Chapter 2

Medora

“You live at house 13, Highland Drive, right?” Yellow reminded me of where I live. Aside from checking to fill in my job application form, I never really memorized where I live.

“Yeah,” I propped on the stool next to her.

"You live next to Clyde Miller," she mentioned casually.

“Who is that?” Aside from yellow and Matthew I pretty much don't know anyone else in this town.

"The boy with the pretty treehouse,” she added, stacking the fancy plates on top of each other.

“You know him because of his pretty treehouse?” I was puzzled.

She giggled.

“No. His father and he were involved in a plane crash. The private plane was beyond repair, and it took his father's life. It's a miracle that the young boy only suffered injuries to his legs. He's always loved that treehouse, but now he hardly ever leaves it, I hear. His mother also became a shadow of herself after losing her husband."

A sharp pain pierced my chest as I absorbed the weight of her story.

“Urghhh,” I groaned, clutching my chest because at this point, it hurts physically. “Can today get any worse?”

“What did you say to him?” Yellow asked.

I'm too ashamed to let it out but yellow has been a very good friend to me and the only person I have been able to talk to, so I might as well tell her and see if she can possibly find a solution with me.

I wondered why Yellow was cleaning dishes instead of Sam but I was really engrossed in our conversation. “Sweetheart, tons of leaves from your tree fall over to my house and litter everywhere. Is there something we could do about that?”

“That was what you said? Not bad,” she shrugged.

“I wish!” I slumped dramatically on the stool. “I wish that was what I said but I yelled at him and made him fall off his chair then he yelled at me to get out,” my head drops to my plans.

Yellow managed a laugh and then walked over to me. She pulled me to herself and rubbed my back suitingly. “It's okay. You are going to apologize and everything will be fine,” she said.

I hate my life.

"I wish his mother chose to take care of her only son instead of doing drugs,” Yellow added.

I sighed. He is having it worse than I am, I'm not sure whether to be grateful or not but I'm really concerned about him.

_______

There were two women and one man sweeping together the leaves that had fallen over into my compound today just like yesterday and the day before. I bit my fingers nervously, feeling like a terrible person. I know I was cruel that day to Clyde and I could have been more diplomatic but I don't want strangers in my house.

I had instructed them two days ago not to come to my home again to sweep the leaves but they refused saying they have been paid handsomely to sweep up the leaves.

You might as well call me miss grumpy. These days, I'm always grumpy. Today, maybe because yellow had to drag me out of the bed just when I started getting a hint of sleep to pick her up for her dentist appointment.

“You are late!” Yellow protested as I came to a halt in front of her house.

“Be grateful I'm here,” I rolled my eyes to the back and watched her get into the car.

Yellow doesn't have a car so I practically drive her everywhere since we met.

“What's wrong with your teeth?” My intention was to be polite but instead I sounded rude.

“What's with the grumpiness? Haven't you apologized to Clyde?” She said, clicking in her seatbelt.

“No, I don't have the balls,” I sighed.

“He is just a seventeen year old… say sorry,” Yellow said like that would in any way help.

“I will,” I sighed and pulled up into the hospital.

After a few minutes of waiting at the reception while Yellow saw her dentist. I yielded to the urge in my mind to call my Dad, so I stepped out of the hospital.

I leaned on my car and stared down at my dad's contact, my thumb hovering over the dial option. I thought that with time I wouldn't miss home so much but it has only gotten worse.

It's been days without speaking to my best friend Millie. Guilt washed over me knowing I should have at least told Millie I was leaving. The usual pain in my chest returned, come to think of it, is all of these truly better than marrying Anthony?

Just as I was about to hit the dial option, yellow yelled my name.

“Hey,” I masked my misery behind a smile and tucked my phone into my back pocket.

“My teeth are fine. My doctor thinks I'm allergic to my new toothpaste,” she smiled widely. Her smile makes me feel better.

Yellow reminds me of Millie a lot. Shoulder-length blonde hair is full with dark roots and perfectly styled. She wore simple makeup that enhanced her features-green eyes, pink thin lips, pretty long lashes, and a beauty mark just above her left eyebrow.

“Are you okay?” She asked, seeing I was only staring at her.

“I'm fine,” I smiled back.

“You look sad, do you miss home? Should we go get ice cream?” She asked to walk to the passenger's side of the car.

“Ice cream is great,” I ignored her other questions. Admitting that I miss home out loud might just be what breaks me down.

Just as we were about to enter the car, I noticed a few men in suits, about four of them wearing shades and matching earpieces, out of the hospital entrance. They paused just outside the doorway, lining two by the right and two by the left.

Something about their presence felt off. I glanced at Yellow, who seemed oblivious to the tension in the air. "Do you see those guys?" I asked.