The Bucket List - N. Y. (great book club books TXT) 📗

can see the change and what I never thought would surprise me.

 

Blue hair.

 

 

A very badly done hair dye. And even the way it's styled.

 

Mainly because it was probably been done hours ago, not fully dyed yet.

 

 

I can tell, because Ashley dyed the ends of her hair blue one time and it didn't blend in with the brown hair she had.

 

And it made me think about Tyler from a new level.

 

 

''What?'' he asks, stopping to look at me again.

 

''Your,...hair.'' I say with a little hesitation.

 

 

''Oh this? It's just temporary, I decided to try something besides having red for the holidays.'' he replies.

 

 

Then he's bustling his way to the pies. Probably getting the last one before I can even notice that he's gone.

 

Then, i'd be in a fight for the last pumpkin pie.

 

 

But hopefully I can make it before I realize i'm standing in the coffee aisle, watching Tyler leave me behind as I stand holding onto my extra ham.

 

 

Then it kicks in. I start to take off in the other direction, going back where I came from.

 

But then I stop, thinking of Tyler.

 

 

We had a little conversation. A small laugh, a couple smiles and I couldn't leave that there.

 

I needed to find out how exactly we're going to talk again.

 

 

Or when we'd run into each other again.

 

So this was me, myself and I. ;ooking out for Alex.

 

 

Turning back to where I last saw Tyler leave, I run that way getting to the decorated stands with pies.

 

Layed in blacks table tops and glorious lighting.

 

 

My hand darts for the last pie.

 

Then, out the corner of my eye, I see her. Making a run for it.

 

 

And I see it, the light fading. Hope leaving my hands.

 

I actually had a chance against the old woman, but then it's gone.

 

 

The heroic music, the intense scene. She had the pie.

 

Leaving me to catch my breath from the brirf run.

 

 

''Sayonara suckers.'' she says my way.

 

And then I knew for once, and for always, that I had lost the only pie I could ever get every year to that old woman.

 

She was always there.

 

 

Then under my breath I say it, but then I hear someone else say it too.

 

''Bitch.''

 

 

I turn around at the notice of the voice. It's Tyler, standing with his shopping cart.

 

Looking into the way of Old Woman Yeller making a run for check out. But I don't even look that way, i'm looking at Tyler.

 

 

 

With amazement in my eyes, hopefully undergoing a trance or something i've seen in the movies.

 

But it's all too good to be true.

 

 

So when it passes by, I realize i've probably stares at Tyler when he called my name.

 

I shake my head, looking at him again.

 

''Yes?'' I ask.

 

 

''Here.'' Tyler says.

 

Before even looking down, there's something pushing against my hands.

 

Then I notice it's another pumpkin pie.

 

 

One I didn't think would be around.

 

Without even looking up, i'm staring at the label.

 

''Pumpkin.'' I say, finally looking up at him.

 

 

And with a smile on my face, I look back down at the package, then back up to Tyler.

 

''I kinda saved the last one for you. I knew people would be rushing over, so O grabbed you one and watched the madness happened from a far.'' Tyler says.

 

 

The pounding and fights, and probably crushed no good pies on the floor.

 

But i'm too focused on Tyler to hear the rest of what happened.

 

 

And that smile, the one that couldn't seem to go away, was plastered on my face.

 

After Tyler finally stops mimicking the fight for the pies, more like the fight of the century, I couldn't help but continue to smile.

 

 

Wondering if this was a sign, or if all was good in the world.

 

''Pumpkin is my favorite.'' I finally say.

 

 

I don't even know why i'm saying it. A cute thank you would have ended the conversation.

 

But no, I had just to say pumpkin in my favorite.

 

 

''No problem.'' Tyler replies.

 

Then without another thought, the smile I thought would never come back, showed up just in time.

 

The one with the sparks, showing all the glory in my teeth.

 

''Thank you.'' I say.

 

 

Turning my way to checkout, I walk with the ham I fought for and the pie Tyler fought for.

 

Overall, this was the best thanksgiving experience i've ever had.

 

 

And as I stared down at my pie, a voice calls me out. I turn around almost nearing an aisle. 

 

I see Tyler.

 

''When are your parents coming back?'' he asks.

 

 

I don't even question why he asked, or even why he even noticed any detail about the information beforehand.

 

But it didn't matter anymore.

 

 

I was just happy, for some other reason in a long time.

 

''Soon, I hope.'' I reply back.

 

 

Then, with a small smile, I give Tyler a little wave.

 

After returning one, I finally turn back on my way to the checkout lane.

 

 

Thinking about the pie I never thought would bring a little piece of Alex back.

 

 

And for the rest of dinner, I couldn't stop thinking about the blue hair that Tyler had.

 

Especially for the holidays. I could think of it as a early christmas present, the way I noticed it.

 

 

The matted combed down, crazy brown hair underneath the blue.

 

It was hard to forget. I couldn't even keep my food down without opening my mouth.

 

 

Aunt Carol had to tie a napkin to my neck to keep the food from spilling on my red sweater.

 

And the smile that never seemed to come off my mouth, was planted right on my mouth.

 

 

Aunt Carol kept asking if I was fine, all I ever responded with was a nod.

