A Detour From Today's Routine

Aubrey never had much of a reason to go down this road. First of all, Kel lived down this road. Michael also had a house here, but it was at the start of the road. There wasn't much reason to go further than that if she had to, not that she'd ever been over at his house. Despite Michael's insistence he have her over for whatever dumb reason he had. She was under the impression his parents didn't like her. She's used to assuming that.
So than why did she keep going? A few weeks ago, she noticed a sign that wasn't always there. She decided to check on it. A big "FOR SALE" sign right in front of Mari's old house. She didn't like it. That sign...she almost wanted to tear it out. It's not like she had any attachment to the place. She hadn't been over in four years. She honestly didn't care anymore. But something about Mari's family moving out bit at her. The last signs of them moving on. Thinking about strangers moving in and uprooting any memories she had left of that house tore at her.
She kept checking on that house. Checking. And checking. She had no reason to, but she did. Until one day she saw a big "SOLD" stickered over the sign. So that was it. They'd be leaving. She remembers the times Mari's mother would open the door for her, smiling so warmly. Aubrey used to think a lot of her. Now she's leaving behind her daughter's grave and live a life where she can forget all about Mari. Fuck her.
...
Sunny. He also lived in that house. He'd also be leaving Mari behind. Deep down...Aubrey had always held out hope that he'd come out someday. Or rather, a stupid little girl hoped her friend was still her friend. He wasn't. He'd abandoned her, just like everyone else. Why should she spare him any concern when he'd never given her any? She should just leave him. Not bother. Forget about him. Not be walking towards his house. Up to the driveway. There was no car in the driveway. Was nobody home? Had they already moved? Aubrey noticed a lonely white pinwheel in front of the house and it made her heart ache for a moment. She was closing in on the front door.
...
knock knock knock She gave a few sturdy knocks.
...
knock knock knock And another.
...
knock knock knock One more for good measure.
...
"Sunny? Are you there?"
knock knock knock
"I wanted to say goodbye, or something. Are you there?"
knock knock knock
"Come on, Sunny. It's me, Aubrey. Couldn't you open the door for me?"
Kno-
She saw the doorknob twist and stopped. Her eyes widened in shock, than narrowed.
Slowly, very slowly, the door did open. And there she saw a familiar face. Shockingly familiar, if a bit paler. The boy's eyes squinted as his face subtly shifted in pain. Like he hadn't seen the sun in so long. He looked up at her. Not in her eyes, but at her face. Looking up at her. He was a little shorter. His hair was as usual, if a little messier. Nothing a gentle combing wouldn't fix. She couldn't place where, but the clothes he was wearing seemed familiar.
It was him. It really was him.
It was Sunny.
This was something she had hoped would happen so long ago. She had prayed every single day back then to see him again. Sunny had always been there for her. Listening to whatever petty woes she had at the time. Sitting next to her on the swings. Always there when she needed him. She had trouble fitting in...she still does. Dep down, Aubrey knew her friends would abandon her one day. But Sunny was the only one she could imagine staying there for her. Or she had hoped Sunny would always be there for her. Always there to listen to her. A shoulder to lean on. An ear to speak to.
But he wasn't.
But now he's here.
She'd always wondered what seeing him again would make her feel. Right now, she felt so angry. She wanted to at him;
Why now?! Why did you come out now? What's wrong with you, Sunny?! WHERE WERE YOU?!
But she didn't. Aubrey stared him in the eyes, wondering if his silent gaze pierced into her mind and he read her hostility. His eyes seemed searching.
"...Sunny. It's really you." She spoke dumbly. "How long has it been? Three years? Maybe four? Heh. Must have been nice living in your own little bubble." It was a bit more scathing than she intended, but that's how it came out. Not that she felt like adjusting her tone. He didn't seem to mind.
Or react. At all.
...
"I..." Think of something. Anything. "...I was thinking of heading over to the park. My friends should be there sometime soon. Would you like to come and hang out with me for a while?" Maybe she could redirect the two of them to Gino's or Hobbeez should it seem like Kim and the rest weren't going to be there for a while. She'd make Sunny pay for whatever. It's the bare-minimum he could do for her after years of absolute fuck-all he's done for her.
Sunny didn't answer. But he slowly stepped outside the front door of his house. He looked around slowly before looking back at her. He looked dead. For the briefest of moments, she saw Mari's face in her head. She looked away from them both, and focused on the pinwheel spinning in the breeze.
"...Come on. We're wasting time."
She started walking, and only looked behind her to see if Sunny was following. He was. Looks like today's going to be a little different...

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Pub: 05 Jul 2025 06:03 UTC

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