Burn slow

Chapter 4| One for two

Next morning I woke up with a bitter taste of bile in my mouth. I ate almost nothing for several days because I had no appetite and my stomach decided to remind me that such games end badly. I risked to aggravate my gastritis. But I ignored the warning because I was still full with that "Tyler's" feeling.

I got dressed and commenced to reading. Which was pointless, by the way.
My thoughts were wondering in the dark forests of my mind. Suddenly someone dragged me out to the reality with knocking at my door:
- Come in, - I invited a comer without enthusiasm.
- Wednesday, did you eat? - I heard mother's voice.
- Yes, - I lied turning my head. I didn't want Mother to see my eyes.
- I know that's not true.
- Then why did you ask? - I replied immediately. The best defeat is attack.
- I'm just worried. You behave weird. You haven't had a bite on your favourite tongue pie that I baked three days ago.
- I am not hungry, - I stood up and turned my back to Mother. I pretended there was something incredibly interesting in the window.
- What's going on? - Mother sat near me talking with soothing voice that irritated me.
- Nothing, - I had no intention to explain that I had a black hole inside me and I had no idea how to plug it. I was being ingested deeper and deeper into the darkness every day.
- You can trust me, - Mother insisted so I gave back without thinking. Her words were sweet like liquorice. And I hate liquorice.
- I cannot trust anyone, - that was my old-new personal philosophy.
- So someone hurt your feelings? - Mother pronounced that like she just discovered America. - Was that the boy you're texting every time? - Mother relented. She put her hand on my shoulder but I jumped out to brush it off.
- I ask you to leave my room. Now, - I pronounced sharply.
- You're casting out your own mother! - she was deeply hurt. I didn't want that. But Mother broke my boundaries with her last question.
- I will be in the living room if you'd like to apologise, - Mother slammed the door.

I didn't feel guilty. Okay, I didn't feel guilty much. Why could people not feel? Feelings make life more difficult.

*Vibration*

Xavier:
"Are u here?"

Xavier's message saved me from feelings again.

Me:
"What's wrong?"

Xavier:
"Just look what some freak sent me"

Xavier sent me the screenshot from his phone with the photoshopped image of himself dead.

I didn't know what to think.

Me:
"Which number did the message come from?"

Xavier:
"Hidden number"

I didn't answer for several minutes weighing if I needed to inform Xavier that I was also stalked.

Me:
"I have got some similar messages during the month."

Can Xavier's freak and my stalker be one and the same person?

Xavier:
Maybe we could have a call to discuss this thing?

I was at a loss because I didn't know if I wanted that.

Me:
"6 p.m."

I sent the message and regretted that immediately. I hurried up to delete the it but two ticks that meant that the message was delivered got blue. Xavier had already read my text before I managed to delete it.

Xavier:
"Ok. I'll call you"

Time didn't fly at all.

It was 5:35 pm. As I have been glaring at my phone without blinking for an hour and a half with no pause.
25 minutes passed and the phone rang. An annoying melody resounded and I tensed for some reason. I still stared at the hell device. After half a minute of my indecisiveness the phone stopped ringing because the time for a call was over. I saw the message about the missed call on a screen. Should I call Xavier back? What would I say? What if he won't answer?

This was too much for me.

Suddenly the phone rang again. I took a deep breath:
- Wednesday? - I heard familiar voice. It was surprisingly pleasant to hear it. I stayed silent for several seconds. - Wednesday? Are you here?
- Hello Xavier, - I forced myself to answer.
- How are you doing?
- So far so good, - I lied. - You?
- Oh well... Life sucks. - Al least someone between us was honest. - Sometimes I feel that I hate my family, - Xavier wanted to sound joyfully so he giggled. But I could assume that it was just an attempt to hide his real feelings.
- I get that better than anyone else, - I confessed.
- What's wrong? - Xavier got genuinely worried.
- Nothing serious, - I hurried to calm him down. Still not enough to discuss my family problems. - So what about the message that you got? Was that the first time when something strange happened to you recently?
- Actually a couple of days ago I saw a weird guy in black glasses. He had a cool bike and I wanted to talk to him, - Xavier hesitated, - However, as soon as I approached he just ignored me and rode away. But yesterday I saw him again not far from my house. Maybe it's just a coincidence.

I looked at the window and saw a bold guy riding a bike. He had black glasses and sparse moustache. The biker stopped very close to Addam's Manor.
- And the guy's motorcycle was black and had a broken mirror? - I double-checked.
- Yes, - Xavier got bewildered. - How did you know that?
- Because now this weirdo is staring into my window.
- What? - Xavier's voice was full of nervousness, fear and anger. All together. - Wednesday, you need to hide.

I was silent. Now I was staring at uninvited guest:

- I am going down to talk to him, - I turned on my heels and rushed to the gates of the mansion.
- Wednesday! - I could barely hear Xavier almost screaming.
He was still on the phone. But I didn't listen to him. I liked the feeling of danger because it could drown out Tyler's feeling.
I wanted to face danger. Now.

_______
I didn't plan to add any mystery here but look where I ended up :) What do you think, guys? Who is that biker?