The First time they met
At seven the playground is somewhere you learn quickly who you are. Are you one of the leaders or are you one of the crazy non rule conforming crazy people? Ava was laying down on the merry-go-round where she could see the yellow and blue of the metal in the corner of her eye. The sun was beating down on her and as she lay there spinning the world seemed to fly by, and as the merry-go-round started to slow down Ava caught a glimpse of blonde hair running by. Ava sat up quickly and saw the girl run around the park on the far side laughing as she was being chased by some older girl.
The older girl ran off with a couple boys and the blonde stopped laughing and looked over at the girl and watched her run off with the boys, she placed her hands on her hips her head tilted and Ava could see her drop her head slightly. Ava watched her amused not sure who she was, she had come to this park everyday for as long as she could remember and had never seen the blonde before. Nora wasn’t here today, off with her aunt shopping for school clothes and Gary was out with his mother who insisted they spend quality time together before the start of second grade.
Ava jumped off the merry-go-round she grabbed onto the blue metal, ran with the merry-go-round and after a couple times in the circle jumped back on and laid back down. She liked the quiet, people tended to leave her alone when she was on the merry-go-round. Ava was known as the rule follower in the playground. Her brother probably over in a corner talking to some girl and her sister had taken off the moment they arrived not wanting to be seen with her eight year old sister who was almost as tall as her at eleven. Anna didn’t not like her sister according to their father it was mostly an age thing so Ava tried not to let it bother her. Adam on the other hand was a typical boy he just liked hanging out with his friends but always came over now and then to check on Ava.
Adam was twelve and Ava considered him her best friend, and the most amazing big brother in the world. When she heard him clear his throat Ava sat up as the merry-go-round spun slowly to a stop. He stood there with a grin.
“Ava, me and Jacob are going over to the field to kick the ball around, you wanna come?” Adam asked his matching blue grey eyes looking at his little sister his voice not high but cracking with a hint of baritone coming soon. His blonde hair long enough for him to reach his hand up and push the bangs out of his eyes.
“Nah, Jacob always tries to nutmeg me.” Ava said looking behind her brother to the other boy who was standing waiting on Adam. “He always ends up kicking me in the shins.” She added rolling her eyes bringing her eyes back to her brother’s.
“Okay, well Anna is right over there and I will be on the field if you need me.” Adam said and turned walking away. Ava watched him as he walked away and Jacob looked back over to her when they started to walk away. She looked away quickly, Jacob wasn’t that great at soccer and she didn’t understand why Adam would even waste his time playing with him.
Ava turned her attention back to the fact that the merry-go-round was not moving. She started to slide to the edge when someone appeared at the edge looking at her curiously. Ava could barely see the girls eyes with the way her hair was all over the place. She did see the missing teeth and freckles when the girl smiled at her. Ava tilted her head looking at the small blonde. When her hand come up the her forehead and she pushed her hair out of her eyes, Ava saw the crystal blue eyes just barely through a squint.
“I could push for you if you want?” The voice said with a toothless smile.
“No thanks.” Ava said moving to stand up the girl took a step back and looked up when Ava got to her feet.
“How old are you?” She asked and Ava’s eyes went wide who was this girl and why was she talking to her and asking her questions.
“Sorry I don’t talk to strangers.” Ava mumbled and turned back towards the merry-go-round.
“But we're kids.” The girl grabbed one of the metal parts of the merry-go-round stopping Ava from moving. Ava turned towards the smaller girl and just looked at her in shock. “My name is Sara.” She said holding her hand out towards Ava who just looked at her in disbelief. Ava looked over the blonde’s shoulder and saw her sister occupied on the swings with a bunch of kids and she looked back behind her knowing that Adam was over at the soccer field. Her eyes came back to settle on the small blonde in front of her.
“I am not here to make friends, Sara.” Ava said sternly and took Sara’s hand off the merry-go-round, turning quickly running and then jumping onto the merry-go-round as the blonde stood in shock watching her. Ava didn’t care, everyone knows to leave her alone. If Nora was here she would have already run off the blonde with one scary glare. Nobody ever messed with Nora. She looked angry all the time. The next time the merry-go-round stopped and Ava sat up Sara was gone.