Elaine
Acute shades of obscurity, the clouded vision begged the indistinct faces for mercy.
Seconds felt like eternity. I tried, tried holding back from inhaling for there was no air that my nerves ached for, but water. Flailing and trashing my arms, I conspire my will to swim, but in vain.
Stinging eyes falls upon the chain clad to my legs.
I gave up.
Fire, burning fire was all I could feel on my lungs as water wadded in like syrup.
I close my eyes to envision my parents, a desperate attempt to feel their warmth and comfort.
Calmness washed over me as tranquility sets in. As I welcomed them happily .
Last thing i see is the blurry figure of masked men, they took everything away from me that I lived for.
Maybe drowning is not that futile.
"Hello" a feminine hand with a beaded bracelet on her wrist waves In front of me, tearing me away from reliving the day I would give anything to forget. The nightmares were back and so was insomnia.
"Girl, wake up. I've been calling your name for ages" frowning I see the girl sitting beside me, it was odd since no one bothers to sit with the girl at the last. It was entirely my seat, it was even marked and embedded, unlike others. Gums, stains, and profanities decorated.
"Hi" I smiled, which felt more like a grimace. Now that I was lucid and level-headed a glimpse on the side revealed a boy with rimmed glasses preached stiffly upon his nose, he sat facing us with a grin, he was eager for something and not tried it hiding a bit.
"Remember me?" The girl chirped, how could one forget the toilet paper girl? The very one who looked like she ate sun for breakfast.
They were the new students this year along with Alex.
"Of course I do..uhm" damn, i knew her name was a month. June? May?
"It's April" there was a spec of irritation in her tone, I felt bad for not recalling her name but at the same time it made me doubt her motives, of all days around why is she here today? By now I'm sure she's well aware of my respectable status.
"I am Aiden Beckett, April's twin" the guy interrupted my speculations. I looked between both a little surprised, I wasn't aware of that.
"We're non-identical" gruffly April added.
"I am aware of it And nice to meet you Aiden. But why are you here April? I don't think we shared classes before" suspicious I asked.
She studied me smiling, but her eyes also held amusement "I was not satisfied with my previous time table, I requested the change"
I nodded with an oh face, but my mind again drifted back to another set of worries. This time it was Alex.
I have been fidgeting and displaying all symptoms of restlessness merely to the fact that he skipped today and isn't replying to my texts.
Did I scare him away?
No matter how much I ignore the prospects of the things that could have happened if we got carried in the movement. I came to a conclusion that it was best to pretend than the almost thing never occurred in the first place.
This theory however doesn't mingle in when I find myself smiling like a fool over his text or even when there is no text and just a mental picture of the snowy haired guy.
"Earth to Elaine" this wise it was Aiden.
"I am so sorry, I spaced out again didn't I?" squirming I asked.
"You are cute?" April said smirking.
"No, I think she's hot. If she decided to switch those hideous hoodies with-" He got hit by a pencil attack, initiated by his sister.
I smiled as they bickered, when I was a child I always pestered mom for a younger brother. She'd always narrate to me that how some children were too special and God rewards them to some people as a single child, so they get the wholesome love from their parents.
Growing up I learned she couldn't conceive after she gave birth to me, which involved many complications, and yet she was determined to bring me into this world.
The rest of the last period went smoothly as April and Aiden kept me entertained. Paranoia was knocking my head, I threw it out. No one approached me with intention of bullying or mockery as they were busy with some upcoming party at Jace's place.
But on many occasions, I saw him sending Daggers at me, which chilled me to the bones.
Even now I hunch my head and silently pray whenever our paths cross. Tyler sparsely met my eyes, and Diana's job still intact led me to believe he's not acting upon the outburst last week.
Or I could be wrong all along and he could be taking his sweet time planning something magnificent.
The twins and I exchanged numbers and for some reason, I felt comfortable with it. After school ended I walked, a really long and immensely tiring walk to Noah's house. His family lived in a posh section of town since his parents are loaded.
And also that Tyler lived in the same lane as Noah was revealed to me just a month back on the day of dinner visit.
The gaming controller was thrown undeviatingly at my face as soon as I stepped into Noah's not so much of a humble abode. Diana left for the city and is predicted to return by tomorrow, I had nothing better to do so I got hold of it and played the gruesome zombie game with him.
With his soul-touching curses as background when he gets bitten, by seven we filled ourselves with dinner disguised with fat penetrated junks.
"I-i-I think i-ve had wrong a-amount of pizza" Noah declare getting up, he made a gagging face and practically flew over to the washroom.
Wide eyed I gawk at him while he emptied contents in the toilet with its door open, which was directly in front of me who sat on a black bean bag.
"That's quite a delightful sight to watch on such fine night don't you think?" startled I turn to see a boy standing at the doorframe with his arms crossed across his chest. Once again my mouth gapes out lightly for entirely different reason presently as I took him in.
Gone was the guy who wore comic themed shirts as it now replaced leather jacket and drool worthy Jordan's. And the muscles, how could you even grow them so perfectly in a year?
"Nathan?" I whispered yelled grinning.
Smirking he switched his gaze from his barfing brother to me.
"And Elaine Winter's as beautiful as ever" he addressed me the same way he used to, but it was different in so many senses. He wasn't goofy anymore and appeared like a man whose words you'd take
Distant and cold, he has changed so much in a year.
