âMary, are you coming down? The food's ready!â my father called out with a voice that echoed through the old staircase and resonated in my room. I sighed softly, set aside the book I had been reading, and glanced at the pages that remained untouched. It was a story about adventure and friendship, and for a brief moment, I was overcome with the desire to lose myself in a few more chapters. But the familiar sound of cutlery clinking on plates left me with no choice. I slipped out of my cozy bed and put on my glasses, which I always left on the nightstand when I read.
Slowly, I trudged down the stairs, the steps creaking softly under my weight. My parents were already sitting at the table, waiting for me with lunch. The sun streamed through the window, making the dishes shimmer.
âAh, there she is!â my father greeted me with a broad smile that made his slightly thinning hair appear even cheerier. âAre you hungry?â I nodded and took a seat at the table while I helped myself to a serving of pasta. âYes, thank you. It smells delicious!â
âMary,â my mother began, giving me another helping on my plate with a loving glance, âwhat do you have planned for today? After all, itâs Saturday. Are you meeting up with your friends? You havenât done anything with them in a while.â
I chewed thoughtfully on a piece of pasta as I considered her words. The friends she was referring to were acquaintances from school with whom I occasionally spent time.
The last time, for instance, they had taken me swimming at the beach. They had probably asked me out of pure courtesy since I happened to be standing next to them when they talked about it at school.
Because while they joyfully splashed in the water, I had been lying on the beach, reading my book. The pages were filled with stories that whisked me away to distant worlds while they enjoyed themselves and laughed loudly. I hadnât found it unpleasant to be aloneâit was more of a familiar feeling that enveloped me, as if I were in a bubble that shielded me from the chaos of the world. But it was strange how quickly one could be forgotten by others, even when standing right next to them.
My mother continued to look at me with a questioning expression as she waited for an answer. I shrugged and said, âActually, I wanted to read a bit more of my book. Maybe Iâll meet up with the others at the beach later.â I added the last part when I saw her slightly disappointed expression. Her face brightened immediately and she suggested that I could invite my âfriendsâ over for dinner after the beach visit.
"I don't knowâ¦" I replied, trying to choose my words carefully. "I'll message you later after I've asked the others if they're interested." It was a phrase that rolled off my tongue easily, even though I internally knew that later, no one would likely want to come with me.
However, the idea of going to the beach wasn't bad. This way, I could give my mother the impression of being a good mom, and I would also have my peace to read. Besides, it actually seemed like it wouldn't rain in LaPush today, which was a welcome change. The thought of enjoying the fresh sea breeze and diving into the pages of my book made me smile.
After lunch, I packed my bag with a book and a towel. I searched through my closet for a dress that was both comfortable and suitable for the beach. Eventually, I settled on a light, airy model in soft pastel colors that perfectly matched the sunny weather.
Downstairs, I said goodbye to my parents, who were busy tidying up in the kitchen, and made my way to the beach. When I arrived, I immediately noticed that many people were taking advantage of the beautiful weather; the beach was surprisingly crowded. But I looked for a quiet spot so I could read undisturbed.
Finally, I found a secluded corner where I spread out my towel and made myself comfortable. I opened the chapter I had interrupted when my father called for lunch and immersed myself back into the world of stories.
But as it is with good books, it eventually came to an end. In less than two hours, I had flipped through all the pages and now felt a sense of emptiness inside. I didn't want to return to my parents right away and explain to my mother why I was back so early. Instead, I decided to take the time to observe the people around me.
LaPush was a small town, and I knew most of the faces. Here and there, a tourist had wandered in, but the majority of the beachgoers were localsâfaces I recognized from school or the streets. Some of them were my age, while others belonged to the grades above or below me.
Those who noticed me looking at them greeted me with a friendly wave, which made me smile. In a small village like this, everyone knew each other, and it was a comforting feeling to be part of this community, even though I sometimes felt like an outsider.
The 'LaPush Gang' stood out the most. The boys were running around with their shirts off, unfazed by the gazes of others. They splashed around in the water, laughing loudly and soaking each other as if they were no older than little children. There was a carefree joy in the air that was infectious.
This group felt like a permanent fixture of the village, always together and always on the move. They kept themselves separate from the other students who tried to approach them. It was as if they had erected an invisible barrier around themselves that only the initiated could penetrate. Part of me envied them for their close friendship and the freedom they radiated.
I sighed softly and glanced at my watch. The sun was dipping toward the horizon, and the light began to change. The beach, which had been filled with cheerful laughter and shouts, was gradually becoming emptier.
It was time to pack my things. I rolled up my towel and slipped my book into my bag. As I made my way back, I could feel the last rays of sunlight on my skin and hear the gentle sound of the waves behind me. A feeling of melancholy washed over me as I left the beachâa mixture of longing to be part of the community and the reality that I often felt left out.
~~ð~~
The next day, a Wednesday, we started school with two hours of French, followed by a double period of math. The atmosphere in the classroom was tense, and many of my classmates were clearly feeling it. Their faces reflected a mix of boredom and annoyance as they prepared for the upcoming parabolas and polynomial divisions. While I looked forward to the tasks, I was aware that most couldnât understand why I was so enthusiastic about math. But I didnât mind; everyone had their own interests after all.
Despite my excitement for the mathematical challenges, I was repeatedly pulled from my thoughts. Several times, my classmates turned to me and whispered for help as they got stuck on their assignments. It was a familiar scene: the teacher presented us with the problems and ignored the questions that floated around the room. Somehow, it had come to be that I had become the unofficial "substitute teacher."
After class, as we made our way to the cafeteria, my seatmate Clara turned to me. "So, what did you get up to yesterday?"
"I read at the beach and enjoyed the nice weather. How about you?" I replied as we pushed our way through the crowd.
"I went to Seattle with Laura and Anni," she exclaimed excitedly. "We saw that new comedy at the cinema. It was really great; I highly recommend it!" Her face beamed with joy, and she smiled continuously as she recounted her evening. Suddenly, she spotted her two friends. "There they are! Bye, see you later, Mary!" she called and dashed over to them, immediately diving into an animated conversation.
I watched the three of them with a smile until I joined the line for lunch. I grabbed a slice of pizza and looked for a seat at one of the still-empty tables. The room was filled with the sound of clattering plates and the chatter of students sharing their experiences. I took a bite of my pizza and let my gaze wander around the room.
"Hey, can I sit here, or are you waiting for someone?" The voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Quil Ateara standing next to my table, a heavily loaded tray in hand and a curious look on his face.
Since my mouth was full, I simply gestured with one hand to the seat across from me. Quil sat down with a broad grin and a satisfied sigh.
"Did the others finish up already, Quil?" I asked as I finally finished chewing and swallowed a piece of my pizza.
"Yes, unfortunately," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I have two more classes, and then I can finally go home." His eyes sparkled with joy as he spoke about the impending freedom. I couldn't help but grin; he looked like a little boy excited about a piece of chocolate.
"I only have two more hours of history left too, then I'm finally out of here," I replied, shoving another piece of pizza into my mouth.
"If you want, we can walk home together. It's boring to walk alone." Quil continued to munch happily as his plate emptied at a remarkable speed. I nodded in agreement. It was indeed a good idea, and besides, we had the same route homeâQuil lived just a few houses down from mine.
We quickly arranged to meet after the last class, and soon enough, the break was over again. As I pushed aside my remaining thoughts about lunch, I felt an unexpected excitement for the walk home together.