Screaming Hearts: Chapter One (Parts One-Four)

       Karie stepped into the classroom, still clinging to her mother’s skirt. There were only a few children there, but Karie was still scared because it was her first day of real school, kindergarten. The teacher saw them and started walking towards them with a warm, welcoming smile.

      “Mommy! Please don’t leave me! I don’t want to go to school anymore!” Little Karie cried, pulling her mother down to her knees.

      “Honey, don’t cry. It’ll be ok, I promise. I’ll be waiting for you right after school ends ok?” Her mother consoled, and gave Karie a hug.

      “Hi Karie, I’m your teacher, Ms. Taylor. We’re going to have a lot of fun this year.” She beamed, and held out her hand for Karie to take.

      Karie sniffled and looked up at the pretty lady, taking her hand. She glanced back at her mother as she stood up and smiled at Karie one last time before heading out the door.

      Ms. Taylor led Karie to a table with a little boy already sitting there, coloring.

      “This will be your seat, ok dear?”

      “Ok.” Karie squeaked.

      “Here,” the teacher handed her a piece of paper, “You can color ‘till class starts.” She smiled before leaving their table to great more children at the door. 

      Karie reached out to grab one of the crayons in the middle of the table, surprised at another pair of hands on the same crayon.

      “I’m sorry,” She said, then reached for a different crayon.

      “Wait,” The boy grinned then broke the crayon and held half of it out to her.

      “Thanks, I’m Karie.”

      “My name is Evan.”

* * *

      He barely heard the school bell ring signaling the end of the high-school day as he stared into her beautiful green eyes while whips of her long straight auburn hair gently caressed her soft adoring face. ‘Oh come on man, just tell her you love her’ He tried convincing himself ‘Just say those three little words you’ve been dying to say “I love you Karie Ray” Come on! It’s easy’ “Easy for you to say” He muttered, as he re-adjusted his backpack and leaned on his locker to face Karie, whose locker was right next to his.

      “What?” She questioned, quite confused because she hadn’t said anything. ‘He’s probably talking to himself,’ She guessed, ‘He’s so cute when he talks to himself. Then again, he’s cute all the time. He’s my cute little Evan Michaels, with his striking blue eyes and attractively messy brown hair.’ She beamed, looking back into her locker to finish packing up all her books.

      “Oh, nothing...” He replied. ‘Grr, Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!’ “So what are our plans for tonight?”

      “The same thing we do every Friday night, silly.” She smiled at him.

      Oh how he loved her smile, along with every other little thing about her, like the way she bites her nails when she’s nervous, or how she moves the hair behind her ears when it gets in her face, or the way she laughs at every single one of his jokes even when they’re not funny at all.

      “Oh yes, how could I forget? Our weekly sit-around-and-laugh-our-heads-off-to-forget-the-world comical movie night! What movie are we laughing at to tonight?” He grinned, mostly because he loved movie night, but partly just to cover up the mental beating he was giving himself. ‘You forgot movie night! You’ve been having movie night since middle school! Arrrgh you’re so stupid! All because you were caught up daydreaming about her, she’d never go out with you! You’re juniors now and she still doesn’t like you that way so just get over it!’ He screamed wordlessly, trying to convince himself to stay content as just friends for the millionth time; although it never worked.

      “I was thinking either Borat or Stranger than Fiction, what do you think?” She replied, as she closed her locker and flung her backpack over her shoulder; then turned to face him again.

      “Hmm… Why don’t we make an exception, just for tonight, and watch both!” He exclaimed, giving himself more time to be with her.

      “Ooo, you’re a genius!” She giggled.

      “I know” He beamed as they turned and started walking out the school, though the nearly empty halls, out into the parking lot to his car.

      “Your house, right?” She asked, even though she already knew the answer; she practically lived at his house.

      “Of course.” He replied, confirming her predictions.

      As soon as they stepped into the parking lot, Karie cheered, “Race you to the car!” then sprinted off running, each step crackling the withered fallen leaves.

      He smiled as he watched her race ahead, giving her a head start to make it fair, then took off after her. “Wait for me!” He joked.

      He caught her just as they reached the car, grabbing her arm and spinning her around to face him.

      They stood, Karie trapped between the side of car and Evan, breathing heavy. She looked up into his eyes, practically begging him to kiss her. C’mon, now’s your chance, she silently pleaded.

      Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her! He tried convincing himself, No, it’s not worth it; you might lose her. He leaned in closer, reaching his arm out to the car and opened the passenger door.

      Trying not to let her disappointment show, she smiled and slid into the car. And he leaves me waiting, again.

