Chapter 7: School Trip #2

My alarm blared with incessant frequencies.

Snooze.

I hit the button constantly over and over again for it to just go off again and again. I rubbed my eyes awake, as I forcefully opened them to see the group chat blowing up my phone.

''Jake bro where r u'' Jay's message popped up first as I looked confusedly into my blinding phone screen.

''jake, you idiot. im gonna call your mum'' Alyssa's message popped up next right below. What were they all even talking about? Where am I supposed to be-

''Jake, you're in trouble.'' Finally Yuki's message popped up and with a ferocious thrash, my mom bashed through the door and threw my sheets off.

''Huh, mom what?'' My body freezing shivered out the words in shock.

''Jake, do you not remember what you were meant to do today?'' My mum, a frying pan in her hand menacingly hovering it about my head.

''What- it's a sunday, where am I ever supposed to be?'' I questioned, trying to pull the covers back over my freezing torso.

''The mall. With your group, to buy things.'' My mum echoed as she walked off leaving me with my lonesome.

Shit. I forgot

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I rushed over manically to the mall, my hair a mess, a loose wrinkled white T-shirt and whatever joggers I could find sprawled out across my floor.

Shit. Why would they want to meet on a sunday anyway?

I saw the group, sitting down on a bench in the centre as I rushed into the mall at full sprinting speed. Jay's nice clean leather black jacket shined underneath the light, his hair nicely swept back, the black highlights of his hair glimmering with the light gel he seemed to have put in. Yuki's simple black dress highlighted her figure, her hair done so complicatedly into braids and plaits and beautiful designs. Ava wore a simple green jumper and a long skirt that swayed ever so slightly in the wind when I ran in through the doors. Then Alyssa, she was dressed in a chic denim jacket with jeans that flared at the bottom- her hair in a slick back ponytail.

Then here I was, looking like I just got out of bed, well I did. As I saw them all fashionably dressed up, I tried to pivot my way back, but I caught Alyssa's eye as she came bolting towards me at full speed with her hands wide open and a huge smile on her face. Her ponytail wavered effortlessly in the wind.

''Jake!'' She cried out as she ran towards me at full speed, a huge wide smile on her face. Her ponytail fluttered in her fast movements as her eyes sparkled brightly underneath the lights above. As she approached me, I walked towards her and belatedly spread my arms out before-

BANG!

She collided with me at full spread, tackling me to the ground. Next thing I know, Alyssa is above me, puffing with a much scarier look on her face from before. Her big wide eyes now a much more wrinkled and furrowed version than before. She gripped my collar with the strength of a gorilla while she dug her gaze deep into the depths of my soul.

''Jake.. How could you forget?'' Her mouth opened barely enough for her low eerie voice to escape out.

''I-um, Alyssa.'' Words stammered out my mouth as I laid in shock at what just happened. 

''You idiot.'' She walked off without much more of a breath wasted as Jay ran towards me but not before slowing down while walking past the raging bull that was Alyssa. 

''Damn. You good?'' Jay looked me up and down before supporting me up and walking with me to the rest of the group. 

I awkwardly looked around at the group before looking down at myself.

''Hey guys, sorry. I forgot.'' I quietly whispered, keeping my head down. Trying not to catch anyone's gaze.

''Well, it's okay.'' I heard Yuki's soft tone ring out a bit, before the energy seemed to pick up again.

''Um, so we're here to buy everything we need for our school trip right?'' Ava said as she plucked up the courage to talk first.

''Yup! Yup! I can't wait.'' Jay jumped up and down excitedly, his fancy leather jacket fluttering ever so slightly.

''Well, I think it's best if we split into groups first. Instead of going as all one? What do you all think?'' Yuki spoke again towards the group.

''Sure.'' Alyssa quietly spoke, her eyes a bit more downturned then normal. Yuki seemed to notice this and panned her eyes over to Alyssa before then panning her eyes towards me with a mischievous grin.

''Well, I think we should go in these groups. What about me, Jay and Ava- then Jake and Alyssa-'' Before she even spoke out, Alyssa shouted out-

''Me and him? No, I'm okay.'' Alyssa complained, a slightly flustered tone in her voice. Her eyes sparkling just a bit now.

''I think it's a good idea.'' Jay spoke out. ''I mean, you two know each other the best.'' He said, without much resistance from the majority.

''Well! I guess it's settled then. You two, have some fun.'' Without much delay, Ava, Yuki and Jay took off but not before Yuki shot me a glare first at me and then signalled to Alyssa followed by mouthing something in my direction.

