Wonderwall

THE MARMALADE skies tint the clear windows as the family inches closer to the town. All siblings are currently preoccupied with their own activities, as their dad steers down the road. Rickey stares at the panning clouds, accepting his impending destiny, living in Thornwood Bridge.

After his father had fallen for the blonde woman, the change in their little lifestyle hit the trio like whiplash. Margo's rebellious attitude spiked as Nathaniel announced his spontaneous idea at the family dinner.

The room lay bare with the sounds of scraping utensils against the plates. The boy barely laid a hand on his food as his focus was on the new lady next to his father. Of course, she was talked about, but seeing her in their home was different. Rickey didn't know if it was a good difference or a bad difference.

"I want all of you to listen up," Nathaniel spoke, beginning to reveal the reason why he demanded his children's presence.

"We'll be moving together as a family now," Rickey's eyebrows raised as his brother's head lifted. "We'll be moving soon, and Margo and her mother are coming along with us."

"What the fuck." Rickey muttered as his appetite disappeared at the sudden news. Any attempts to satiate his stomach were futile as his mood had been doused in unexpected news.

"Watch your mouth, boy." Nathaniel was quick to silence him with a growing scowl.

"I apologize, sir." Rickey spat out, not wanting this to result in another physical confrontation.

Nathaniel smirked as his ego had been fed as he watched the boy cower before his parental ways. Yet his other son remained silent as his fists clenched in disagreement.

It only took a few moments for Margo to flee the dinner table, and for Billy to silently follow along.

Rickey sighed as he knew Billy went to smoke his feelings away, and it was best to join him. Rising from his seat, he glanced toward the new female figure in his life.

He debated quickly whether he should raise the mood and get Nathaniel's mind off disciplining Billy, or should he welcome the woman. If only the first option didn't have the rath of Nathaniel accompanying it, he would be delighted to finish the tense mood with a cherry on top. A couple of choice words and maybe a jab at his dear old pops. But looking to the side of the man, he saw the timid lady and decided to save her from his theatrics.

"By the way, welcome to the family." A pitying smile was thrown her way as he went outside to join his brother.

Rickey's shoulders shudder at the recurring thought of the family dinner that went down in flames.

As the past is the past, he stares at the house where his father parks the car. Home sweet home, he hopes. Maybe this is the alternate reality where his father realizes his mistakes and marches on to become a better father. But his hopes pause as Nathaniel instructs his sons to haul the boxes into their new home.

The rest of the family wanders their separate ways as the boys start their labor. "So, what do you think?" Rickey sparks the conversation as he grabs a large, brown box.

"I think this is bullshit." Billy grits through his teeth, "Now we're stuck with that brat."

"Hey..." Rickey tries to come to her defense, but Billy's words continue.

"Don't start that shit, you know damn well we're going to get stuck with her. Don't start that hope nonsense, nothing's changing." Billy bitterly accepts his own words as he hauls a box toward their new home. Leaving a sighing Rickey to trail behind him.

As the sun continued to fall and the skies returned to their natural darkness, Rickey's body lay flat against his bed. It had taken the duo some time, but eventually, the boxes found their way into the interior. After a bit of sorting, everyone went their respective ways. At the moment, it feels as if nothing has changed. No new sibling and stepmother, just the same bland silence that had always roamed between the two boys and their father.

It may not be ideal, but it's what he has grown to accept.

However, it felt unusually suffocating as the boy began to feel antsy. Rickey scrambles from his bed, snatches his new skateboard, and quickly exits his room. He quickly scans the chilly living room for his father, but with luck, he doesn't spot him and silently steps out of his new home.

Rickey breathes the night air in deeply before dropping his skateboard on the bumpy road. The tiny wheels roll against the rocky asphalt road as he mindlessly rides down a barren road. The farther he travels, the more dark vegetation he sees. Rickey comes to an abrupt stop as he spots a strange path leading into the forest. His mind urges him to return home, yet he shrugs the warning off and hooks his skateboard under his arm as he steps into the forest.

Pebbles and leaves crunch under his sneakers as the moon lights his path through the top of the forest. Rickey begins to lose track of time as the forest lures him in until a clearing appears before him.

His breath hitches as a beam of light settles on a petite figure draped in an oversized rouge-colored trench coat. His eyes squint at the rose-colored bob that seems perfectly cut to fit her head with a few bangs to cover her pale forehead. The unconscious girl seems to be dressed from head to toe in pink, like a piece of bubble gum.

Rickey cautiously approaches her with the horrifying thought that she could possibly be in pain or worse. He wouldn't feel right knowing that he might leave and she might need his help.

