Fifteen Years Later

 

Fifteen years passed and many things have changed in the world. But not a lot has changed in the small town that rains too much. Everyone in that small hick town still knows everyone else, it still remains a town nestled in the boundary of a great forest, a forest that lay dormant and dark still. The forest was a place where many stay out of and where children were not allowed to play in.

After that night back in 1981, the baby boy would find himself with his grandparents. That same little boy that rest in the forest, who was snuggled in a cradle of tree trunks, ended up at his grandparent’s doorstep. The boy soon grew up and became a teenager, a troubled one at that too. His grandparents watched him grow up into a bright and creative young kid, but one like many with his own raging hormones.

It was his grandmother who found him lying on the doorstep; she was turning off the lights and locking up when it happened. The door was locked, the lights then switched off, she was heading upstairs when the doorbell suddenly rung. This was odd she thought, but nevertheless she made her way to the front door. The older lady’s name is Jocelyn Clarence or Mrs Clarence by most. She’s a short skinny woman in her early seventies, at the time, and she was the most kind-hearted woman anyone could meet. She always wore a warm smile upon her face and everyone around town knew her and greeted her every day. And of course she had been married to a Boris Clarence for as long as she could remember.

Mrs Clarence curiously opened the front wooden door, with a creak to it as it swung free. She frowned when she found no one standing on the other side; she was about to return back inside when she spotted him, the tiny baby wrapped up in blankets and soundly sleeping. She picked up the baby and took a long lingering look around, who could possibly be so eager to get as far away as they could from this sweet and innocent little boy. The child came with a note attached, a note that read; take care of him, he is your grandchild. He needs a name.

Mrs Clarence stayed up the rest of that night watching over this child, like the guardian angel most knew her as. She had to come to a decision within the next few days, having the honour of naming the child. Eventually she decided on a name, one in which belonged to a man who she once knew long ago. She named the child Joshua Bekett. Bekett being the last name of his father, to which she knew and kept. For the next years to follow they watched the boy grow and every day they bonded with Joshua more and more. They had become like parents to him.

Now fifteen years later after that cold night in which Joshua was left to his grandparents, he was waking up in his warm bed. It was a Saturday morning about a week into April, and the now teenager Joshua Bekett had a full day planned. He was meeting his closest and best friend Charlie Small today. Joshua met Charlie years later when the two of them were still very young and they grew up together. If you asked anyone who knew them most would say that they have never seen one without the other.

Joshua was a typical skinny teenager. He weighed little and was very slim, but he didn’t look unhealthy. He had jet black hair upon his head that was quite longish; his hair was scruffy as it always was and his fringe hung just at eye level. He also had a dark tan, not so much that he stood out but enough that any guy would desire and any girl would usually crave. This was all topped off with his intense hazelnut eyes.

Joshua showered and dressed, he was flying down the stairs with the smell of fresh eggs on toast whiffing up his nostrils, something that happened every Saturday morning. His grandmother loved making him breakfast, but more than this she loved trying to spend time with him. Joshua of course felt different on the matter. He made his way into the kitchen and sat up on one of the stalls that stood at a great marble table within the middle of the kitchen. The stalls stood at one side where they could sit to eat a quick snack like breakfast or a sandwich. This was also known as a snack bar, and then they used the dining table in the room connected to the kitchen for family meals.

‘Morning.’ Joshua said to the back of a woman who was hard at work making his cooked breakfast. She turned to face him with a plate of food.

‘Good morning Josh.’ She placed the plate in front of him along with a knife and fork.

‘Why do you continue to be so good to me?’ Joshua playfully joked.

‘It’s all part of my master plan to butter you up so that one day when I’m too old to move, you can return the favour.’ His grandmother replied with a smile.

‘You have more chance of winning the lottery.’ Joshua joked back. It was almost a routine of theirs and they had always joked like this for the better part of Joshua’s teen years. Something his grandmother thought was necessary since the boy had no parents to bring him up but the two wrinkled old fools. And ever since Joshua’s grandfather had died not so long ago they had become even closer, after all, they were all they had now.

‘Well then, how about you take a trip down to the shop and get us some milk and we’ll call it even.’ She said again smiling. Joshua agreed since he said he had time to kill before meeting up with Charlie anyway.

Joshua finished up the rest of his delicious breakfast, as if he hadn’t been fed for weeks, his grandmother always thought. Joshua then happily set off to hunt for the milk his grandmother demanded. The shop wasn’t too far; it was a corner store about a ten minute walk away. Joshua made it to the shop and before he even made it close to the corner he saw her.

