Okayy guys, I'm stuck here" I reminded them.

Hannah pushed Jay towards me "Help her now".

Jamie dropped the bag he was holding and stood below trying to figure out how to help.

Without letting a moment pass by I stepped on his shoulder and got my other foot on the branch and climbed.

"Ow, why do both of you have problem with my shoulder?" Jamie said.

Meanwhile Hannah explored his bag full of juice cans and a large pack of potato chips

"Thank goodness, I've been feeling thirsty" She said while opening a can.

"Pass me one" I said while sitting there on that branch.

Jay passed me a can "here, now pose for me" he said pulling out his phone.

"I'm not posing! But since I know you'll still click the pics, just keeping it natural." I said and started to drink without looking at him.

"Keeping it natural? Ironic, cause you haven't dropped it on your shirt yet Ms.Clumsy" he winked at me.

I held the juice can away from my lips and gave him pathetic look. As soon as I did, he clicked pictures and commented "You just looked like you sipped sweat".

"Ew!" I squeaked and made a really disgusted face. SNICK! SNICK! He clicked few more.

"PERFECT! This is what I was trying to get" Jamie said and laughed so hard. Hannah peeped into his phone and laughed like a hyena.

I rolled my eyes as I moved on to the branch where our big wooden board was placed.

I gave a shriek looking at the board "What the hell is this? Our board is either scratched by wild wild cat or the board is getting too old to remain intact. It's peeling off."

Hannah threw the empty can nearby and said "Help me come to you" raising her arm towards me to hold and pull her up.

Jay helped her pulling towards me. Hannah climbed as I pulled her up. "Oh my, it's really worn out." she commented.

As Jamie was attempting to climb I said "Wait, let me get back down first." He held me carefully and placed me down.

"Guess who gained up some weight" Jamie eyed at me.

"Guess who gave you a good workout" I snapped back and walked away. I took some potato chips and moved towards opposite direction.

I saw a cute little squirrel on a tree nearby. I stood there and I was wondering if I throw few chips, will it come towards me? But something else caught my attention. My gaze went towards an animal moving on the ground far away. 'Look whose coming this way' I said to myself. Too far for me to make out what animal it was. Definitely not a squirrel. I suppose it's a Bandicoot.

To my surprise, that thing disappeared in to the ground that very second. As if ground wasn't ground but a hole. There was no hole. I stared at it for a minute or two then I shook my head twice vigoriously, trying to make sense what I just saw. There was literally nothing that bandicoot could enter. Nowhere to hide. It just got dissappeared.

"Boo" said Jamie from behind and I swung.

"You never get tired of it, do you?"

"Why do you have to get scared as if you saw a ghost?"

"You know what, I actually saw a ghost!" Sounding genuine.

"Where? I wanna see it too." Making it sound less obvious that he was kidding.

I paused.

"Then go and see the mirror." I replied as I crunched my potato chips and went back to Hannah.

He musn't really know. Infact no one must know what I just saw here ever. Because it must definitely be a delusion.

******** ******** ********

Right after coming back home, I shuffled through the curtains, making my way to the bathroom door. I dragged myself inside, slid into the tub and took a relaxing hot shower.

Right after coming out I wore whichever clothes touched my hands first and then fell on my bed for a short and sweet nap.

Hannah peeked in and raised one eyebrow "Nap time at noon?"

I sighed "I really am veryyy tired. I haven't walked this much in months. And now my legs are killing me."

"Ever heard of a word 'workout'?"

"I guess so" I said drowsily.

"You should take some tips from me," She came towards me and sat over my blanket right on my legs. I gasped as it felt so good.

She blabbered "...like health tips, fitness tips, how-to-pick-up-on-boys tips."

I gave a faint smile. She continued talking "By the way I came here to tell you that we are going to Delrio Bistro for lun.. ." I could barely hear her and my eyes were shut. "Okay, nevermind. I'll wake you WHEN I'M HUNGRY" she said loudly and strode out of the room.

In my sleep I heard someone continously murmuring. It woke me up from my sleep. Fear seeped all over me. I glanced around and then the room was in total silence. 'Annie and Rosemary again, but their voices are not wheezy and unclear, it might be in my dream' I thought.

As I entered the hall I saw Hannah wearing yellow dress and pitch black tights and hair in an updo. She sat on a sofa glued in her blackberry cellphone

Which was most trending canadian cellphone company in 2009.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked checking out her outfit from top to bottom.

"Does it look like?" She asked sarcastically.

"Looks like a lunch date" I winked at her.

She rolled her eyes and asked "You don't really remember about Delrio Bistro, do you?" I totally forgot. I nodded sheepishly. "Go get ready, NOW!" She ordered as usual.

"What about the rest?"

