Familiar Faces

“Have we met before?" A question that I had asked to a stranger that looked familiar. "Do I know you? I think I've seen you before..." She looks at me with a hint of wonder, and then she softly responds " Sorry, I don't think we've met before." with a faint smile. Then slowly turns her head back to her phone, But I know I've seen her, I just don't know where. 

 Those hazel eyes, loud perfume and raspy voice. As we sat and waited on the bench, Waiting for our ride home. A real cold night, and only a few parked cars around. Sitting in the front of this High School building, Me, expecting my ride to show up anytime now. So just to start a conversation I spoke to the young lady, sitting beside me on the bench "So how long have you been here?"  I asked. She looked at me and responded, " This is my first year." "Really?" I replied. And then I added, “Well do you like it here?” She then placed her phone onto her lap. And says “Yeah, it’s not bad here, wait how long have you been at this school?”  I adjusted myself and responded, 

“Ever Since middle school” As I spoke a fog of cold air dashed from my mouth, she responded “So that means, this is your last year now?” I nodded my head, and looked forward, staring at the parking lot.  observing all the empty cars that were surrounded by empty parking spots. My memories of friends, and people swiftly pass by. I noticed lately that there is no point in wasting time. Because all those moments That I had, have all had their life. She speaks to me again and then says, “So do you like it here?”  I scoff a bit, and reply “It’s been cool I guess, It’s school after all.”  I then locked eyes with her, and would say “But, I have been enjoying the experience. It’s been quite a trip.”  As I held my eye contact with her, her eyes darted to my mouth.  As her teeth began biting onto her bottom lip.

 I swear It was cold at first, but now that breeze started to feel like heat, as I sat in my big coat that covered my body. I Know I have seen her before, I know…It feels like this is a dream.  Suddenly I say “Oh, I forgot, I didn’t even get your name.” She looks back into my eyes, and holds her attention on me, and then responds, “My name is Ashlyn.”  I lean my hand out, for a handshake. At the same time while introducing my name. “My name Is Travis. It’s been nice getting to know you.” She extends her hand and shakes mine. And she replies “Likewise.” In agreement, as we firmly held hands, but after a prolonged second, we were both still holding hands. 

I wanted to lean in just at that moment, But I kept my control and decided to keep things flowing. “Your hand is cold.” I said, as I felt her palm, it felt as if it were frozen. As she then gracefully placed her other hand. Onto mine, she then replied “Really?  they don’t feel cold to me.”  As we held eyes, those hazel eyes were definitely a sight to see. I felt my heart, slowly opening a door that I haven’t seen. I felt the need to say more words, but the silence had put me at ease. She then smiled at me and gave a genuine smile. I gave a slight smile back, and I began to speak “ Hey-” suddenly, the sound of a car horn beeps.

 As Ashlyn flinches back, while still holding onto me. Her grip on my hand, I felt as my hand was about to pop from her tight squeeze.  I turn my head over, just to see, my ride arrives. I look back at Ashlyn, just to see that our hands were still holding tight. I start to stand, as she follows along too, She then pockets her phone. I then speak to her “Hey, I Got to go. Though I’m really glad I’ve gotten to know you.”  She responded, “Maybe I'll see you around.”  I would say “Maybe you will.”  She replied. My hand slowly left hers, and then I quickly headed over to my ride.  

As soon as I opened the car door, I stopped. The thought had crossed my mind, then I turned around and shouted “Hey, do you need a ride?”  She looked at me and said “No, I’ll be fine.”  I nod my head with understanding and make it into the passenger seat. Buckled my seatbelt, Closed the door. and then we began driving.  As we drove away, I stared outside the window. The school building passes, and she holds her phone up, her camera lens flashes, but it flashes towards us. 

Did she just take a picture of the truck, I wonder. But the thought didn't last, so I brushed it off. But I can still vividly see her in my vision though. The thought pondered in my mind. I questioned myself “where I had seen her before.”  My uncle interrupts my thought, and questions me “So is that pretty girl your girlfriend, nephew?”  I scoff, and then say “Nah, just someone from school.”  He glances at me with an eyebrow raised, and replies “Ah okay.”  He has always been a skeptical dude. 

Then time passes. The weekend arrives, and I find myself indulging in it. No more late-night rides, waiting because of after school detention. Lucky for me I only have a few more days until It would be all finished. Throughout the weekend, I wondered 

who Ashlyn really was. Later on, that Friday, the thought I had concluded was that I had seen her before. Maybe while walking through the hallways, but on that same night when I decided to go to sleep, I had a sudden dream, A dream that I’ve already seen before. A flash of a beautiful face, Hazel eyes, and raspy voice. Seductive lips, and hair that had curls. And a flash of me sitting in a car. Don’t know who it was, But I was in the driver's seat. The rest of it is a blur, I tried to remember but it's confusing. 