 A young girl of around his age stepping out of the store, she was a picture perfect image. She was beautiful, the kind of beauty that once upon a time use to mean so much more. She had a beauty that some may say to be delicate and romantic, although Joshua would never admit this of course. She had blonde swirly hair, fine cherry lips, incredible ocean colour eyes of blue, and at times even green. She had quite a slim and slender figure, and finally a warm hearted personality that complimented her. Although this was true Joshua always thought her to be more uptight, because she thought she was always right and knew everything. He teased her about this on more than one occasion.

Joshua watched her with a smile around his face as she stepped out into the cold; she zipped up her grey coat which she wore over jeans and a t-shirt. There was a slight chill in the air but that was normal for a small town such as this one that had a forest wrapping around it. The girl wasn’t much for dressing up and mainly always looked like a tomboy with her usual jeans and t-shirts, though she still reflected prettiness within the glow of her face. She was now heading in Joshua’s direction and soon reached him before she had noticed he was there. This meant that when she finally got close she was surprised to see him.

‘So you’re stalking me now?’ The girl said in a somewhat serious matter.

‘You may believe that you have many guys drooling over you, but I on the other hand am just trying to do my bit to charity by helping the needy.’ Joshua replied just as serious.

‘Needy am I, is that what you’re trying to say? Well then don’t bother being charitable by inviting me to your party next Saturday. I just won’t show.’ The girl smirked. By this she meant that it was soon Joshua’s sixteenth birthday and the week following he was having a party.

‘Oh whatever will I do, my life is ruined now that the famous Charlie Small isn’t coming to my birthday party.’ Joshua laid the sarcasms on thick as he placed a dramatic hand to his forehead. His closest friend however couldn’t help but give a compressed smile and gave him a backhanded slap to the shoulder.

‘So I’m guessing my mother told you I was down here?’ Charlie now said in a more casual conversation.

‘You know it just so happens that not everything revolves around you...’ Joshua began circling Charlie and stopped on the other side. ‘You’re not the only one who shops at this store you know.’ He said again sarcastically before continuing down the street towards the store.

‘I’m still seeing you later right?’ Charlie called out. Joshua didn’t turn around to acknowledge her; he just raised a hand above his head.

‘Absolutely.’ He shouted back. Charlie shook her head and just sighed.

Joshua was only minutes in the store and when returning home after a ten minute walk he was surprised to see Charlie sat in his computer chair, the kind that span right around. He opened his bedroom door to reveal her staring at him, her feet up on the desk waiting patiently for his return.

‘I’m in a crisis.’ She blurted out before Joshua even had time to take in the sight of her there and before he could walk through the door to his room. He walked forwards to his bed taking off his jacket and throwing it on top of the covers.

‘So what’s this crisis then?’ He asked.

‘I have nothing to wear to your party. I’ve been through every possibility that can be considered at least half decent but none is good enough. And a part from wanting to look good for the party, half the school is going to be there so I don’t want to look outdated.’ Charlie took in a breath; Joshua was use to Charlie’s ramblings and fast conversations when she was either excited or nervous, he was even beginning to understand what she said when it happened.

‘So what do we do about it?’ He couldn’t help smiling at her.

‘The only thing we can do...shopping.’ The words pierced through Joshua like a knife. Shopping was a girl’s lifestyle not just a hobby, even for such a tomboy as Charlie. And the downfall of being best mates with a girl is that he is the only one around to be dragged through the shops, enduring every painful second of girl shopping. This consisted of him holding the bags and waiting around while she spends hours trying on clothes. He looked at her, an obvious worried expression upon his face and sighed.

An hour later Charlie and Joshua were walking towards town, they were heading towards the shops so that Charlie could buy an outfit for his party and Joshua would have to suffer through what so many men hate doing with the opposite sex.

‘Tell me again why we aren’t taking your truck into town?’ Charlie spoke.

‘Because unfortunately a certain someone doesn’t have a job to keep the gas tank full every day, especially when that someone has to save money for other things. And also because it’s being fixed in town, I’ll pick it up when we leave. Anyway, it’s only a twenty minute walk into town at most.’ Joshua explained barely taking a breath. Charlie thought he was being a little bit over the top for such a small and simply question, but through it all she didn’t know that the reason why he was so defensive was that he too wanted to buy a new outfit. But of course he wouldn’t admit that to her, he was a guy after all.

Not much more was said on the matter. They continued walking down streets and soon made it to the town centre. As they arrived they passed a very old and battered church, one that had always been there but neither had ever taken a second thought to notice it. But today was different, because a sign was pinned to a board outside. It showed details of the plans they had to knock down the church and build more houses.

‘I don’t ever remember that church being open.’ Joshua said as they stopped. ‘It’s been boarded off for as long as I can remember.’ He finished.

