The Crimson Clock: Path of The Fallen

Chapter Eight

 I knocked on the door and creaked it open slowly. Logan was sitting up, he looked a lot better then when I last saw him, and Rylee yet again, pulled up a chair next to the bed. Their hands were intertwined with each other, and they both were laughing."Esme?"

I forgot that I was in the doorway. I was too mesmerized by their "perfect" relationship. They never seemed to argue. They were always happy, either kissing, hugging, holding hands or laughing. I didn't realize it, but maybe I started to become jealous of what they had. Of having a perfect life, and just being happy. I wanted that, though happiness never seemed to come to me. At least permanently.

"Hey." I said, letting my bag hang from my hand, almost touching the ground. "How are you?"

"Fine. Why are you here?" She asked, as if she didn't want me here.

"Can't I just visit you guys?"

"It's fine. Just my friend was supposed to be visiting today." Logan said.

"Oh sorry, I can come back another time."
"No it's fine," Logan smiled. "I'm not sure when he'll be here. No worries."

"Okay." I sat slowly in a chair, and put the bag on my lap, pulling out the clock.

"Isn't that. . .?" Logan began to say.

"Yeah. It was on my bedside table this morning."

"I thought your grandma got rid of it."

"She said she gave it to the front desk." I said, looking at the CD 24, that was now fully printed on the screen. "She lied." I stroked the broken clock with my fingers. "She's never lied to me. And why over a dumb clock? It must not be dumb if she lied to me."

"Maybe she really did give it to the front desk. Maybe someone accidentally gave it to you?" Rylee suggested.

"How? When? Why? It was in my room. That's creepy. Right?"
"I guess. But why is this clock so important? Just throw it away." Said Rylee.

"Letters." I said. Then shook my head forgetting they didn't know what I was talking about. "These letters, C and D, popped up on the screen today. And the number 24. What do you think that means?"

Rylee looked over at Logan, and sighed. "Esme-"

Someone opened the door, interrupting the conversation. I quickly stuffed the clock back into my bag, and slid it under the chair.

I recognized the golden brown head of hair, and blue eyes right as he walked in. It was Jaxton.

His eyes met mine, as I was the closest to the door.

"Esme?" He asked, half in shock he other half annoyed.

"Jaxie." I mocked back with a cold grin.

"You two know each other?" Logan pointed at the two of us with his finger.

"We're neighbors." I said.

"We've had," Jaxton put his hands in his pocket. "A dinner together. A weird one."

Ugh the boy made me want to barf all over again.

"Dinner?" Logan said, still pointing.

"My grandma invited over his family." I glanced at Jaxton for a second, then back at Logan. "That was when I threw up. Jaxton helped me get to my room. I could barely walk."

"You threw up at dinner, with Jaxton. And he helped you to your bed." Rylee repeated. Then smirked. "I guess you did really mean you were okay."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked.