Electric Touch - Xavier Thorpe

Chapter Three

"So, I thought about what would be the best way to apologize for writing about you on my blog, and I thought we could get mani pedis and go shopping together, then give each other make overs," she said excitedly

"Hard pass." I said plainly.

"But, then I thought about what you would like, and from your snarky mysterious loner vibe I figured you wouldn't like that, so instead, I ordered us Chinese take out and thought we could just chat and get to know each other, I figured you could use a friend at Nevermore." she said with a smile as she walked towards her rug and sat down placing the take out boxes alongside her.  

"Thats sweet of you," I said scrunching my nose "but I'm fine with not having any friends at Nevermore, in fact i'd prefer it that way." I said turning on my heels to leave.

"Okay fine," she said hastily, "at least eat the take out, I wouldn't be able to eat it all by myself."

"Did you get sesame chicken?" 

"Yes, two boxes." Enid said holding them up.

"Then I'll stay." I said approaching her on the floor while she failed to hid her giant grin.

We both grabbed chop sticks and began to eat our dinner in silence. 

"Why don't you want any friends, everyone needs friends," Enid asked innocently while eating a piece of broccoli.

"The point of me wanting them or not is irrelevant I can't have them." I said plainly

"What do you mean of course you can."

"No I can't, I'd just hurt them." I said solemnly

"Why do you say that, you don't know you'd hurt them" Enid said, attempting to be positive. 

"I can't risk it again." I said tightening my jaw at the memory of my beloved friend in a coma because of me.

"What do you mean again." Enid asked as she put down her chop sticks intrigued. 

"Thank you for the take out, I have to head back to my dorm, early day tomorrow," I said sharply exciting quickly despite her protests. 

The memory of Vivian flashed in my mind, her coming to my aid to help me out of concern. The mere contact of her hand on my arm sentencing her to a fate worse than death, a coma, with no hope of waking up. Even two years after the incident whenever I visit her I expect to hear hope, to hear progress, and there is never any to be found. 

My pace quickened as I felt my heart begin to race. I do not need to get emotional I can't get emotional. I could hurt someone again. I was unable to calm down and my breath became ragged as I felt hot tears race down my cheek. 

No, no, no. I need to get to my room, I can't let anyone else get hurt. 

My tears began to swell in my eyes and blur my vision as I raced back to Lenore Hall, I couldn't get Vivi out of my head, my guilt was drowning me and I could feel my sparks threatening to escape. I grasped my sweater sleeve tightly trying to breath deeply. My thoughts were consuming me. 

It's all your fault. It's all your fault. It's all your fault. It's all your fault.

I rounded the final turn and ran into something, rather someone. 

"Hey, watch it- " he said before looking down at my face, "Dahlia? Whats wrong are you alright?"

"I'm fine Xavier," I said as I tried to move past him, he blocked my path. "Xavier please," I said as more tears breached my eyes.

"Not until you tell me who made you this upset," he said firmly.

"Please," I said begging "I can't be around anyone right now," I said closing my eyes as more tears fell.

"Hey what are you talking about it seems you need someone now more than ever," he said in a soft tone, my eyes still shut trying to trap in the tears and failing.

I felt his hand come to my cheek and wipe a stream of tears. I jumped back immediately.

"I-I'm sorry I was just trying to comfort you." 

"I could've hurt you, I could've..." I said taking even more small steps back, my breath quickening in pace.

Xavier had the most confused look on his face "I don't understa..." his voice faded out as the ones inside my head began to scream, sending me into a spiral. 

You could've sent him to the hospital just like Vivi. You could've killed him. This is all your fault. You're a freak, a monster. You hurt people. You're a bad person. This is all your fault. How come you get to live while she rots in a bed? You could've killed Vivi, you could've killed Xavier. You're uncontrollable, you're reckless, you're dangerous.

My breath began to increase at an alarming rate, I was having a panic attack. I ran as fast as I could, to where? I don't know, but I know I needed to get away. I was sprinting through the school and onto the grounds, I heard Xavier's voice behind me, he was chasing me. I ran into the woods and fell to my knees, hot tears were streaming down my face as my skin felt hot with energy brewing beneath the surface. Consumed with guilt, I screamed releasing a pulse of electricity, my vision went out as the blue-white haze of lighting clouded my eyes with a vision of the moment I hurt Vivi, then it all went black.