you're mine

chapter 2

Emily

When I wake up everything hurts, from my pounding head to my aching feet; even my gums burn in pain. I stretch my body out and open my eyes. When I do, I am met by the light of the sun, glaring on me. Lifting up my hand to block the glaze, attempting to see better, I look around to see if I recognise where I am. The only thing in front of me are trees, yet when I look down I'm sitting on a board of wood. Instantly I frown in confusion at my location. My eyes dart down to my dress, as soon as they land on the silky fabric, it reminds me of where I was last night. I went to a party with some people from school. I am not friends with them but I went anyway and now I wish I hadn't. I have a lot of friends, I'm pretty much friends with everyone in school; but they stay school friends.

These people in particular, I never got close to. I don't remember anything that happened at the party or after it, and I don't know why I am in a tree. All of the confusion hurts my head even more.

I take in my surroundings more carefully this time and notice it is rather nice. It is a few planks of wood in a tree, painted with damp, muddy footprints and scattered with a few warm blankets. A box stands opposite me on the wood and my eyes stay fixated on it, staring in wonder.

I curl my legs under me into a kneeling position and I open up the box. Inside I am faced with many different items. Cds, a Walkman, a hoodie and comic books. My pale hand reaches into the box, pulling out the cds. Some of the labels are unreadable but the ones that are clear read R.E.M, Aerosmith, blondie, the bangles, the cure and a few cds labelled 'my mix one' 'my mix two' and 'my mix three' in messy handwriting and blue marker. Once I carefully place them all back in the box I grab the hoodie and pull it over my head. It almost fully covers my dress. A smell hits my nose as soon as the hoodie comes into contact with me. It's a mix of rain, candy and cigarettes.

The realisation that I have no idea where I am hits me. How will I get back? Before going into a deep spiral of panic, I quickly stand up and leave the small treehouse. My shoes come in contact with the ground and I start walking, hoping it is the right direction.

After a few minutes of walking I exit the forest. Once I do, I realise where I am. Right near where the party was. I guess my instincts kicked in and I must have left the party drunk and crashed there.

Luca's point of view

There she is. Awake and even more pretty. Her cold and innocent face has the word confused plastered on it. I watched her look through my cds and sniff my hoodie and then get up and leave. In fact, I watched her all night long. I did not want anything else to happen to her. I'm not sure how she got unconscious on the floor, but no explanation will be a good one for now.

I follow her out of the forest and see where she takes me. When she walks, her legs look tired and her body looks stiff. Almost like an animatronic. After twenty five minutes of walking, we arrive outside a large, White House. The ideal family home house. It's more modern than mine, and a little smaller. A lot nicer, with plants scattered down the drive.

Not giving anyone the time to spot me watching her, I rush to hide myself behind a tree and watch as she enters.

2 days later

A million different thoughts occupy my mind a my eyes stay focused on the ceiling above. I have spent the past two days watching that girl. And when I'm not stalking her, learning her life and routine, I am thinking of her.

But once again, as I lay in bed, I regret leaving her. I need to see her again.

Not wanting to waste anymore time without her, I lift my head from the pillow and pull my body up.

My footsteps aren't at all quiet when walking downstairs. Any other time, I would be sure to take my time, only to avoid conflict from my dad. But not this time, I'm too desperate for her.

As im heading out the door, a harsh voice stops me.

"where are you going?"

I clench my jaw before turning around "out." A cold reply escapes my mouth. My body spins back into the direction of the door. I don't hear another word from my dad as I reach for the door handle, which surprises me almost enough to stop.

I don't let myself think anymore as I walk out the door, all that is on my mind is her.

Emily's point of view

My focus drifts from my book to the red alarm clock on my desk reading 10:30. That's when the realisation I have let the day pass me sets in.

It has always been something I have done. Ever since I was little and went through a phase of being obsessed with any mythology book, I have let myself slip into the world between pages.

It sometimes feels like switching universes. When I read, I know longer live in this one, but the universe I created in my head for the book I am reading.

Deciding to now be productive, I get up and go to my bathroom. Before getting in the shower I let the water heat up and brush my teeth. Then, I grab the products I need from the cupboard below the sink and enter the shower.

Over the past couple of days, I have been scrubbing my body extra hard. I still don't remember what happened the night of the party and I have to accept that I never will. But, there is a chance someone touched me and I don't want that lingering on me. I feel as though if I don't scrub my body hard enough, that'll happen. There's also the memory of waking up on dirty wood, with my dress wet.

As soon as exit the bathroom and enter my room, I am met with the familiar scent of vanilla and strawberries that fill it.

I sit down at my vanity and look at myself in the mirror. It isn't long before my attention is directed elsewhere and my eyes dart to the hoodie behind me, hanging over my open closet door.

I wonder if the hoodie owner still visits the tree house, or if it is from some time ago, now forgotten.

After a few minutes of different possibilities of who the mystery person is, my gaze goes back to myself in the mirror. My parents raised me to not have insecurities and for that, I'm grateful. Going to high school has made me realise most people are insecure. I simply could never understand it.

Everything else in the world moves on. People, pets, even places. But you will have yourself your whole life and there's only one of you so you shouldn't try change yourself.

I yawn quietly before brushing my damp hair over my shoulders and down my back. The paranoia has been getting to me since that night. Even right now, I feel as though I am being watched.

Luca's point of view

I watch her every moment. When she comes out of her bathroom, my breath hitches in my throat. My gaze instantly drops down to her thighs. The hem of the bath towel lays nicely over them. Her hair looks even longer when wet and appears a few shades darker, still with a blonde tint.

After what feels like an eternity of staring at her body, I realise she is staring at my hoodie, which fills my cheeks with warm blood.

The only thing I want to do right now is climb through her window and remove the towel and I have to restrain myself from doing so.

Soon. Soon I'll be able to hold her.