Chapter One
“I will never do anything to hurt you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
~
That’s when I woke up. Why do I keep having dreams about him? Well, I couldn’t exactly call them dreams. More like flashbacks. It’s been almost a year. Shouldn’t have already moved on? I know he has.
I quickly showered and got dressed into a plain black t-shirt and white skinny jeans. After pulling on my black and white Converse, I did my hair and makeup. As I grabbed my bag I accidently knocked over a picture frame. I set it upright and then I saw what the picture was. It was a picture of me and my ex, Trent, at the fair together. I looked so happy then… It’s funny how just five words could hurt so much. Those five words changed everything for me.
‘We should just be friends.’ I read the text over and over again. I can’t believe he broke up with me through text! Who does that? A coward, that’s who.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by a car horn. I quickly made my way down outside and climbed into Chris’ car. Chris is my best friend. I’ve known him since middle school.
“You okay? You seem a bit… off.” Chris knows I hate when people take pity on me. I don’t understand why he would do it anyway.
“Are you sure? You haven’t been yourself lately. I’m worried about you, Victoria.”
“I said I’m fine,” I snapped at him. I sighed. “Sorry.”
He’s right. I haven’t been myself lately. Ever since Trent and I broke up I just haven’t been the same. Everything about me changed. I stopped being the hyper, fun-loving Victoria everybody knew me as. I barely ever smiled a real smile anymore.
“You can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?”
“I know. I just… I don’t want to start off my junior year with a repeat of sophemore year. I’m sick of people always asking if I’m okay. I hate it when people take pity on me.”
“But I’m not taking pity on you and you know it. It’s not called pitying someone if you actually care. I care, V. And I’m not just going to watch you destroy yourself.”
“You sound like you’re best friends with a drug addict.”
“I just want to know. Why won’t you let anyone in? I’ve known you for three years, V. And Cassie has known you for seven years. We barely even know anything about you… We’re supposed to be best friends. Best friends don’t keep secrets from each other. Best friends are supposed to tell each other everything. They’re supposed to trust each other. I’m tired of not knowing you, Victoria. I want to know you. So please…”
“Don’t. I keep things to myself for a reason. And as for shutting everyone out, that’s my decision. If I don’t want to talk about it then I don’t have to. I’ll see you in class.”
I got out of his car and shut the door. It was harsh, I know, but it was the truth. I’ve been keeping things from them for years. The only person I ever fully trusted was Trent. I don’t know why I was so quick to trust him. I just did. I felt like I could tell him anything. He put my world back together only to have it crashing down again.
~
“V, are you even listening to me?” My head snapped to Cassie, my other best friend.
“Hmm?”
“I was saying that we should go watch Silent Hill when it comes out on Halloween.”
“Cass, it’s still August,” I reminded her.
“I know, but tell me you’re not dying to see it!”
I shrugged. Normally, yes I would be excited for a new Silent Hill movie, but like I said before I haven’t been myself lately. I’ve tried to do things that I used to enjoy before, but to no avail. I felt like a zombie. I didn’t show much emotion nowadays. Usually, there’s just a blank expression plastered onto my face, but I know Chris and Cassie are starting to see through my careless façade.
“Come on! At least show a little excitement. You love Silent Hill!” She chimed.
“Yay,” I said putting my fist up in the air with probably the fakest enthusiasm ever.
“That was the worst attempt at enthusiasm that I’ve ever seen.”
“You asked for it.”
~
I’ve managed to avoid Trent all day. I was terrified at the thought of running into him. Just my luck, I was spotted. He smiled and waved at me awkwardly. I returned the awkward wave with a weak smile. I felt like I was going to break down right there, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t let him know that I still cared. It would only make him feel bad, and that is the last thing I want. I just want him to be happy, even if I’m not.
“You okay?” Cassie asked.
“I’m fine,” I lied. I gave her the fake smile I mastered over the years.
She gave me a sympathetic smile and we both headed our separate ways.
