Far From the Night - Chapter One

The air was warm and humid but a gentle wind made the air a bit chilling. Autumn is funny that way, the whole Earth prepares itself for death, and it learns to accept that everything must die. Colorful and crisp leaves swirled around in the wind, as they fell from trees and crunched under the weight of dragging footsteps. The footsteps belonged to a troubled, seventeen year old boy, who only dreams of being anywhere but where he is now.1

Cigarette smoke arose into the air from the balanced cigarette hanging between a dark haired boy’s index and middle finger. He watched the smoke as it spiraled up into the air and then quickly disappeared. For a second, he wished everything was that easy, but he had already figured that nothing was that simple, he brought the cigarette up to his lips and breathed in, then exhaled the smoke in quick, sharp breathes.2

The leather jacket that loosely clung around his shoulders would keep him warm for now, he reasoned, but the weather was supposed to get colder tomorrow. Taking his cigarette he threw it down into the grass and put it out with a quick movement of his foot, squishing the butt into the ground. With his now free hand he brought it up and ran it through his thick, black hair and then jammed his hand into his pant’s pocket, and grabbed a bus ticket, he had an hour to get to the bus station. 3

Grabbing the straps of the backpack that clung to his shoulders, he made his way down the driveway. Only a few more yards and the boy would be free from his house. The perfect red bricked house that sat like a picture on a grassy hill, complete with flowering trees and a white picket fence. Everyone in the town of Winfield could sit there and believe that the people who lived in that house were the image of a great and perfect family. The truth was that on the outside they were, and the family had pretended so long that they had begun to believe that they were the family that everyone imagined them to be; everyone except Davis Rindell, the boy that was now making his way down the street.4

Davis was the oldest of twins, the two were identical, however, Davis had green eyes and his brother had blue. People used to joke when they were younger that the only way to tell them apart was to look at the boy’s eye color. Now, it was much easier. Davis was “troubled” to people’s standards, he smoked, skipped and failed classes, dressed in black, had his eyebrow pierced, and grew his hair out to where is shagged around his face. His twin, Robert, on the other hand was clean cut, student body president, valedictorian of his class come graduation, made straight As, and was going to Harvard for college. Davis didn’t even bother applying.5

Davis found himself narrowing the end of his driveway and started to turn a corner when a car pulled up. “Davis?” a voice called out from the car. Davis turned around to see a car pulled over on the street and a girl’s head hanging out of the window. “Do you have release block or are you cutting class again?” She threw her head back and laughed. Davis knew the girl, she was his brother’s best friend, and she came over sometimes to visit with the family. Davis’s parents loved her and enjoyed her company. She made good grades, just like Robert, and acted like the daughter the Rindells never had. She practically lived with them.6

“No and yes,” Davis grinned, running his hand quickly through his thick hair, “what’re you doing here, Maria?” He didn’t know why he asked, he probably could have figured it out.7

“Well,” the girl began, while twisting a strand of blonde hair around her index finger, “I left my jacket here the other day, I wanted to wear it to school. What are you doing anyways? Going to school for once?” She pointed to his black backpack.8

Davis shrugged, “You tell me.”9

“You’re not, are you?” Maria started intently at him then her head entered the car again and the car door swung open. A bare, tan leg to the knee was first seen getting out of the car, followed by the rest of her body. She had on a white camisole and a jean skirt, finished off with a pair of white flip flops dangling from her fingers. “Where are you going Davis?” She dropped her flip flops onto the concrete; they made a small noise when they hit the pavement. Then, Maria placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head.10

“Getting away from this hell hole,” he didn’t need to say more. Davis was pretty sure the sentence he spoke was explanation enough.11

“I see,” Maria muttered, “well, had you applied to college, Davis Rindell, perhaps you could get out of this so called ‘hell hole’.” Davis laughed, as she used air quotes with her index and middle finger when she spoke the words, hell hole.12

“What?” Maria smiled, “Hey, I’m just saying. You’re going to ruin your life, Davis.”13

Davis tilted his head up towards the sky, white clouds covered a potential blue sky and a bird flew by overhead. “I highly doubt that, my dear.” His attention was then drawn to her flawless, tanned face. “Have you ever felt like you’ve had a calling, Maria? That something is drawing you forward to something bigger, better?”14

Maria raised a confused eyebrow and shook her head. “What are you talking about? You’re kind of scaring me.”15

