karma → 5sos au

1.8

The tapping again.

It wasn't Luke.

Too light to be Luke. Luke would be pounding on the glass, demanding that she open up.

She saw his green face in her mind, that gruesome smile, the dark pit that was his mouth, the glowing red eyes.

Still holding onto the desk, she turned to face the window. A pigeon stood on the outer windowsill. It pecked at the glass. Tap, tap, tap.

Bry, get a hold of yourself, she warned herself. You can't let yourself go mental because a stupid pigeon taps on the window.

Another shower maybe?

The hot water might make her feel better, help to cleanse away the memories, the pictures, the horrors of the night before that stuck to her skin like stale perspiration.

She took a long, hot shower and shampooed her hair.

Drying herself off, she felt refreshed. A little better.

She got dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a pink long-sleeved cotton T-Shirt. There was a cartoon kitten on it. It was one of the only graphic tees she owned. Then she went downstairs and fixed a breakfast of orange juice, mini cinnamon rolls she found deep in the fridge, and buttered toast.

Her mother wanted her to substitute the butter with coconut oil because it was much healthier, but Bryana refused. She hated anything and everything that had to do with coconuts. Besides, it was known to give acne.

She was dropping the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher when Jess's 2012 Camry pulled into the drive. Bryana dried her hands hurriedly on a dish towel and ran through the front all to let her friend in.

"Coffee!" Jess roared as soon as Bryana pulled open the door. "Make us coffee! I need a jumpstart in the morning."

"You do look a little out of it," Bryana said, examining Jess's pale face. "Late night last night?"

"No. Nothing special," Jess sighed, almost sounding disappointed. She followed Bryana into the kitchen. "Are you feeling better? You sounded awful over the phone."

"I guess," Bryana said, filling the coffee maker with water.

"You - you sounded so scared, Bry. Not like yourself at all." Jess pulled off her sweatshirt and tossed it over one of the tall kitchen stools. She climbed up onto the stool next to it and leaned on the dark marble counter, watching Bryana measure out the coffee.

"I - I really don't know where to begin," Bryana said, hating this feeling of vulnerability that was so new to her, but eager to share everything with Jess. "It's about Luke."

"Are you still going out with him?" Jess stifled a yawn with her hand.

Bryana pushed a button on the coffee machine. "Yeah, I guess. I - "

"Him and that other guy. Ashton."

"Yeah. Well, I'm going to break up with Luke. For good," Bryana said uncomfortably, sensing Jess's disapproval.

This wasn't the way Bryana wanted this to go. She wanted sympathy from Jess - not disapproval. She wanted some understanding. An explanation, maybe.

An explanation?

Who was she trying to kid?

How could there be an explanation?

"Listen, Jessie, something weird is happening to Luke."

"Huh?" That seemed to wake Jess up. She sat up straight on the backless kitchen stool.

"I mean, I think Luke is sick or something."