''Be nice.'' She mouthed before she ran off excitedly with the other two, Ava being dragged by Jay as she looked over at me and flashed a soft smile. 

We stood there for a long time in silence. A really long time, and I mean at least 5 minutes. Just stood there. Alyssa played with her strawberry-blonde hair as she looked over at me from time to time pouting behind from where I could see her face fully.

 Something was off, I'm guessing I did something to her but I couldn't figure it out. Maybe, it's because of how I dressed. So I tried to speak up.

''First, should we go up and look for clothes?'' I suggested, trying to imitate the closest thing I could to a smile before she looked up at me with cold eyes.

''Okay.'' She agreed before walking off in front of me, her arms laid behind her, her pale pretty fingers intertwining. From behind, she looked really gorgeous. Her long layered hair fluffed up and down as she trotted along. Her slim back made her look fragile, but she was obviously the opposite. She turned back to look at me as she caught my eye before quickly turning right back.

''Alyssa, you okay?'' I plucked up the courage to ask her before she turned around and looked at me with an unrecognizable expression. I'd known her for so long, but I'd never seen this expression on her face. 

''Moron.'' She turned back around as she made a 'hmph' noise. I tried to jog up to her pace but she seemingly just increased it.

We made it to a clothes store and I ran in and got in front of her.

''Hey, can you recommend me some clothes?'' I put on the best grin and looked at her, trying to keep an open expression.

''Yeah, okay.'' She seemingly cheered up a bit as she tardily walked up and started inspecting the clothes. Running her fingers along the hem of the fabrics and inspecting every single fibre of each piece of clothing. Alyssa's always been really fashionable as I saw a small smile arrive on her face but it soon disappeared as she turned to face me.

''Try this.'' She gestured towards the baggy jeans and button up flannel she had picked up. I jogged towards the changing rooms and tried my best to fix everything up with the outfit, I even did my hair up, well I tried my best. I walked out with the most confidence I could muster up as she turned to face me. Her eyes widened before she ran up to me.

''Woah! That looks so good on you! You look so mature.'' She excitedly punched me, a huge smile on her face as she played around with the flannel shirt, and even played around with my hair.

''Even your hair-'' She panned her eyes from my head down to meet my gaze as the happy expression slowly vanished from her face, she turned around quickly and walked away. I walked towards the changing rooms a bit sunken, thinking about what happened to her. I trudged back to the counter and bought the clothes before I saw Alyssa twirling her hair in circles as she sat down. She only ever twirls her hair when she has something to say but doesn't have the courage to say it. As she saw me walk up to her, she got up just as quick and walked away as I attempted to keep up with her.

A lot of the afternoon was spent like that, me chasing after her. I tried buying her chocolates, but she didn't want them. I even tried to keep up conversation about things she liked, music, art and sports. However, she didn't budge at all. I saw the sunset slowly fall below the windows as we exited to a small garden where I saw her stand there, looking up longingly. I had to say something.

I took her hand from behind and she turned around.

''Hey, Alyssa. I'm sorry.'' I said to her, as I squeezed her hand trying not to sound like my normal grumpy self. 

Her look slowly changed as I saw her eyes open up again, and I thought I saw tears well up for a minute before they settled down. She ripped her hands out of mine and turned around again.

''For what?'' She questioned. A really good question. What was I sorry for? I tried to think back, maybe it was because of something at school. Or maybe it was because of something I said, or did-

I did? I remembered she had done her eyeliner a different colour, and her perfume also smelled different. She seemed to have put in a lot of effort today. Was it because I forgot? Was she excited to see us today? Me?

I tried to push the embarrassing thought out of my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Then Yuki saying 'be nice' makes a lot more sense too. I grabbed her shoulders and turned her around, as her eyes were on the brink of crying. I pushed up my chest and looked at her deep in her eyes, her bright beautiful eyes.

''I like your eyeliner today, and your outfit. It looks really good on you.'' I said, before realizing the weight of what I'd just said as I bowed my head to avoid her gaze. 

She then grabbed my chin and pulled my face up to face her before a small soft smile popped up on her face. A small tear falling.

''Thanks, Jake.'' She embraced me for a long time.

''I'm sorry for being late, that was really horrible of me. Especially when you were looking forward to it.'' I said as we were in our embraced selves. I felt her arms curl around me, the sunset bathing her hair in a beautiful coating of sunshine. We stayed there for a while, before she pushed away and poked my side.