      Evan ran around the car and climbed in, quickly disposing of his backpack into the back seat. He flashed a smile at Karie before putting a burnt C.D. in the disc player and drowning out the silence. Cranking up the music, they both joined in and sang along to “Say Goodbye” by Theory of a Deadman, as Evan drove them out of the parking lot and to their destination.

      “Next time I'll take it slow, and as for you I'll never know. At least next time I'll try to understand. So please don't leave this up to me to say that you don't love me anyway. I'll just leave it up to you to say goodbye, because these good times will never last. Keep a hand on the wheel and a foot on the gas. We thought it would last forever, in case you don't remember.” They sang accompanied by the music, dancing to the tune.

      They turned right out of the parking lot and left at the next stop sign after that. They headed straight for a few blocks until they got to the corner of 4^th Street and 9^th Avenue; then they turned right again. They stayed on that road until they reached the highway and headed east before taking Exit 47. At the stop sign they headed left until the Rent-A-Movie appeared on their right, singing the whole way.

      They pulled into the parking lot of the video store and grabbed a stall near the door before jumping out to go rent their movies.

      “Ok agent Ray. The Mission: Rent the movies then get out a.s.a.p. Your assignment is to snatch Stranger than Fiction, think you can handle it?” Evan joked as they entered the store.

      “Yes Sir.” Karie laughed.

      They split up, Karie heading right and Evan to the left, clasping their own hands together like guns and creeping around the rows of movies as they searched for their assigned DVD. To fit the mood, Evan started humming the theme from Mission Impossible, and upon hearing it Karie couldn’t help but smile at him. He’s so goofy, but that’s why I love him. 

      It didn’t take long for them to gather up the movies, since they were placed alphabetically on the shelves. Then they went up to the counter and were immediately recognized by the girl behind.

      “Hey Karie and Evan, movie night I suppose?”

      “That’s what Fridays are for” laughed Karie, handing her the two movies along with Evan’s card.

      She took them and scanned them in the computer to check them out. “Ooo, Stranger than Fiction and Borat, sounds like a good night.” She grinned.

      Every night’s a good night when I’m with Karie, which IS every night so it’s ALL good. Evan thought with a smile.

      “It most certainly is.” Karie confirmed, sending a grin to Evan.

      The young women finished signing out the movies, and returned them to Karie. “They’re due back -” 

      “Wednesday,” Karie finished her sentence wittingly, “We know.”

      “Of course, you’ve only been renting movies here every Friday since I started working here, so like 3 years.” She laughed.

      Karie laughed along as she headed for the door, Evan trailing behind.

      “Well have fun you two!” She called after them as they left the building.

      “You too!” Evan echoed back, before completely submerging himself in the brisk autumn air.

      “I am so glad that it’s Friday.” Karie said as they reached the car.

      “Me too. Plus, I don’t have any homework so it’s all fun and games.” Evan replied while they climbed into the car, and he started the vehicle.

      “Or sleep.” Karie added, slouching down in the seat and lightly closing her eyes as the exhaustion of the day suddenly rushed over her.

      “Tired?” She heard Evan question over the soft rumble of the engine.

      “Yes, very. I was up ‘til one doing that stupid project for Social Studies. I hate Social Studies.” She growled lazily, feeling the car weave around and out of the parking lot.

      “I’m sorry.” He seemed faraway, distant to Karie as she gradually drifted off into slumber.

      Evan glanced over to Karie limp in her seat, the rise and fall of her chest telling him she was just asleep. He smiled, she’s so cute. And for the billionth time he wished she was his to hold, to kiss, and to love.

      He took the long way home, not wanting to wake Karie, sleeping so peacefully. But eventually he reached his house and decided to carry Karie in.  After getting out of the parked car, he went around to the passenger side and opened the door. He slid his arms underneath her and she stirred at the motion and sluggishly awoke. “Shh…” He crooned, and, feeling secure and still extremely tired, she went back to sleep. Then he laid her back into his arms and she lazily wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her into his humble abode.

      “Hey honey,” Evan’s mom, Rachael, greeted him as he walked through the front door and into the living room.

      Rachael had the same attractive looks as her son, they had the same blue eyes and brown hair, except her hair was long and curly where his was short and straight and slightly askew. She sat in her favorite light green chair that matched the soft greens and browns that decorated the room. A book was open across her lap and Evan guessed she had been reading; she always read. Maybe that’s why she was so dang smart.

      Then his mother noticed Karie and added sweetly, “Aw, Karie’s asleep.”

      “I’m just going to let her rest up in my room okay?”

      “Alright.” She consented, and then went back to reading her book, as Evan crossed the room and headed up the stairs to his bedroom.