"Aunt Lara is in town. She's coming to meet mom, so mom is staying home. I ordered Jamie to stay at home with mom, so we can go there and check out on boys" She winked.

I laughed and said "Let's see, I'll be ready in two." I went back to my room and grabbed my usual blue jean, and after few seconds of digging in cupboard, I tugged a white top. My cardigan was a wreck so I took a jean jacket.

As soon as Hannah saw my jean jacket she muttered something under her breath and then called out loud "Your jacket complements my dress better"

"Sorry not this time! My cardigan is wreck, I have no option."

"You can wear mine. It'll suit you better" She said and immediately handed me her grey cardigan. I gave a second thought and then exchanged with mine.

We walked all the way to the bridge and crossed the river. After passing by few lanes, we found Delrio Bistro shining in daylight.

"So, they got bigger..." Hannah commented.

I continued her sentence as we entered "...And crowded".

Hannah read the menu out for me to decide order.

"Pollo Pesto - Grilled chicken, pesto mayo, tomato with side salad.

Verdure - Grilled veggies, pesto, herbed mayo."

She looked up at me if I made up my mind yet. So I started to read the rest of the menu.

"Delrio burger - Beef patty, caramelized onions, fried eggs, mayo, cheese.

Katsudon sandwich - Deep fried breaded chicken, japanese mayonnaise, cheese."

I couldn't read further as it made my mouth water.

"Katsudon Sandwich" we both said in chorus with glee, it has been our favourite. The menu hadn't changed a bit, yet the crowd had grown.

I looked at Hannah and teased "Someone was speaking about Health and fitness today. Is it a cheat day?"

"We're on holiday and that gives me freedom to shop & eat whatever the hell I want."

We finally gave our orders, took the slip and found a place somewhere in the center and sat there waiting for our orders to arrive.

Hannah took a look around the restaurant. And then bent towards me and whispered "Do you think that guy will buy us something?"

I turned to my left to find a huge guy with weird tattoos in the corner.

I turned back to Hannah, glared at her and said "Are you gone crazy?" in a subdued whisper.

She laughed at my reaction. She looked towards to the counter to check the order number on the screen and sighed "Still long way to go, I'd probably die of..." She trailed off "...Is that- Is that Him?"

I turned around disinterestedly and gazed exactly where Hannah was gazing. A familiar handsome face took me aback. I stared at him, and then at his mop of amber blonde hair, and then my eyes moved towards his stubble around his perfect jaw. I stared way longer than I should. I looked away when I felt my cheeks burning "Uh, Is that...? Uh..Chris?" I managed to ask Hannah even though I was just as sure as the sun will rise.

"I'm calling him here." Hannah immediately walked up to him and surprised him from behind. He faced her and shocked-wide smile appeared on him. Hannah pointed towards me as she spoke. His eyebrows raised and smile grew wider on seeing me. The counter guy handed him the order slip, and He immediately started walking towards me.

His contagious smile made my smile grow wider. They reached my table and he stood still right in front of me, staring with wide brown eyes.

An attractive voice spoke "Stella, Is that really you?" He exaggerated like I changed a lot.

"Chris! Hi!" I giggled "You're not the same either" I said and He punched me playfully and laughed.

"But your habit of punching me never changed. Borrow a seat from that table" Hannah pointed towards an empty table nearby.

As soon as he left for the seat, Hannah said "Can you believe? Chris Daniels, the kid with rabbit teeth, would grow to be as goodlooking as he is now?"

I just shook my head. I couldn't say a word. It was as if I was speechless. I recollected everything about him from my memories. Chris. Rough-haired boy, who lived down the street. With whom we used to play every single day. This guy made my childhood better.

"Me neither." Hannah answered herself jerking me out of my reverie.

Chris came back and placed the seat and sat looking at both of us again "Well, well. Tell me everything. When did you come. How long have you been here and--and please don't tell me that you're leaving soon. You're not, right?"

"Nope, not yet." I said as I saw counter striking our order number.

"Chris it's hard to tell you but we actually came here on Grandpa's..." Hannah started to tell him about Granpa. I got up to bring the order "I'll go wait for the food... I mean I'll get the food". I thanked the counter screen for flashing our number at the right moment. And I thanked that this was self-service restaurant as I got a chance to walk away from that discussion. I just didn't feel like hearing or talking or even thinking about all of it all over again. I cried most of the nights thinking about it, I didn't want to cry during the day, especially now.

I stared at the menu above, but my attention drew towards the flame on the BBQ section of the kitchen behind a thick glass wall as I could see it around the lighted coal that was blazing so beautifully. Fire. Flame. Why is fire so brilliant, watching it is always so consoling. Why does is feel good to have fire nearby?

Granpa loved it as well. I remember the fire reflecting in his grey eyes when he sat near the fireplace. It has been his favourite place

 

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