Young But Real (5 YA Short Stories)

The Angel Has Broken Wings

All the unusual things that happened in the past months flash before me. She walks slower than usual. Partying and going to pubs. The plasters on her knees and arms were probably from falling down. The stoic and distant expression. Not recognising James and that her drink was being spiked. Eloise guiding her towards the couch.

"Fuck. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Only my family and Eloise know, and you're not in any of the categories."

That fucking hurts. "Goddammit!" But she told me. I am not family and definitely, I'm not a friend. A smirk forms on my lips.

"What?!" asks Mikayla, raising her right eyebrow.

"Oh, you don't want to know." I will be your family, Angel. "Any—"

"No cure," says Mikayla, who reads what's in my head and sits beside me.

"Fuck, you're kidding me."

She stares at me while shaking her head.

I hang my head and run my finger through my quiff hair out of frustration. "No. I don't want to believe that. Is there a way to delay it?"

"I wish there was, but none." She inhales deeply. "I have microscopic eyeglasses and a magnifier. I can still see clearly from my peripheral view. Sometimes everything is clear then the centre will gradually blur."

That explains why she didn't see me until she walked past me. Moving her head sideways slowly means she's looking through her peripheral view.

"Now that you know, you can stay away from me," she says in a stoic expression but I catch the pain in her voice.

I sit up straight and face her.

"No —"

"Yes Jarrod. I don't need your pity." Tears brim over her eyes. "There are lots of girls who want you. Go to them and leave me alone."

"Dammit Mikayla—"

"Are you going to bring a blind date to parties?"

"Why not?"

"Hit whoever badmouths about my condition?"

"They deserve that."

"Follow me wherever I go?" She pauses, lifts his hand to stop me from responding and takes a deep breath, tears flowing from her beautiful eyes. "I'm a burden Jarrod. I'm nothing. I can't do the only gift I am very proud of," she sobs, " I can't make any stained glass art anymore. My future is ruined. I don't even know if I can continue my studies or what will happen to my life." She wipes her tears using the back of her hand. "Just like my central vision, everything about me is blurry, grey and sometimes black."

Speechless. I gently wipe the tears on her face. To feel like a lost cause, a burden, mixed with self-pity and hopelessness, my Angel is broken and I have no fucking idea that she's been suffering for months. The fact that she doesn't swat my hand when I touch her, proves how defeated she's feeling.

"My uber is downstairs."

I freeze. "You're leaving?" She nods. "Stay, Angel. Spend the night with me. You can't just leave after dropping a fucking bomb."

She stands but I am quick to hug her from behind and I feel her body stiffens. "Give me time to process this, Angel," I sigh, "don't push me away. We'll figure this out"

She takes a deep breath and removes my hands. "Goodbye Jarrod. Don't bother me again. There—"

I place my hands on her shoulder and turn her around to face me. "Why do you keep on pushing me away?" My voice isn't able to conceal the irritation and her gasp makes me pause. The next words come softer, pleading even. "For once, give me a fucking chance."

"Your feeling is just temporary. There are many normal," she says the last word with gritted teeth, "girls who are dying to have you. I'm just a challenge to you because no one rejects Jarrod Hankin."

Fuck. This is pissing me off. She's putting the words in my mouth and it's even more upsetting.

"If you walk out that door, you will never see me again," I say, but she shifts her gaze to the left. "I will not be there to save your ass from those perverts." She fucking turns her back on me. "You're right!" I exclaim, "why should I keep chasing you if there are girls lining up to have me!"

She starts walking, and never looks back.

"Mikayla! One last chance!" But she opens the door, leaving me frustrated and angry. "Fuck! Fuck!"

My eyes are filled with tears and I wish I didn't stop taking drugs because I need them right now, to temporarily forget. Who am I kidding?  It won't solve my problem either. Kira, my sister, almost died when she got a hold of them.

What am I going to do? The question keeps me awake the entire night searching the internet and reading articles about macular degeneration. Mikayla is wrong to think that she can make me stop.

I'm just starting, Angel, so brace yourself.

###
If you are Jarrod, what will you do?

If you are Mikayla, how are you going to react?

The next chapter is the ending of Bad Boy on Scooter. What do you think will happen?

Thank you for reading. Please stay with Jarrod and Mikayla 'til the end.

Lovelots,
Alya