I watch the flowers bounce back up, hoping she’ll leave me alone, but she never gets the subtle hints I throw her way.
“That’s why I’m here.” She chuckles, squinting her eyes from the sunlight as she makes her way to where I stand. “So, tell me, how are you holding up?”
I shrug. “I’m doing fine. Thank you for asking.”
Like I would share anything personal with someone I hardly know. And anyway, she’s known as a gossip. The last thing I need is for my information to spread like wildfire.
“That’s terrific. Keep up the good work!”
I have to hold back an eye roll as she gestures dramatically to the garden I’m trying to water in peace.
“Your mother was such a peach. I know she’d be so proud of you.”
“She was the best,” I agree before shutting off the hose and gathering it in my hands. “If you’ll excuse me. I hate to?—”
“Have you heard anything?” Her loud question interrupts me rudely.
Each time I’m forced to have a conversation with her, I notice how it seems like she was never taught manners.
“I’m lost,” I say, looking over my shoulder. How she expects me to read her mind baffles me.
“Your old pals, the ones who travel the world, doing God knows what.” Her yellow teeth pop out at me.
See, she always loves being the first to know everything.
“Sorry, I know just as much as you do.”
A couple of years ago, just after my parents died, I spotted Amelia Drakos going in and out of their house for months. I’m not sure if she’d remember me from her brother’s past, seeing how the two of us were never really close.
“It’s a shame that house has been vacant for so long now.” Crossing her bony arms, she cocks up an eyebrow. “If that young boy you seemed to be so fond of turns up, you should snatch him before he runs loose again.”
I send her a small smile. “Our friendship is in the past, and it’s going to stay that way. If you don’t mind, I need to get going. Have a nice evening.” Waving over my shoulder, I hurry away before I can hear anything else.
Puffing out a frustrated breath, I brush away the hair that fell into my eyes. I know she’s just using me to get information about the Drakos family. Every conversation we have always ends up leading to something about them. I’m tired of talking about them because it always makes me question if I did something wrong. Something to make him disappear one day without even a goodbye.
Did fifteen years of friendship mean nothing?
We had been best friends for as long as I could remember. Our parents would force us to attend Greek school every Saturday morning. He would never pay attention; he used to drive me crazy.
We were inseparable. People at school would tease us and call our friendship an obsession.
He was my only friend, someone I found comfort in when I got bullied in school. I never knew how to stick up for myself. But he always would.
Until, one day, he packed up his car with his family andneverreturned.
For so long, all I wanted was a phone call, for him to tell me why he’d left. Instead, I had to watch him become a world phenomenon on a screen.
After all the promises we made to one another, I’d count it as a win if I never had to see Elijah Drakos again.
TWO
ELIJAH
Usually, the blaring sun that makes me question whether my face is burning off or not feels nice. I’d soak in the distant sound of crickets and the clean air. Right now, all I feel is aggravated.
I’m literally picturing punching the sun.
I made the mistake everyone like me tries to steer clear of. Tabloids. Gossip magazines that write false shit about me. Trying to ruin my life and my image. I never pay attention to anything that’s written about my siblings and me. But, God, today, I was caught off guard.
