Katherine and I get married on a spring day, brightness leaking through stain-glass windows and lighting up the entire room with a rainbow of colors. Katherine had insisted on sunflowers in giant vases spread across the hardwood floors, weaving in between the pews, and they reflect the light of the windows and such a bright way.
I was anxious from my meeting with Jane when I first stepped across the floors. There seemed to be something off about her, and there was something she wasn’t telling me, and it worries me; until I see Katherine. In the early days of our courtship, I would often compare her to Jane, contrasting the dark skin and innocent look of Katherine to my teenage love.
I cannot think that anymore.
She is her own entity, her own vision in a long, flowing white dress and a small yellow flower perched in her long dark curls. My sense of compunction fades away as I watch her, my love swelling into the rest of our lives filling a large gap that Jane had left. This innocent young woman, her intelligent and wit shining from her like an eloquent dark cloud will be my wife.
I take my eyes away from her, and find my sister in the crowd. Her hands are clenched around Allen’s, and Melody is bouncing up and down in her seat, just as captivated by Katherine as everyone else. I see that my niece will one day be a beautiful, in her long dress and dark hair, but still has the childish capacity not to care. Tucked into her seat by my sister’s side, is Jane. She smiles and gives me a thumbs up, mouthing she’s beautiful and I mouth I know.
And it seems, like that, all is spoken.
Katherine’s father lets her go, and sinks next to mine, who has the finest capacity not to be drunk at the moment. I take her hands, and she looks at me, eyes sparkling in the immense light.
“Are you ready for this?” She whispers, lips coming close enough for me to feel the breath of her warm peppermint scent.
I don’t have any capacity to lie, anymore. “Yes.”
When the priest asks me the same question, I don’t look down to the rows of pews like I had in so many fantasies. I don’t hear Jane jumping up and shouting, ‘I object!’ I look only at Katherine, my Katherine, and I say, “I do.”
------
I clasp a fragile hand to my fragile heart and cry.
Katherine is already pounds lighter, and her dark skin is already lightening with the signs of illness and fatigue. Her eyes, void of every sparkle, look out at me from within the swallows of their depths.
She is only thirty-four. Me, I am only thirty-six.
We always knew there was a chance this would happen. She’s always had the disease, and always made it clear that she did, but it had never hurt her so much before. She is made sick quickly, far more quickly than anybody else, but it has always been something I can help her through.
“Emmett.” Her voice is a soft, sore croak.
“Yes, Kat?” I immediately intent on her and the world fades out from the edges.
“You should go back to the school. You have classes.”
I wipe a tear from my face, and wipe one from hers. “I told the board I couldn’t teach today. They’ve Okayed it. We’re fine.”
Katherine gets a far-away look in her eyes, vacuous brown gaze staring straight through our hands. “We should get a divorce.”
“What?” The thought is so absurd, but spoken with such truth, and I cannot bare to look at her.
“You could be free of me. Go do that world traveling. Call that pretty girl I met at our wedding.” Each statement is quiet, but burns into my chest.
“I don’t want to be free of you. It’s only been six years. We’ve got so much left to do!”
She stops talking, and uses whatever strength she has left to pull her hand out of mine and lays on her own chest. We are silent, the stinging familiarity of the heart monitor the only sound.
“Emmett?” She says after a moment.
“Yeah?”
“ I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Three months and four days later, I am fraught with the freedom of her.
----
I am thirty-eight, and alone. Lacey calls me periodically, but is busy. Melody is graduating from High School and picking out a college and James, her son, graduating third grade. My sister likes to speak on and on about her children, and I realize that, despite earlier complaining, she was made for this life. My niece and nephew adore me; James is still impressed by my model truck collection, and Melody is a kind, mature young adult who finds fascination in my lonely lifestyle. (‘A psychologist! My Daughter! She was only born for it!’)
My father and I sit often on the porch of his small cabin, beers in hand. He has decided that we are a pair, the two of us, and I am old enough now to let that go.
It is May, and the sun leeks through the window of my home, too big for only one man. I am picking up a picture Katherine, brushing off a layer of dust, when the phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Is this Emmett? This is Jane.”
I am surprised to hear her voice; it has been many years. “Yes. How are you, Jane?”
I feel as though I can see the smile coming through the line. “I’m fine. I was just wondering if you might make a detour to my house. I can give you directions, if Katherine doesn’t mind.”
I don’t have it in my heart to tell her that my wife is dead. That, without Katherine, I have nothing to do or live for. “I can come.”
She gives me directions, and I get in my silver Porsche. I am well-off, now a full-blown professor at a college closer to Harmony. The abode is not twenty minutes off. I pull into the drive, shutting off my car. The house is small, made not for one person, but for two-plus. I wonder if she ever moved on, ever got married.
I knock on the door, a solid wooden thing, and it opens almost automatically.
It is not Jane, but a girl. I cannot keep the surprise out of my reaction, and stumble back. Don’t be an idiot, Emmett! Just because you never got the chance for children doesn’t mean Jane didn’t!
She looks at me with an amused face, so much like her mothers. “You must be Emmett.”
I regain myself quickly. “Yes. I’m here to see…” your mother dies in my throat. “Jane.”
“Come on in.” She turns around, thick black hair spinning around her. “MOM!”
I try not to look at the child, but I can’t help it. She is like her mother was, when we first met; light-skinned and curve-lacking, but elfishly beautiful. Her dark hair is so unlike her mother’s that it causes a knot in my throat. The texture is familiar to me, but in a different way.
Jane walks into the room. She sees me, and I could swear that her eyes lit up. Her hair is long again, her scrawniness having undergone the changes of age and womanhood. The sight of her still manages to take my breath away.
“Emmett.” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “I see you’ve met my daughter, Sammy.”
“Yeah. I have. She gave me a bit of a surprise, really.”
Jane opens her mouth to say something, but then shuts it again. “Can I get you something to drink?”
I nod, and she brings me to the kitchen. Sammy follows. There is a birthday cake, high with layers, on top of the counter. Jane pours the drinks, including one for her daughter, asking casually, “Where’s Katherine?”
The pang to my heart still feels like the clash of cymbals. “She’s dead. Two years, now.”
Jane hands me my drink, frowning. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
I clear my throat. “Yes, well… where’s he?”
“Who?”
I don’t presume that Jane has a husband, because I know her. “Sammy’s father.”
Jane looks deep into the depths of her wine, and Sammy stirs her drink with one finger. “I never knew him.” She said, earning a sharp glance from her mother. “I wanted to meet him for my sixteenth birthday, though.”
“Really?” I take casual interest in the teenager. “How far away is that?”
Jane curses under her breath. “That’s enough, Sammy.”
“Don’t you want him to know?” Sammy looks at her mother, and I feel lost in the realm of darkness. She looks to me. “Today. Sixteen years ago, today.”