''Whatever! Just don't be late again, or else.'' She teased at me before grabbing my hand as we ran back into the shop. We saw Jay and Ava and Yuki sitting back at the spot we all met as Alyssa dragged me our hands intertwined as she returned to her normal self. 

''Hey guys!'' Alyssa excitedly jumped around as she still held my hand tight, everyone looking on with a small smile on her face. I turned around to see Jay holding around 20 bags.

''Jay, what the-'' The words escaped from my mouth before Yuki giggled.

''Well, I had a lot of shopping to do.'' Yuki chuckled as she chucked one more thing into the bag, Jay looked unfazed as he quickly grabbed Ava's bags as well.

''Oh-um, thanks.'' Her cheeks a pale flush of red as she turned away.

I looked towards Alyssa, but her eyes were already patterned towards my face. She squeezed my hand as she looked at me, for a few seconds. Those seconds felt like forever. It was nice.

The sun set over the horizon of the mall as we walked out together. Banter started escaping from the mouths of Jay and Yuki as they muttered on about their adventures, Ava slowly giggling every now and then. Me and Alyssa still hand in hand for some reason- I tried to pull away but she seemed to have an iron grip over my fingers as I resigned myself to my fate. We reached the train station as Yuki and Jay got a separate train, Jay handed Ava's bags back as she patted her on the back.

''Here you go, Ava! Send us a picture of you in the jacket I picked for you on the group chat!'' He shouted out as he stumbled over the numerous of Yuki's bags he had been voluntarily carrying before Jay and Yuki exited onto their train. 

Me, Alyssa and Ava were left as Ava followed us towards where me and Alyssa normally wait for out train.

''Oh Ava, where abouts do you live?'' Alyssa leaned into Ava as she let go of my hand finally and wrapped herself around Ava as she normally does with her friends. 

Ava flustered at the sudden physical contact squealed a bit.

''Oh, um-'' She jumped back before Alyssa latched onto her again.

''Well, I have to take the southern train to get home'' Ava whispered out, a bit more comfortable with the koala of Alyssa latched onto her.

''Oh, that's the one me and Alyssa get.'' I spoke out as our train arrived, the screeching rung out as I saw Ava cover her ears a bit but tried not to get caught up in it. 

The train ride was a lot of Alyssa interviewing Ava and whacking me as she normally does. We stepped out of the train platform, this memorable train platform. Where he left. Alyssa seemingly noticed my shoulders stiffen up as she grabbed me by my sleeve and dragged me out as Ava hurriedly ran along with us. We walked for a while, taking our familiar streets and pathways, Ava still following behind.

''Hey Ava, you don't need to walk us home. Where do you live, me and Jake will take you.'' Alyssa looked over at Ava as she turned to her face slowing her pace down a bit.

''Well, you two have been going the way I live, so we can carry on.'' She played around with her phone a bit as she checked the time, her eye twitching a little. That scar again flashed into sight as wind blew into her bangs enough to make it visible to me. 

We reached where me and Alyssa lived as Ava still followed diligently behind.

''This it it.'' Ava pointed to the house right next opposite mine as me and Alyssa looked on in shock.

''HUH?!'' Both me and Alyssa let out a guttural sound of shock as she looked towards us with a shocked expression on her face.

I looked over at her house, and a few memories popped up in my head. Flashing sirens, police and loud screams entered my memories as I looked over at Alyssa before Ava quietly resigned herself and rushed in to the door, and as quickly as she entered her house, she locked the door and turned off the lights. 

I looked over at Alyssa as we both still in shock turned to each other.

''I can't believe she lived that close to us.'' Alyssa looked over at me with a bit of concern. I'm sure she had the same thoughts I did, but we both decided to attribute it to wrong memories. 

''Yeah, how did we not recognize her.'' I looked over at her house as something pained in my head trying to remember why I was having a bad feeling.

''Wanna have dinner at mine?'' Alyssa turned my gaze away towards her as she set her hand on my shoulder.''

''Yeah sure. Should I bring my mom?'' I questioned as I turned towards my house.

She whacked me on the back and smiled.

''Of course, why would it be just you?'' She smirked with that familiar expression, her cheeks a bit red under the coldness of the night. She skipped off into her house and I saw her face poke up from the window as she poked her tongue out at me.

I smiled a bit unknowingly before walking off, but couldn't help but cast my gaze over to the Ava's house. 

I hope this bad feeling goes away.