The Missing Soul

Spiced Rum

        "Here we are." I said standing in front of Paul's door with Leland. I could hear music booming from inside. I rung the doorbell twice, as usual, and Paul opened it. The music was now super loud and was blaring in our face. He had a grin on his face until he seen Leland, he slowly went neutral. 

        "May, you made it!" Paul shouted. "Is this your brother?" He pointed to Leland.

        "No, he's my-" I started, but I was cut off by Leland.

        "I'm her boyfriend!" Leland yelled to Paul.

        For a moment Paul and Leland just starred at each other. I could tell there was already some tension between them.

        "Well, come in!" Paul moved aside and Leland and I stepped in. 

        It was crowded with lots of people. People were dancing to the music, mingling, and everyone either had a red cup in their hand or a bottle. So, this was a party? It seemed fun.

        "How about a drink?" Paul offered leading us to the kitchen. We all had to shout at each other because of how noisy the music was. 

        There was four people in the kitchen. Three boys and a girl. An island counter sat in the middle of the kitchen and diffrent kinds of bottles sat on top... I never drank before, I'd never even smelled how it smells. 

        "What do you like, Leland?" I asked. 

        "I'm ok." He answered.

        "Seriously? It's a party, lighten up." Paul smacked Leland on his back. Leland turned to face him and gave him a rude look. Paul just smirked. 

        Leland grabbed a Jack Daniel's bottle and poured it into a red cup. The girl that was standing in the kitchen stepped beside me. 

        "Hi, I'm Erica. I'm Paul's sister." I examined her face. She had green eyes, freckles, long, red hair, and a round face. She didn't really look much like Paul, a half sister maybe? Well, some siblings look nothing alike, I didn't bother asking.

        "I'm May, nice to meet you." I smiled at her. Then I turned back to Leland to see he drank that whole cup and was refilling it. 

        "Grab you a drink too, May." Erica offered. 

        I looked around to see Paul was standing behind the island, smiling at me. I quickly looked down at the bottles, studying each one. One caught my eye; Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. I've never drank and spiced rum sounded good. 

        "May, you probably need a chaser." Leland said. I gave him a confused look, not understanding what he was saying. 

        "Another drink to chase it with. Like a soda." Paul pulled a 2-liter coke out of the fridge.

        I poured one cup with the rum and the other with the coke. I chased the coke after the rum. Even with doing this, the rum was really strong. I coughed a couple of times after taking a drink. It felt like lighter fluid going down my throat. Paul, Erica, and Leland laughed. 

        We all stood in the kitchen for a bit, talking and drinking. I was having a good time. I felt loosened up, happy. It had to be the alcohol. 

        "You're so pretty, May." Leland slid a piece of hair behind my hair. He had to be drunk. I laughed really loud.

Paul grabbed my hand. "Hey, May, you want to dance?" He pulled me into the living room. My balance and coordination was off. I was drunk. I could fell myself falling over and the next thing I knew, I was on top of Paul.

        "Walk much?" He said underneath me. He was laughing. I attempted to get up, but fell back down.

        I felt someone's hands slip under my arms and pick me up. They put their hands on my shoulder and spun me around. It was Leland and he looked angry. Leland picked up Paul by the front of his shirt and shoved him against the wall.

        "What's all this fucking funny business?" Leland pulled him forward and slammed him into the wall again. 

        Everyone stopped dancing and turned their attention to Leland and Paul.

        "Funny business? May said she wanted to dance." Paul was smirking. 

        Leland slammed Paul into the wall once more and let him go. Leland grabbed my hand. 

        "We're leaving, May." We walked out of the house and Paul followed us. He grabbed my hand.

        "May, we belong together. Don't you see? You're just going to die again, you have to be with me." Paul whispered. 

        I looked at him horrified. I pulled my hand away from him. I don't think Leland heard him, but Leland punched him in the chest. Paul flew back and smacked his head on the concrete. I looked at Paul's house and everyone was starring from the doorway. 

        "Stay off my girl." Leland tugged at me and we took off walking. Behind us I heard Erica's voice scream for Paul. 

        We walked around the corner and we was now on my street. I frantically dug in my pockets for my phone. It was 9:45. 

        "What time do you have to be home?" Leland asked. I looked at his face. He still looked angry and he was breathing hard. 

        "10:30." Instead of walking to my house, we walked to the school and sat on the benches in the front. 

        "Leland... Did you hear what Paul said to me?" I shivered from the memory. I know that was not my imagination. Paul is the guy I'm supossed to be with. I don't want to be with him, though, I want to be with Leland. 

        "What did that punk say?" Leland was slurring his words. Was I slurring, too? 

        "Paul is the guy I'm meant to be with." I looked at Leland and he was starring at his hands. I know he despised what I had told him. 

        Still, I did too. What can we do? I have to change the future. I refuse to let history repeat itself. This is the only life that I actually knew what was going on. If I get reborn, I won't remember anything again. I fear not knowing. I guess being drunk causes you to feel very emotional, because I bursted into tears. Leland pulled me close to him and held me. He lifted my chin up and we looked into each other's eyes. 

        "May, I love you. I don't care what happens. Together we can change our future." Then he kissed me. It was a passionate kiss. And at that very moment I knew I loved Leland. I closed my eyes and still, tears came out. No matter the cost. 

        And it happened. The darkness engulfed me and I felt like I was drowning.