I see, then, my sister’s hair on Jane’s daughter. “Oh God. You can’t possibly mean…” I do the math in my hand, and I think back to the day when Jane left me to myself.
Jane takes my hand. “Emmett…”
I laugh. “You left me because of that? You turned yourself into a Lacey because of me?” I put my hands into my face, but then change my mind, standing abruptly. “I need air.”
I walk outside the house, standing in a field of endless grass, standing alone, as always. Cannot think a million thought, so I think none. After an eternity, Sammy comes out and takes my hand, and I do not push her away, incapable of doing so any longer. After minutes, Jane comes out and takes my other hand.
Like survivors of a passing storm, we stand in the sunlight, in the eyes of everyone, until it fades.
We marry in the winter, with snowflakes dripping down crystalline windows.
I have loved the words and I have hated them. I only hope I have made them right.
Clearning my throat, I tried again. Fifth time is the charm, right?
"Hey, it's Jane," I started, feeling my hand sweat against the phone. "I'm sorry," and I hung up.
My heart raced as everything around me spun. The smell of coffee beans was running through my window from the coffee shop under the apartment. My mother just happened to work there as full-time manager, and at her theater.
"Lizzie!" my mother called.
I peeked out my bedroom window and saw my mother waving up at me in the middle of the alleyway. A smile grew on her face once she saw me. She was holding a thermos in her hand.
"Yeah Ma?" I asked.
"Babe, I'm comin' up. I got you some coffee."
"You couldn't just have told me that once you got inside?"
The sun started to peek into the alley, six o'clock in the evening approaching. This meant it was sun down.
"Whatever," a laugh came from her.
She walked to the back door and got inside the apartment building. Sighing, I went back to my laptop and started to go on Facebook. I hit on account and deleted my page. No more Jane Wills on Facebook.
I did that to all my online accounts. I was disappearing. Invisible to the world again.
I heard the door shut from behind me and I moved in my chair so I could see the living room. My mother, her hair all up in a bun and perfect make-up, she waved at me. I waved back and went to my laptop again. After deleting everything, I shut the computer down.
"Here honey," my mom placed the thermos on my desk.
Smiling, I took a sip of it. Mmmm. Vanilla Latte. She knew what I liked.
"Made it myself."
"Amazing, mom,"
***
Spoiler
There isn't much to write for her now
Sarah bounced next to me, all smiles. A crazy expression I knew meant bad bad news. A phone was in her hand, showing me a picture of her and this extremely familiar girl.
"Sar, who's that?" I asked, pointing at the phone.
"Ahh, it's this girl named... um," a confused face replaced her happy one. "Right, Luna." a pause. "She went to school with you!"
"Yes, Luna. Nice name. Where did you see her missing. Have not seen her in a long while." I said.
Clicking the home button, she slid her phone into her skirt pocket and sighed. We were in the coffee shop, sitting near the window. You could see the busy streets. The shop was placed on Higgins, so everything just rushed by you. It had a homey feeling with classical music and comfy seats. There was even a couch and a TV. We were on this old Victorian seats, which looked phenomenal. They were a beige that said 'elegant' with gold buttons wrapping around it. The table we used was also English, a dark wood. This placed had mismatched items that just worked.
Sarah had on her casual yellow skater dress and black twelve inch heels. Something I could pull off, but wouldn't want to. Her red hair was up in a small pony. I for one, was very casual. Skinny jeans, Harry Potter shirt and Converse. And my hair was loose in their beautiful shortness. They really did not need styling.
"Eh, she said she was in China for some exchange program. Or something like thta. But damn! She knows how to party!!" A smile peeked onto her face.
And just that second, her phone rang.
"Yo," a pause. "Luna! Just talking 'bout you babe. What?" another minute pause as I drank my coffee. "No fucking way. Yes. Count me... and Jane in." I almost spit my coffee out.
She looked at me, giggling. "Jane in what?" I asked.
"Kay, see ya hot stuff!" and she hung up.
"Jane in what?" I asked again, placing my mug onto the table.
"It's party time."
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
I'll be making a future post a bit later, but for this one we're back in the present.
Avery
I run out of the hospital in tears. He...he's not the same. My Willy is gone, replaced by this...I don't know. Last time we spoke, he was in love with me. I was in love with him. And now...what? I begin walking down the sidewalk, my head down and tears still streaming down my face, my hair falling around my face. What if he's never the same? What if-
I'm suddenly falling and then landing on my butt with a harsh "Oomf!". I look up at the perpetrator, ready to give them the worst sass they've ever experienced in their life. It's literally like a scene out of a movie. As I look up, the guy stands tall and is highlighted by the sinking sun. His messy black hair falls around his face in the most adorable way.
"Oh god! I'm so sorry!" He says quickly and then bends over to help me up and offer a hand. I offer him my hand and he easily lifts me up. I brush off my yoga pants and meet his eyes. For a bit longer than your usually supposed to.
"Um...uh are you okay?" He asks hurriedly. I sense a slight accent in his words and smile at him. I nod my head.
"Yeah i'm fine. I should've been looking up anyways. Its my bad." I look back down at my black and white converse, blushing a little bit.
"Oh no...it was definitely me. I was um...pretty distracted." He says. I look back up at him and smile again. He meets my eyes and smiles back, a deep dimple forming in his right cheek. His eyes are a beautiful blue. they remind me o-
"Your eyes remind me of the water in puerto rico. So blue...and clear. And they shine just like the ocean when the sun shines directly on it. Its really...um beautiful." I say, without meaning to. Dammit, i've really gotta stop that. I always say what i'm thinking. Bad habit.Oh wait...not a bad habit. His smile grows wider until he's full on grinning. Its so...fucking cute.
"I really appreciate that. I've never been to Puerto Rico but I have seen some truly breathtaking waters before. So I can kind of imagine what your thinking of." He says, his dimple flicking on and off with each word. I nod, my own smile full and bright. He meets my eyes again, and then begins to frown.
"Your eyes look...rouge...I'm sorry,I forgot the english word...um -" I cut off his sentence.
"I think that you mean red." I say with a slight smirk and sarcastic chuckle. He nods his head and smiles at me again, still a bit worried.
"Yes, um red. May I ask whats wrong?" I completely taken aback by his question. This hot stranger, whom I just meant less than five minutes ago might I mention, is asking me to tell him whats going wrong in my life. To make up for my lack of words I just shrug and look down.
"My name is Leo. I know that it may seem strange that I am just a stranger asking you whats going on in your life, but i'm truly interested in learning." He says, and extends his hand. He has and artist hand, with long elegant fingers, but his bicep is lean and strong, I can tell by looking at it. I smile and shake his hand.
"I'm Avery. And its a hell of a long story." I say rolling my eyes. He shakes his head, and now I can tell that his hair is just damp. Its probably all cute and soft once dried up, maybe nice and spiky.
