part 4

Sydney stepped out from Watson store after she paid for item that she bought. Ian stood against the wall outside the store waiting for her. He stood up straight after Sydney stop beside him.

“What do you got there?” Ian asked.

“Just shampoo and a few other things for my bathroom stock,” Sydney answered smiled.

“Where to next?” Ian asked again.

“You said you want to buy something. Let’s get your things first,” Sydney suggested.

“Actually I got nothing to buy. I just gave an excuse to go out with you,” Ian said smiled to her. Sydney gave an intense looked at her boyfriend.

“You’re naughty boy.”

Ian laughed. Sydney smiled and shook her head.

“Well, then. I got nothing else to buy too. But I think I want to look for some books. Can we go?” Sydney asked.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

Sydney and Ian walked side by side to the book store two blocks of store from where they were. While walked they talked and laughed. At the book store Sydney and Ian separated to their own way. Sydney went to action fiction sited while Ian looked for men magazine. Sydney and Ian share same interest which is reading. Sometimes they change books after read them. They walked out from the book store after an hour wasting time in there. Sydney bought a few novels while Ian bought one book.

They made a choice to have a drink at Jean’s Café just around the corner. They walked while took a flash look at the book that they bought. Suddenly Sydney accidently bumped into a lady and dropped her plastic pack full of groceries.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m so sorry. I should look where I was going. I’m sorry.”

Felt guilty dropped the groceries, Sydney ducked and help the lady picked up her things. Ian did the same thing.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry,” the lady said picked up her groceries back into the plastic pack. Ian picked up the plastic pack and gave it back to the lady. In that time Sydney realized the look on the lady’s face changed. She looked surprised and her face was dead pale.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” Worried that the accident hurt the lady, Sydney asked. But the lady didn’t answered but looked at her didn’t blink with her mouth little open. She looked like earlier 40’s year old lady. Five feet tall, a little thin and her face already got a few crease below her eyes. Sydney turned to Ian and saw he looked at her with curious too.

“Ma’am,” Ian called for the lady gave a slow shake on her shoulder. Then, she seemed got up from her daydream and looked at us back and forth. Hardly, she tried to smile.

“I’m sorry. I was just… you looked like someone I used to know,” the lady said referred to Sydney. Sydney didn’t say anything to replied but just smiled.

“I’m fine. Thank you for helping me picked up my groceries back. You both are such a good kid,” she said back.

“No, it’s my fault dropped them. I didn’t look where I was going. I’m sorry,” Sydney apologized one more time.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry,” the lady smiled to them but Sydney could tell that she just force the smiled.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want us to help you to your car?” Ian asked nicely for help.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” she turned to Ian. She started too walked away after gave a last glance to Sydney. Sydney smiled and watched her walked away. Once in a while she saw the old lady turned back to looked at her.

“Hey, are you okay?” Ian asked. Sydney turned back to looked at Ian.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine,” Sydney answered gave a tiny smile to him.

“Come on. I buy you a cup of Cappuccino at the café.”

Ian held Sydney’s hand and together they walked to the Jean’s café around the corner. Sydney still can’t forget about the lady earlier until they both enter the small, nice café. The café is her favorite spot for a cup of coffee. Smell of lavender in the café made her feel comfortable and calm. She forgot about the lady and enjoyed the time with her boyfriend and talked about everything they got in mind.

Part 3

Chris parked his car beside Shemar’s green jeep beside Watertown High School. Shemar, Frank, Ian, Jake and Sharlimar already waited at the car. Shemar and Ian were Chris’ teammate in basketball game in school. They became friends the first time they met in selection for school team in first year except for Ian who was Chris’ best friend since they were in eighth grade.  Frank and Jake were ordinary boys who love computer and camera so much and Sharlimar was Shemar’s girlfriend.

“Hey, man. You’re late,” Shemar said.

“Yeah, I know. Sorry,” Chris apologized.