      Compared to the bright colors and modern styles of the rest of the house, his room seemed rather plain. His queen sized bed lay in the corner of his room and was blanketed with dark blue surrounded by his white walls. The room was accented by a touch of wood here and there by his dresser and desk. His dresser was against the wall on the opposite end of his bed with his flat screen TV sitting on top, while his desk occupied the opposite corner to the bed and held his computer and his closet was built into the wall across from his bed where he gently laid Karie down.

      She rolled onto her side and let out a soft mm, curling up into sleep once more. He stared at her beautiful sleeping face for a few minutes, caught up in his love for her. I’ll never love anyone as much as I love you, for as long as I exist. He silently promised. Then he pulled his navy blue blanket over Karie before he headed downstairs. 

      “What movie are you guy’s watching tonight?” Evan’s mother asked, looking up from her reading, as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

      “Borat and Stranger than Fiction.” He replied.

      “Ooo two movies, what’s the occasion?” She smiled.

      “Nothing…” He paused, “I think I’m going to tell Karie I love her tonight.” Evan was very close to his mother because she was the only parent he had known ever since he could remember. His parents had gotten a divorce when he was only two and his father moved away somewhere, and never kept in touch. 

      “Finally! You decided to take your mother’s advice at last.” Rachael exclaimed. They had talked about this before and she had tried convincing him then to just tell Karie because Karie obviously likes him too, but he didn’t believe her. He didn’t want to jeopardize her friendship over some silly crush. But now that he was sure it was true love, it couldn’t be left unsaid.

      He laughed sarcastically, “So, what’s for dinner?”

      “Changing the subject, eh? Well I ordered the pizza, pepperoni obviously, and there’s some popcorn and soda in the kitchen.” She said, motioning to the kitchen which was open to the living room.

      “Thanks mom.” He turned right into the kitchen away from the living room on his left, and noticed the shopping bag on the counter.

      A box of popcorn and paper plates filled the bag, with a six pack of root beer sat next to it. She knows me so well, He chuckled.

      He went over a mental checklist in his head to make sure they had everything they needed for tonight: pizza, soda, popcorn, movies. The movies! He had forgotten them in the car while he was carrying Karie out!

      Dashing out of the kitchen, through the living room, and out the front door he reached his locked car only to find out he had also forgotten his keys in the ignition. I’m so stupid, He groaned, Dang-it, I hope my mom still has her spare.

      He walked back across the yard and into the house, “Hey mom?”

      “Yeah?”

      “Do you still have the spare key to my car?”

      “Somewhere, I think it’s in the junk drawer in my office. Did you lock yourself out?” She smiled.

      “Yeah” He grumbled before heading to the office.

      He found the junk drawer quite easily since it was the only messy thing in the whole room. His mother was very organized when it came to her work, although that was easy since she hardly used the office anyway. She spent most of her time in the living room, claiming it was easier to write her books in comfort rather than in the stuffy office.

      Evan’s mom had a way with words, and every book she had written ended up on the bestseller list. ‘It’s an art,’ she had once told him, ‘figuring out creative ways to say different things to give off a certain feeling, just like an artist uses colors.’

      He smiled at the memory before returning to search for his keys. Half used and broken pencils filled the drawer, along with scraps of paper, some game pieces from his old candy-land game, letters, batteries, crayons, and other odd objects he wasn’t sure what they were for. With no sign of the key, he sighed then went back out to the living room.

      “It wasn’t in there.” He said, slightly annoyed.

      “Hmm…” Her expression was an exaggerated one of deep thinking that made Evan forget his frustration for a moment and laughed. “I suppose I might’ve put it in my jewelry box for safe keeping.”

      Evan turned around and went into his mother’s room, the only other room in the hall besides the bathroom, office, and library.

      It was like walking onto a beach. Her cream carpet sifted through your toes like sand as the bright blue-green of the walls seemed to wash over you like the sea. Her bed frame swirled and coiled like soft-wood seashells as it held her rippling water bed with her comforter that was alive with soft oranges and pinks and radiant turquoise. Many pillows were sprinkled atop her bed and Evan had a wave of an urge to jump on the bed like he had done when he was younger, but he maturely dismissed the idea. She also had an enormous light wood colored vanity that stood off the other side, speckled with make-up, perfume, and other stuff.

      He found her quaint little jewelry box amidst the feminine articles and sifted through her sparkling necklaces and earrings to find his key sitting on the bottom.

      Breathing a sigh of relief, he triumphantly held the key in his hands as he ran back out to his car, thanking his mom on his way out.

      He unlocked the car and took his keys out of the ignition, and paused for a moment to remember what he came to the car for in the first place. Oh yeah, the movies! He found them on the floor under the passenger seat then he grabbed their backpacks in case they wanted to do homework, although that was highly unlikely, and headed back inside.

