Song: photographs and memories by Jim Croce
______________________________

*Flashback*

We were sitting on the living room floor, third grade books scattered around us. I lightly smacked my head against the table. Daniel giggled from across me, not a bit ashamed of doing the same math question wrong for the fifth time.

I sat up and looked at him sternly, willing my eyes to show him an anger to such an extent that he would start taking his homework seriously. He just shrugged his shoulders and reached out for the eraser.

"If you do it wrong this time" I warned.

"Yea, yea, you'll not bring donuts from work for me" he repeated my threat. "Can't you see I'm trying" he added dramatically, signalling to his notebook.

"Daniel Evans, I am sick and tired of you" I huffed and leaned back on the couch, the carpet underneath had started hurting my hips.

Daniel snickered and first but then turned serious.

"Okay fine I'll do it right this time. Don't be mad at me"

I waited for him to finish the problem and drifted my eyes to Alex sitting next to him. His glasses hung low on his nose as he scribbled away on his notebook. He had already finished his math homework and was onto the into English one. I still didn't know where this extraordinary brain came from.

After admiring Alex my eyes turned to my left. A little distance away from us was Carter sitting on the floor, leaning back on the couch just like me. Millie lay on his chest about to fall alseep as he read her a story.

My heart swell up like everytime it did when I saw Carter with my family. When he played football with the twins or tried to cook a new recipe with my father. He was like another member of our family.

He turned the page of the book he was reading from, lightly caressing Millie's head. I was certain it was the caressing that made her sleepy and not the story.

"You know I could just copy Alex and save us both from this torture" groaned Daniel loudly.

Finally Carter's attention shifted to us. I sighed and moved back towards the table, exhuastion catching up to me. But before I could explain how to do the question again to Daniel, Carter stepped in.

"How about we take a break?" He said closing the book, Millie now fully asleep in his arms.

"Alright" I replied and the twins were out of the living room, gone God knows where to play God knows what.

Carter stood up from his spot as I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of my drowsiness. I still had to finish my homework and it was already giving me a headache thinking about it.

I felt Carter sit next to me and opened my eyes to look at him. He had layed down Millie on the couch.

"Tired? Want me to take over?" He asked gently, grabbing my hand.

I rested my head on his shoulder.

"No, its fine. Hopefully Daniel will be less stubborn after he comes back from playing."

"Well I brought a little present for you that might cheer you up"

I sat up straight, all traces of tiredness gone.

"What is it?" I asked excitedly.

Carter reached in the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a small plastic bag. He handed it to, looking at me fondly. I opened the wrapping, a blush creeping up on my face. It always made me feel fuzzy when Carter looked at me in that way.

Inside the packaging was a yellow and orange beaded bracelet with a big flower in between. I wore it on my arm, it looked beautiful.

"It has a flower" I squeaked still staring at it.

"You're a flower" said Carter moving his face forward till his forehead touched mine.

I blushed visibly now and pushed him back a little. Having him this close has always been too much to handle.

"Thankyou, I love it." I said, raising my arm and showing him the jewellery.

"I love you" he replied instead, still looking at me.

"Stop it' I whined, getting flustered. The butterflies in my stomach were going wild again.

"What should we have for dinner?" I asked, trying to distract him from his romantic mood.

The mood only I had the pleasure of knowing.

"I was craving some Chinese. Maybe we should take the kids out too." He replied leaning back on the couch.

A small laugh erupted out of me at his words.

"What?" He asked confused.

"You sounded like a dad" I said still giggling.

This domestic tone seemed strange coming from someone who used to deal drugs. I had never imagined Carter had a version like this stocked inside him.

"Well I am a family man. Besides we'll have kids someday too." He shrugged casually.

My heart stopped for a second. His words lighting me up. He was talking about kids. He planned to have a future with me. My insecurities and doubts were put to rest, I wasn't some fling. Love filled me as I day dreamed our future. Two lives that will be shared forever.

My face was as hot as july.

"Too much for your cute heart?" He teased, moving closer to me again, a smirk on his face.

I stood up, trying to calm myself down.

"I need water" I said and dashed out the living room.

"Your sister is really silly" I heard Carter say to a sleeping Millie.

...................................

"I bet, she's blonde" said Ally sipping on her drink.

We were at a small cafe downtown, waiting for Mason so he could finally introduce us to his fiance. To kill the time me and Ally were making bets on what she would be like.

Mason had refused to tell us much about her, he wanted us to get to know her ourselves. Start a conversation and not be awkward because we had nothing to ask or talk about.

"No, I think she'll be a brunette. I don't know why but I feel like Mason has a thing for brunette hair" I replied looking around the cafe.

The interior was filled with wood and sculptures. There were paintings hanging on the walls while large light bulbs hanged from the ceiling. I liked it.

It reminded me of Carter.

"What do you think her job is?" Asked Ally, putting forward the next question.

"Office worker" I replied leaning back.

Ally scrunched up her nose thinking.

"How about a lawyer?"

"Don't you think that's too strong for someone like Mason?"

"Yea, it is. Maybe she teaches, just like Mason" replied Ally, taking another sip.

"Seems unlikely, they didn't meet at work remember"

"Arghh, I just hope I like her cause I hated Nina" huffed Ally, crossing her arms.

I nodded at her words. I really do hope Katie was nice and got along with us. I was already on rough waters with Drake, didn't need another one.

"Sorry to keep you waiting" came Mason's voice and both me and Ally jumped to sit straight.

Mason stood to my right, wearing a green stripped sweater. Beside him was a women about the same age as us. She wore a white silk dress, her eyes the babiest of blue and her hair with light curls reaching her shoulders. She was a red head.

