Twisted Fate

Chapter Five: Home

🎵- Beethoven Symphony Compilation
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Introducing new characters?  (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
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Jake's POV:

"Ann, Ann!!" I shake her, tightening my hold on her quivering shoulders, the desperation on her face mirroring mine. I have to snap her out of this, this. . .whatever she's trapped in.

" Ann, Annalisa, you need to get a hold of yourself. You're scaring me." Brows knitted together, her unwavering stare at the back seat of my car transitions her facial expression from stunned astonishment to frantic quiet mumblings on repeating 'no's which slowly morphs into yells of desperate 'no's.

Concern for my flabbergasted friend etches itself further into me. Giving in, I reason with myself, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Clasping my friend's face by the palm of my hands--her flushed cheeks squished in my bear grip--I am finally able to bring her face to face with me, her gaze dragging from the backseat of my car to me-light brown pupils at level with mine--the edge of her big round glasses brushing against the top of my thumb.

As the veil of hazy desperation fizzes out of her eyes, the twinkle of life returns with realization jogging along its heels. Wide eyed, she yanks her head backwards, ramming it into the window behind her in the process. The yelp of pain that follows bubbles up a silent fit of laughter in me, the scene almost comical.

As my silent fits of laughter flushes out I am left gripping her glasses, reminded of why taking such a drastic measure was even required in the first place - the feeling of empathy, strong empathy originating from having experienced something similar myself.

" You okay Ann? I shook you by your shoulders but you just sat there, frozen stiff. So I just diverted your eyes manually." Her inability to perceive reality starkly visible on her face.

I extend my hands, offering to put her glasses back on place.

" What?" With a startled expression still painted her face Anna fidgets to fix her glasses, still a bit dazed. 

" Oh, ah. . .umm, sorry about that. I gotta go." Body extending, I see a thin frame of back lined just below the loose hanging baggy clothes. The extending from contorts further--unnaturally flexible--and grabs the backpack that rests comfortably on the backseat of my car. She opens the bag, its contents being rummaged around in.

" Annalisa, was Jack such a serious issue? I-i really am sorry for any discomfort I caused by asking about him." Fishing out a brightly pink handkerchief out of her bag she begins cleaning her glasses, the little flower design on the other end bouncing with motion.

Looks at me, she just looks at me as she gently drags the handkerchief along her glasses--almost unconsciously--cleaning her glasses. Her penetrating stare persists until I begin to wonder if she will speak at all until she begins.

" Two and a half years or so. Two and a half years since I last heard that name. The one who must not be named. I think I was just a bit taken aback upon the remembrance of his name." Sensing the confused but reserved doubt on my face she clears her throat.

" We, J-" deep breath in " J-jack and I, we broke up about three-ish years ago." Silent comforts. Silent comfort is what a person needs at times of vulnerability, my mother says so. So I reach out, placing my hand on hers but she just stares, at me.