"Don't worry, I have a lot of time. My exchange program will want me for dinner later, to meet a few artists nearby, but thats not until nine and its only six. And even if you need more time I have all summer to meet those people." He says shrugging, his smile still intact.
"So your from..." I let the sentence drift, as I begin walking towards a nearby cafè. He automatically follows me.
"I was born in France, but I was raised moving from foster home to foster home in England. I'm now in my third year at Oxford for Fine Arts and was sent here for the summer to meet indie artist. I'm living with a very nice family at the moment. Their daughter goes to the nearby high school." Suddenly a flicker of recognition enters my mind and I blink slowly as I remember something Linnie had told me right before she went off for cheerleading camp. Something about her family taking in...
"Oh shit! Your the guy! Your staying with the Sullivans, right?" he nods his head slowly.
"Yes...how would you...ohhhh..." And suddenly he looks at me in recognition, with an even larger smile on his face.
"Your the girl." Now I look at him like he may be the psycho. He shakes his head, and the expression on his face is one of pure amazement.
"The girl, Lindsay-"
"Linnie." I say correcting him. He nods at me.
"Yes, Linnie. Well she had taken a lot of pictures with one girl and...that girl stole my breath away from the first time i've seen her. Those almond shaped green eyes, and that caramel skin, and just...her facial expressions. Were always so lively and happy. She looked alive and beautiful. I thought that it was love at first sight. But the girl, Linnie, was leaving the same day I arrived. And I was too afraid to ask the parents who the girl was. I had no idea that it was...well...you. The look in your eyes right now...today, is so sad. I didn't recognize you at first because of it. But your her." As soon as he finishes, we're outside of the cafè. And...I feel something. Like a soft hum inside of my stomach. I look up into his eyes and he looks down into mine and I feel...something. And it scares me.
"I-I have to go." I say, and quickly begin backing up and then just running from the guy. Leo. I can hear him calling me back from behind me, and his feet pounding the ground, but I make a sharp right, and then quickly enter a kitchen equipment store. I let out a sigh of relief when I hear him run past, but it comes out as a sob. And before i know it i'm crying again. Will needs me. And what am I doing out here. I quickly walk out of the store and make a beeline to the hospital. To my boyfriend.
Clearly very confused now. Are we in the past or future? o.O
“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”-Marilyn Monroe
I dialed up the only number I knew by heart. The one person I wanted to speak to. It wasn't Sarah. Or Emmett.
"Lena," I breathed out, only just realizing I was holding my breath.
"Jane? What's wrong?"
"I'm lost. I don't know where I am... or what happened. I have a huge hangover, everything is dizzy and out of focus. God! Lena! I don't even know why I'm calling you!"
My heart started to race, I could feel it bounce against my rib cage. Everything was fogged up in my brain as I looked around myself, seeing only darkness and a bit of light coming from my right.
The pain in my head throbbed, making me shut my eyes, bracing the pain. It was sharp and quick, running past my brain.
"Jane, it's okay. Do you remember anything?" She was shockingly calm.
We didn't really talk much, not ever since that party at her house. It was for the end of summer, start of school thing. She invited everyone. Including me. And that's when we became friends. We clicked right away and talked all night. It meant more to me than to her, I knew that, but I believed she could actually be a real friend.
"No, no I don't. Except for a club."
"What club?"
Touching what I was sitting on, I noticed I was on a leather seat. A leather seat? I ran my hand up the seat and found a buckle. If this was a car... than why couldn't I see anything? Windows were everywhere. Only a few strands of light peeked through. I touched the area where the light was coming from and felt a sun visor. There were sun visor's taped to the windows. Why.
"Um... IJump."
"I Jump?"
"Yeah, like IHop, but IJump. It was a huge club that served breakfast. Nice idea..." I started to drift off.
"Jane, back to the focus. Where are you now?"
"In a car."
"Who's car?"
"No idea. Come help me Lena." I felt a sob breaking through. It was coming.
Pushing myself up, I put the phone between my shoulder and my neck. I started to pull on the visor, taking it off the window. It was a little hard, but I managed to rip it off. The sun blinded my eyes, so I blicked a few times. Throwing the visor into the back seat, I looked out the window.
There was plain land. Trees all around us. This was a clearing in a forest. There were little bunnies around some beautiful white flowers, sitting. A smile grew on my face. But, I went back to looking at the car.
I was alone.
You'ld expect someone. If it's not your car... why would someone leave you in a car? To die? !! Maybe there's a bomb!! And I'm meant to die alone today because of that idiot!! Or, gas will kill me.
I'm going paranoid.
"Just help Lena. IamaloneandIamscared." I said it quickly.
"No one is with you? Jane! Get out of the car, it could be dangerous."
"A bomb?!" I screamed.
"No, Jane. Not that. Just get out, who knows what could be in that car."
I fiddled with the lock and realized, I couldn't switch it to open. It's the stress. I flicked it again and pulled the handle. Nothing. Nothing happened. I'm stuck in this shit hole car.
"Don't you dare try to escape." That voice made my throat close up.
My breathing raced as I looked around the car. I was alone. How could he be able to say anything? He's definitely not on the phone.
"Jane... you said you were alone." Lena said.
"I know."
"I can't leave." I whispered into the phone.
"Jane, you can."
"I can't. The door won't budge."
"Jane," Lena was pleading. She knew this was trouble.
I felt something touch my bare neck, something cold. Their fingertips ran down my naked back, reaching my ass. I was naked. His hands touched my waist, spinning me around to face the back again. His green eyes were staring at my body, scanning it like it was a piece of art. I gripped onto the phone as he ran his fingers down my belly.
"Lena," I cried out.
"DRAKE!!!" Lena screamed into the phone. "YOU ASSHOLE! LEAVE JANE ALONE!"
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
I wake up in an empty bed, the only thing in my view a bleary look at my ceiling, painted with fake stars.
I don't know why that feels so weird.
I climb from my bed, shaking off the feeling of cold deja vu that has wrapped itself across my shoulders. My phone makes light catches my view on the night stand, and I pick it up.
1 Message
It was from Allen, of course; we'd just had our first date, and this was his 'I had a really good time' text. It makes me smile, but that happiness wraps itself around my neck like a scarf that would only be to easy to pull and choke.
My own wariness surprises me, and I place my phone back on the night stand and head out into the kitchen. My mother is standing there, flipping pancakes in her leather apron. She smiles at me, and this lights me up. I feel like I haven't seen the light of her smile in ages. I kiss her on the cheek and she looks at me, surprised.
"What was that for, honey?"
"I just wanted to thank you. I don't know what for yet, but for something."
My Mother looks across at me, her eyes scanning me, in my pink pajamas as what I really am. "How was your date?"
