"Between You and Me" ~ Original Short Story

Hey, Guys! It's me, Lucky! If you are unfamiliar with me, and I'm guessing most of you are, because I'm a newcomer here, I love writing. Short stories and poems are what I do mostly, but sometimes I like to make songs as well.

Anyway, this is one of those stories. This has some personal feelings in it, and maybe, if you all are interested, I'll tell you the story behind this short story. If you enjoyed, please tell me in the comments below! I always love . Now, on to the story!

Note: Background Image Doesn't Belong To Me

~

Her eyes are the first thing that grabs my attention. As vibrant as the early morning sky, they shine with a light unknown to me. And her smile… God. I don’t think I’ve seen anything as beautiful. I don’t even realize that I’m staring until she taps me on the shoulder.

“Hello?” Ebony snaps her fingers in front of my face, “Earth to Paige! You’re kinda freaking me out here…”

I blink quickly, then glance away. For a moment, I feel almost disappointed as I avert my eyes, though I can’t understand why. “S-sorry,” I stammer, “I… I got lost in my own thoughts for a moment. Sorry.” I mentally scold myself. Ebony and I have been friends practically since the womb, but as of a month ago, I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of her. It’s kind of embarrassing to say the least.

Ebony gives me a friendly nudge, “Hey, it’s OK. I’ve known you for way too long to be mad at you for something so insignificant as you staring at me.” she chuckles.

“Y-Yeah…” I say, rubbing my arm. Why do I feel so embarrassed?

The rumble of an engine and the squeal of brakes tells me the bus has arrived. Ebony takes my hand, shouldering her backpack; an old, tattered thing with faded purple fabric and two sewn on leather straps, one of which is beginning to fray.

I chuckle a bit, glancing at her, “When are you going to get that fixed?” I ask, indicating her bag.

Ebony shrugs, “I dunno. It’s still functional, isn’t it?”

I laugh, dragging her towards the bus, “You’re such a dork!” I say, shoving her lightly, “That thing can hardly be called a backpack! It’s practically falling apart!”

Ebony rolls her eyes, “Oh no... Don’t you start too!” she groans, “Mom won’t shut up about it either! I’m fine, really!”

Our arguing earns us a pointed look from the driver as we climb up the steps into the bus. Elizabeth County High School doesn’t have the best funding, so not everything is up to date. The school bus is one of those things. The leather seats have rips in them, revealing the foam cushions hidden beneath. I try to ignore the potent stench of sweat and musky teen as I take a seat next to Ebony. The bus is barely ever air conditioned, so most of its windows are left open.

It doesn’t really help with the smell though.

Ebony straightens her knit cap, the pink and purple hat almost too big for her. She looks down at me, giving me a toothy grin. “So, do you have any plans this weekend?” she asks, looking at me expectantly.

I shake my head, “Nope. Not unless you count Dad watching football with his buddies.” I chuckle, “Why? Do you need me for something?”

Ebony is silent for a moment, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is… Is it possible that I could come over?” She seems nervous. She’s biting her lip.

Uh oh... Not a good sign.

I raise an eyebrow, “Yeah, yeah… Sure…” I look her in the eye, “Is… Is everything OK at home?”

“Yeah. Yes, everything’s fine…” She glances away. She’s still biting her lip.

“Ebony… Is there something you’re not telling me?” I put a hand on her chest, trying to ignore my tightening throat at the . “You don’t have to hide… You can trust me.”

Ebony’s face grows pale, her earlier energy gone. Her voice is nothing more than a whisper; If I wasn’t so close to her, I doubt I’d be able to hear her. “It’s… It’s my mom…” she says, quietly, “I’ve heard her talking to Dad and…” She shakes her head, “I think she’s planning on leaving…”

I blink. That was not the answer I was expecting. “Leaving? Like… Leaving leaving?”

“Like moving, Paige… I… I don’t…” She sighs shakily, “All of this is just so sudden… I… I need a break from it… Can I please, please come over?” Her eyes are wide and pleading.

“Y-Yeah… Yeah, sure…” I say, taking my hand away, though before it leaves, Ebony carefully grasps it, and I can’t keep a blush that heats up my cheeks.

We stay silent as the bus drives on. I am acutely aware of my pulse, and how I can feel it through my fingers. My heart feels like it has migrated to my throat.

I feel like I’m breaking some rule; some overbearing law of friendship that should not be breached. I close my eyes, my palms suddenly feeling clammy.

What the hell is happening to me? We’re only friends!

I look over at Ebony, the late afternoon sun emitting a golden glow, outlining her hazel brown figure in an equally stunning light.

Right?

~

The bus slows to a stop about an hour later. I am the last stop the bus makes, so it’s just Ebony and I who are left. I clear my throat, tapping Ebony’s knuckle lightly with my finger. “This is our stop.” I say softly.

She blinks at me then nods. I get up, helping Ebony to her feet. As we get off the bus, I catch the driver’s eye. He looks almost skeptical as we make our way past him. He’s probably wondering why we’re holding hands so often.