"How are you?" I asked as a faint gag of Noah resonated.
His brown eyes which once held life was void of its radiance as they met mine.
"Surviving" he forced a smile. Is the fight between his dad that worse than it began to mold his persona into such a drastic slot?
I wanted to ask him more about his schooling and plans but kept my mouth shut.
"Let me drop you home" clearing his throat he stated, I turned to see Noah walking over his bed, clutching his stomach.
"He'll be fine" with that he strides out.
I gave a sad smile to Noah and a take care wave later I hurriedly followed Nathan to his car.
In the car, the silence becomes louder when I realize I am in the enclosed vehicle with Nathan and he is barely speaking.
One can say Nathan and Noah are the same, unlike other siblings who both shared the same traits. They spoke their heart out. Or used to in this case since the boy beside me feels alien as he decorously drives on with utter concentration.
"Once you said you don't realize how scared and broken you appear until you see someone fight the same pain" I was shocked that he remembered, I nodded.
It was the day in summer when you could be home doing something productive. But on that day leaving myself alone with my thoughts would've been like obviating the boiler till the point of evaporation. My thoughts will consume me to the juncture till I forgot the reason behind my existence.
It happened every year on the day my parents passed away.
I called him up with an excuse of aspiring to learn more of hacking and cyber programming.
No idea what persuaded me but I stopped listening to his instructions and when he asked what was wrong with me, those words just fell out.
Now that he brought back the memory alive, it made me feel vulnerable all over again.
"Sometimes they should not try to hide their pain so much that the other could not perceive it" he arced his posture so he could face me, his eyes lingering over my pendant protracted.
Mindlessly I had begun playing with it again. Why was I so nervous?
More importantly, why do his words feel paradoxically diverted to me?
"Y_you are being weird Nathan" I chuckle tucking my hair behind.
With a tender smile, his focus shifted back to the track.
A puff of relief left my lips as my street graced the view. But I had one last job before I call it a day.
"Stop at the black gate with silver B" I pointed out as he perplexed ducked a little to see an unfamiliar house.
"I've some work there, it'll take time so I shall walk home," I said wiping sweaty palms upon my jeans.
"Are you sure, I can wait if you wa_"
"No no, thank you so much for the ride but It'll take lot of time" I cut him short as a silly image of Alex seeing me with him felt uneasy.
"If you say so, take care Elaine" I waved a bye as I saw his car tinted off the road.
Mentally preparing notes on words that are sensible to be adopted while I meet Alex I walk to the front porch, but before I could ring the bell the soft clink of a glass hitting the pavement devours.
Anxious I switch the flash on mobile and trace the area where the sound emerged.
the source raised his arms to protect his vision from the brightness.
The sight left me appalled as I make my way to him. He sat there on the ground with his legs crossed, it was dark and his black clothing wouldn't have stood out to create a silhouette among the muddy surface he was propped in.
"Alex?" I nudge him on the shoulder.
"Shut the fucking light off" he almost yelled as I hurriedly fumbled with the screen.
"I am so sorry" I don't know why I was apologizing, but arguing with him in such a state was not the right thing to do.
He was drunk, the empty bottle and bitter smell was its verification.
"Elaine?" Slurring he squinted his eyes comprehending my face.
"You are so drunk" I whined as he took the strands of my hair and examined closely as I hunched down over his level, muttering "Yes, Elaine's hair, you are Elaine" he sniffed.
He is cold, how can he look so attractive even with a running nose.
I loop my arms into his as the other snaked around his shoulder "Come on, lets get you in" I grunted as he exported his gravitational weight upon me.
"Not home, please" he coughed a plead. I was in apprehension of ways to resist the reddish drunken puppy eyes. How he managed to appear cuter than Brave in a situation as such was questionable.
"Take me to your home" softly he snuggles between my neck and shoulder, leaving behind a trail of shiver down my spine.
I sucked in a breath as he looks at me with an arrogant smirk,
And then trips over air.
It takes a week's energy to stable him up, what does this boy feed on. Metal?
"Fine, I'll take you to my home but you'll behave" he nods as I warn him sternly with the frightful glare.
By the time we stumble walked as if we wore roller skates with stilettoes to my home, I felt like I ran a marathon to Everest.
And the most un athletic award goes to me. There was no way anyone was so ill at this. Even the illest.
"No wait" I screamed as I saw him lean over our neighbors fence and throw up.
Too much undigested content for my eyes in a day.
Unlocking the door I practically dragged Alex to the couch, by the time I brought a blanket from upstairs he was fast asleep in the most uncomfortable position known to mankind.
Strenuously I succeeded to not wake up the sleeping beauty as I moved him into a comfortable position and took off his shoes.
Wrapping a blanket around him, I felt my eyes droop as a yawn escapes my lips.
But before I propel my feet in the direction to leave a hand grips my wrist as it tugs it lightly.
Cambering lower I force my ears to hear the words he says as the sound is slippery.
But when I do hear it, I wish I hadn't.
"I am not worth living".
***
WARNING: This book or author or whoever sane and responsible person in world does not encourage alcohol consumption, the use of tobacco, under age or over age illegal stuff. Trust me, it ruins life. The use of such subject is purely for fictional purpose and in even that you can witness how hazardous it can be. Take it as awareness rather than entertainment.
Thank you.