I didn't think she knew about him. I'd tried to stay secretive, but I was doing a terrible job. I take an apple from the counter and brandish it, my sudden affection vanishing in a heavy wind. "He's really nice."
"Does he know?" My mother's disapproval shines through her kindness.
My churns, and I throw the apple at the counter, no doubt bruising it. "What kind of first date thing to say is that? Of course he doesn't! And he won't!"
Karon sets the plates on the counter, flipping the pancakes onto them. "Have you told Hakan yet? I know the two of you broke up, but you've known for long enough-"
I take the pancakes from her coldly, her own innocence outshining that of even my own. "No, and he won't ever know either."
My mother pales, as she knows what I am implying, but she has already told me that this pregnancy is my own decision to make. I pick at my pancakes, appetite and love equally as spoiled. I pull them apart until they tear.
_______________________
I run through the parking lot to the school, one Tom falling off and my bag flapping its contents to the wind. A tube of lip gloss goes flying out, but can't do anything to stop it from hitting the pavement and rolling away.
After fighting with my Mother, I'd missed the bus. Emmett had already left, having to get here ridiculously early because he's Emmett. I had to hitchhike a ride with one of my capital-F-Former friends, who didn't have any classes until second hour and drove like a snail. Ducking into the school, I pull down my skirt, another Bad Decision made by Pissed Off Lacey. Skirts have to be the most impractical thing ever, even if they're really cute; but this one is my rebel skirt, my too-short-to-actually-be-comfortable contraption. The suspender's I have pulling it up only make my efforts in vain.
I walk my exposed legs over to the office to get my late pass (because even when I'm being bad, I'm way too good), surprised to see a girl already lingering outside of it. Harmony isn't that big, so I recognize faces, but I don't know hers. She is way too suave-looking, too out-there-fashionable for these halls of gray Northface jackets.
I gather up my courage. "You must not be from around here."
She looks at me, surprised. "No, I'm new. My name is Elise. Who are you?"
My body is humming. "I'm Lacey. Nice to meet you."
The tension that was swimming through Elise's body loosens. "How is this place? I have a friend who tells me about it, but he doesn't have a lot of good things to say."
I peek into the office. Mrs. McCinley, the secretary, is busy typing away, not even looking at us. I look back at Elise. "Boring as Anything. There's always a party going on, if that's your thing."
Elise shrugs. "Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. What about yourself?"
"Me?" I laugh, leaning against the wall, tugging my skirt down again. "No, never."
Elise nudges me. "Loosen up! You never know what could happen at one of those things. Maybe we could go there together and mingle."
I feel uncomfortable, suddenly. "I don't know-"
Elise blinks, as if she's realized that maybe she's strayed a little far. "Right. Sorry if I seem assuming, I just-"
There's a loud voice coming at us from inside the office, and we both turn around see Mrs. McCinley gesturing wildly at us. Her nearly-white poof is frizzled from agitation, her face as round and read as a tomato. Elise laughs.
"Maybe I'll think about it." I tell her.
"Maybe I'll call you." She says back.
"Maybe we should get in the office."
"Maybe I agree."
We both walk inside, and I grab my first late pass as a to-be-rebel.
__________
@Hearts: Take Lacey to a party, because she needs more friends?
I have loved the words and I have hated them. I only hope I have made them right.
This cannot be happening. What did that fucktard want from her? Just pure sex and assaulting her to every extent. I got to do something.
"Who's on the phone?" I hear Drake whispering to Jane but its audible enough to hear.
"Drake.Get.Your.Bloody.Fucking.Hands.Off.Jane." I say, my tone dead serious. I want to murder him.
"Oh, Lena. This girl." he says, and I hear the phone being fought over between Jane and Drake. But it seems he wins. "Sorry, wrong time."
The line goes dead. Nonononononono. I dial the number again just that instant again. The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later. What the fuck? That bitch switched it off in FREAKING 5 SECONDS.
No, I have to help. You're her best friend. You have to. But I don't know who to call. Avery perhaps? No, she's busy today. Chris is away at his grandpa's place. That leaves me with... Will. I get to Will's number and call him. After 6 rings, he picks up.
"Hel-" I cut Will off.
"Will, you got to help me find where this iJump club is! Do you where that is?" I speak fast. My throat's all tight.
"iJump? Aren't they famous for the breakfast they serve there?" Will says and I want to slap him.
"I'm not asking about the breakfast, just tell me where that darn club is!" I shout.
"Will you calm down? What's the matter?" he asks and it makes me sink again. Don't know why, it just does.
"Jane."
x--x I'm in Will's car speeding off to iJump or whatever this club is. I can't believe I've never even heard of it. No, no time to think about that. I need to get to Jane as fast as possible. I could have asked her more details about the car. But how could she know? She was stuck inside, probably don't even know the color of it.
"iJump is pretty far. How did she even reach there?" Will asks.
"I don't know! All I know is that Drake is with her and you know how he is." I explain.
Will shakes his head. "Why does Jane always fall into his traps?"
"Its not like she wants to, Will! It just happens."
"I think its right around this corner." Will says, turning the wheels to a sharp right.
"Finally."
We reach this huge building with fancy letters "iJump". By the looks of it, it looks quite luxurious, a place you can get to do anything without anyone knowing. I look at the parking lot. I'm scanning for Jane's dark brown hair. It was something I could notice even from a 10 feet distance.
"So, she was in a car?" Will asks.
"Yeah." I reply, looking down to every car. The sun was so bright, it was burning the hell out of me.
Will is helping out too. Together, we're just searching, every single car. But there's just too many. There's more on to the other side. We can't just look into everything. I try Jane's number again. I just hope she's okay. I really do.
"Lena?" Will calls.
"Uh-huh?" I turn to him.
"This isn't working. The sun's killing us and it doesn't seem she's here. And it has been an hour or two since you got the call. She could be anywhere." Will spoke, being reasonable.
"I know, I'm trying to call her." I tell him, calling her over and over again. Still the same thing. Switched off.
"Maybe we should go inside, and get some information?" Will says, walking inside.
He's right. Jane couldn't be in the cars now. They must have gone inside. I swear, if I ever get my hands on Drake, I'll kill him. Totally, full-on, swing him against a hundred swords.
Elise
It was so cool to meet Lacey. Of course, she must be the girl who's not into partying but I'm going to change that. I've even got hold of her number. We had most classes together and I was talking to her about a party Andy was holding up tonight. So, I invited her.
"So, you coming?" I ask, brightly.
"I don't know..." Lacey drifts off.
"Oh, come on, Lacey! It'll be fun! I promise you." I convince her.
She looks a little uncomfortable but she finally agrees. I almost jump around with excitement, and she sits there laughing.
"So, we'll go together at 6?" I ask her and she nods.
