Frozen Memories

Unexpected Surprises

Wednesday came and went, along with the school day on Thursday. Mr. Bradley made the decision to extend the deadline of the project given to us , until the following Friday. He suddenly realized that given the seven other classes that everyone had coupled with the assignments that may have been given by all of our other teachers, may have been pushing it when it came to the due date of our project. A decision to which I had no qualms, seeing the fact that Roman Dharke had not even shown up to class most of the week.

    Max was up the stairs, taking a shower, so I really had no one to talk too. Seemed as if since the incident between Jessica and I, the girls became, if possible, more distant than before. Either way, boredom and hunger usually took place of that concern.

    I went into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of snacks and two green apples. I rinsed off the Granny Smith apple; biting into the apple, the appreciation of the sweet and sour juicy taste of it. Since getting out of the hospital I found that the times of breakfast, lunch and dinner were the moments I looked forward to the most. Especially since I began to come out of my room more. I bit into my apple again as my mind continued to wander when I heard a knock at the door.

    Mrs. Falton, I knew from the unnecessarily loud sound in the room two floors above, was in her room watching television and gorging on junk food. It amazed me that she was not as weighed down as she already was. But then the same thing could have been said for myself.

    None of the other girls felt their time worth answering the door, so I started for it. Jessica suddenly intercepted me and began to answer for it, when she saw me. Abruptly, Jessica stopped mid-step and stared at me, tension in her eyes. She’d become quite dodgy around me since our confrontation that night about a week or so ago. Honestly, the confrontation slipped my mind, so I did not even remember the exact time or day that the incident took place. However, when she grabbed her throat, almost reflexively it seemed, I could not help wondering that she held a mental constant reminder. Why else would she have avoided me so?

    “Were you going to get that?” I simply asked as she seemed not to know what to say.    My words must have insinuated some sort of aggression because she averted her gaze and quickly shook her head no. “In no way do I mind-” I attempted to reassure before she scurried away. “Wait, I-” Before I could finish my sentence she disappeared down the hallway. Nonetheless, I let it go and returned my attention to the door. “One moment.” I called and made my way over to the door, opening it.

    “Ro-Roman Dharke-“

    “Hi.” He muttered in his usual awkward and aggression filled way.

    I looked out of the door to see if he were alone. He was. I turned my curious gaze back to him. I thought to ask him what he was doing here but instead found, what I thought to be a more important question. “Where were you today? Our project was due.” I asked. He of course did not answer right away. He almost seemed as if he were struggling to say something. “Roman Dharke? Are you alr-”

    “Sorry.” He finally replied, cutting me off.

    I was surprised by his apology, but I continued further on the subject. “Well-” I certainly could not be bitter concerning our would be problem now. “Luckily, for us-Mr. Bradley has decided to give the class an extension on the deadline to next friday.”

“Oh, cool.” He said after a long pause of staring at me prolongedly again. I caught on to the fact that he probably had not took in what I said to him.

    “What are you doing here?” I followed up after coming to the conclusion that he would not say anything else.

    He started to answer when past him I saw two familiar faces staring at me with a smile. “Dr. Byrne! Lisa?” excitement took over as I saw Lisa Jones standing there next to Dr. Byrne. It seemed forever since I’d seen her last. I started to run past Roman Dharke and embrace them when I thought better of it. Courtesy would not allow me to be so rude to Roman Dharke. After all, there was something that he had to say.

    “Mina!” Lisa Jones exclaimed as she rushed up the stairs and hugged me. Dr. Byrne greeted me more subtly with her embrace before they both turned attention to Roman Dharke.  I could not help but notice Lisa Jones’ grin.

    “Oh, um this is my classmate, Roman Dharke.” I answered, as I watched Lisa Jones continuously take in Roman Dharke.

    I glanced Roman Dharke’s way, noticing the prolonged eye contact between the two. It was then that I noticed something off about Lisa Jones. Her eyes were darker and her youthful appearance was seemingly prettier than before.

    “Do I know you?” Dr. Byrne asked. “I’m sure I’ve seen you before.” She said.

    Upon Dr. Byrne’s inquiry, my attention was brought back to currents. “You may be familiar with Roman through Dr. Grey.”

    Dr. Byrne looked at me curiously before Roman interceded. “He’s my uncle.” 

    “Oh. Really?” She said in subtle surprise. “I wasn’t aware that-”

    “That’s because he considers me his son. I’m only a Dharke individually. Generally speaking, I’m Killian’s son.” He smiled politely. 

    “Ha, makes sense.” Dr. Byrne chuckled. “I knew I met you before. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.” She said.

    “Not at all ma’am.” He said. 

    “I had no idea that you knew Dr. Grey’s son.” Dr. Byrne said to me. I was surprised at the sudden change in Roman Dharke’s courteous manner, my response was delayed for a moment.

    “To be honest, it slips my mind from time to time.” I answered truthfully.

    “And you two are just classmates, right?” Lisa Jones asked. “Nothing more?” Her gaze steadily on Roman Dharke.

    Roman Dharke’s attention was suddenly set on Lisa before he smirked, taking her hand into his. “Just a classmate.” His brows then suddenly furrowed, a sudden look of discomfit on his features before he recovered his expression and smiled again.

    I had apparently not been the only one that felt the discomfort of the situation as Dr. Byrne interrupted. “So, um-well we were just hoping to spend a little time with you but if you’re busy then-”

    “No! No, no he-I-” I wanted to dismiss him and be with the doctor and Lisa, but cordiality would not allow the rude gesture. Still, fortunately, before I could discover the gall to do so, Roman Dharke turned to Dr. Byrne.

    “It’s fine. I was just leaving. Nice seeing you again, Dr. Byrne.”

    “Give your uncle my regards.” Dr. Byrne smiled.

    He turned to leave but  my consciousness would not allow me to let him just leave. There was a reason why he showed up. I found myself grabbing his arm, tugging him back before I could think better of it.

    He stopped, looking down at the small hand that was not even close to wrapping around his large arm. He seemed almost confused for a moment before he looked at me and neared me.

    “Why did you come?” I asked. “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?” I further added. When he seemed reluctant in answering I had to reassure. “I am not rushing you off.”

    His gaze averted from me as his body seemed to stiffen beneath my hand suddenly, and then suddenly a vibration that was so intense it transferred to me before he pulled away from me. I looked at him,  wondering what had just happened.

    “I’ll see you at school.” He said and turned away from me. He paused, looking at Lisa Jones. “Especially nice meeting you Lisa Jones.” He said, winking at her before he returned his attention to me, his gaze suddenly uneasy.

    “Right back at you Roman Dharke.” Lisa Jones grinned. She watched Roman Dharke walk away to his beautifully advanced vehicle before returning her gaze to me.

After he drove off, I watched his car turn the corner, wondering of his odd demeanor. I attempted, however, to shrug away the thought and give my attention to the doctor and Lisa Jones once again.  “I’ll go get my shoes.”