Don’t be stupid. He’s probably just irritable, like most of the people in this deadbeat town.

I sigh, watching my step as I hop off the bus. I glance at Ebony, and try not to focus on the fact that our hands are still intertwined as I speak, “My house is only a half-block away.”

“We better start walking then.” Ebony shoulders her pack again, “Lead the way, Sunshine.”

I blush a bit at the childhood nickname, “Ebony, we’re sixteen. Don’t you think we’re a little too old for name-calling?”

“Too old for childish nicknames?” Ebony scoffs light-heartedly, “Never!”

I roll my eyes, “Fine, you stubborn Blackbird.”

‘Sunshine’ is a nickname Ebony finds joy in calling me, since my last name is ‘Summers’. Even though we’ve kind of grown past the point of that kind of chatter, Ebony still gets a kick out of using the quip. In turn, I started to call her ‘Blackbird’, because she always has something to talk about.

We walk in silence for a couple of moments before Ebony nudges me. “Hey, how are your poems coming along?”

I look at her for a moment, then blink, “Oh,” I have a weird fascination with poetry. Ever since I was young, I’ve always been drawn to them. I recently started to write my own, but I haven’t shared with anyone. Well, aside from Ebony, of course. “It’s… Going well. I’ve actually been working on some.”

Ebony’s eyes brighten. “Really? Can I see one?”

I nod, “Yeah. Sure. Just hold up a sec.” I scrounge through my bag, retrieving my notebook. I take a moment, flipping through the various pages before coming to my most recent piece; A small poem entitled “I See Her Standing There”. I take a deep breath, looking at Ebony, then beginning to read.

“I see her standing there

Waiting, frozen, still

Her eyes shine like copper, her hair smooth as silk

Her eyes lift to mine, and I wish I could express

The feeling her eyes now hold, her sorrow, her distress

If only just once I could see that golden smile

Like the early morning sun, it would warm this broken child

But when the sun falls, her smile does too

I hope to God that one day, her smile will shine through

Again.”

I grow silent, my throat becoming dry. I had written that poem about a month ago, when I first started to get these feelings. The thought makes me blush in embarrassment, and I bite my lip, glancing down at my shoes.

Fuck… Why did I read that one?

I go to put the notebook away, but Ebony grabs my wrist just as I begin to open the flap. “Hey,” she says, “What’s wrong? That poem was great!”

“Yeah… I know…” I say, mumbling. I can’t find it within me to meet her gaze, so I look away.

“Why are you being so nervous with me? It was nice, really!”

I clench my jaw, my face still feeling hot, “I said, ‘I know!’” I yank my hand away quite forcefully, and shake my head. “I’m sorry… I just…” I sigh, shuddering, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s OK…” Ebony says, brushing her hand against my arm. “You don’t have to be afraid to show your talent. That was probably one of the best poems I’ve ever seen.”

I nod, remaining silent. I still can’t keep the ache out of my throat, though, as we continue down the road.

~

Acorn Drive isn’t that much of a sight. The houses are mostly the same, some looking better than others. You wouldn’t bat an eye at any of them if you ed our street. That is, until you ed my house. You’d easily miss it, if not for the gigantic mural spray painted on our garage door. My dad’s a big art fanatic, and really has an interest in street art. It was one of the many reasons he and Mom moved here back in the day.

I smile a bit, approaching the door and carefully opening it, holding it for Ebony, “Go on in. Dad won’t mind.”

Ebony nods, letting go of my hand, leaving it cold. Her smile is infectious, and I can’t help but return it.

As we enter the house, I look around for my father.

Where the hell is that man?

Then I hear it; a muffled grunt and an “Oof!” coming from further into the house. I make my way into the kitchen and open the door leading into the garage.

As I open the door, I see my father on the ground, his clothes sprinkled with paint, rubbing his dusty blonde head. When he sees me, his eyes brighten. “Oh! Hey, sweetie! Didn’t hear you come in.”

I shake my head, “Can’t imagine why.” I look around, chuckling, “When are you going to learn to be more careful? This is your studio after all.”

He gets up, dusting off his overalls, “Our studio, Sunshine.” he amends, “This is your studio too.”

I tense up, rubbing my arm, “Dad,” I say, glancing away, “I told you not to call me that… Besides we have company.” I say, and Ebony waves from next to me.

“What’s up, Mr. Summers?” she asks.

“Nothing much, Ebony. Just some last minute adjustments to my latest piece.” He tips his hat to her “It’s nice to see you over. Paige rarely goes out of her room these days. Probably dreaming up new stanzas.” he jokes.

I roll my eyes, “Yeah, Dad. I’m so antisocial.”

He chuckles, “So, what are you two planning on doing? Whole weekend ahead of you.”

I shrug, “Well, I was thinking maybe Ebony could stay over? It’d only be for the weekend, and we won’t get in your way during the game, promise!”

Dad shrugs, “Sure. Just don’t stay up too late. I don’t need two teenaged zombies roaming the halls.”

“We won’t!” I turn to Ebony, “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”

I lead Ebony to the staircase, some of the steps creaking under our feet as we climb. Up on the balcony, there are two doors. I point to one at the end of the hall, which has a rainbow peace sign painted on it, courtesy of my father. “That’s my room.” I say, smiling a bit.

Ebony looks at me, “You know, I don’t think I ever really seen your room… Well, not in a long while.” She chuckles a bit, “You usually just come over to my house.”

“Yeah, well… Consider this a refresher.” I open up the door, revealing what can only be called a ‘hippie haven.’ There are some dreamcatchers across the border, rainbow style, and pink lamp with fringe hanging on the lamp post. A small mural of a sunset is painted on my closet door, with the words, “Start The Day With A View!” painted along the top. There’s a beanbag chair and a VHS TV occupying the bottom bunk of my bed.

Ebony’s eyes grow wide, “Damn. I knew you were chill, but this…” She whistles, “I have no words, Paige.” She walks over to the closet and opens it, chuckling, “We need to work on your wardrobe, girl! I bet half of these tees don’t even fit you!”

I roll my eyes, “Well, maybe a shopping trip is in order.” I chuckle.

Ebony smirks, “I am totally down for that. Seeing this, you are in serious need of some fashion expertise.” She nudges me, looking me up and down. “These kiddie clothes aren’t gonna cut it.”

“Hey!” I cross my arms, “No need to bash on my style choice.” I chuckle, “But… Thanks, I guess.”

“Anytime.” Ebony goes over to the beanbag chair and plops down. “So, what do you want to do?”

“Uh…” I actually hadn’t thought about this. Talk about unprepared. “I don’t know, honestly. Have any ideas?”

Ebony smirks, “Here. I know you don’t act like other girls, but… Do you want to talk?”

My throat tightens, “About… About what?”

“Well, girl stuff. We never really done that before…”

That’s because we’re not like other girls…

I glance around, but force myself to sit near her. “OK… Girl stuff… Like what?”

Ebony shrugs, “I don’t know… Like… Who do you find attractive?”

I stare at her, baffled, “W-What?”

“You heard me. Don’t worry, I won’t judge.”

I blush. I didn’t know how to answer that question. “Uh…”

“Fine… Easier question.” She leans in closer to me, clasping my hand. A shiver runs through me, and I wish I could suppress it. “Do you have any crushes?”

I bite my lip, glancing away from her, “No… I… No.”

Ebony’s smile grows wider, “You do!”

“No!” I argue, “None of the guys at school are even that attractive.”

Ebony raises an eyebrow at me, “What? Is it a girl?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with a sudden interest.

I pull my hand away, blushing like mad. I shake my head, “Stop… I… I don’t…” I sigh, “Stop.”

Ebony’s expression falls. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I shake my head again, “Nothing… I just… Fuck!” I pull my knees to my chest, looking away, ashamed. “You really don’t know?”

Ebony places a hand on my knee, “Paige… You can tell me… It’s OK…”

“Not if the thing I want to tell is something that could separate us forever!” I cry. I palm my face with my hands, which still feel clammy.  “I… I can’t explain it… This has been happening for a month now, and I still don’t understand what the hell is going on…”

Ebony’s eyes are soft, “What is it?”

I curse under my breath again, my face feeling hot with shame. I look at her and notice as if for the first time, the beauty that my eyes have been drawn to but too blind to see. Her eyes a stunning amber; a rarity of a color, and her skin brownish hazel. Her hair is black, yet it doesn’t look unnatural. She has a wide face, and the biggest smile. But she’s not smiling now. Her lips are turned down and her eyebrows are knit together; the expression of worry.

What if she thinks I’m just being weird? What if she doesn’t talk to me after this?

But, her eyes still show that same fondness from before, and a new sense of courage flows through me. I straighten up a bit, though my voice comes out a tight whisper. “I… I like you, OK? Like… Really like you…” It’s hard to distinguish her reaction through the blur of tears in my eyes. Shakily, I continue, “I know this is sudden, and I get it if this just makes things worse for you, and I understand if you-!”

I don’t finish my sentence. Ebony silences me with a kiss. At first, I don’t know what to do, so I just cling to her. Our lips dance, enveloping me in a warmth unknown to me. Eventually, I start to kiss back, allowing myself to relax. I don’t feel nervous. I don’t tense as Ebony wraps a hand around my neck to pull me closer. I feel nothing but warmth. It’s surreal; I feel like I’m floating.

We kiss until there are no more kisses to be had, but it feels like an eternity when we finally separate. Ebony smiles a bit, chuckling softly, “I never knew you were such a good kisser.”

I blush, “R-really?” I’m not sure if I should be prideful or embarrassed. “I… I wouldn’t know…”

Ebony nods, “Truly. That… That was awesome.”

I smile, but it wavers a bit, “You… You won’t tell anyone about this… Will you?”

Ebony chuckles, kissing the bridge of my nose, causing me to giggle. “Don’t worry. This is between you and me. Our secret.”

Our secret…

I laugh at the thought, and yet I can’t keep my lips from curving into a smile.