This was going to be great.
x--x I'm dressing up and trying to get my boots through my foot. Gosh, these high-heeled boots were so hard to slip through my foot. But I finally got them. I fix my hair up, brushing up a little bit of lip-gloss. I look great, if you ask me. This velvet netted top, looked great. I get a call from Andy.
"Andy, hey!" I say.
"Well, hello there. You're coming tonight, right?" he asks.
"Sure, I am! Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Great. Thanks a lot."
"No problem. Hey, is it okay if I bring over a friend?" I ask him. It was his party.
"You can bring anyone you like, you know that."
"Aw, thanks. See you at 7!" I tell him.
I skip down the stairs and grab hold of my car keys. I was late and I had to pick up Lacey. This was going to be great. I have a very nice feeling that we both are going to hit it off really well. And I was always the type to get everyone friends. So, dragging Lacey into this wouldn't hurt. I was excited. So. Excited.
Spoiler
Sorry for the short post. I need to run for an emergency.
“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”-Marilyn Monroe
I've been out of the hospital for a week now. They kept me in for a month. It was definite torture. My mind has still boggled. I don't know what's right and what's wrong. But I guess I'll just live life. I have no other choice. I'm not going to go all suicidal scared. Like, I won't do anything that drastic because I'll never figure out what's real and what's not. But to be honest, I'm sensing this is the real thing. No matter how unhappy I was in that other world, or how happy I was, I know this is real.
I just can't be in college out of nowhere, I didn't even finish high school. I never went to Prom yet or Graduation. So, that's a fake right off the bat.
Now, I am here with Lena. This stupid iJump place. A bar with breakfast. I really wanted to try that though. Only people over the age of twenty-one can get in. How did Jane get in? She's only eighteen!
Either way, she's in danger and we gotta find her.
"Excuse me sir," I said.
A body guard was standing in front of us, all big and buff. He has a buzz cut and a face only a mother could love.
Lifting his head up from his phone, he looked at the both of us. Yes, we looked like we didn't belong here at this hour, but we needed to speak with him.
"I.D.'s," was his instinct talking.
"No, we aren't trying to get in. I just want to ask you a few questions." I said.
Even during the morning this place was open for business. When you gotta party, go to iJump! We got breakfast!
"What is it?" he asked. He had a deep voice, a little scary.
"Well, our friend was here last night..." he didn't even let me finish.
"So were a bunch of people, I can't help you kiddo."
Taking a deep breath, I started up again.
"Well, I recommend you getting some video tape footage. This girl is an eighteen year old who managed to get into this bar and got kidnapped by some freak ass who is raping her at this moment. We want to find her and save her but we can't do that without knowing where she could be. Last time she was seen was at this bar." I said, a little louder just so he would listen.
I could feel the tension spread and eat at our skins as time passed silently. I looked over at Lena and saw her phone plastered to her ear as she tried to reach Jane. She looked helpless.
Looking back at the guard, he took a double take of me, then grabbed his walkie-talkie. A feeling of satisfaction and pride hit me right in the gut, I sure hope he was calling the guys to help us.
"We've got a sixty-nine," he said into the walkie.
"Copy that, Roger." came back through.
"It's funny how they say Roger, as if it were a name." I smiled.
He gave me a stern look.
"Unless... your name is really Roger, then it makes it all the more funny." I tried again.
The look he gave me want to crawl in a hole and die so I just shut my trap and waited.
"Two underage trying to sneak in?" said a voice from his walkie-talkie.
"Affirmitive," he replied.
"What? No!" I protested.
My heart raced as I tried to catch my breath. He can't be doing this. We want help, that is all! Why would he try to kick us out?!
I felt Lena grab my arm tightly. She wasn't pulling me away or anything, it was just instinct. She wanted to be safe. I looked at her for a quick second and saw the fright in her big blue eyes. Looking back at the guard, I huffed.
"Look dude, this isn't what it seems. We really need to find our friend." I said.
"I really don't give a damn. This happens all the time, what, do you think I don't know your tactics?" A smile itched at his face.
"We really want to help her! She's in danger you bastard!" Lena said from behind me.
That shocked the both of us since she was silent the whole time.
"We could run to that car and drive away, but we won't. Because this is the truth and we will do anything to help Jane. She's in huge danger, okay?" She added, her voice stern.
The guard took another double take and picked up his walkie.
"Dismiss. Dismiss. Ralph, come to E one." he said.
"Copy that,"
Just a few minutes later, another buff guy came up to us. He was olive skinned and had a buzz cut as well. A smile grew on his face when he saw the both of us, but he stared at Lena for a bit longer, biting his bottom lip. Sick. He was like twenty-seven or something, she is too young. But like a guy like him would care. She was shockingly still holding my arm.
"You called an underage for these two? They look twenty-one. Come right in!" The other guy smiled, a twinkle sparkling in his eyes.
"No sir, we are not here to go to the club. We are here to find our friend." I said.
"Look kid, a lot of people go missing from the club, but we can't do anything about it. Now, come right in with your hot girl and let's party." He winked at Lena.
"She's in danger. We need to see when she got out and where!" Lena said.
He now steered his attention towards her. She let go of my arm and took a step forward, looking his straight in the eye. He felt intimidated and took a step toward her, pulling on a cheeky smile. Everything in me wanted to go between them, but I knew Lena could handle it.
"Fine, we can take care of it. You should call the cops." olive guy said.
"She's not missing for forty-two house, so we can't." Lena barked.
***
There was a guy with her on the footage. Drake. He caressed her and she followed along. They went out the back doors. They had outside footage as well, so we saw them walk into a black Chevy Impala. Got the licence plate numbers.
"Got you bastard," I whispered under my breath.
I may not be close friends with Jane, but she's a good girl. And I knew Drake, he was a son of a bitch. So, Jane is someone worth helping. Lena smiled, looking at me. A few seconds passed of just that, then she went back to the screen, eyeing it for a little longer.
"I've seen that guy! Comes here all the time, Drake!" the guy who was helping us, Steve said. He even said Drake's name like he was a good fella.
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
And while all that is happening to Jane... Emmett needs friends. Short post. Apologies.
Emmett
I am lonely, and so is the life of I.
I am a full heart, smart soul, but yet empty as a
newly made pot.
I chew the end of my pencil, the shavings getting in my mouth and creating a rather disgusting mix of spit and eraser in my mouth. I spit into the garbage.
"I am so bad poetry."
Abi-Marie looks over at my paper from where she was sitting, dark hair falling over her eyes as an effort to see it. She visibly tries to hold back a laugh. "Emmett, I told you English Twelve would suck. I don't know why you spent your AP class Junior year and came back to writing bad poetry this year.*"
"I wanted to make more room for other stuff! I still don't get the point of learning to write your own poetry; what do we need to use creative skills for?"
Abi-Marie snorts. "Why don't you ask your sister?"
Lacey thrives on her artist side; she makes crafts from cloth and is an avid violin player. I, on the other hand, can't write a decent piece of poetry to save my life.
