A way towards home (chapter three)

         The road to school is always dusty on sunny days and muddy on rainy it's natural to this little town since it is near the mountains. Richard will always take the shortest route to school everyday but ever since he met Mae he now takes the main road cause the store that Mae's father had left is along side of it. It has been two months since they became a couple and from time to time he'll discover new things about her like the fact that she's twenty years old and he's 16, Mae thought that he was older because of how he acts and looks. A lot of facts was being laid everyday and their age gap doesn't bother Richard at all but what he can't shake off is how she ended up being left by her father despite him having a pretty normal life. It was Tuesday morning and he saw Mae opening her store, the store is only small but you can buy almost all kinds of stuff which is why most town people nearby prefers to buy here. The town was talking about her and Richard doesn't wonder why but there is no doubt that she is her fathers daughter for they share the same eyes and facial traits. I'll help you with that Mae. Richard lifted up the heavy boxes filled with vegetables and placed it in a stand outside the store. Aren't you going to be late for school? Classes don't start till eight, so how have you been all these days? I'm alright, a lot of people are very nice and one of them even told me that she used to see me and my father before although i haven't seen her before and there are also some that would ask for my name most of them are boys but don't worry i don't really entertain them. I see.. Your friend Noel was here yesterday and he told me a lot of things about you like the time when you got chased by a dog and ended up falling into a creek and when you where caught peeing on a wall. That damn Noel i'll get him for that.! But he also told me how kind you are and how people gather up around you even if you keep your distance from everyone. He told you a lot of things haven't he? Well yes but i can say the he's a true friend not many people can sow that kind of attitude towards anyone i mean the two of you mocks each other and always contradicts nevertheless both of you guys support one another he knows a lot of things about you i wish i do too. 

He left the store after helping out a bit. Richard still can't figure out what kind of girl Mae is and even if he wants to her something was holding him back he doesn't have any intentions to offend her but it still puzzles him.

At school Richard was sitting on his desk 4th to 2nd line near the windows he is quiet but he doesn't ignore is surroundings completely his friend Noel sits at the 6th desk on the 1st line sometimes when Noel wants to talk to him he would throw a paper ball at Richard just to get his attention

"Yoh good morning Richard!'' 

''Well if it isn't the gossiper himself the great Luke''

Luke is one of Richards classmates he helps write the school papers you can say that he's a reporter and he always has his eyes and ears open.

''I heard you have a girlfriend now is that true?''

''It's none of your business so leave me alone.''

Noel noticed Luke was talking to Richard and he came to them and joined in.

"Good morning RUSTY are you still bothering other people?''

Noel calls Luke rusty because of his hair that has a reddish brown color.

" Stop calling me that!''

''OH come on  don't you like your cute little nickname? i can come up with a new if you like?''

"You really hate me do you Noel?''

"Would you prefer it if say i love you?''    

''I'll just talk to you later Richard i'm allergic to sarcasm.''

Noel and Luke always hated each others guts it started when Noel transferred to Richards section Luke tends to add some unnecessary things about his articles which sometimes leads to bad rumors. His article about Richard and Noel indicated that the two were in some kind of homosexual relationship and this resulted in Noel breaking his nose.

''Is he giving you a hard time again Richard?''

''Compare to you he's nothing more than a fly buzzing around my ear''

"You should keep away from guys like Luke his nothing but a parasite. But let's not talk about him. So how are things between you and Mae?''

"Were good for now''

"What do you mean for now?''

''I still don't know much about her and it's making me feel uncomfortable.''

''You don't know that much because you don't spend a lot of time with her. If you want to know her better then take the right steps to do so like go on a date or have dinner in her house.''

''I'm not the dating kind of guy.''

''You can if you want. In our prom night you were able to make almost all of the girls in our class to dance with you and i merely got one. What i mean is you can do it.''

Noel pulled out two tickets from his pocket and handed them to Richard.