My eyes shifted to Ally for a second, wondering if she had seen it to. She had a small smile on her face, her han holding Mason. I could see a slight glimpse of nervousness that she was trying to hide.

"No worries, we just got here" said Ally. I had completely forgotten that Mason had said something.

"Eva, Ally, this is my fiance Katie and Katie these are my childhood best friends Eva and Ally" introduced Mason.

"Hey, its so nice to meet you" I said standing up, stretching out my hand to her.

I saw a moment of hesitation in her eyes as she looked at my hand. Should I not have offered it? Is it too much?

But my doubts were soon put to rest when Katie moved forward and hugged me.

"Its nice to finally meet you too" she said softly.

I stood rooted on my spot, startled by her action but soon relaxed and hugged her back. Something inside me was telling me I was going to like her. After me she moved to Ally, hugging her in the same enthusiastic manner.

We finally sat down on our chairs and surprisingly it wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be. Katie started the conversation herself, asking us about our lives. She asked me about my mom and didn't mention Drake. Mason must have informed her.

The talk soon turned from us to her. She was born in New Zealand, which explained her accent and traveled to Australia for higher studies. Her major was botany and she owned a flower shop. Flowers were her favourite part of nature. She wanted to get married here because of how beautiful and cozy the place sounded from all the stories Mason had told her.

She fell in love with Mason because of his awkward and romantic personality, his kindess and love for knowledge. Mason added Katie is the only one who has ever truly listened to his long talks about maths. Katies further added how Mason is the only one who understands her love for flowers.

They were perfect together, if perfect could exist in relationships. They listened to each other, appreciated each other and at the same time weren't annoying.

Katie was pretty cool too. I liked her alot and could see us getting along. From across the table Ally's told me the same. She approved of her, of them.

"Can I just say you two are so cute together" Ally blurted out.

Katie blushed, saying thankyou while Mason's smiled widened further. He was happy me and Ally liked her, especially Ally since she had always been critical of our romantic choices. I remembered all the times she would warn me against Carter, saying he wasn't the right choice. Now she is one of Carter's closest friends and I'm a stranger.

"So are you two coming to the school reunion next week?" Asked Mason, taking a bite of his steak.

"Reunion?" I asked looking at him.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Our dear school has a reunion every year. Its on friday next week" said Ally.

"Oh!" I exclaimed to her. "Do people come?"

"Yea, a lot of them do. The ones still here attend every year. I've been going to for the last five years. Its a nice walk down memory lane"

"You all should go, its been a long time since you've been there together" added Katie.

"Yea, we should definitely go" insisted Mason.

I nodded to his words, thinking of all the people I studied with five years ago.

......................................

I was driving back home from work, yawning because of the exhaustion. The month was ending which meant extra work. My shoulders were hurting bad today and all I wanted was to fall asleep.

As I drived down my street my eyes shifted to the sidewalk. There was a figure standing that looked so familiar. His back was towards the car and he was wearing a grey hoodie. As I approached him, he stepped from one foot to another. My mind finally clicked after seeing his curly hair closely.

My eyes widened and I screeched the car to a stop next to help. Drake jumped back startled at the sudden noise but soon his face turned to a deer caught in headlight as he saw me step out of the car.

He turned away as if planning to flee but I was quick. I ran over to him and grabbed his arm before he could leave.

"You came to see Ally" I heaved, breathless from my sudden run.

"No I didn't" he replied sternly, trying to free his hand from my grasp.

"Yes, you did. Why are you lying?"

"Let go of my arm" he said instead, jerking his arm.

I could see his anger bubbling up.

"Drake!!" I said loudly, already frustrated with his behaviour.

He finally managed to free his arm, a scowl on his face.

"I was just out on a walk, I didn't know your house was here"

I rolled my eyes, trying to think of the best way to approach him. A way that would not end up in an argument.

"I'll get going then" Drake said lightly and turned around walking away.

"Don't you miss her?" I asked in a desperate attempt to talk to him and it looked like it worked.

Drake's body froze, staying rooted on the ground. It took him a moment to finally move and turn to face me.

"My and my wife's relationship is none of your business" said Drake gritting his teeth.

"Actually it is. Your wife is currently staying at my place because it became too toxic for her to live with you. Most nights she cries herself to sleep because of the pain you have caused. I have to hold her hand and reassure her that everything will be fine."

Guilt flashed on Drake's face, as vivid as the morning sun.

"I'm worried. She is my friend and so are you."

"You're not my friend Eva" snapped Drake.

"Yes Drake I get it your still butthurt over the fact that I moved to Canada and left your best friend behind but that was five years ago. Your best friend is happy with another girl now, he has clearly moved on. Why can't you?"

Drake looked away, as if to stop himself from saying something.

"She answers every doorbell in hopes its you." I said softly, hopping I wasn't pushing him too much.

"She's better off without me" he whispered lightly.

And suddenly Drake became a sorrow stricken picture. All his face contained was saddness and it was as if his body was complimenting that, like he had no energy inside him anymore. He was looking away but I could see his eyes and desperation they held.

I knew in that instance that he was still in love with her. So what was stopping him from fixing everything?

"What could be so wrong that you can't make it right?" I asked.

He looked back at me and for a moment I felt like he would tell me. But then anger invaded his features again. I took a step towards me and stood right in front of me.

"You don't know anything about our marriage" he hissed and turned around to leave.

........................................

I wanted to share a Carter Eva moment because I missed them. Hope you all liked it.

Vote and Comment.

Love,
S. Maham Fatima