Davis walked over to her and grabbed her hands, and then he looked seriously into her eyes. Maria’s brown eyes, on the other hand could not look at his. Her eyes tilted down towards the Earth. “I have to do this, Maria. I feel like I have to. Go in, get your jacket, tell my parents nothing, then would you be so kind as to drive me to the bus station.”16

Maria had no clue why she agreed with Davis’s demands, but she did. Davis watched her as she walked into the house and minutes later, emerged from it, a pink jacket in her hand and twirling her car keys around her fingers. Davis let out a soft sigh of relief; there wasn’t an angry mob of parents behind her. “Let’s go,” she whispered as soon as she walked past him. She leaned down, grabbed her flip flops from the ground and climbed into the driver’s seat of her car. Davis followed her and climbed into the passenger’s seat. “So,” she said as she placed the car keys into the ignition and started the car’s engine, “where are you going?”17

“New York City,” Davis said under his breath. As the car drove down the street, Davis looked down at his hands, he told himself the minute he woke up this morning that he would no longer look back, not as he left the house, not at the past, not at anyone, anything that had to be done, would be done going forward. Davis reached into his pant’s pocket, arching his back as he did so; he took out a pack of cigarettes and banged them against the dashboard.18

Maria glanced over at the pack of cigarettes. “Uh…” she started to say, “I’d rather you not smoke in the car.”19

“I’ll lean out the window,” Davis rebuttaled to her statement. “It’ll be like I never smoked in your car.”20

Maria rolled her eyes. “Davis, please. I don’t smoke and I don’t want to be around, smoke.” She dragged her words out with great annoyance, but she kept her face blank and stared straight on at the road. “You do know this is completely out of my way, the bus station and school. Do you want me to be tardy?”21

“There’s a first time for everything, darling.”22

“Oh, be quiet!” Maria snapped, “You always sit there and do nothing and you blow off school, and to be honest, I really worry about you, all the time!” Maria caught her breath, and then groaned heavily as she smelt the smell of smoke fill her car. 23

Davis clicked a black lighter in his hands, an orange flame appeared and he cupped his hands over it. A lit cigarette hung loosely from his lips, but he seemed to speak through it clearly, “Fire, it’s definitely different, isn’t it?”24

“If you light my car on fire, Davis, I swear…” 25

“Chill out,” Davis laughed as he lifted his thumb from the lighter’s switch and placed it swiftly back into his pocket, “you worry to much, you’ve got to learn to just give into the world sometime.”26

“You need to learn not to give in so much,” Maria muttered, “you’re going to get yourself killed. People who only think of themselves normally die early on.”27

On the other side of town, a group of teens chattered excessively as they attempted to decide a theme for a school dance. “How about… Viva Las Vegas?” an auburn haired boy spoke up in the group. A whole bunch of the kids snickered and shook their heads.28

“I know,” said a tall, tanned, black haired boy, “that might work. James Bond, you know, 007. We could make it a bit of a spy, Vegas themed. It could work. You have a great mind there, Sam.” The tanned boy smiled and patted the auburn haired boy on the back.29

“Robert,” a girl cooed, “you’re so smart.”30

“So I’ve been told,” the dark haired boy said, winking at the girl. The girl swooned and about fell to the floor, but her friend was there to catch her.31

“Theme colors?” another girl with glasses spoke up, “I believe black and red are good.”32

“Black and red is a bit dull, doll,” Robert said, snapping his fingers and pointing at her. “I believe that we could use that color scheme, but perhaps add a touch of color some silvers, golds, and perhaps a vibrant shade of blue.” Robert lifted his arms into the air, “Just imagine it, my fellow student council members, we must make this the best spring dance in the history of Collinsville High!” A hint of red filled Robert’s eyes, but one had to look closely to see it. His bright blue eyes peered out around the group of teenagers through a small strand of black hair that hung in his face. 33

Then, the bell rang, and a pile of teenagers frantically grabbed their stuff and ran past him. Robert stood there, alone; even the teacher had left to do hall duty. “Yes,” he whispered, “the best spring dance, ever.” With that, he grabbed his bag and headed outside the classroom. It was lunchtime now, and luckily for him, the classroom was right next to the school’s cafeteria. 34

The cafeteria smelt like greasy pizza and overcooked hamburgers. One could hardly hear themself think over the roar of the many people crowded into the lunch area talking. Robert found himself clutching onto the strap of his backpack and on his tip - toes looking for anyone he knew. Every day, his lunch table seemed to move.35

