Promise (11)

Chapter 10 : Snow

This is too much. This is just too much. The Max guy is changing every of his classes to every single class that I attend. What is wrong with him? First, language, now P.E., history, geography, arts, maths.. I try to avoid him as much as possible in class, but he just can't stop bothering me.
"Hey, Sydney! I like your blouse!" Max says when he enters for history. Everybody turns and looks at me - and my blouse. My amaranth-pink blouse, with floral patterns. Urgh, I shouldn't have taken off my jacket.
"Remind me if I ever wear this again." I tell Wilma, a girl who sits beside me during history. She nods.
"It's nice." Wilma praises. I blush. Now everybody's going to notice what I wear everyday. On second thought, maybe not. For the past two weeks, chaos has taken over my school life, thanks to Mr Campbell. But I sigh in relief when I remember that Christmas holidays are finally here, in a few days time. After the holidays, peace will be restored and my life will be back to normal - the Max guy will probably get over messing with me, at least that's what I think.

"So, are you planning anything for Christmas?" Max asks with a sudden British accent as we walk out of the class. I raise an eyebrow.
"I wonder if..We could go out. You know, I want to get some provisions - and I am still not familiarized with this new area."
I stop and turn to talk to him. "Maybe you can ask your friends." I point at a group of guys at the corner that seems to be looking and talking about us.
"I've asked them. They're too busy. Please?"
I think for a while. A schedule forms in my head. Saturday, lunch with Mum and Dad and a distant relative. Sunday, finish up homework. Monday, meet up with old friends, including Cindy. Tuesday, help with the Christmas decorations at home. Wednesday, Christmas eve, dinner with Mum and Dad. Thursday...Christmas, marks one year since I celebrated it with Cedric at 'Green Forest'..I feel a tear in my eyes and blink it off instantly.
"No, I'm...really busy too. It's only after Christmas that I'm free."
"Well, let's make it Friday then."
I purse my lips and frown. "Didn't you say you wanna get some Christmas provisions?"
"No, I said 'provisions'."
"Ohh."
"Please?" He beg again, which makes me feel bad. Who am I? It's like I'm the bad guy.
I nod. Then, regret it the next second.
"By the way, I really like your blouse. You should wear this often." He winks his signature wink and strides off down the corridor. His honey-blond hair shimmers a shade of gold as a little ray of bronze light shines in from the windows. Wow.. I think, bedazzled and shake my head from imagining wilder thoughts.

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, children. You may all leave now." Mr Harry, my geography teacher, wishes us as soon as the bell rings, indicating the start of winter holidays.
"Merry Christmas, Mr Harry." We all wish and carry our books out of the class to our respective lockers. Chatters of excitement fills the corridor. While walking, I think of what to do this afternoon. Cindy pats my back and puts an arm on my shoulder.
"Monday, sweetie." She reminds me.
"Yeah, I remember."
"Where's Max?"
"Who?" I ask.
"Max."
"I don't know. Am I suppose to know?"
She shrugs. "I guess so. He's like your magnet."
"A magnet..."
"Don't you think so? He sticks to you. He talks to you. He.. Oh my gosh, he likes you." She widen her eyes like she has just discovered that her favourite Taylor Lautner is dating Taylor Swift.
"No, he doesn't."
"His eyes can't lie. Don't you see it? I can't believe I just realized this. Of course he likes you. He has been flirting with you.." She gasps. "You have an admirer, Sydney."
"Shhh. Keep it down. No, he doesn't and I don't care." I walk faster, holding my books tight. Max passes us and waves goodbye. Cindy waves back.
"Why not? He's cute. Even cuter than Cole, but of course, I still love my sweet Cole. Sydney, forget about Cedric already. He's the one."
I reach out for my locker and dump the books in. I take out other books that I need for homework, put them in my bag, and shut the door close.
"Oh,..I..I'm sorry, Syd. I didn't mean that. It's just.." Cindy apologizes.
"S'kay, Cindy." I say, my hands still pressing onto the door. I look down. Cedric.. It's been a while since someone calls his name in front of me. "I'm just not ready for any other.." I sigh. "See you on Monday." I tell her and walk away.
"Bye.." Cindy says.

