Defying the Stars

The nurse was desperate to find something wrong with me. She poked and prodded me everywhere, trying to see what was wrong. I wanted to laugh. What was wrong with me wasn’t something medicine could fix.

Unless there’s a medicine for love sickness…

She finally gave up and decided to send me home. I faked calling my dad, not that he would be home anyways, and said that I’d get a ride from someone. What I really needed was a walk; something to clear my mind for a while. No snickering strangers, no cursing golden girls, no guilt of what happened; just me and my mind.

Now there’s a deadly combination.

I just started walking. I didn’t really know where I’d go. I didn’t really want to go home. Our housekeeper, Jan, would just chew me out for not calling her, and how my father was going to be mad at me.

To be honest, I wanted to go back in time. I wanted to press rewind and go back to when I was friends with Matt and Linds, and we made fun of people like Gina. Back when Matt and I were accused of being a couple because we were so close. Back when I was with them so much that people thought I was the black sheep of their family.

My feet stopped in the middle of a driveway. The house was a nice Victorian style, with a huge porch with one of those swinging benches. I nearly cried as I remembered how Matt, Lindsey, and I used to play in that house. We’d play hide and seek in the plentiful rooms.

I nearly started crying as I thought back to my childhood. Why couldn’t I go back? Why couldn’t I have stopped myself from getting with Gina? Why couldn’t I have stopped myself from going to that party-

“…Lena?” a familiar voice asked, snapping me out of my memories.

I looked up and saw Matt, standing up in front of me, with that sideways smile he always had. Though, this one was more in confusion than anything else. Why would I, Selena Van Neil, the Selena Van Neil that was such a bitch to him and would act as if he didn’t exist, suddenly decide that he was worth my time?

I forced a smile on my face and pushed the true thoughts in my head back. I could dwell on them later. Breath, relax. Put that big smile on your face, Selena, and make Matt see how nice you really are.

“Hey, Matt.”

“Long time, no see,” he said, clearly confused.

We stood there staring at each other for a while until another voice called out.

“¡Vayamos, Mateo! ¡Necesito ir a la clase de español!” I heard Lindsey yell from the car. Matt must have been grabbing something during the free period that he and his sister shared.

Matt rolled his bright blue eyes. “Sorry about Lindsey. You know how she is.”

I nodded in agreement, even though I was sure I didn’t anymore. Besides, I didn’t know what to say to him. What do you say to someone who you haven’t talked to in about two years?

“I’d invite you in, but I have to get going. I’ll see you later, Lena.”

He turned and walked away, and so did I, going all the way back home.