Frozen Memories

Amorah Lane & Keyvah Marsh

With a discontent look, the guys disappeared and left the table to tend to some other business to another table of guys.

After watching the boys walk away, I returned a glance at the table that sat the three large boys that seemed to be the talk of the school. Though, not for too long, not wanting my gaze to be found by the one, Roman Dharke.

I was not fully aware of this day and age’s clichés but it was quite ideal of those Greys to be into athletics. I took them all in; one by one as quickly as one could with a chance glance. Thorne Grey’s perfection was underestimated in any course, with his dark, chocolate gold hair. His stature was quite that of a full man, while his facial features held that of youth and charm.

I didn’t have a chance to look over the other two before I felt a pair of eyes on me. Roman Dharke held a grimace as his gaze lay rooted my way. Unfortunately, I wasn’t swift enough to look away before we made eye contact. Nixon followed his eyes over to me, chuckling and noting something in Roman Dharke’s ear before, Roman returned with a response.

    It’s then that I noticed Nixon Grey’s expression change. He turned to the eldest one called, Thorne Grey and says something before they all look at the table where, Max, Laura and I sat. Roman Dharke looked to be ready to get up from his seat when Thorne Grey grabbed his hand, pausing him for a moment.

    In a low voice he spoke to Roman before Roman walked out of the school doors. I did not think that was permitted. Simultaneously, both Nixon and Thorne Grey turns, what looked to be a curious gaze my way, when two girls arrive sitting beside the two. I immediately avert my gaze, noticing that the prolonging stare was becoming increasingly unusual.

    “That was awkward.” Max chimed in, breaking me from my thoughts. “Thought that on again off again stare down would never end.” .

    Before I could respond Laura intercedes. “This kind of reminds me of that scene in my favorite movie where the girl and the guy were staring at one another across the cafeteria. Not even knowing that they would one day be the most epic lovers ever!” Needless to say, I was lost in translation.  I started, once again to inquire when Laura’s eyes turn wide. ”What if! What if this was-the real life version of that?”

    Laura seemed overly excited for her idea; almost euphoric even. I wanted to be excited for her but having no idea what the reason behind all of the excitement was made it difficult; nor did I have any insight of the story to which she was talking about. I glanced at Max who only cut her eyes.

    “I am lost.” I mouthed to her.

“She’s talking about a movie.” She said. “I guess it’s pretty decent, if you’re into that kind of thing.” She added.

“You should read the books!” Laura said excitedly.

“Or just look at the movie.” Max said. “Skips the sappy, gets straight to the action.” She said. She looked at Laura. “Not everyone likes to read, Lo.”

I looked at Laura with a smile and mouthed. “I do.” Laura’s disgruntled expression turned into a smile and small chuckle.

    “Seems you’re the only one that feels that way.” Laura said.

    By that point in their conversation, my mind and attention drifted into the history textbook. The silence at the table began to sink in as I looked up from the pages of my book to see that they all were staring at me.

    “What is it?” I curiously asked.

    Max shook her head, rolling her eyes. “You and that book.” There was a knowing smile on her face as she said this. So I did not take her words to heart when she called me a nerd again.

    I hadn’t even noticed that Clyde and Dustin returned. Clyde winked at me. “I like nerdy. Especially if it resembles someone like Mina.”

    “And I guess that was his awkward way of flirting.” Max called him out before I even had the opportunity to react.

    “Whatever.” Clyde grimaced, looking somewhat foolish.

    I felt uncomfortable for him, but it was an amusing observation still. I stifled a chuckle and continued to glance back and forth between my book and the curious and weird subjects of conversation of my newfound friends.

    The last class of the day seemed a breeze. And ironically, enough, the last Grey brother I had not yet run into acquaintance with shared the class. Though, fortunately, Laura had too.

As I introduced myself, my eyes could not help shifting over to where he sat. He only looked at me long enough to hear me announce my name to the class. He smiled curiously and looked away.

    After my awkward introduction, I sat next to Laura, who obviously noticed my distress at having to introduce myself again. “Look at it this way.” She whispered. “This will be the first and last time, you’ll have to introduce yourself to this class.” She grinned.

    “I must admit, that is a relief.” I returned with a relieved smile.

    “What’s up Mr. Weston?” Dustin came bursting into class. Obnoxious as he seemed to be, I found it refreshing, still to see another familiar face in class. “I think this just became my favorite class.” I heard Dustin say as he sat next to me.

    I knew that he only meant for me to hear but, judging by the content of Laura’s stance, she’d heard what he said. Rolling her eyes, Laura started writing in her notebook.

    I started to wonder whether she was infatuated with either Dustin or Clyde and if she were, which one was it?

    Dustin continuously kept his eye on me, causing me a little unsettled. I gave a subtle uninterested smile before I turned to my notebook and started to doodle notes of what I read concerning history for the last couple of days.

    “Miss Lane.” I heard the teacher call once again. “Nice of you to join us. Didn’t think I’d see you today.” The teacher greeted, though I could not help but notice how recognizably less aggressive he was toward her than he was with Dustin.