 So, I decided to brush it off that morning and continued my day. That Saturday, I had been prepared to go to my uncle’s land, to go and walk around, and feed the animals, to be a helping hand.  At the end we found ourselves riding his horses around. After putting the animals away, Eventually the sun found itself slumping down, as the sky grew a darker tone, and birds made their crossing across the clouds above. It was about that time, after he paid me. 

He would usually drive me home. But now, this time it’s different. He tossed me his truck keys, my eyebrows shot up. And he would say “Make sure to bring it back by next week.” As the coldness surrounded me, I felt as if my excitement created a barrier towards it. I looked back at my uncle, with a look of disbelief.  He held his eyes with me, nodded his head, and said “You’ve gotten a license, you know how to drive.” A slight smile formed on his face. I then ran to him. And gave him a big hug, He gave me a pat on the back and chuckled. “Alright now be careful and pay attention to whoever you let in my truck nephew.”  I then power walked to the truck, hopped in and buckled up. And inserted my keys, to start the truck. With the window rolled down, I poked my head out and said “Thanks Unc, and tell the fam I said hey!” and I drove off. 

I checked the rear mirror and seen, him waving. I waved back and kept the engine pushing. Not too long, I found myself back home. With my uncle's car parked outside.

 My mother asked, “Oh Jaxon is here?” I responded “No, he just let me borrow his ride.” With a bit of conversation with my mom. We both ended with a hug, and I went into my room. With all the excitement of having my own car.  Thinking of different places, I can drive to, and where to start. After freshening up, I hit the bed. And crashed into it hard.  A long rest, my body longed for after all. But my mind is relentless, finding myself in my deep thoughts…Ashlyn… I thought she had left my memory, but she circled her way. And found a way to be a mental image, I see… the 

Sights from my dream from earlier, tried to tell me…something, but none of it seems to really click to me.  I fall asleep, and then Sunday arrives. It was a chill day.  That day had fled, by because time was moving and so was I.  Monday started and the morning was just the usual, the afternoon showed, but that time was quick to go. After school detention. This is because of all of my previous tardy days. As I walked out the building, Ashlyn was there waiting. On the bench, with air-pods she sat deep into her phone, So I walked up to her. I said, “Hey Ash!” She shook in fright. I laughed a bit. she laughed along and then I sat beside her side. She scooted closer. My knee connects to her knee. 

She took out her Air pods, and Her eyes peered through me, It was like she was staring into my soul that lived within me. After a bit of talking about anything, and then our conversation led into how her family was moving soon. I’m thinking, that fast she arrived, now she is already leaving. I stood up and asked, “When is your ride coming?” She then took her phone out and spoke. "Yeah, hold on.... I’m about to see right now.” 

I slid my hands into my pocket, and then I said “Hey, I can just give you a ride home. If you're comfortable with that.” Her eyes searched around, and she said, “Are you sure?” I swiftly said “Yeah, just give me the address.”

 She stood up and instantly, started texting. Her eyes deep, Her fingers with extreme speed. I started tapping my feet. And then a shiver runs through my spine, A crow screeches. As it flew away from the school building, I'm ready to go. 

She continued typing, then she suddenly froze. And looked at me, and said “Okay, I’m ready.” We walk together, I’m checking the road both left and right. I see a car speeding, not that far away in the distance, shining its bright light.  We enter the truck and turn on the lights. I then told her “Alright, pull up the GPS.” She looked at me and said, “Let me see your phone, I’ll put it on yours instead.” A strange feeling I had gotten, 

I don’t know why.... But I handed her my phone, and she put GPS on it. That’s when the sound of a loud car engine roars, I look at her and jokingly ask “Did you hear that?” And I began to start the car.

 She suddenly then says “Wait, give me a minute.” And starts texting, don’t know Why I need to stop, just so you can check your messages. In my rear-view mirror, I saw a car light flashing behind me. I said “Why, what's wrong?”  She said, “Wait a minute.”  I felt something strange, like if something bad was beginning. I looked at her, and stared with worry, As I felt the eeriness. and suddenly like Deja vu. I realized that I have dreamt of this very second, In this exact place. The raspy voice, Hazel eyes, and etc. I was so confused. Wondering why she kept seeming like somebody familiar. I knew there was something about her……..That's when I swiftly looked into my window, in my sights I see, two hooded men, both with guns, charging towards me.

                                                   THE END.