He crouches as his fingers lightly press against her throat to hopefully discover a pulse. Rickey sighs in relief as she appears to be amongst the living. He reaches to shake the girl awake when her eyes suddenly pop open. Fear crosses her face as she shoves the boy into the bed of leaves before scrambling to her feet.

"Hey! Wait!" He squeaks as she throws an anxious frown in his direction before slowly stepping back until she feels safe enough to sprint away from the teenage boy. His eyebrows twist into a dumbfounded expression whilst his loud heaving breaths fill the quiet forest as his mouth slacks open.

"What the hell?"

"WHAT THE HELL?" Rickey breathlessly mutters to himself as he stands, shaking off the leaves that stuck to his clothes. He quickly glances down at his nostalgic wristwatch to see that his curfew had passed thirty minutes ago. He isn't that far from his new abode, so how could he have spent so much time in this dense forest? Regardless of the unknown reason, Rickey knows he must hurry home to evade another punishment from his father.

His energy decreases as he nears his home. In order to steady his breathing, Rickey braces himself against the brick on the outside for a moment. His heartbeat lowers as he breathes deeply, praying his father is sound asleep.

He gulps down his thoughts before slowly opening the maroon door. He quietly steps into the still house, and Rickey's eyes squint as he tries to make out any figures that may be in the darkness. Rickey sighs as his anxiety dissolves, relishing that he is able to avoid a confrontation with Nathaniel. He begins to make a beeline for his new bedroom until he hears the lamp jingle.

It seems he isn't as lucky as he previously thought.

Rickey's shaky palms grip his skateboard for support as he faces the menacing figure lounging in the living room. The tangerine glow of the lamp illuminates Nathaniel's screwed face and glaring eyes.

"Hold it right there, boy," his father's voice grumbles from the corner of the living room. "Do you know what time it is?" Nathaniel's eyes narrow as his anger seeps through the room.

"I apologize, sir. I lost track of time. It was an accident." Rickey tries to de-escalate the situation with a quick apology. However, Nathaniel didn't want to hear Rickey's excuse.

"Lost track of time?" The elder repeats his son's excuse as he sets the empty beer glass on the coffee table. Nathaniel's fingers dig into the leather chair as he hoists himself to stand on his bulky shoes. His feet thump heavily against the floorboards as he saunters to loom over the boy.

"And to think I thought you were more responsible than Billy," his elder scoffs as he flings his hand across his cheek. "Get cleaned up. You better be up on time in the morning. Now, get out of my sight."

"Good night, sir," Rickey rushes to the bathroom, locking the door quickly. Hot tears spring from his eyes as he touches his bruised cheek.

Rickey stares at his worthless reflection, only to cock his head in confusion. His nose and lips are covered in dry crimson liquid. Nathaniel hadn't hit him that hard, so when could he have bled?

In the forest?

How is that possible? The girl never hit him, and he can't recall suffering any injuries, so why is he bleeding? Rickey sighs as his hands pool with water before he drenches his face, cleansing himself and his mind.

However, his mind is stained with the memory of the strange girl. The way she disappeared was like mist between the trees. Maybe she ended up there because of a crazy accident, and ended up at home.

All those possibilities, yet none of the conclusions sit right with him.

Whether it's his lack of common sense or not, he decides to visit the forest once again.

And that's exactly what he's going to do after his first day of his senior year.

Rickey splashes another handful of water onto his face, watching the last traces of crimson swirl down the drain. He exhales sharply, gripping the edge of the sink. His reflection stares back at him before he exits the bathroom to enter the dark hallway, only to see his brother's tired eyes.

"Billy? What are you doing up?" Rickey questions Billy as he shuts the bathroom door close behind him.

"I heard everything," Billy answers shortly as his eyes lock onto the red patch Nathaniel left on Rickey's cheek. He clenches his jaw, infuriated that he wasn't able to shield him. "You good?"

Rickey sighs in exasperation as his head lowers to the wood floors, "Yeah. I'll be good."

"Dad's an ass, nothing new," Billy mumbles as he crosses his bare arms. "Well, you gonna ride your board or ride with me in the morning?"

"I'll come with you, I know you don't want to be alone with her." Rickey slightly lifts his head, serving Billy a light, toothy grin.

"Damn right, I hate that fucking brat," Billy huffs.

Rickey breathlessly laughs at Billy's unwavering attitude against the younger girl.

"Go to sleep, tomorrow's a new day, or whatever you like to say," Billy bids him goodbye with a light pat on the shoulder before disappearing into his bedroom.

Rickey nods, but his mind is elsewhere.

Tomorrow he's going back.

Back to the forest.