Sydney gets her bag in the back seat of the car and stood right next to Ian who was also her boyfriend.

“You guys got here long enough?” She asked.

“Just 10 minutes ago,” Shemar answered and smile widely. Sydney just shaking her head and smiled back at him.

“Where are Molly and Rachel?” She asked again.

“I don’t know. Probably not here yet,” Ian answered.

Right after he said that, a pink Mini Cooper parked right beside Chris’ car. Two girls stepped out from the car and smiled to them. Rachel and Molly were Sydney’s best friends since the first great. They became friend with Frank and Jake a year after that. Since Chris and Sydney was twin, they always hang out together, they brought their friends join them and after that, they all became one group.

“Hi, guys,” Rachel, wearing pink top with black skirt, wave at them. Sydney waved back to her. Molly who wore blue long sleeve top with black jeans walked towards Sydney and stop beside her.

“Have you done statistics problem?” Sydney asked her.

“Just one more question that I don’t get. What about you?” Molly asked back.

“I’ve done it all. I’ll let you check it in the class,” Sydney offered.

“Great. Thanks.”

“What are we waiting for here? Let just go already.” Sharlimar jumped from the front jeep. Shemar followed and stand behind her grab his bag pack from the back seat.

“Let’s go.” Chris made a move first and the others followed. Chris was the captain in the team and eventually the group declared informally for him in the group as well. Whenever they plan to do something, they will wait for his final word to decide even he said a million time that he was not the leader of the group. Sydney just smiled as she walked with the group.

“What were you thinking that made you smile?” Ian noticed that she smiled by herself and asked.

“Nothing,” Sydney answered and smiled to him.

“So, after school, would you like to go to town with me?” he asked.

“Is it a date?”

“You know it is.” Sydney giggled.

“Yes I do. I would love too.”

Sydney knew Ian since he and Chris became friends. They just were going out together three years back when Ian asked nicely to Chris in front of her and asked her for a date. Chris seems okay with it. In fact he was happy that Sydney and Ian are couple. Maybe because he knew how Ian was better than anyone else, she thought. And going out with him for three years gave her a very good picture of how Ian really was until that he was bad in finding gift for girls.

The bell for first class rang loudly around the school. After getting their books in the locker, they separately went to their classes.

Part 2

2010, present day, Oakville, Connecticut

‘Good morning sunshine. Today is a beautiful day. Sunny with bird singing as people heading to work. To make this morning much better, let me play a song ‘Shine’ from ‘Hilary Duff’.’

The song of Hilary Duff singing on the radio while Sydney Wyatt standing in front of the mirror in her room made sure nothing was wrong with her look today. Wore blue jeans, white long sleeve t-shirt was perfect for her because she like simple. After touched up her look with little bit of eye liner and little bit of lipstick, Sydney went to her table study and put in her books in her bag.

Sydney looked back into the mirror checking her look for one last time. After satisfied with her look and believe she didn’t forget anything, she turned off the radio and leaved the room. She met her brother, Caleb on the way down to the kitchen.

“Hey, good morning,” Caleb greet her.

“Good morning,” Sydney greets him back.

Caleb was the third son in the family and still study in University of Connecticut studying architecture.

“I thought you don’t have class until 10?” Sydney asked her brother.

“Yes, but I want to go to the library to find something for my assignment,” Caleb answered.

Together, they headed to the kitchen where their parents. Andy Wyatt sat at the end of the table read newspaper while Sarah Wyatt standing behind the island making breakfast.

“Good morning,” Sydney and Caleb said to their parent in the same time.

“Good morning,” Mrs. Wyatt greet back to her children behind the island. Mr. Wyatt low down his businesses news to see his children walked into the kitchen and then continued read. Sydney and Caleb took place at the table. Sydney filled her glass with orange jus and handed the jug to Caleb.

“No, I need coffee,” Caleb refused and asked for the coffee. Sydney gave what her brother wanted.