I shrug, not wanting to bring my sister into anything, in fear that I may start spouting out her secrets.
Abi and I are, along with a few other 'nerdy' kids, in 'Open Room', where kids can - by the school's definition- 'get help for their work' at seven o'clock in the morning, but only workaholics go.
Abi stops talking to me, emerging herself in aforementioned AP English vocab. I am extremely surprised to see someone who is not 'one of the regular's' walk in; and I am even more surprised when I catch a side glance of their face.
They sit down, and after a few heart wrenching moments of sitting still, I move towards them, plopping my heavy books in the desk next to theirs as quietly as possible.
My bottom moves itself to the side of the chair. "What the hell are you doing here?"
They raise an eyebrow at me; they didn't know me for very long, but I am not the sort who swears. "I go to school here. Is there a problem?"
My blood runs cold at their words; this was not something I expected, not something I knew if I could deal with, in my new start.
"No. Well, yes. I mean..."
They smile at me, and I cannot decipher what it means.
*Seriously my situation guys.
The person can be anybody. Plot may twist whichever way to accommodate who needs it.
I have loved the words and I have hated them. I only hope I have made them right.
I've been to parties before, of course, but always with Hakan hanging off my arm. They were mostly parties back home, when I went to visit him; a bunch of darker-skinned kids smelling of marijuana and cinnamon incense, claiming to be 'in-touch' with their roots. We would go, Hakan would drink a little, we'd make-out a little, I'd drive him home. Of course, that last party ended a little bit differently, but... a shiver runs up my spine. I was single now. That made things one-hundred percent different, didn't it?
I think of Allen's hopeful face, smiling at me through the steam of coffee, and shake it away. He was way too nice, with his 'I've learned my lesson' good-guy gig. He didn't need someone who hadn't yet.
I finally decide on a sparkly purple dress, something that Hakan bought me as a joke last year. It was way too short for my parent's approval, and I would only wear it around him; this would be the first time ever wearing it out in public.
I draw on a pair of heels, trying to make my small frame appear taller. I over-do it on the mascara, trying to layer purple eye shadow above it, but I'm not very good at make-up. I check the clock, surprised to see that it is already almost seven. Elise will be coming soon. Not knowing what else to do, I pull my hair into a bun.
Now for the difficult part. I open my windows, remove the screen, and thank whatever deity that may be above me that my room in first floor. I climb onto the window still and jump out. I wait under the window for a few minutes, trying to catch my breath. Elise pulls into the driveway, and I run to her car the best I can, throwing myself into the passenger seat.
As soon as she is out of my driveway, she gives me a look. "You are awfully sneaky for someone who isn't the partying type."
"Strict parents."
Elise nods, as if that is explanation enough. She drives, probably a faster than the speed limit, singing to some of the songs on the radio. When I am sure of my escape, I sing along with it to. Soon, we are at a house with a nice lawn, full of gorgeous lights; it is not particularly big, but it is beautiful.
Elise and I get out of the car, and walk down the short walk-way. There are only a few people on the lawn, most of them already making out, which means that inside must be packed. Elise leans the door open for me, and we both walk in.
The music is pumping the floor, and people create a maze around us. Elise grabs my arm and, like a blood hound, directs me towards a guy leaning across the counter.
“Andy! This is my friend, Lacey! Lacey, this is Andy, the host and one of my closest friends.”
I wave at the guy, who could be good looking, if it weren’t for the heavy Goth aroma; I can’t find that in me to find that attractive, or even to associate with them in most cases. Elise doesn’t agree with my philosophy to stray from that dark aura. She has already moved from my side to the guys, putting her hands on him in at every opportunity.
“Hey, Lacey.” He has a nice voice, a melodious one, I’ll give him that. “So, Elise, what have you been up to at late?”
I wonder if they’re a couple. The two of them continue to talk and I, impatiently, move to the other side of the counter and poor myself some spiked punch. I should care that it has alcohol, because I don’t drink, but I can’t force myself to. I watch Elise and Andy talk for a little while, and conclude that they aren’t a couple. Andy doesn’t seem to return her affections.
I resolve to move onto the floor, feeling the music pumping through my veins, hypnotizing me onto the floor. I linger onto the sides, hanging near my protection, but someone grabs me by the hips, pulling my arms up around his shoulders
He grins at me. “I haven’t seen you around a party before, but you sure are fine. I’m James.”
He’s swaying me around like this is a slow dance song, and I can only be thankful that he isn’t trying to grind me or something. “Lacey.”
“Wanna get out there?” He points to the floor. “I bet you’re a pretty good dancer.”
I nod, numbly. He pulls me out, and I find that I am moving my body against his, swaying my hips into a circular motion. He isn’t a bad dancer himself, and we create a whirlwind around us, moving in circles. I thrust my hands up, closing my eyes, enjoying the music.
‘You’re a beautiful dancer,’ Hakan told me, smiling with wide eyes.
I knew he was drunk, but the comment warmed me all the same. I let him slide his hands further down my hips, absorbing the music into my blood stream in hope that it would transfer into him.
‘You could be, too. Dance with me, sweetie. Dance with me right.’
I think knew that I was a little intoxicated too, but I can feel him gyrating against me for a few moments before he asks me, ‘You wanna get out of here?’
“Damn, you’re good.” I hear a voice in my ear, and it is not Hakan’s. James and I are close together now. “Where did you learn to dance?”
I open my eyes, but do not respond. James is intoxicated, but I am supposed to be clear-minded. Why is my mind such a haze? The song beats to an end, but James does not.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
Again, I nod. We go over to the counter, where I hope to see Elise, someone who can pull me away. She is gone, but Andy is still there, sucking mouth with some guy. Oh. That would explain things. James hands me a drink, and I down it. I throw away the cup, and feel James again at my hip. His hand moves down, touching my butt. Everything screams for me to move away, but I can’t force myself to. One hand goes towards my stomach, and it churns at his touch. When I turn to face him, his face is smashed into mine.
We pulled over to the side of the road.
‘Hakan, what are you doing?’
Hakan turned to me, kissing me over the middle seat. ‘I love you,’ he says, the most legible thing he has in hours.
‘I love you too.’
He kissed me harder, pulling at the straps of my tank top, getting me closer to him. Understanding the message, I pull it off, and he pulls off his shirt. I thought that he would stop there. He always has. He keeps kissing me, over and over, whispering sweet things in my ear, but I do not understand what he means to do. I don’t think he does, either, until a condom falls out of his glove box.
The memories come back to me like a kick in the stomach. James puts his slimy tongue in my mouth, but I stop kissing back. When he doesn’t get the message, I pull away. James’ face falls.
“Babe, I didn’t mean anything.” I just stare at him. “Look, I’m usually not-“
I draw my arms around myself. “I don’t believe you. Whatever you say, I don’t believe you.”