    “That’s one of the two objects’ of the brothers’ attention.” Laura said.

    Turning away from Laura and Dustin momentarily, I noticed that both Thorne and the one called Lane watched me. Lane smirked before she looked at me stoically and turned away.

    Between starting school and making new friends, it still seemed that things were turning out to be a mix of good, and confusing. So, needless to say, I was relieved when the bell rang for school to finally end.

“Hey!”

    When everyone’s attention veered past me, I turned around in small annoyance at the word that was apparently code for catching one’s attention around here. When I saw that familiar girl, approaching me, along with another whose gaze seemed not so welcoming, I was suddenly caught off guard.

    They were quite the attractive pair of friends. The one that I assumed spoke in the first place, was also the one that Mr. Weston called by the name of Lane. Her eyes were a diamond like blue-gray with what looked hints of honey, accentuated by long wispy eyelashes. Her hair, dark chocolate, fell past her shoulders in loose curls. And her skin was a smooth tone of caramel. Beauty was a word underestimating her features, along with her enviably fair skinned friend. So this must have been who Dustin and Clyde was referring too.

    “Wilhelmina, right?” she asked. I nodded yes and she smiled. “My name is Amorah Lane, and this-” She pointed to her friend, whose intimidating gaze watched me pointedly. “is Keyvah Marsh.” She introduced, to which Keyvah Marsh muttered an uninterested hello. I think it was a hello.

“Pleasure.” I returned.

    Her subtle smile seemed that of curiosity and was very unsettling. “He was right.” She mumbled in a near whisper. I was surprised that I could even hear it. Before I could mention the gesture, she further exceeded to make the situation awkward by sniffling and then inhaling a long breath. Her eyes closed and then she exhaled again. Following, her eyes shot open, startling me before she outreached her hand that I noticed to be gloved in a maroon color that matched her ensemble.

    “Pleasure is all mine.” she smiled.

    Hesitant for only a moment, before I started to reach out to take her hand, Keyvah Marsh quickly rounded and switched her attention to the direction of the three brothers that seemed to be staring our way; presumably at her. Then without warning, she grabbed Amorah Lane’s arm.

    “We gotta go.”

    Now, it seemed, acutely aware of Keyvah Marsh’s reasoning, Amorah Lane returned her awareness to me. “See you around, Wilhelmina Frost.” She grinned before her and Keyvah Marsh rushed off.

    It was such an odd passing moment that we all seemed to stand there disordered. “Well, I must admit-your stay here has really stirred things up a bit.” Max finally chimed in, grabbing my arm.

    “Are you sure you don’t know them?” Laura asked.

    I watched them walk away. And simply shook my head. “Positive.”

    “So…..I’m guessing you didn’t hear them introducing themselves to her.” Max spat in an unnecessary sardonic tone. Laura cut her eyes in a somewhat abashed manner. “Let’s go.”

    We started for the bus while I looked around, per the usual to enjoy the scenery. The sun shown in through the clouds, revealing the perfect amount of light while the wind picked up in a dancing breeze. I stopped. “I think I will walk home today.”

    Max turned around. “What? Why?”

    “This day is too beautiful to not take in every moment that I can.” I replied. “I prefer the fresh air.”

    “I hate to be nice but...you sure?” Max asked after a prolonged look of reluctance.

    I noticed the change in her tone. “Is walking home prohibited?”

    “No-” Max Power sighed before she continued in question. “You sure you should be walking alone, considering your-situation?” she asked.

“What situation-”

    “The situation of you just getting out of an ice box?” Max replied, cutting off my inquiry.

    “Ice bo-”

    “Mina, you were not too long ago found with no memory. And now you want to walk home alon-”

    “I have lost the memory of my past, but not so close a past as Friday nor that of this morning.” I explained. When I saw the continued hesitance in Max’s expression, I realized that my argument was apparently not justifiable to her. “I just want to experience as much of the outside world as I can.” I sighed. “I feel as though I have only ever been outside just to go inside. Inside of the hospital and the outside only to get inside of a large policing car to take me to the home; then inside of the group home. And then from there inside of that muggy and oddly odorous school bus to-”

    “Okay! Okay! I get it.” Max intervened my distressed rambling. “Inside.”

She watched me for a moment, irritation suddenly apparent. “W-do you-you know-do you want me to walk with you?” She asked, rolling her eyes.

I could not help the amusement at her reluctant and obstinate need to be courteous. It was obvious that it was something she was not so accustomed to. 

“Don’t start soft on me orphan girl.” I said with a smirk.

    Max shook her head and laughed. “Whatever.” Her laugh faded into a smirk. “Be careful, Frost.” She started backwards toward the bus. “Call me if you need me”

“Do I not need your portable phone number for that action?” I asked.

“You already have it.” She said before walking off to catch the bus.

    I took my phone out of my pocket and looked through the contact. Pass Dr. Byrne and Lisa Jones, I saw Max Power’s first name written in full capital letters. A smirk etched my features in the silent relief of my accruing of friends, before I started on my walk down the street where my schooling bus took off.