Burns

25.

After a very long set of hours in the shower, cursing myself and hating myself, I ended up lying on the bed clad in only my ash baggy combat joggers that was hung loosely around my waist, enabling the band of my Calvin Klein briefs to peek through. I had my arm over my face, shielding me from the harsh reality. 

My messy hair was lying wildly atop my head, falling onto my forehead. My fingers traced the writing on my torso. I had only three of them scattered around my body. One of them was located on my back's shoulder region. The other was on my bicep along the line of my breast and the last was on my torso. They held deep meaning to me. I had a knee folded on the bed and the other lying flat on the bed. My breaths were slow yet steady.

I was in a quiet mood, a mood that craved loneliness. I wished to be secluded and undisturbed. But my wish was mocked by my luck because the door gently opened after a brief knock. The redhead lady popped her head in, "hey."

My sullen silence replied to her unwelcomed greeting. She lingered by the door, her eyes taking in the room before she glanced down at me, "uh, we kinda need everyone downstairs right now."

I shifted my hand a little over my face to have my right eye acknowledge her.

"I was asked to call you down because you've been in your room all day. You missed breakfast today and Grace reported that she had knocked on your door during lunch but you didn't acknowledge her." Her eyes feathered around before falling back on me.

"I'm not hungry."

"Tyler requested you come down. Brec wanted to come get you herself but Chase is making her set up." She added with a smile.

I returned my hand over my face but after a long moment of silence which was interrupted by her boots thudding against the floor, I realised she wasn't going to leave till I ditched the room.

With an annoyed sigh I sat up and turned to her, "I'd be down in a minute."

Her eyes took in my chest, lingering on the tattoo of a blue Finch on the left side of my abs. I threw my legs over the bed and hunched over the edge of the bed, my face in my palms. I dropped a hand and faced her with my head lying on the palm that was held up by an elbow placed sturdily against my thigh, "I said I'd be down in a minute. You can stop eye-raping me now, give me some privacy." I snapped. I was in one hell of a nasty mood.

She looked apologetically at me before disappearing through the door. Once the door was shut, I sighed and groaned. I would give anything not to have to do this, but I had no choice. I promised Brec to try my best on my end.

I willed myself up and strolled to the wardrobe to fish out a blouse. I grabbed the nearest thing within my reach which turned out to me a forest green t-shirt and threw it on.

I grabbed my phone, stuffed it in my pocket and slammed the door behind me. I walked down the hallway and climbed down the stairs begrudgingly. 

I found the seat arrangement re-arranged with crates of beer lined beside the empty wide space. I raised a brow at the setup. What the hell was going on? Was I missing something? I stuffed my hands in my pocket and looked around. 

I heard loud voices booming from the kitchen and a group of teenagers emerged and they seemed to be discussing something funny because they erupted in a loud laughter. Brecley stepped out first, and though she was smiling at me, there was also anxiety and displeasure hidden behind the smile and I couldn't help but feel disappointed at myself. I sighed and looked away from her. I wasn't mentally prepared to be anywhere around her yet.

Her eyes lingered on my form but I refused to pay her any attention. Call me a coward or a jerk, I'd take it. But in my frame of mind it wasn't advisable to be around her.