Flooded Waters

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕

"Miss Henderson?" A kind, familiar voice chirped. Alina averted her gaze from her lap and her dull eyes landed on the ray of sunshine. Her wrinkled face smiled and her blue eyes gleamed with happiness. She wore a floral dress and her grey hair was tied in a bun.

Alina got up from that uncomfortable seat that she sat on once a week in the quiet waiting room full of people. She gave the secretary, Mrs. Louis, a small smile before slipping into the room where Mrs. Louis pointed her to.

She entered the room, smells of cinnamon and flower scented candles and a comforting interior- Mrs. Mendoza's office. Alina sat down on the seat across from a busy woman typing on the computer.

The door closed and then it was only the two of them.

The woman, short brown hair and hazel eyes, smiled. "Hello Alina!" She greeted, fixing her glasses while the many bracelets on her wrists jingled together. Click! Clack! Jingle! She grabbed a pen and scribbled something down on her clipboard.

"Hi," Alina mumbled quietly. Even if she had gone to her therapist since she was eight, she was still shy and hated being here. It made her feel weak. Alina knew that there was nothing to be ashamed of, but it made her feel like she was weak and couldn't do anything- old.

Mrs. Mendoza ignored Alina's incoherent mumbles under her breath, asking Alina, "How have you been, dear?"

Alina sighed. How had she been? Awful. She could barely sleep, lying awake with racing thoughts. She cried every time Mabel would pass her, remembering the memories they shared. "Good," Alina lied. Mrs. Mendoza gave Alina a stern look. She sighed, looking down at her lap, embarrassed. "Not good," Alina corrected herself, mumbling.

"What's wrong, Alina?" She looked concerned, scribbling down some notes on her clipboard. "Please tell me what has happened this week."

Alina sighed. She knew she could tell her anything, but she wasn't her friend. Her parents paid her to do her job. Sometimes Alina wondered if Mrs. Mendoza only cared for her because of the monthly payments she got from Alina's parents. "Everything. I can barely fall asleep because I have this feeling that someone's watching me. I lost my best friend after she joined the Elites and I don't know if she ever cared for me. My depression and anxiety has gotten worse. I don't even want to do schoolwork anymore. I just- I just feel so hopeless. Why does all of this have to happen to me?" Alina sobbed and Mrs. Mendoza stood up to give her a tight hug and a tissue.

"I'm sure the stalking feeling is just a hallucination," Mrs. Mendoza stated, giving Alina a small smile. "What happened to you and Mabel? Also, have you worked on those techniques I taught you last session?"

Alina shook her head. "I- I didn't have time." Mrs. Mendoza sighed, nodding slowly. "I don't know why Mabel left me just like that to join the Elites. I know that she got bullied by Gabriela, but she still could've been my friend. I just, I don't get her. She's like a stranger to me now. When our eyes meet, she turns away. I think," Alina paused, wiping a tear. "I think I lost another piece of me when she left."

The scratching of the pen tip Mrs. Mendoza used was the only sound except for the sniffing from Alina. "Why do you think Mabel left you?"

Alina shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it was because she was bullied by Gabriela or because she didn't like me anymore."

Mrs. Mendoza chewed on her bottom lip. "Or because she was trying to protect you from getting hurt," she declared. Alina frowned. She hadn't thought of that. Mabel wanted to only protect her, but for what? Did she think she was weak ever since that night everything changed?

***

The sun had not even risen when Mabel's phone started buzzing. She turned around, grabbed it and quickly denied the call. She had no idea who was calling but whether it was an emergency or not, she needed sleep. It was selfish of her but anyone being woken up at dawn would have the same reaction.

She had almost fallen back to sleep when her phone once again rang.

"What?" she almost screamed, before realizing her family was asleep.

"Did I wake you up?" a voice replied, with a flirty tone.

"Who is this?"

"Julian, your favorite person."

"Calm down, you narcissist. What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see you. Can we meet by the cliffs in ten minutes?"

"Now? Can we not talk at school?"

"Please, Mabel."

"Fine."

Julian had been acting really weird recently. It almost seemed as if he had taken a liking in their little conversations, most of which Julian flirtily started. Melina had also been avoiding Mabel, her relationship with Julian probably annoyed her. Mabel felt bad because she really appreciated Melina but she did not want to reject Julian and hurt his feelings. To add on, Cedric had been ill the day before so he had not witnessed his friend's new behavior.

Mabel quickly switched her old and comfy pajamas to a pair of leggings and a warm sweatshirt and quietly stepped down the stairs. She grabbed her sneakers and silently shut the front door behind her. She felt bad as she was not the type of daughter to sneak out of the house in the middle of the night to see a boy. Nevertheless, she grabbed her bike and headed to the cliffs which were not a long distance away.

"Finally, you're here!" Julian announced as soon as he saw her.

She dropped her bike and before she could turn around, she was lifted in the arms of Julian. He gently set her down and hugged her.

"What are you doing, Julian?" Mabel questioned, surprised.

"Oh come on, Mabel, I know you secretly like me and Cedric is just a cover," Julian replied.

Mabel did not know what to say. Julian's new attitude was so sudden and even though she did not want to admit the fact that a boy like him was interested in a girl like her pleased her, she knew it could mess things up between her and Cedric but she could not stop it.

"Promise me you won't say anything to Ced."

"Of course, babe."

Mabel rolled her eyes.

You can't do this Mabel. It's not because Cedric is ill that you can party and flirt with anyone like Tara.

Julian and Mabel were now sitting on a bench, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"Don't you love moments like this?" Julian smiled.

"Yes?" Mabel answered, confused.

"Look, Mabel, I don't know how to make this any clearer but I like you."

Here you go. What do you have to say now?

"Um-"

"You don't have to answer now. I know things are moving fast."

He leaned in to kiss Mabel but at the last moment she turned around.

"I - I can't do this, Julian. I'm sorry it's late, or early I must say, and I have to go. See you at school," Mabel stuttered.

It was a nightmare. How could Julian do such a thing to her? And why did she not do anything to stop this situation?

***

hi guys! i redid my bookshelf today :D. anyways how is this story so far? sending lots of love. <3

don't forget to vote and comment

(go read this chapter on @PlumeAlice's account and go show some love as well!)

we'll update this story next friday. :)

until next time,

myra and alice