James moves closer to me, and I run away. I push myself through the crowd, landing on the ground outside with a thud. The grass curls itself around my body like a welcoming hug. I can feel the thing inside my revolting at the memories, revolting at the touch.
We both looked at it, surprised. Hakan looks back at me, going out to touch my hair, twirling it between my fingers. I still stared at it.
‘Do you want to?’
My vision feels cloudy, blurred, as does my head. I don’t know what to say, so I look back at him. He looks as beautiful as he ever does, the same boy I’d loved for all of my life. Tomorrow I would have to go back to my sorry life at Harmony High, away from him. One night would do me good, wouldn’t it?
‘Yes.’
‘I love you, Lacey.’
‘I love you too.’
I throw up a little on the lawn. I hadn’t even thought about that night since I found out, since I felt that nausea come on, and decided that checking wouldn’t hurt.
God, I’m an idiot.
I sob into the grass, allowing myself the pain as the music and adrenaline flow out of my veins. Someone comes up behind me, rubbing my back.
“It’s okay, Lacey. It’s okay.”
Allen or Elise, whichever.
I have loved the words and I have hated them. I only hope I have made them right.
Drake's nose was bleeding as he pressed his hand against it. His eyes started to glare at my face, anger just rushing through them.
"You bitch," he hissed.
I knew it was the worst thing to do. 'Cause now, he was motivated. Extremely blood thirsty for revenge. It made my heart rush and nerves explode. My body started to shake against the leather seat.
He pulled my long hair, making my head hit the headrest. His fingers tugged at my strands as he got his mouth by my ear.
"You're a little skank, Jumper."
Just his voice made me want to die. I could feel my whole body stay rigged, almost afraid to make another move that could provoke him. His other hand pulled my body from the front seat, to the back. I fell into his lap, looking at his face. The blood stopped running from his nose. Licking his lips, he grabbed my breasts, squeezing them until they hurt. I started to feel an erection coming from under me.
He let me fall onto the seats so that I was laying down. His fingers trailed my stomach as they reached my vagina. I braced myself, biting my lip. I couldn't do anything anymore. It was rough as he started. Then, once he finished, he started to eat my out, his tongue licking my insides. It made me moan like crazy, giving me the pleasure that I hated. Not from him.
Tears started to run down my face as he did so. I was in pain of pleasure. I didn't want him. I didn't want this. At all.
"Aye! Bastard!" I heard Lena scream.
Drake looked up, surprised.
"This is the car Will!! This is it!" she added.
Somebody started thumping on the windows, hand prints visible. I saw William in the passeneger window, the one I uncovered. He looked around till he saw us. At first his cringed in disgust, but then he turned his attention toward Lena.
"Get me my crow bar." He said.
Drake pulled me up so that I was sitting upright in his lap. He roughly tugged my body closer to his so we were touching. He got inside me, making me gasp. Even in sitting position he could do it. Even when people were here. He started to thrust as my breath caught in my throat.
"HELP!!" I screamed.
Shoving his lips against mine, he shut me up. I guess he wanted this to seem like some kind of rendezvous so that he wouldn't get in trouble. So this would look normal, like a couple that's having sex.
Will started to bang his bar against the window, I heard it.
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
The sound of the plane, a soft hum, always made me smile. Just where I was going always brought shivers down my spine. I took a deep breath, staring out into the dark skies. The time on the screen in front of me read 12:00. It's going to stay that way until we reach Canada.
It was dark outside only because we were so high up, and it was night time in the location we were passing, just over the Atlantic. Most of the people around me were sound asleep. I believe most were snoring but I couldn't hear them due to the fact I had me headphones on. A soft melody of Coldplay tickled my ear drums.
I was all alone on this flight. My parents were already in the states, suffering in Harmony, CT.
The music switched to Mumford & Sons, Hopeless Wanderer. This song always brought a smile to my face SO, as my only form of happiness, I turned up the volume.
I always say that going back is torture, suffering, depression really. And I don't know how my parents handle it. My mum always had problems finding a real job there and my father... well let's not get to that. Day in and day out he complains of wanting to be back in England. To go back to being an attorney. He misses that. Poor man.
Anyway. That's just always the same. Nothing will change. I huffed, letting my breath go. Looking back inside the plane, I noticed a girl looking at me. What caught me were her beautiful eyes. So blue. Like the blue of the Greek flag. My breath caught in my throat. She turned away as quickly as she looked at me, facing back to her friend, a stunning woman. I'd definitely want her. But there's something about the blue eyed girl that makes her more attractive than the other one.
I decided to make my move. Slipping my headphones off, I put them into the pocket under the mini screen. Getting up, I walked over to their seat, a window seats across from me. We were literally opposite each other. They looked up at me and I pulled on my smirk.
"Hello there," I started. "I'm Oliver, you can call me Ollie, you are?" I said, looking at the girl with the almost afro hair and beautiful face. So sexy, that woman.
I didn't bother to talk to the beautiful blue eyed wonder, it was a bit too scary for me. She was out of my league.
"I'm Alosha," Her voice had a French accent, I could catch it in a heartbeat, being a French speaker myself.
"Ah, Alosha. Quel beau nom." I smiled, saying, 'what a beautiful name,'.
A blush rushed passed her cheeks as she eyed her friend. "This is my girlfriend, Kristin."
I looked at the both of them, unsure if she meant girlfriend or girl friend. Then, I spotted them holding hands. Yup. Lesbians. So hot.
"Nice to meet you Kristin." I smiled, daring to look at her face. She smiled up at me, holding my stare. My heart stopped as we stared.
Kristin broke the stare and then they both started to snicker, making my heart drop. Damn girls. Were they mocking me? They are European, not like the stupid American girls, so they shouldn't be mocking me! After a minute, Alosha stood up from the seat and walked around Kristin, to me. She placed her hand on my chest, sending tingles where she touched me. A smirk came on her face as she seductively liked her lips, making me nervous.
"She may be my girlfriend... but I think she'll be okay with us. Voulez-vous aller aux toilettes avec moi?" Her voice was so sexy, I couldn't.
Do I want to go to the toilet with her. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. But then, I looked down at Kristin and held my breath, watching her pick up a book and read. Somehow, that made me like her even more. Alosha followed my stare and then gave me a bigger smile.
"Kristin? Vraiment?" Kristin? Really? She didn't say that with shock of disgust, she said it with an appreciation.
I didn't know I'd reacted, but I guess I did cause she bent down to Kristin and spoke into her ear. The next second, They switched spots and Kristin was pulling me to the toilets.
William Franco
"William, how are you recovering?" My psychiatrist said with a calm voice.
I looked up at the ceiling and started to count the squares that they were made out of. It was like one of those old basements with those plates for ceilings. One, two, ten, thirty-seven...
"William?" It wasn't urged, it was said with ease, like a calling.
