Returning Shadows

(2) Humbugs and Coffee Jars

CHAPTER 2
Humbugs and Coffee Jars

The next morning, I woke to the sound of crows squawking, which signalled that it wasn’t raining. I pulled the covers off and padded to the bathroom, the coldness of the place making me shiver and want to crawl back into bed and burrow under the covers like a mole. I fought the urge and instead went for a hot shower, turning the temperature right up. That would warm me up a bit.

The small shower room was ridiculously fogged by the time I got out.

When I came downstairs, Eliott had already left for work, and breakfast was over. I sighed and did myself some toast, sitting down at the table to eat it alone. In my place at the table, there was a note.

Alexis,
        We’ve gone shopping. Won’t be back until the afternoon. There’s some left over cheese and pasta in the fridge. Stick it in the microwave if you’re hungry and don’t put it in on the silver bowl. Use a china one. 
Love, mummy and daddy xxx

“Well that’s nice,” I muttered to myself. “They could have woken me to tell me.”

I crunched into my toast, contemplating what I could do for the rest of the day. I washed my plate up and went through to the living room and switched on the computer.

It took about ten minutes for it to load, by which time I was about ready to punch it. Stupid computer.

I clicked onto Facebook and almost gasped when I saw that I had one message. Who would message me?

 I savoured the rare experience for a few moments, before clicking the little red box and opening up the message. I didn’t recognise the person. Someone by the name of Muhammad Ahmed. I rolled my eyes as I read what he had written.

                Hey beautifull. I think u r very pretty and I wood like two meet u. what do u say?

I rolled my eyes again. How pathetic.

                Go away and learn to spell properly.

Maybe that was a bit harsh…

Almost immediately, it registered as ‘seen’. A few moments later, a new reply showed up.

                I lied. u r not pretty. ugly little bitch.

I tapped out a three letter response.

                LOL.

After that, I went over to his profile and clicked through a couple of his pictures. He was in about his thirties and had a long black beard. Eww. I hit block and logged out.

Facebook is weird.

I ran upstairs and dug under my bed for the letter I had written and brought it downstairs. In the kitchen, I found an empty coffee jar and put the letter inside, making sure the writing was visible from outside of the jar, in case it’s mistaken for litter. I folded a few extra sheets of paper and placed them inside too, along with a pen.

I should put some sweets inside too.

I giggled at the idea. That would be weird. Nobody would eat sweets from a stranger, would they? I put three Old English Humbugs inside and screwed on the lid anyway. They were my favourite sweets.

I stuffed the jar inside my leather satchel, along with some munchies for later in case I got hungry. Running back upstairs—for the umpteenth time—I grabbed my newest book from under my bed and shoved it inside the satchel as well. I didn’t much like staying in the house on my own. It creeped me out, so I decided to go out for the day, until mum and dad got home. And I could plant my message in a bottle—or jar—while I was at it. Two birds, one stone.

__________________________________________

When I arrived at my new viewpoint, I wasted no time in seating myself on the couch shaped rocks and plopping my jar down beside me on the floor. I knew it’d probably be months until someone did see it and reply, so I’d just have to be patient. I decided on checking back once a week.

I pulled my book out from my satchel and began reading, ignoring the bag of prawn cocktail crisps that seemed to call out to me.

Must save them for later!

Before I knew what was happening, my hands had already opened the packet and placed a crisp in my hungry mouth.

So much for saving them.

 #

When I was over quarter way through my book, I realised I’d probably spent longer than I should have down there. I quickly folded over the edge of the page, a bad habit, I know, and stuffed all my things back into my satchel, sprinting the rest of the way home.

When I arrived back, mum and dad had already returned and just packed away the last of the shopping. Excellent timing on my part.

I grinned sheepishly to them, and disappeared into the living room, burying my face inside my book once again. Mum followed. “Where have you been?”

“For a walk,” I replied, doing my best to sound casual so she wouldn’t ask questions.

She raised an eyebrow as if she’d read my thoughts. “Where to?”

“The beach,” I answered truthfully. I had passed the beach.

Her other eyebrow raised. “And you were out all morning? Reading in some secluded spot so that nobody will see you, no doubt?”

I bashfully looked up from my book and nodded my head.

She sighed. “You need to stop being so shy. Eventually you’re going to have to meet people, whether you hate it or not.”

I averted my eyes back to my book, trying to look unfazed. “I’ll stick with reading, thanks.”

The book was suddenly snatched from my hands. “Life isn’t a bloody romance story!” she snapped, her temper suddenly flaring. “No handsome prince is going to come for you, unless you get yourself out there. Look at you. You just sit there most days when Eliott is working, living in La La Land. This is fiction.” She stabbed her pointer finger into the cover of my book to emphasise her point. “The reality is this; if you don’t start meeting people, you’ll end up a loner for the rest of your life!”

I looked down at my feet on the floor, feeling the prickling of tears as they formed in my eyes. She was right.

__________________________________________

Who else loves humbugs? Yummy. 
Sorry this chapter is a little short and sweet (haha sweet... get it?;) but the next chapter is going to be longer, and have some action in it! So stay tuned!
Oh, do any of you guys get illiterate strangers message you through facebook? That part in this chapter was actually based on a true story haha. 
Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the book. Please don't forget to comment/vote/fan. I love hearing from you guys! :)

Love,
Ella xxx