      Karie heard the font door open and close as Evan entered the house, still lying on his bed, debating on whether to get up or to submerge herself in dreams once more. She decided to get up and lazily dragged herself out of bed, feeling refreshed because of her little snooze.

      Pulling herself across the hall, she entered the bathroom to try and tame her hair. Once she was satisfied with her appearance she walked downstairs to find Evan sitting in the living room with his mother.

      Evan stood up as soon as she entered the room, and smiled at her.

      “Have a nice nap?” He edged closer, grinning broadly as if to hide something.

      “Mm Yes, very refreshing.” She smiled back, “So shall we begin?” She asked, indicating to movie night.

      “As you wish. I’ll start the popcorn, you start the movie.” He threw the videos to Karie which she caught gracefully as he ran into the kitchen to cook the popcorn.

      Karie glanced at Evan’s mother, who smiled at her before she turned around and headed back up the stairs to Evans room. She skipped across the room and slid the DVD out of the Stranger than Fiction case and into the player before turning it on. Flopping down on the bed, she lay on her stomach with her head resting in her arms, and waited for Evan behind the dancing colors under her eyelids.

      A short while later, the door creaked open and the smell of freshly popped popcorn filled the room, lifting Karie out of the spell of weariness.

      “Gonna fall asleep on me again?” Evan joked as he entered the room, and sat the root beer on the floor as he pushed Karie aside so he could sit down on the bed next to her.

      “Nope, I was just waiting.” She smiled.

      “Oh I see, said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw.” Karie laughed. “Now where is that remote?” Evan’s eyes searched over the room; while he tried to remember the last place he put it.

      Suddenly, he twisted around and snatched it out from underneath the pillow. Then he re-positioned himself into the same arrangement as Karie, and set the popcorn between them before he played the movie.

      Two bowls of popcorn, five cans of root beer, four pieces of pizza and lots of laughs the later, the movie ended and Karie and Evan giggled and joked a bit before heading downstairs to fetch some more pizza.

      “I love Fridays.” Karie commented as she engulfed another piece of pizza.

      “Me too, but y’no what I love more?” A smile spread across his face, but this time it wasn’t out of amusement, it was softer, gentler.

      I love you. I love you. I love you. Please, have him say he loves me! Karie prayed. “What?”

      This is it, it’s now or never Evan. Tell her how you feel, tell her you love her! Spit it out! All you have to say is ‘You’, simple as that. Just a letter of the alphabet, U. U. U. You. I love - His thoughts, however, were interrupted by a ringing from Karie’s pocket. 

      “I forgot I had that in there,” She informed apologetically as she pulled out her cell phone, and then, looking at the caller I.D., she added, “It’s my Dad, hold on.” She drew her attention on the phone as she answered it.

      “Hey Dad... Oh dear, what happened?...” A hint of fear crept into her voice, “Is he okay? …” Then relief, “That’s good… Yeah... Okay... Okay... K, talk to you then... I love you too, bye.” She hung up the phone. Then, shifting to Evan, she said, “I need to go home, my grandpa is in the hospital again and my parents need me to watch my little brother.”

      “Oh, is he going to be okay?” He asked, concerned.

      “Yeah, they hope so.”

      They got up and wordlessly walked out to Evan’s car. He didn’t need to ask what happened, her grandfather was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease not very long ago, and heart failure was probably what sent him to the hospital. He could tell this was rough on Karie; she was very close to her grandpa. Hanging her head and dragging her feet, Evan knew she was trying her best not to cry.

      Before they reached the car, Evan pulled Karie close and gave her a hug. She unwound into his arms and sobs of tears noiselessly fell on to his shoulder. He squeezed her tighter.

      After a while her cries eased, and with only a few sniffles, Karie was led by Evan into his car. She slunk into the seat.

      The ride out to Karie’s house in the country was silent, and Evan kept looking over to her to make sure she was still with him. She sat huddled up in the seat, staring blankly out into the night at the raining leaves from the forest that surrounded them. She seemed to be locked inside herself, trampled by the thoughts running through her mind. Evan was sympathetic, and wished there was something more he could do for her. He wished he could take all of her pain away.

      Suddenly, then, she screamed. “Evan, look out!” She ruptured his train of thought, and he realized he wasn’t paying attention to the road.

      In moments that felt like eternities, he pulled his gaze away from her tear stained face and was blinded by a white light headed straight for them. He jerked the wheel to the side and slammed on the brakes. A jolt told him they hit something, but he didn’t have time to find out what it was before he slipped into darkness, the shrill of Karie’s scream echoing in his ears.