Turning my head toward her, I gave her a cheekily Will-smile and sat up right. My hands shook, I flattened them against my lap, trying to stop them.
"I am alright... I just. It's really confusing." I said, avoiding her stare.
"Well, you've been good, so I've heard. You helped save Lena's friend."
Looking up at her, I replied as my heart raced. "Yeah. But that's because she had to be saved, that's that. That had noting to do with my recovering. She just needed help... so I helped. And helping Lena was something that wouldn't help me."
"Right, of course. It must be hard being around Lena now, huh?"
All I did was nod and take a deep breath. Suddenly, this comfy couch felt like sitting on a stack of bricks. Ouch.
"Do you still believe this is a dream?"
It was a question asked at every session.
"No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don't know. I can't believe I'd get into an accident."
"You did, you saw the proof."
"Yeah, I also saw the proof of Avery's accident. I was there, Lena too."
She sighed, writing down something on her notepad. It made my heart race. I don't know why. I guess because I wasn't recovering. All I wanted to do was go back to the past, before any of this happened. I guess to start all over, so I wouldn't be so lost and confused. But the thing was, that other life was starting to fade in my memory. Maybe because I haven't been back, or maybe because it was all a lie.
"I didn't mean that. I just wanted to prove you wrong." I said.
"I understand."
A short tense pause passed by.
"It's not hard to be around Lena because I loved her, it's hard to be around her because I just keep on thinking maybe it's possible to be with her. That something could happen if I just pushed. Because it did happen. Well, it didn't happen happen, but I dreamt it, so it means it could be possible. I just keep remembering being with her. Every time I'm with her, I imagine what if, you know?" I took a breath, realizing how much my body was shaking. "Like, how could it be possible? I try to imagine it. Now I question if we are supposed to be together. Every time we are together, I question it. Are we supposed to? Is it possible? Is it right? Why would I dream of it if not!"
After my rant, she looked at me, a bit speechless. Then she cleared her throat, making the quiet air disappear.
"When you are in a coma, it is like dreaming. Sometimes the opposite of what is right, or what you want, happens. Or, what is right and what you want happens. It is something complicated. You just have to decided what is real, right, and what you want. It's your decision. But I am here to help you, guide you to the right place. When you first came... you thought this was the dream, full on. I wouldn't be surprised if you still do. This is why I am here, to show you why it is not. To help your brain recover."
"Just saying that makes me think you're manipulating me into staying in this dream and never go back to real life."
"That's possible. I shouldn't have put it that way. Sorry. I am here to help." She said softly as she looked over the room.
Her space looked like one of those psychiatrist rooms straight from the Sopranos. Except I was the Tony and she was the psych. I shook my head, showing her she still make sit sound like that. Like she wants me to believe this is real even though it may not be. I am so very confused.
"Can't I use that hypnotizing thing to forget this ever happened? So I wouldn't be so confused anymore?"
Her eyes got wide as she stared at me for more than a second. She looked back at the notepad and wrote something else down. It made me fidget around, unsure of what I even said.
"That's a very dangerous option in your state."
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
"Ave your just sad and lonely. You love Will. You two are meant to be,babes." Linnie says, while painting her nails on my bed. I sigh, and put down my own cobalt blue nail polish. I look up at her meekly.
"Is he still...um asking about me?" I ask, then hurriedly look down at my phone. Linnie sighs and shakes her head.
"Yeah. Its becoming annoying. Everytime I get home he automatically assumes I was with you and commences his daily interrogation. How is she? Did she ask about me? Is she alright? Why won't you atleast give me her number? I'll even pay you to let me see her!" Linnie says, with a roll of her blue eyes. I feel myself blush, and hurriedly get off of the bed before she can see it. I walk over to my computer desk and look down at the pictures. There are various pictures of me. At various parties, at every vacation, to france then Italy, then jamaica to visit the fam. Theres the picture of me and my cousin Kristin in our bikinis, as we run into the ocean at my grandmothers island (yes, she bought and island. Don't judge.). Then the pictures of me and Linnie at her families beach house, then me, Chris, Lena, and Will at six flags. Will and me , on our spur of the moment road trip. Will and I kissing on the rooftop of my dads pickup truck. Then just one of us looking at each other. And that one holds the most value, and makes my chest feel heavy. Because you can literally see it. Our love. I sigh and drop my shoulders, then turn to Linnie.
"Okay. Give him directions to meet me at Charlies. I'll make sure to set things straight."
Next Day
"Ave...i've really gotta talk to you..." Will begins again, but I just turn to him and put a finger on his lips.
"Shush babe. I've got a friend i'd like you to meet." I say, and tug his hand forward. He gives up for the moment but I know that he'll start up again later. We enter Charlies and I immediately see him. Ahhh so thats what his hair looks like dry. He seems to be looking around confusedly, while I also notice a group of young waitresses gossiping near the coffee bar, and pointing at him. Why oh why does he have to be so fricking attractive. As soon as he spots me he shoots up from his seat with a huge smile on his face. Those dimples....I can't handle it...
"Avery!" He calls out rushing to me and immediately hugging me. "I never thought i'd see you again..." Okay. This is hard. His body is so warm and muscular and he smells like...well...yum. And when he pulls back to look at me, his blue eyes stare at me with not lust...but something else... I clear my throat.
"Will!" I say a bit louder than called for, while forcing myself to pull away from this beautiful wonderful creature. "This is Leo. Leo. This is Will. My boyfriend." Okay. I've never seen a face drop as quickly as Leo's just has, and goddamit i still wanna kiss him so fricking badly. Gah!
"Hows it going?" Will says, giving both Leo and i strange looks. Leo looks at me for a long second and sighs.
"Pretty good. But...i've gotta get going Avery. I canceled a meeting with some artist in the nearby are and...well I might as well get to that." He begins walking to the door.
"Wait!" I call out, before i even know what i'm doing "Can I um...can I have your number?" He turns back and grabs my phone and quickly puts his contact in it.
"Bye." He says, his tone soft. My heart melts.
"Well that was weird." Will says, giving me a strange look as we sit down. I nod quietly.
"Well I still have to tell you...or atleast I feel the need to fill you in on what...what happened in that coma. And what I have to do now." And then he tells me everything. He finally stops at his proposal to Lena and his final solution to just get the whole thing wiped away. And...I laugh. I literally start cracking up. Like tears falling out of my eyes, clutching stomach laughter. When I finally start calming down he glares at me and I shake my head.
"I'm not laughing at you...its just...wow." I have to force myself from laughing again. "Don't do the whole memory erase thing Will." I say seriously. His eyes widen. I just shake my head. "I think that we should...go on a break. And in that time...figure out a healthy way to get your life together. And...well...feel free to test the waters." I say as I get up.
"Where are you going?" He asks looking confused. I smile brightly.