"Here take this i was going to use these and invite you to watch that awesome action movie but i think it be best if you take Mae instead.''

''Are you sure about this? What did you eat to make you this generous?''

"Oh come on! It's not everyday that i can help out my best friend can't i? You have been stuck in the same location in life and all i want is for you to take new steps and get a move on bro.''

"Thanks''

" So tell me all the details after the date ok bro..?"

"You're a lot worse than Luke.''

After school Richard went to Mae's store and she found her cleaning some jars of jam.

''Hey you seem busy.''

"Your here. Hows School?''

''Same as always aside from one of my classmates bugging me.''

''You mean Noel?"

''No. Some guy named Luke Noel hates him so much.''

"i see. Have you eaten? I can go prepare some snacks for you..''

''''You don't have to. And uhm are you free this Saturday? Noel gave me these tickets for a movie and he told me that we should see it together.''

''Really?! Wow You're asking me for a date..?''

''Well you can say that i think.''

"Sure i'll go with you. It will be my first date with my boyfriend and i'm excited.''

Mae hugged Richard tightly then kissed him. Richard noticed a small burn scar on her shoulder the kind that no ordinary accident can have caused so he asked how she got the burn scar.

''This burn of yours where did you get this Mae?''

''I don't remember. I got this scar the same day my mom went missing and even if ask my father and my uncle about how i got burned all they would say was it's not important so i stopped asking them.''

" It looks painful.'' And he touched it with his hand.

" Does it bother you that i have a scar?''

"Not one bit actually. Mae i want to know more about you but let's take nice and slow ok? Richard hugged her more tightly but the scar on her added more mystery to the girl that became his.

It was 7.30 pm when Richard left the store and on his way to the last curve towards his house he was greeted by an old lady. He knows this old lady cause she used to visit the store that Mae's father once manage.

"Oh how are you young man..? You're Mae boyfriend are you..?''

''Well yes i am mam.''

''Oh i see.. I'm sure glad that their store has opened up again cause it's really a bother to walk all the way to farthest part of town just to buy what i need.. I remember when Mae was just a little girl she was always with her father.."

Richard was curious to know more about Mae and it seems this old lady knows a thing or two about her so took the chance to ask.

''You knew Mae when she was little right? Do you have any idea where her mom is now?''

''Well... I rarely se her mother but i did met her a couple of times before she was very quiet and timid and she doesn't seem to spend a lot of time with Mae but i heard that she disappeared after their summer house was burned and Mae almost died in that fire it's a good thing that her father pulled her out in time.''

"Mae was almost killed in a fire?! But what about his father why did he Left Mae in the care of his friend." Richard is anxious.

''About that.. I think her father was very depressed that he don't want Mae to see him suffering from what happened so he left Mae in his friend but he does send money for her and i remember him always holding their family picture just days before he died.''

" Her mom disappeared right? Does anyone knows where she is?''

''I don't have clue my boy but if anyone would know then it's most likely her family themselves.''

''She doesn't know that she got that scar from a fire that almost killed her and her mom vanished after that. A lot of things are missing but i can't just ask Mae cause if it's true then she may have forgotten about it or she just don't want to remember but one thing for sure everything started with that fire years ago. This is what Richard is saying in his mind.

''You know my boy even if i saw her mom before she doesn't quite look like Mae.''

''What do you mean mam?''

''I'm not sure but they don't look a alike.''

''Is there anything else you know about Mae's family if i may ask?''

''I'm sorry but that is all i know.. Is there a problem..?''

''No there isn't.. Thank you so much for telling me it will help me a lot.. i have to go now thank you again..''

''Ok.. take care my boy..''

''This thing about her is getting deeper i need to know more'' Richards thoughts was filled with question as he ran back to his house.

Behind the shadows someone was watching Mae as she close the store this person have been watching her since she came to this town.

                                             ''Sometimes the truth will lead to our demise''