“Robert!” a tall, pale boy called out to him. “We’re sitting over here.” The tall boy pointed over to a group of kids sitting around a lunch table, throwing fries at each other.36

“Gotcha, Dane!” Robert laughed at the scene and ran over to his friend. “So, what’s for lunch today, Carrot?”37

His friend snickered. “Thank, Robert. You know how much I like to be called, Carrot.” Robert normally did call his friend carrot, because of Dane’s outrageously red hair. However, Dane’s hair gave him personality and his touch of brown freckles just added to it. “Anyways, it’s like a cheeseburger. Not very much fun, right, am I right?” Dane shook his head and followed Robert into the lunch line. 38

Kids bustled and bumped constantly into each other and everyone took note that out of all the people in the cafeteria, Robert was the only person who apologized when he bumped into others. “Yeah, well, I’m excited for this dance,” Robert began to say to his friend, “we’ve got it all planned, and I’m almost certain it’ll be the best one yet.” 39

“With the determination you’ve got,” Dane stated, “I don’t doubt it. Don’t doubt it at all.”40

"Who could doubt it?" Robert said under his escaping breath. "I've put all my time into this dance. I just want everyone at the school to be happy. We deserve this dance." Robert glanced around the cafeteria as he grabbed a red lunch tray from a cart and grabbed an apple from a shelf.41

"What is it today, Robert?" asked an elderly lunch lady in a gray hairnet. 42

"I'll take a chicken wrap today, Edna," Robert cooed, giving a wink. The lady blushed slightly and grabbed a chicken wrap and placed it carefully onto Robert's plate.43

"Such a sweet boy," she said sweetly as Robert made his place down the line.44

"Ask that girl out yet, Carrot?" Robert inquired while he grabbed a light blue sports drink and placed it on his tray.45

"No," Dane blushed, it was rather noticeable on his pale complextion. "I don't know. I doubt she likes me." Dane shrugged slightly and crammed a french fry into his mouth as he payed for his food. Half a french hung from his mouth as he flipped quickly through a wad of five and one dollar bills.46

"Gettin' rich there," Robert joked as he peered over his friend's shoulder. "How much are you making now, seven dollars an hour at your job?" Robert tilted his head back and laughed.47

Dane just rolled his eyes, "Watch it, Robert. Karma. Karma."48

"Karma has nothing on me," Robert winked as he handed over three dollars to the cashier.49

"You're certain about that?"50

"All I do is help people, Carrot. How could I possibly have bad karma getting to me?" Robert shook his head and laughed slightly. "I'm just saying. I only make sure good things will come around to me."51

Dane snickered and knocked his fist on Robert's head. "Hey, if you get any bigger of an ego, than bad karma will happen. Don't want to end up like Davis do you?"52

Robert stopped in his tracks in the middle of cafeteria when Dane mentioned his brother. Dane spun around and faced his friend. "Davis is my brother. He's a bit disturbed, but he's still my brother."53

"Dude," Dane said, stepping backwards and putting a hand up in surrender, his other hand balanced under his food tray, "I didn't mean any harm."54

"Whatever," Robert snapped, "just... leave him alone."55

Dane whistled slightly through pursed lips. "Sorry man, I didn't mean anything by it. You know, just..." Dane lowered his head in some sort of shame, "I'm an idiot. I'm sorry."56

"Don't worry about it," Robert smiled as he placed his tray at his lunch table and patted Dane on the shoulder. "You're my best friend and grudges aren't worth carrying. Hopefully, my brother will get the help he deserves. Say, has anyone seen Maria?"57

"She has release block," a girl with thick, black rimmed glasses spoke, "she comes during lunch..."58

"I know that," Robert said in an all knowing tone, but in no way to be rude. "Shouldn't she be here by now?"59

"Maybe she got held up in traffic?" Dane suggested as he poured a mountain of red ketchup onto a hamburger and crammed half of it into his mouth. Another guy at the table watched him then turned away in disgust. "Or maybe her car broke down, it's kinda a piece of junk," this time Dane spoke with a full mouth of food and nothing was attractive about it.60

"Or maybe she's just not here today," Robert trailed off and then turned his body to face the rest of the teenagers eating the cafeteria. "Poor souls," he whispered so quiet, it was audible only to him, "they have no idea what to expect."61