Asundered Soul

Chapter 2

I squint my eyes at the burning light pouring in from my large window. Exhausted, I shift in my bed and my eyes fall on the clock at my bedside and I go back to sleep. I really am not a morning person.

Then it strikes me.

9 am!!! School starts at 8:30!!
Am i late to school??! OH MY GOD!

I jerk up in my bed running my hands through my messy hair. My legs swing up to the other side of my bed and I hastily stand up and sprint to my parents room.

I knock on the door and after getting no response I barge into the room waking just my mother up.

"Mom you could've woken me up for school!" I half scream, half whisper in worry.

She gets up from the bed in a sleepy walk and comes over to me. "Honey, your father got a message from your school that due to weather issues the school has been off for one day, so don't worry." She says sluggishly.

I blink at her in confusion.

"A sandstorm, honey."

I sigh from relief and exit the room. I thought I had missed the second day of school. How embarrassing?

"Hey sis." Says my little 9 year old sister from behind me. "You look like death."

I huff.

"Thank you Lucy, you don't look bad either."

"I never look bad, sis. It's just you who looks worse than a freaking ugly medusa."

Well, someone is in a mood for roasting.

"A day off from school, huh?" She asks and I nod in response.

"Well how about you and I have some fun outside then?" She asks, her black eyes shining with hope, completely forgetting the ridiculous snarks she threw my way. Lucy got her black eyes and hair from dad, while I inherited my mom's blue eyes and dad's black hair.

Lucy is the only one close to me as a friend. I lost all my friends back when I was in my previous school. Just then I realized they weren't real friends. Just some people who pitied me for being a loner. There comes a time in your life that you no longer care about the inconsequential aspects of life, and for me that time was back then when I never received a message or a call from them after I said I was moving to Las Vegas because my Dad had lost his job. Since then, I no longer have the time to try to persuade others of my worth.

"Yeah why not, where do you wanna go?” I inquire, bending down to her level.

"Let's go to the park nearby and we will get some ice cream when we get back.” Clasping her tiny hands together in excitement. “We’d have to be quick though. Seems as if a duststorm is gonna hit."

"Sure." I rise to my full height and fold my hands on my chest, "But first, I need some sleep.”

She opens her mouth to interject but I cut her off, already running to my room.

“Just two hours, I promise!”

                                  •••

We got back home at evening with ice creams in our hands. We decided to stay a bit longer as there was no sign of a duststorm. The smile on Lucy's face is so big and bright that I'm afraid her face will split into half.

"I should take you out more often since you look so cheerful.”

She flashes a radiant smile at me and her hand slips into mine. We two hum together and reach our doorstep.

"Ah, I see you two are back.” Mom opens the door for us. “Zoella, can you do me a favor sweetheart? Could you go give some cookies I made for our neighbors?" My mom says all in one breath.

"Um...okay Mom." I reply, confused. "Who are they anyway?"

"They just shifted here, two days ago. I just met Mrs Cosgrove when you two were out. She seemed very nice and we had a little chat."

I nod.

"She also looked tired to which I assume setting the house must be difficult for her."

I nod again.

She goes to the kitchen and returns back with cookies in her hands.

"Can I go too mommy?" Lucy pipes in, her eyes wide with expectation.

"Yes, no problem. Zoella just be back as soon as possible." Mom says addressing me with a smile.

I nod and flash a smile at her, leaving the house with Lucy in tow.

We reach the house in less than a minute and I ring the door bell. Not a second later, the door opens revealing a beautiful lady. She has gorgeous blond curls that hang off her shoulders in waves accompanied with marine blue eyes which gleamed with delight and vigor of youth. Im so lost in her beauty that I don't even notice shes talking to me until Lucy tugs at my hand.

My face reddens from embarrassment.

"Uh..Miss I'm really sorry...um my mom just wanted me to give you these cookies." I finally manage to speak after being able to pull out of my thoughts, and also silently wishing that she didn't notice me captured by her beauty.

Her rosy lips twitch up to a smile even more gorgeous that lightens up her entire face. She had sparkling, archangel white teeth and an angelic smile.

"I'm guessing that you are Julianna's daughters right?" She asks in a soft voice full of vim and clasps her hands together.

"Yes, we are." Replies Lucy before I can open my mouth. "I'm Lucy and this is my elder sister Zoella." She continues in a adorable voice.

"Oh my goodness!!!" I jump at the lady's sudden outburst. "Such beautiful young ladies you two are." She exclaims and scoops us up into a tight hug, squeezing the life out of us. She ushers us into the house and gladly accepts the cookies. My gaze sweeps around the house and I notice multiple bags scattered here and there. The furniture doesn't seem to be arranged either. Paint brushes are strewn making dirty patches on the floor.

"Im sorry, children, my house doesn't really look that good." She mumbles when she notices me checking her house out. "My son isn't really that much of an help either." Her eyes dull a little.

A son? Why didn't mom mention that earlier?

"We could help you Mrs..um?" I offer hesitantly.

"Hailey, call me Hailey." She responds.

"Uh...okay Mrs Hailey, me and Lucy could help you even though we are not that dependable." I offered chuckling nervously, hoping that she would accept because I really started to like her.
She thinks for a while but then her eyes light up, swimming with joy.

"That's so nice of you two. I could really use some assistance." She exclaims and pulls us into another hug.

And so we help her with setting and arranging the stuff. Lucy normally did the light stuff, while me and Hailey did the heavy work. By forty five minutes, half of the house was already done. And to be honest, I was proud of our work.

"Zoella, could you keep this bag into the room upstairs." Hailey says with a friendly smile, pointing to the room in the upper story. "I will set these homeware appliances in the kitchen." She continues.

I nod and smile back at her. I take the not-so-heavy bag upstairs and I open the door completely unaware of the scene unfolding in front of me.

My eyes raise up and thats when I notice him. He is sitting on a chair, his body hovering over something— a notebook. His shoulders were slumped in defeat as though he were despairing. From his side profile facing me I could see that he looked dejected, distressed and most of all—lonely.

He had the same jeans on that he wore yesterday. The jacket was gone replaced by a black sleeveless shirt.

Yeah, it's him.

The guy who opened my locker.
.
.
.
Who gave my heart a one minute attack.

Retreating a few steps back, I involuntarily dropped the bag and it landed on the wooden floor with a thud, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

Hearing the noise, his head abruptly moved towards the origin of this fuss.

Oh shit!?