Forgotten Memories - Jennifer Newman (fiction book recommendations txt) 📗

the chance. I'm taking my gap year before I go to Uni this is where I'm spending it. Before I had left to get on the coach that would take me here he had asked me to go somewhere else to change my mind. Really if he hadn’t said anything like that I might have changed my mind anyway thinking I would be followed by my reasons for leaving if they even could be called that. More like me just being desperate and drastic at a time when I was supposed to be calm. Getting court was also a big part in the reason I needed space.
I exited the house with Aunt Tess fussing wildly that I would be back for Tea trust me I would. I had my mobile in my pocket she had made me take it just in case. “The town is easier than it seems to get lost in.” she warned me just as I exited the door and started walking with John down the cobbled path. I would not be making the same mistake as I had before by taking the totally different path. Hopefully I would soon get rid of that stupidity like I said before it was all part of my nickname. City Girl.
“So you wanted to see the town?” his tone was not what you would call friendly but not sending daggers at me either. I guess that is good.
I nodded saying, “Sorry I could show myself round if it’s a bother.” Allowing me to concentrate on the sights instead of acting normal. The only reply I got was a shake of his head. He was already off on a perfect tour guild speech about the sights already visible through the trees on either side.
“You can get a better view from the other side but it private properties so no luck there unless you can flirt your way in.” Great labelled as a slut from the go, the old me would have had a snappy comeback on the tip of my tongue already. But now, not so much I kept quiet, just nodding as he went on to something else about the walk it would take to the town itself. Lots more sights to see before the day came to a close.
“Did you want to see the sight or find out about them?” he asked as we came up to a junction half a mile down the road. Well it was really up to him but facts would have been cool. “Depends what you know. Later stuff or when the town was built?” my voice was one worthy of a business woman arguing her case. Keep it that way Nora.
“I know both so which is you want to know?” his voice had not changed since we left the house by when his eyes turned to me I could see emotion that his face was hiding. Only thing is I had no idea what emotion it is.
“Whatever you want to tell me” Best to say that since I didn’t actually know much about the town and wanted pretty much anything to go on.
“Right” pointing to a just visible building over a rather big tree to our left he said, “The church has been here for half a century. It was built when the other one burnt down in a fire. The old one is more over to the left by the grave yard. They kept it in the same place for spiritual reasons.” Well okay maybe this boy was a good choice for finding stuff out about the town.
The scenery pasted by slowly as my steps carried on at an even pace. John carried on pointing out each and every land march and ruin there possible could be in a small town like this one. Amazingly there were actually a lot making my view of the town improve let along my information. My brain was backed with facts and figures by the time we stopped off at a small cafe with cars parked outside in orderly lines. All looking along the same lines as my Aunts all big moistures looking vans with heavy paint jobs.
I leaned against the wall of the structure behind me as John made his way in to the main interior and straight over to the cashier already ordering. The breeze outside was tangling my hair together with its harsh blow. Strands of red constantly chose to blow in my face as I tugged them back and into a loose pony tail. Now where did I put the hair band I had used earlier? I checked my pockets in my shorts while still holding my hair up. No luck. Coat pockets? Nope. Well I must have left in on the bed. Damn! I let my hair fall back down flowing over my shoulders and down my back before picking back on in the flow of the uneven wind and twirling wildly around my shoulders and head once more.
Ignore the fact that part of my vision is nothing more than bright red I concentrate on my surroundings the swaying trees dancing back and forth with their partners on the other side of the road. The birds over head flying peacefully from hiding place to hiding space. Playing with their friends before flying off out of sight. Parents and children jumping towards the playground on the other side on the cafe. Children hopping onto swings and sliding down cold slides with puffer jackets the only thing keeping them from the harsh wind playing around the area. Cars driving slowly past as fast as the speed limit would allow them. The daily bus stopping meters away at the only bus stop in town. According to John anyway; sadly I pretty much believed him. Each getting on with their daily chores very much like the one I am putting off. Unpacking.
