Darkness and Everything in Between

Blackness

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here!" I tried opening my eyes as I was surrounded by darkness, but realized my eyes were open. The voice seemed to know who I was, and it didn't seem to want me here, wherever here was.

"You promised me. What is she doing here?" It didn't seem to be talking to me anymore, and its voice was much calmer although they were still confused as to what I was doing there.

I woke in a cold sweat. I must've been dreaming. It was currently 7am and I knew I had to get ready soon as the bus usually arrived at my house at 7:40. I made my way out of my room and touched the wooden railing to the stairs, surprised to find it cold. I looked down to see what had happened to it when I saw I was suddenly going up the stairs. But these weren't the stairs in my house.

They were the steps to get on the bus.

I gasped in surprise, and looked up to see the bus driver giving me the evil eye. "Get on, or get off. I don't have time for this," he growled. I grabbed onto the railing, and slowly made my way up the steps like I was exploring a crime scene- horrified yet slightly intrigued as to what the hell had happened. The other kids were half asleep or on their phones just like any other day. I walked down the grimy aisle, littered with crumbled up pieces of paper and gum wrappers. 

I was feeling a bit dizzy, and I couldn't for the life of me understand why I was on a school bus dressed in my pajamas. I looked up to find an empty seat, but unfortunately the only available seat was next to a head of messy curls.

Ashton saw me coming and scooted over, so I could sit down. He didn't say anything about the way I was dressed- in my flannel pajamas- or the fact that I didn't have my book bag with me. He just stared out the window and I was thankful. Had he questioned me on my choice of clothing, I wouldn't have known how to respond. I didn't even know what I was doing on the bus because last thing I remembered was headed to eat my breakfast.

Before I knew it, we were at school and everyone was rushing off the bus to meet up with their friends. I got off, my head down low with my hair covering my face. I knew people were all probably staring at me like I was crazy for showing up in my pajamas, without my book bag.

"Hey, wait up!" I sped up trying to get away. "Hey!" Ashton said catching up, "I know you heard me," he said softly, a smile teasing at his lips.

"I'm not in the mood," I said walking faster. He sped up, matching my pace.

"I only wanted to know if you were okay."

"Yeah, well, I'm fine," I said sarcastically.

"Obviously because everyone get's on the bus looking like they just woke up, without their book bag, and then head home the second they get to school," he said matching my tone. He grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. "Tell me what happened."

"I don't know," I spat. "I. Don't. Know." I turned around and started walking back home, hoping he would  get the message and leave. He obviously did because he didn't follow me further. Good. I didn't need any of his bullshit right now. I huffed and continued walking home.

I finally made it home and looked under the ceramic dog we hid our spare key under, and made my way inside. I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, and I froze in my tracks. I felt a dizziness and I grabbed onto the counter to maintain my balance. God what's going on with me, I thought frantically, but just as quickly as it had come, it went away. I took my hand off the counter slowly in case the dizzy spell came back, but it didn't. I grabbed my glass of water, and made my way up the stairs to my room.

I don't know what I was expecting to find, but everything was in it's place, untouched. My book bag was hastily thrown on my desk from the day before. I ignored the papers with dark, scrawled writing, and crawled under my covers. Winter was coming, and it was obvious this winter was going to set all time low records for the coldest winter in Georgia. It didn't snow often. I'd only ever seen it snow twice and I had lived all my 18 years here.

I fell asleep to the thought of snow lightly settling on the floor, gathering and accumulating until the ground could no longer be seen.

A/N: Hey guys :) I know it's been a while, but spring break is over so I'm back at school trying to get all my late work in lol. When I originally started writing this story I had in mind that it was going to be a supernatural type story with like ghosts or connections between souls etc. I was wondering if you guys would like that or just stick to the normal story, no ghosts, only real world problems and conflicts? Please comment what you think I just need some type of lead here and the story is for you guys so just let me know. Well don't forget to vote and thanks for reading!