Torment

Chapter Eight

"So, how was school today?" I asked, sitting myself down on Matt's bed. "Pretty awesome!" He smiled, throwing himself down on the bed beside me. "Yeah?" I asked. "Yeah." He nodded, resting on his elbow glancing back at me. "What happened?" I asked. "Andrea and Bryce. We hung out, and they introduced me to some of their friends." He said. "Cool." I smiled. "So, how come I've never seen you at school. I'm pretty sure Westerville High is the only high school in town." Matt raised an eyebrow. "I-I am homeschooled. I mean, I thought I told you already." I tried, my eyes drifting further from his. "Nope, but that's okay." He shrugged.

We headed over to the park.

"Hey lovebirds!" A familiar voice came from behind us. It was Andrea and Bryce. "What're you guys doing?" She asked. "Not much, just hanging out." Matt shrugged. "So then let's go somewhere!" Andrea continued, sitting herself down beside us. "Where'd you have in mind, babe?" Bryce asked. "I don't know. What about you guys?" She asked us. "I have an idea." Matt grinned in my direction. I was nervous. "Oh yeah, where?" Andrea asked. "The library." He added. "The library? Seriously?!" Bryce chimed in. "Well yeah. I've never been and I'm told it's a special place." Matt grinned at me and gently nudged me. "Oh, I see." Andrea slyly grinned. "Looks like we're going to the library." She smiled. "You're reading too much into this." Bryce waltzed after Andrea. We followed behind.

"The library, seriously?" I turned to Matt. "What? I was told you like it." He shrugged with a cunning grin on his face. "You're just trying to expose that I'm a total nerd." I crossed my arms. "-Or, I'm trying to become one myself. Who knows." He tugged at my crossed arms hoping to break them apart. "You're already one, nerd." I shoved him. "You two done? We're here." Andrea called.

The library was old, a monument of the small town. A place I would've loved to hang out in, if mother dearest would've let me.

"So, what exactly do we do here?" Bryce broke the silence. "We read." Matt shrugged. "You've got to be kidding me!" Bryce rolled his eyes and sat himself down at the table with the rest of us. "Oh c'mon babe, it's not that bad!" Andrea tried, pulling Bryce closer. "Yeah, right!" Bryce pushed her back.

Matt and I decided to explore the abandoned shelves. "So, what'll it be?" He broke the silence. "Something ancient." I snorted. "Ancient, hmmm, I guess it's further down." He said. "So, I don't mean to bother you on this, it's just been bugging me, the thing about your mom..." Matt stuttered.

And for a second I froze.

"Shoot, I'm sorry, I know it's sensitive and I just went too far-" "Hey, no, Matt. It's okay. See, I was, um, very young when she left. I don't know why sometimes I think it's because she needed to be happy, I guess." I shrugged, holding back my tears. "That can't be true." Matt tried, "True or not, my mom hauled me off to my aunt and ran off with my step dad." I lowered. And there was a silence, a long silence. "Hey, for what it's worth, your mom has no idea what she's missing out on." Matt grabbed onto me and pulled me into a hug. "So, something ancient it is!" Matt said, pulling a book out from the shelf right behind me. It was on ancient Egypt. I'm sure I would've loved it in my waking life.

We headed back, and to my surprise there was a new face, a girl. I've never seen her in my life before, I know if I did, I'd never forget her. She was beautiful, and had golden blonde hair that dangled over her shoulders. As far as I knew, she had absolutely no flaws which was scientifically impossible, but here she was, our age, my height, perfect... Hannah.

"Matt." She shrieked. "Hannah." Matt smiled. "Oh, uh, Kate, this is Hannah, Bryce's sister. I actually only met her today." Matt smiled, his eyes not leaving hers for a second. "Er, hi-" I tried, my hand stretched out. "Nice to meet you, Kate." Hannah pulled me into a hug instead.