“Do you guys want pancake?” Mrs. Wyatt asked her children.

“Yes, please,” Caleb nodded to his mother.

Mrs. Wyatt put a slice of pancake into Caleb’s plate and then turned to her daughter.

“Thanks mom,” Sydney said.

“Where is Chris?” Mrs. Wyatt asked. She sat nearby her husband and took her cup of coffee.

“Probably still in his room. You know he took hours to shower,” Sydney answered.

Mrs. Wyatt smiled to her daughter. Mr. Wyatt put down his newspaper and sipped his cup of coffee.

“Brennan is coming home this weekend. He had to go to Japan for business and he want to have a family dinner before he goes,” Mr. Wyatt informed.

“Japan? Why does he have to go? Why can’t you send someone else?” Mrs. Wyatt asked.

Mr. Wyatt was a businessman and had a company that he heritage from his parent after they died. Brennan, the first son in the family worked with him after finished his study in MBA course. He was married a few years ago and had a 2 years old son, Jesse.

“He is the most qualify person to go. Besides, it’s his project. He’s the one who wanted to go. He wants to make sure the project succeed, he said,” Mr. Wyatt explained.

“Well then Ava and his son have to stay here when he’s there. It’s not safe for her to stay alone with the baby while Brennan is not home,” Mrs. Wyatt said. She concerned for her daughter-in-law and her grandson.

“You have to ask Brennan to let Ava and the baby stay here. Or her parents’ place, wherever she want to go. I don’t mind. But she should not stay home by herself,” Mrs. Wyatt continued and ordered her husband.

“Alright, I’ll ask him. Don’t worry so much,” Mr. Wyatt comforted his wife.

“Good.”

Heard her husband saying that made her feel relief. Entering and breaking not to forget murdered was really worried her for her daughter-in-law and her baby safety. If she stay with them or at her parent’s house will be safer for them.

“Morning!” Chris, Sydney’s twin brother walked into the kitchen and sat beside her.

“Want do you want for breakfast, honey?” Mrs. Wyatt asked her younger’s son while handed a glass of orange jus to him. Sarah Wyatt was a fulltime housewife and she always made sure that everyone in the house have breakfast; including Andrea who work as a maid in the house.

“Pancake, please,” Chris said.

Mrs. Wyatt handed a plate of slice of pancake to him.

“Well, since Brennan and his family will come home this weekend why don’t we ask Shawn to come home for dinner too?” Mrs. Wyatt gave a suggestion.

“Brennan will come home?” Chris asked without answered her mother’s question.

“Wow, slower. You should catch up a little faster next time,” Sydney teased him since he’s the last one who knew about the news. Chris gave a jerk looked to her. She just smiled.

“Sweetie, have you talked to Shawn lately?” Mrs. Wyatt asked her only daughter.

Shawn was the second son in the house who 28 years old and work as a doctor in Western Medical Hospital in Tustin. Sydney sometimes called him just to chat or the other way around. That’s the only way for them to keep in touch since they don’t live in the same house after he moved out from the house for the job.

“No, I haven’t called him since two days ago. He probably busy. Do you want me to call him to ask him to come home this weekend?” Sydney asked.

“No. I think I’m gonna call him myself,” Mrs. Wyatt said.

“I should get going. I have meeting this morning.” Mr. Wyatt drank his last sip of coffee and stood up.

“We should go too. Come on Syd,” Chris grabbed his bag pack and stood up. Sydney finished her glass of orange jus and did the same. They both kissed their mom’s cheek and walked out off the kitchen.

“Bye mom,” They both said.

“Have a nice day,” Mrs. Wyatt wished her twin kid.

Mr. Wyatt grabbed his suitcase and leaned to his wife to kiss her.

“See you tonight,” He whispered slowly to his wife and kissed her.

“Alright, need to get out of here. See you guys tonight.” Caleb immediately stood up, grabbed his bag pack and left his parents alone having a good time.