‘It hasn’t been in use for fifteen years.’ An old man appeared from out of nowhere, making Charlie jump with fear. He carried a leaf rake that he now leaned on; looking at him it was obvious that he was there to tidy the church grounds. ‘The rumour is, fifteen years ago a priest shut the church down after discovering such a terrible sin. They believed that the church had become unholy, stained with evil. So they decided to close the church and it hasn’t been in use since. But then, that’s just rumours of course.’ The man had a sense about him that sent shivers down Charlie’s spine, something odd and disturbing which gave her the creeps. But for Joshua it was interesting, something about the story pulled him in, he was intrigued and he didn’t know why. Charlie and Joshua had always said that this was the most boring town they know, even though it was the only town they know. So for something like this to happen here was incredibly exciting.

Charlie and Joshua found their way to the shops in the town centre and Joshua was already dreading coming. Charlie had wandered in and out of clothes shops all day, she was the typical young teen girl who had to look in every shop and reject all decent outfits until she found the perfect one. For a tomboy she was such a girl. Joshua couldn’t remember a time when they started shopping, it felt so long ago; maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if Charlie had bought something he thought. The last stop and thankfully to Joshua, was a new store that had recently opened. Charlie physically had to drag Joshua by the hand because he had started trailing behind.

‘Last one I promise.’ She pleaded. Joshua reluctantly picked up his pace again. After all, Joshua of all people couldn’t resist Charlie’s famous pouting. The new shop was mainly for ball gowns and smart dress wear, but the shop also sold some smart casual clothes as well. Charlie entered first with Joshua following close behind; she soon took off further in front like a child in a candy store and Joshua couldn’t help smiling as he watched her.

‘They’re so beautiful.’ She exclaimed as she picked up a dress. Charlie pressed the lip red dress against her and then looked up at Joshua who only nodded and smiled. But as Charlie looked over to Joshua she saw another dress, an even more beautiful dress causing her to put the red one back and push pass Joshua to get to it. This one was a dress that hugged you in the right places, shaping the top and hips, and then it dangled below just above the knees. This dress was one of those which flowed from side to side when dancing, and it sure got Charlie mesmerised. She quickly found her size and headed towards the changing rooms to try on the dress, she hadn’t even bothered to mention it to Joshua, so he had to guess.

‘I’ll just wait out here then?’ He said knowing that he wouldn’t actually get an answer. Minutes later Charlie reappeared with the dress in her hand, she looked kind of down.

‘It’s too expensive. Even with all the money I’ve been saving I still don’t have half. Especially after your present I still need to buy.’ She sounded so disappointed. Joshua thought of the right words he could have said at that moment but for no real reason at all he just couldn’t speak.

‘You still want to look around?’ He eventually asked.

‘No it’s ok.’

‘You sure?’

‘Yeah I’m sure.’ Charlie placed the dress back on the rack and began towards the door. Joshua followed close behind. After they picked up Joshua’s truck he drove her home in silence, Joshua felt bad for her and Charlie felt even worse.

A week passed by, Charlie still never found a dress she liked and this only frustrated her more. With all the fuss you would think it was Charlie’s big day, but things like this were important to a girl. For most people the week seemed to fly by but for Charlie it felt like she had been waiting a whole month. The worst part of it was that it was now Friday, the party was tomorrow, and she still hadn’t decided on what she was going to wear.

School was now over for the week and Charlie was determined to find a dress tonight, she just had to. Joshua was doing his usual duties in driving her home; as best friend it was in the title. But as Charlie was in such a frantic state she didn’t even acknowledge Joshua when he arrived at her house.

‘See you later then Small.’ Joshua shouted after her. Charlie wasted no time in rushing out of Joshua’s proud blue pick-up truck, slamming the door behind her she then continued into her house. ‘Goodbye Josh, thank you for giving me a ride home. Oh that’s ok, you know I don’t mind.’ Joshua talked to himself in a funny mimicking voice before he drove off.

Charlie didn’t stop; she zoomed straight up the stairs and into her bedroom. She threw off her jacket and backpack and started attacking her closet. Clothes flew everywhere, on the bed, on the bedroom floor. She was worried that if she couldn’t choose, she might have to settle for one of the dresses in the other shops. Charlie was completely distracted to the point where she hadn’t even heard her mother say ‘Hi’ as she entered the room.

‘Charlie!’ Her mother called out a little louder, this time Charlie heard and turned around to face her mother. ‘Are you so important that you can’t say hello to your own mother when you return home?’ She joked.

‘No I’m so busy worrying about what to wear tomorrow that I can’t say hello.’ Charlie replied to her mother in frustration.