“Hey” Jumping at the sound of someone’s voice emerging from behind me. Immediately feeling like a fool when I turn and see that it is only a snobby looking boy around the same age as me. Oh joy. “Hi?” the one word came out more of a question than a hello but either way. I shrugged mentally at myself. Maybe that wasn’t the type of impression I wanted to have but this guy already annoyed me. Was there a reason behind that Nora? Be nice. God I am having a little convocation with myself here need my sanity back!
“Sorry you look lost. Need any help?” the guy drawled still standing in the doorway to the cafe like he owned it. Well okay how do I know that he didn’t own it? None of my business. None what so ever. Well I'm sure it soon would.
“No thanks just waiting for someone.” I turned away at that point looking once again at the wildlife across the road. The boy standing in the door didn’t get that this was not a good time for introductions since he instead of going back inside the cafe or simple leaving to one of the many heavily painted vehicles alongside the road. He came to stand beside me. Now do I have to be nice? Right just for asking myself that I am going to give it a try. One step closer to getting my brain back into order is to not take it out on anyone who dares come near me. I wanted to change that thought as soon as I thought it since I had used the stupid word dared implying the exacted opposite. Sanity!
“Sure?” when I nodded still arguing with myself he continued, “So who is it you’re waiting for? Getting a tour round town huh?”
“That obvious I'm new here?” I ask laughing at myself for letting on. I continue to still look in the general direction of the woods over the road. I heard the guy laugh before answering my question, “not exactly..... Stone mentioned it in the cafe. Took a wild guess that it was you. Not many people have your hair colour. Well not round here.” Okay right.... Stone? He made that sound like a name. Have I missed something with my internal babble?
“If you knew who was showing me round why ask?” I try a smile; finally turning just in time to see John exiting the cafe door raising his eye brows before walking over with a see threw bag in hand. The guy standing next to me laughed letting his ‘cool’ hair jostling wildly to the side. Sadly this was the type of guy I used to like. Proof that I really must have been drugged by some idiot trying to ruin my life. The guys bronze hair brushed up neatly into a style supposed to be called ‘bed head’ but the time and money was way to obviously put in.
Mean. Stop. It. Now.
“Ready?” John asked curtly as he reached the place I was still leaning next to the guy ‘trying to help’. There that’s getting it right. I sighed inwardly knowing full well that being nice or kind or even civil to this guy or anyone else I would first have to get over my past experiences and stop being so stereotypical. In other words this could take a while. Nodding to John I started to walk towards the exit of the car park waving politely to the guy I had been talking to. I closed my eyes when I reached the gate pushing it open followed a little way behind by John who still bore no expression what so ever. With my eyes closed I could hear and feel my surroundings without actually having to see them.
My thoughts returning back to what the town or village would have once looked like back when it was still new and counted as exotic. The farmers heaving their crops from place to place in their mug covered rags. Shirts once white but greying with age and hard work. Families carried round by carriage and horse. Images playing out before me of old time that must have happened and some that I guessed. Somehow I knew them to be true. I let the cool breeze calm me as I continued to walk along side John who I could feel walking steadily next to me.
Each twist and turn of the wind winding me further and further into the past where my imagination could roam round free of the barriers of the modern day. The walk carried on but I opened my eyes still seeing the images before me. The winding paths set in stone up ahead as we made our way further into the town.
I snapped right out of my daze as the structure of an old fashioned ruin came into view. The huge brick walls looking heavy and secure. Each brick perfectly placed to perfection. It took some time to convince myself that it really is there. The slanting roof carving into the left side of the wall making way for yet another piece of the roof to appear. The pillar’s supporting the outer frame as the balconies guttering out of the front with a smooth slant. Triangular frame finishing off the top as the door just visible through the mass of trees in-between the space where I was standing.
“What is that place?” My voice had taken on a wiser more mystified tone than I had ever heard before. Something about this house had been stuck. Something about the way my mind worked when I saw the house protruding out of the trees. It is hard to see it from here but I know I know every single detail of the outside that it is possible to know.
“Oakwood manner.” The name rang no bells