After lunch I go up, shut my room door and plunge to the bed - hitting the edge of it on my head. "Oww." My eyes are like two heavy metal doors, forcing themselves to open but can't because they're rusty. Although I feel tired, my mind just can't rest. I lie on the bed for an hour - barely getting any sleep. By then, I don't want to sleep anymore. It's even tiring, waiting to get to sleep. I sit at my table and take out some English books from my bag. Somehow, unintentionally, I open my drawer. The small stone greets me with a shine - And I get an idea. With one swift movement, I grab the pendant and head out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Mum asks when she sees my getting my keys.
"To the shop."
"Be careful. It's cold out there. Don't stay too long."
"Alright."
It's drizzling outside but I ignore the drops. I put on the hood of my jacket and start walking. The journey to the jewellery shop takes me about roughly 15 minutes. I pull out the gift from Cedric and show it to the owner. "May I have a chain for this. Er, not too expensive."
"Here you go." The owner hands me a thin sterling silver. I hook the pendant onto the chain. Perfect. This will be my Christmas present.
"It's a beautiful pendant. May I have a look at it?" She asks.
"Sure." I give it to her, proud that it's mine.
"It's rare. It's a combination of Persian blue and midnight green. A fine combination.. But I'm not sure what it's called, though I've seen this before. Do you know?" This lady seems to know a lot about crystals.
"I don't know. My..boyfriend gave it to me."
"Is he from the South?"
"The South?"
"Yeah, I think this is from the South, somewhere.. I've seen it before when I was on a trip there." She returns my treasure. I pay her the money for the silver chain and walk out.
"The South?" I whisper to myself. "Cedric didn't tell me.. It's rare. It has to be expensive. And it's from the South. The South.." I repeat. Suddenly it hits me. He knows he's going South - but why doesn't he tell me? I feel a pang of disappointment. He doesn't want me go looking for him. But why?
"Oh, what's the use if I know this? It's not like I can fly to see him now. Cedric.."

Saturday and Sunday are boring while Monday is a little bit depressing. My old friends from primary, Fion, Queenie, Jamie talk about boyfriends the whole time. Cindy and Haylie talked about the seas. Apparently, Haylie is in the nature club and she says that nature is being terribly destroyed. "It is our duty to save the poor nature."
"Yes." Cindy agrees. I just nod, not really in a mood for this topic now. Thursday, I have to go to 'Green Forest' I think to myself.

Today is Friday. I moan, thinking that I'll have to go out later.
Two days ago, I celebrate Christmas with Mum and Dad. After dinner, we sit at the fireplace, enjoying the family moment.
"It's weird. It hasn't snowed this year." Dad says.
"Yeah.. Remember those days? We used to play snowball fight outside, in Christmas morning. We would build mini snow forts. Dad always loses when I team up with you, right, honey?" Mum runs her fingers down my hair.
"Yes." I laugh, remembering how Dad used to be all wet from the snowballs that we throw.
"Sad, it's not snowing yet. Perhaps it will tomorrow." Mum says.

And the sky still refuses to let its white flakes fall the next day. Instead, the air is just still - even my neighbour's wind chimes do not tinkle it's sweet melody. But I still carry on my plan. At night, I visit 'Green Forest'. It feels weird being in there again. The last time, Cedric has prepared a candle-lit dinner - an unforgettable night which now seems to be just a distant memory. This is where I celebrated his 17th birthday too. I sip a glass of orange juice, sitting by the window, looking up into the clear, dark blue sky. The sky, the one and only thing that connects me with Cedric now - now that I can't see him, I'll just have to look at it, hoping that he's doing the same too. "Merry Christmas, Cedric." I wish into mid air. My hands touch the pendant that is now a necklace hanging around my usually-bare neck. At the other corner of the hall, a family is having a party. They ask me if I would like to join them but I decline the invitation with a 'thank you' and head out to the street after finishing my drink.

"Sydney! He's here!"
"Thanks, Mum!" I shout from my room. I look out my window and see Max standing outside. He is wearing a brown winter jacket with a black sweatshirt. He sees me and waves. I quickly look away from the window. Isn't it suppose to be at eleven? I check the time - It's only.. Eleven.
"Good morning." He wishes as I walk down the driveway.
"Morning. Okay, let's go."
"Where are you going? I have a car."
I look at his direction and see a lava red Toyota Scion XD. Imported huh, I raise an eyebrow and say, "I'll walk."
"But.."
"You can ride if you want to."
"But I'll need the car for the things."
"The things." I repeat. "Right."
He escorts me to the car and that makes me uncomfortable. "Er, thanks."
"Welcome," he replies. "So where do you normally shop for provisions?" he asks as soon as he starts the engine to life.
"There's a supermarket one kilometre away from here. Usually my dad drives us there.."
"And you almost wanted to walk." Max teases and changes his mood when he sees my not-so-impressed expression. "I'm joking, okay?"
We drive in silence for a few minutes before he says, "That's a pretty necklace." It takes me a few seconds to realize that he is talking about my necklace.
"Oh, thanks."
"A present?"
"The pendant is."
"It's the shape of a heart. From someone special?" he asks. I don't even know it's heart-shaped. I look at the pendant lying on my gray shirt.
"Yeah, it's from somebody I.." Reluctant whether to choose the word love or loved, i just said, "..love."
"Ah.." Max seems surprised by my answer - because from the moment we park the car until we pay at the counter, he remains silent. I help him carry some of the paper bags.

We walk out of the supermarket and - It is snowing.