Chapter Eleven: My Recycled Soul by Lynette Ferreira
Sean storms into the hall and stares at me accusingly. He does not feel the need to keep me happy. He walks to my mum’s side and puts his arm around her shoulders protectively. “You should have called, you know how your mum gets, especially after we tried to call, and your phone was off. We were just about to call the police.”
“I know. I am sorry I forgot.” I look at my mum, and say
pleadingly, “Really, I am sorry.”
“After all your mum’s worry all you can say is sorry. Trust
me, we are happy you made new friends, but please do not let this happen again.
Your mum needs to know where you are at all times.” Sean carries on. Once he
gets started, he can keep going for a long, long time. I look at him, and even
though I know I am in the wrong, my mind goes blank. It does not even drift off
to think pleasant thoughts. His droning voice shuts down the thought processes
in my head. I know he means well. He really loves my mum, but there is no need
for a lecture to continue indefinitely. I hear him ask, “Not difficult, is it?”
“No, of course not.”
He smiles, but the smile does not reach his eyes. It is one
of those trying to be friendly, but still angry smiles. “Now, go and get
changed, young lady.”
I take the stairs to my room two by two. They are forever
treating me like a child. My mother is over-protective to the point of
smothering and needs to know where I am all the time. Deep down, I know I
cannot blame her after the suddenness of my dad’s death. I know and I
understand how she worried where he was for hours, before there was a knock at
the door, announcing that he died. Still, I need some space–it is very
tiresome.
Quickly I change into my pyjamas, and then I shake as much
sand as possible out of my school uniform into the shower cubicle. I want to
stay in my room and sulk, but I am too hungry, so I go back downstairs in
search of dinner.
To keep the peace, before Sean happens upon the idea to
ground me indefinitely, I spend the rest of the evening with them, although all
I want to do is go to bed and analyse my sudden, crushing feelings for Jared.
When Sean is his pleasant self again, and my mum has
relaxed, I say goodnight and go upstairs. My room feels a little comfier than
it did that first day, months ago—not much, but I turn a blind eye and snuggle
into bed.
I close my eyes and see Jared’s face in front of me. It
seems ridiculous and rash, honestly too fast, but I think I love him.
Is that even possible?
I lay daydreaming, reliving every detail of the day in my
mind, obviously only the parts involving Jared, for most of the night.
When I eventually do fall asleep, I am smiling contentedly.
My mum calls out while passing my bedroom door,
“Elizabeth! I am not going to call you again. It’s time to get up, or you’ll
make everybody late.”
Stretching, I throw the warm blankets off me reluctantly. I
wrap my arms around my upper body, as I rush over to the window to see what the
weather brought with it today.
It is a truly dreary day—grey, grey and grey everywhere. No
wonder I overslept; it is still dark outside.
I realize I only have half an hour before we must leave for
school, so in a whirlwind I rush through my room. I am as ready as I will ever
be by the time my mum’s exasperated voice reaches up to me from the hall, “Come
Elizabeth, you are late.”
My mum complains all the way to school about my tardiness,
and I am relieved when we eventually stop in front of the school gate.
Jane is waiting for me, as always. “Hey Elizabeth, you are
late today,” she says when I reach her.
“Hey.” I shrug and turn back to wave to my mum.
“Looks like summer said goodbye yesterday,” Jane says
looking up at the sky and I agree.
We walk down the pathway to the main school building and
start talking together, but polite as only Jane can be, she allows me to speak
first.
“Do you like, and I mean, really like Aaron?” I ask her
inquisitively.
Her head snaps around to look at me, and then she looks
around to see who might be in the near hearing vicinity. I give her a
questioning look, pulling my eyebrows up curiously.
“Yes, I do—alright?” She whispers.
“So, what is your problem then, telling me he really likes
me?”
She sighs. “What is there for me to do? We have been
together in the same school, in the same group of friends since first year and
he just does not notice me.”
“Make him notice you!”
“How must I do that?”
“Tell him.”
Easier said than done.
Horrified she stares at me. “Have you completely lost your
mind?”
“Maybe.” I smile mysteriously.
“Please. Promise me you would never tell him,” she begs
horrified.
“No,” I say laughing.
“Please.” She grabs onto my shoulders, and she whirls me
around so that I am facing her. “Please!”
“Honestly,” I say, still laughing. “If I am going to be your
friend, you are really going to have to start trusting me.”
She smiles and sighs with relief.
We continue walking, and she retaliates, “It’s not like you
would tell Jared how you feel about him, now would you?”
Vivid memories flash through my mind from the day before.
His dark cropped hair, full eyebrows, long eyelashes and his perfectly straight
nose. Never mind his luscious lips and those green, green eyes. Strong arms
twirling me around, the jacket I forgot at home that smells so very much like
him, his whisper against my ear.
I smile, sighing blissfully. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah, and I noticed him too taking a particular interest in
you last night.”
Dismissively I reply, “I am sure he has a new girlfriend
every week.”
“You’ll be so surprised.”
“Why would I be surprised?”