‘That is why you shouldn’t leave things to the last minute.’

‘I think I’m just going to go in my jeans and a t-shirt at this point.’ Charlie pouted.

‘Follow me; I have the perfect thing for you.’ Her mother disappeared and Charlie was left tunnelling through her clothes. She soon caught up with her in her mother’s bedroom.

‘I don’t think your clothes are right for me if that’s what you’re thinking.’ Charlie said. In response to her comment her mother gave her a fierce look. She then opened her wardrobe door and took out something hanging from inside the door; it was the same gorgeous dress from the shop in town, the one that was too expensive. Charlie was, for once, speechless. She couldn’t find the words. ‘Where...how did you know I wanted this dress. It’s beautiful, I love it.’

‘I didn’t buy you this dress.’ Her mother laid the dress upon the bed.

‘Then, who did?’ She handed Charlie a note after detaching it from the dress and then she left Charlie alone to read it.

I’m sure whatever dress you would have picked out would have been perfect on you.

But I know how much this dress meant to you,

And seeing your face light up in it would be the perfect gift.

Josh

As she read through Joshua’s note Charlie’s face lit up with such a big stretched smile. He was such a great friend she thought, he was the kindest and most thoughtful person she knew, even if he did tease her a lot of the time. She wouldn’t see him until the party now but she will thank him then.

The morning to follow Joshua woke with his alarm clock ringing in his ears. His grandmother cooked him another breakfast in which Joshua couldn’t have rushed to the kitchen fast enough for. He ate his breakfast as quick as he did all his food, which consisted of bacon, eggs, sausages and toast, and then went about his day. It seemed to Joshua’s grandmother that this boy ate far more than any other kid, especially within this last year.

Today was a slow and boring day for Joshua because he had nothing to do until later at seven, when he would be attending his birthday party. He also wouldn’t be seeing Charlie until then either. Joshua thought it was a silly idea but Charlie had made him promise to stay away until his big party so that it would feel more special when he met everyone there. He couldn’t understand why he agreed.

It was around half past six when Joshua was dressing for his party, he never liked getting ready too early. He opened his wardrobe and took out a complete suit with a plastic cover over the top and then he placed it upon his bed. He then began to change his clothes. He bought the new suit especially for his party; he couldn’t have anyone outshine him now could he.

Joshua now stood in front of a mirror that was built into the front of his wardrobe door; he was dressed in a black suit, with a white shirt underneath and a black bow tie. It wasn’t he who had arranged the party or even picked the theme, but he had to admit that he looked damn good. Joshua felt like it was the perfect outfit to wear on such an occasion, but even with this respectable look he couldn’t help to keep a part of him. Joshua still wore his famous blue converse shoes that he wore everywhere.

Joshua heard a knock at his bedroom door; he took one last look at himself in the mirror before saying ‘Come in’. His grandmother entered the room, Joshua just stood facing the door and he kept his hands in his pocket while watching the door open.

‘So what do you think?’ Joshua said as his grandmother took a look at him.

‘Wow, you look very handsome. I think your grandfather would have been very proud of how much you have grown.’ She spoke almost a little sad.

‘Thanks’ Joshua smiled.

‘If I didn’t know any better…’ His grandmother continued. ‘I would say you were trying to impress a certain someone?’ She said but Joshua couldn’t understand what she was getting at.

‘Who would I be trying to impress?’ Joshua asked with confusion.

‘A certain best friend.’

‘Who Charlie? Why would I want...no.’ What was she trying to say Joshua thought? He almost acted like he was offended.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure, Charlie is just a friend.’ Again his words sounded harsh.

‘Then if that was true why did you just react so strongly to such a wide and open question. And more to the point, I said nothing about you impressing Charlie because of a potential romance. How did you know I wasn’t just talking about you impressing her simply because she was your friend?’ His grandmother raised an eyebrow before leaving Joshua with his thoughts. Joshua had no words and felt slightly angry at his grandmother, but decided to let it go.

Joshua drove his pick-up truck into town and stopped outside a venue where the party was being held, it was now 7:03pm and Joshua continued inside to join the party. It was already almost full when Joshua entered the venue. He looked around and saw many people gathered in groups around the tables and dance floor. There were also many adults hovering around the bar. Joshua was never really good around the whole party and dance scene, so he felt uncomfortable as he sat on a seat at an empty table. If it wasn’t for the fact that it was his birthday party he may not have even been there. Only on occasion would he speak to a few other friends from school, who wished him a happy birthday.

