Columbine Part 2

Author's Note: This is the second part of the trilogy "Columbine." Scroll down to read the first part and look for the end!
 

“Rachel,” I shouted up the stairs, the morning of April 20^th “hurry up, we’re gonna be late!” I stood at the foot of the stairs, in awe, as my sister chassé-d down the staircase, her black skirt flowing behind her.

Rachel, as catching me staring at her, replied, “Um… too much black?”

I chuckled, “Anything but… I mean, you look, um...”

“Ugly?” Rachel said, just the tiniest bit of concern in her voice.

“Gorgeous,” I breathed.

Rachel commented, “Well, thanks. Now didn’t you just say that we were going to be late?”

“Geez. Don’t have to be a ‘smart-alec’ about it.” I responded.

“What? Didn’t you just say that we were going to be late?” Rachel cried.

 I said, annoyed, “Yeah, but it doesn’t give you any more of a reason to be mean to me.”

“I’ll be out in the car.” Rachel sighed, heading out the door.

As she left, I pounded my fists on the wall, screaming, “why does she have to be so darn annoying!” I threw my backpack over my shoulder and slammed the front door behind me, approaching my sister, waiting for me in the front seat of the car.

“Rachel— it’s my turn to sit in the front.” I growled.

Rachel whispered, on the verge of tears “alright. I’ll move.”

My mom cut in, retorting, “You guys better figure this out soon; school starts in four minutes.”

“Shut up mom,” I said, closing the car door behind me, “just drive.” My mother just pursed her lips, turning on the radio to fill the silence between us.

“Mom,” Rachel pleaded, “could you please put on some country?”

“Craig- you think you could change it for me?” My mom responded, eyes focused on the road. I had just slumped in my seat staring out in the distance as my mom pulled in to the school’s parking lot.

“Craig.” My mother glared at me.

“What is up with you today?” Rachel questioned, “You are being such a brat, I don’t even know who you are anymore,” she cried.

I swerved to face Rachel. “I’m sick of you, Rachel!” I shouted, “I’m sick of your stupid country music, I’m sick of your poems, I’m sick of your kindness, I’m sick of you!”

Rachel’s eyes just searched through mine for a moment, before abandoning me in the car. These were the last words I would ever say to Rachel, though I had not known it then.