1. Nova (His Beginning)
“You gotta cut the shit man,” Toni said peering through the window.
”I know, but look at her. She looks so goddamn sexy in that shirt.”
”You freaking perv,” Toni said playfully smacking my arm. We were doing our daily routine, where’d we spy on the senior girls in the locker room. Theres a shaft that Toni and I sneak in through and we’re able to see any and everything. Talk about fucking Nirvana.
“Come on man, it’s almost noon and you know if we’re late to Mr. Prozacka he’ll have our heads on his yard stick.”
Laughing I said, “Yeah, you’re right. Okay, let’s bounce.”
******
“Goddamn, it’s an everyday thing with her. She can’t be on time for one fucking day? Jesus.”
“Chill Nova,” Toni said. He’s only taking her side because he dreams he’ll have a chance to woo her. Sucks for him because she’s completely on the other side of the spectrum.
“You better be lucky she still agrees to pick up some lame degenerate lower-class assholes like us from school every single day. That’s one hell of a sister.”
”Hey,” I said whipping my head around while pointing my finger at him.
“Speak for yourself.”
Just then, a red Subaru comes screeching in front of the building and the horn blares through the windows.
“Hurry the fuck up! I don’t have all-day.” Nikasa yells from the drivers side.
”Calm your fucking tits! We’re coming!” I said yelling back while walking down the steps. Toni got in the front as I emerged in the backseat.
“Nikasa, may I say that is a beautiful shirt you’re wearing?” Toni tries to say as charming as possible, while winking his eye.
Nikasa just chuckles and pulls out of the parking lot.
*****
After dropping Toni off, we arrived at home. It’s a small cottage house with far too many windows to even be accounted for. The wallpapers are cheesy and the floors smell of syrup and mint for some reason. Dad’s always out, working at the factory and we have Gram-Gram to look out for us.
“Grandma, we’re home!” Nikasa called out. I drop my book bag on the ground, reached in the fridge and grabbed a Pepsi.
“Oh, Nikasa and Nova. My dear grandchildren, your grandma is in here.” We walked inside the living room, seeing Grandma all tucked in the coach resembling some sort of comfy armadillo.
“Hey Grandma,” I said softly, kissing her on the cheek. “What did you do all day?”
”Well, you should know that dear. I mean, I have no life.”
“Seriously Gram?” Nikasa remarked.
”As you can see, my bottoms been stationed here all day, watching Jeapordy.”
“See? That seemed promising. Well, I have to go meet up with Erica, so I’ll see you guys later for dinner?” Niki kissed Grams and nodded to me before leaving.
Sighing, I sat on the sofa next to Grandma.
“Grandma, can I ask you something?”
”Of course dear, ask away.”
”Why doesn’t Dad ever talk about mom?”
Grandma muted the television set and shifted her body to look at me.
“What made you ask that dear?”
I looked down, not even knowing how to answer that myself. Why did I ask that? I guess it’s just something my subconscious mind has always wanted to know. I know that Dads been devastated ever since mom died, but not even acknowledging her existence anymore is getting old.
“I just wanna’ know,”
”Well,” Grandma started, shifting some more. “Your dad is still mourning the loss of your mother dear. It may not come as a shock to you, but your dad is still in pain. You gotta’ let him heal first, baby.”
She’s right. Of course, she’s right.
“I’m in pain too, gram. I think about her all the time. But that doesn’t mean to just forget the mere memory of her utter existence!” I felt my body start to tense up, as my hands started to shake.
Grandma got closer to me, as she started to sense some resistance in me.
“Nova, listen to me. Your dad didn’t forget your mother. Like I’ve mentioned before, it’s just his way of healing.”
A tear started to stroll down my cheek. Fuck this shit.
”Thanks grandma,” I said while moving her hands away from my face. “But i’m tired now, so i’m just gonna’ take a nap. See you at dinner.”
I go upstairs to my room and stay in there until it was time for dinner.
*****
The sky seemed so surreal. I know I’ve never been here before. It has to be New York. The stars sprayed across the sky, illuminating all sorts of light from different directions. I soon noticed that I was touching glass. I grabbed the latch and slid it across the side of the door, stepping out onto the cold patio ground. The air was thick and crisp. Living in a rural city of Villeveland, I know I must be dreaming. I haven’t been anywhere besides that small ass town, so seeing New York even if I were dreaming, was very exciting for me.
“You’re enjoying the sights like some tourist. You okay baby?”
An unrecognizable woman appeared from the shadows, and even in a silhouette I can still see her beautiful figure. Goddamn. Who is this woman? Should I go along with this facade or run for my life? After all, it’s all in my head. Right?
”Uh yeah, I’m fine,” I said sighing, trying to wrap my head around this much surreal out-of-body experience.
“Come inside, it’s getting cold out. I’ll pour you some tea.”
I did what was told and followed the beautiful woman inside. What appeared before me, I would have shitted my pants if I would’ve eaten something before. The condominium was huge. Flatscreen TV’s were plastered everywhere, a foosball and pool table stood on the left side of the room. There was a popcorn maker and two couch sets with a letter N engraved on the headrest. “Un-fucking-believable,” I whispered to myself.
Just then, the mysterious woman reappeared. Now that she wasn’t lurking beyond the shadows, I got to see the real her.
Her petite body walked toward me, along with her overflowing black wavy hair that smelled of vanilla and honey extract. Her eyes were green, with her high cheek bones appearing every time she smiled, showing a row of straight pearly whites. There wasn’t not one single flaw on this woman. Was she mine?
”Baby, you look so pale. You sure you okay?”
”Ahem, yeah. I just need to sit down, I think.”
“Okay let’s sit,” She said motioning her hands toward the big leathered couch.
“Adrianna, bring me a warm damp towel for my husband please. Gracias!”
Husband. What. The. Fuck is going on here?
“Si, Miss Loretta.”
So that’s her name.
“Baby, you got to take it easy at work. Seems like their over there gnawing at your brain little by little.”
Just go with it, Nova.
“Yeah, yeah. Um, since their ‘gnawing’ at my brain, you mind telling me where I work?”
Loretta laughs, shaking her head. “So you’re telling me you have absolutely no idea that you own your own Game design AND research company in Harlem?”
I think I may have shitted my pants by then.