 

 

I stared so long at the wall, I almost thought I passed out at dinner.

 

Then waking up to see that i'm in my bed, i'm thinking about Tyler again.

 

 

The tightened muscles in my face, so sore that it gave out when I thought about him again.

 

So far, for the first time in so long, I finally saw the light.

 

 

A little light, the one I had been saving for a starry night.

 

But that night was today and i'll never forget it.

 

 

It was the kind of feeling that makes you think, once it's there, it never goes away.

 

Upside Down

 

It's nothing, simply nothing.

 

A sweet nothing I never expected.

 

 

The red hair I fell in love with, is right in front of me.

 

The smile I couldn't seem to break from, is truly before me.

 

 

And with that, I couldn't think to not do it anymore.

 

Biting my bottom lip, I pull my notebook into my lap.

 

 

Taking the pen from the table and letting it ease through my writing.

 

Overviewing what I had so far, and the last one to complete.

 

 

#1. Detach yourself from people that only exist when they need something from you.

 

#2. To the people who call you friend, when they ask you for favors, then leave you afterwards. They don't need to show you their sympathy.

 

#3. Life will have less drama if you keep your circle small. You don't have to be friends with anyone.

 

#4. Pick the people who share the same interest and radiate the positivity that you have.

 

#5. Never trust telling your stories to anyone. Never.

 

#6. The cupcake you think is so sweet, isn't the one that's right. Sometimes it falls, and your worst nightmare from it suddenly collides with your heart. Life, is not like a box of chocolates.

 

# 7. Sometimes you wish you could be 25, with your life figured out and everything in hands. But if the music is too loud, then you're too old.

 

#8. Go to mama, tell her you'll be here, in the corner. The backseat of the car i know you can't afford. But for god's sake don't fall in love.

 

#9. If someone reminds you why, they don't want to be there, don't question your choice. One word, one setence, could make one hell of a difference.

 

#10. To cut through all this worn out leather, you've got to have a hundred million reasons. Don't think it's dumb, because your dancin' in circles, it feels good to be lonely.

 

#11. You may be good at acting like the victim, but soon, it's gonna be time to face reality. Embrace the truth, because people can see through you.

 

 

 

It was complete, the last one. #11 was going to be the confection of the list.

 

It was done, Tyler had completed it.

 

 

In only a short amount of time, the list came alive like a dream.

 

So i'm sitting in the art class, after school smiling and goofing around with Tyler.

 

 

I almost forget why sometimes, but then I remember when it all came together.

 

He found me, hoping i'd be the star child he expected me to be.

 

 

And I accepted, knowing it wasn't worth the trouble.

 

So it started out simple, nothing but a simple suggestion.

 

Then it grew over the beginning of December.

 

 

The chats turned into talking and conversation went on longer than we both thought.

 

I started to smile again, and from that moment I knew it wasn't fate.

 

We came together for some other reason.

 

 

Shared candy, restless ideas and time spent together.

 

We're stuck on each other, me and Tyler.

 

Nothing could separate us, not even his parents or Aunt Carol.

 

 

So from that time, we became, Alex and Tyler.

 

The conjoined couple that's not everyone's goals, but they cheer for us anyways.

 

 

And when I saw her face again, everything came flooding back.

 

 

Suddenly the happy moment spent with Tyler after school, slowly started to fall back into my hell.

 

It was nothing, she just passed by the room.

 

In fact, I didn't even know she stayed after school.

 

 

But the feeling came back. The girl that sat a few stands down who loved sports, one day went through everything.

 

 

And I could see when she passed by briefly with her blonde hair which she kept for more over than a month, was listening to her lost world go on.

 

 

And at that same thought, I started humming the chorus to that song again. The one we used to share.

 

I didn't know who she was or if I would ever see her again, but I hated that we didn't say a word.

 

She didn't say a word.

 

 

And from then on, we just knew. It's over.

 

 

So when I walked through that classroom door trying to find her, I felt as if she was by my side.

 

Hoping that i'd come back again. 

 

During that December, the very december I went to visit Ashley Hope Bass.

 

 

And when she lied about being home, I lost hope. But I had faith.

 

And even more now.

 

 

 

So I searched the hall where I saw her disappear, looking through thick and thin feelings.

 

Winter things and all, making my wish come true. Once and for all.

 

And when I saw her. The face so pale and young, it sacrificed it'self.

 

The idea, the thought.

 

 

When those brown eyes looked into me, I looked back at her.

 

And her sight on me, blurry as hell.

 

 

No sign of a smile, like clouds were circling her head.

 

The same clouds I saw when she left.

 

And in the pit of my stomach, the discomfort in the back of my mind. It sickened me.

 

 

The feeling, what drove us apart. I still don't even know why she gave up on me.

 

Why she left.

 

Her dark brown eyes, and her voice whispering to me.

 

 

I couldn't make out what she said, it was....dimly.

 

 

So when she peered into my eyes one more time, letting the black hue of her clothes whoosh by.

 

I inhaled deeply, swallowing what I would've said.

 

 

Then I feel a pair of hands fall onto my shoulder. I look to my right.

 

 

Seeing Tyler trying to shake me out of the feeling.

 

And I knew it was easy since it's been years when