It was an hour Joshua waited before Charlie arrived, and when she did it was a grand entrance. Joshua heard and noticed a rush of crowded people, all excited about something. He watched them all gasp and speak over one another, and he wondered what it was that they were so interested in. The crowd began to slowly split and that’s when Joshua saw Charlie appear from within the middle, he then suddenly knew what had everyone all giddy. Joshua thought Charlie look absolutely exquisite in her new dress bought by the one and truly.

Charlie wore heals with the dress, her hair was extra curly and pinned up, and she wore simple earrings that dangled down a little to finish it off. Charlie looked over in Joshua's direction and they caught each other’s vision. She looked so out of place as many people still surrounded her, and then Joshua decided to do something about it. He made is way over to her, taking in a deep breath as he neared. Was it possible that he actually felt nervous? Joshua wondered why.

‘Would you like to dance, you know, with me?’ He said nervously. When he was on his way over here he hadn’t actually decided on what he was going to do or say, but that was the first thing that came to mind.

‘Sure.’ Charlie said. Joshua took her hand and led her towards the dance floor; the song that started playing over head was a soft tune. The song was called ‘One Step Away’ by Elisa. They made it to the middle of the dance floor. They both just stood there looking around at everyone dancing around them, and then they began moving closer. Joshua held her at the waist with his right hand and took her hand with his left, their bodies were even closer now and Joshua felt his heart start beating a little faster than normal.

‘Thank you.’ Charlie spoke up as they began moving to the music.

‘For what?’ Joshua asked.

‘For helping me get away from the mob.’ She smiled. Joshua never realised how much he loved Charlie’s smile until now. He didn’t understand it but he couldn’t help thinking about how elegant and beautiful she looked.

‘Well, I know how much you hate that.’ He replied.

‘And also for the dress, it really is perfect.’

‘And you look perfect in it.’ She smiled and blushed at his comment.

‘You know, you really didn’t have to buy me this dress. I mean it’s not even my party.’

‘Yes I did.’

‘How did you even know my size?’ She was curious at that fact when she first tried on the dress and modelled it around the room.

‘You told me.’ Joshua answered quite bluntly, but Charlie just looked at him a little weirdly. Joshua noticed this; he smiled and continued to explain. ‘It was a few months ago, you were doing one of your rambling speeches. You were going on about what to buy me for my birthday and then went into a list of ideas for what to buy you if I had to buy you a present. And within that list you mentioned if I was ever going to be so lame as to buy you clothes, then I should know your size.’

‘And you remembered?’ Charlie sounded surprised, maybe because she had never had anyone take such an interest in her before.

‘I remember everything about you.’ Joshua said in an almost whisper but he never actually meant to say that out loud, he surprised even himself. Joshua said this with his face close to hers as they danced and whilst he wasn’t looking at her. Now he felt like never looking at her again after saying something like that. Charlie had her eyes closed; she felt so close to Joshua right now, as did Joshua. He held his cheek to hers, she smelled so wonderful he thought. And where their hands met, they now held tight between their bodies.

Charlie pulled back a little to face Joshua, after only a little while.

‘Well this dress is defiantly not lame.’ She smiles. Her eyes glistened and Joshua felt a strange pull towards her. For the life of him he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t take his eyes off her. And then unconsciously both Charlie and Joshua slowly began to move their heads closer to each other, until their lips lingered not even an inch away. Through it all neither took their eyes of one another until they got really close, and then both of them shut their eyes as they continued forward.

They had almost locked lips when there was a sudden loud banging noise, this interrupted Charlie and Joshua. They weren’t the only ones who heard this sound; the noise was so loud that everyone within that room heard the explosion coming from just outside.

There was a rush of people hurdling out the door, Charlie and Joshua both followed everyone. When they got out into the cold, all was revealed. A car was impaled into a street lamppost outside; a man was bleeding from the forehead in the driver’s seat. He looked more scared then he should be, completely frighten, but then that was usual if you were in a car accident. What was unusual was the fact that he couldn’t take his eyes off the direction of the forest, and he was mumbling something. Joshua moved forward for a closer look as the paramedics opened the car door to get to the man, and now he could hear better as to what the man was saying.

‘It was a beast...a monster...he jumped, right up on my car...’ The man seemed out of it as he pointed out of his front window to indicate his front bonnet. ‘Those eyes...he had...evil eyes...’ The man continued to moan and mumble.

Everyone watched in awe as the man was taken away in an ambulance. In a small town like this the event was very big news for everyone. Joshua was now stood back at Charlie’s side; she hung onto his arm like she was watching an intense horror movie.

‘What do you think he meant?’ She subtly asked. Joshua would have answered her but he was too much wondering the same thing. They never looked at each other as she spoke; they continued to watch the ambulance disappear instead.