Unseen Strings

Chapter 6

Angelina

My body shook awake violently. I felt heavy, sore, and my mouth tasted disgusting. My eyes forced themselves open as the dull ringing of my alarm filled my popping ears.

"Oh my God," I groaned as I stretched and grabbed my phone. It flashed 7:30 am at me. "Damn," I cursed, I wanted to sleep, but I had class in an hour.

As I dragged my body from my bed, I looked down and saw myself in pajamas...yet I couldn't even remember how I got home.

My stomach turned and I flew out of the room, racing to the bathroom. I vomited everything I had in my stomach at once. Somehow, as I turned on the sink and looked in the mirror, I felt relief that at least I hadn't worn makeup the night before. My hair was falling down my back and I looked terrible. I turned on cold water and scrubbed my face raw. I yanked a brush through my hair then tied it up into a messy bun. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough.

As my second alarm sounded, I rushed back to my room. I snatched my phone up, it flashed 7:50 at me. A dull panic set in and I started yanking some clothes from my drawers. I couldn't wear anything tight on my stomach, and I didn't wanna show off my figure. Luckily for me my wardrobe was peak two sizes too big. I pulled out a big shirt and some tights. Usually I didn't wear just tights, but I was late as hell. I made sure that the shirt covered my behind before I left the house. The shirt was more of a dress. I pulled my backpack on and rushed out. As I slipped my converse on, the door to Stella's room opened. A shirtless Johnny stood in his full form.

"Oh my god!" I shouted, averting my eyes.

"Stella!" He shouted. "She's right here!"

I finished tying my shoes.

"Rosie!" Stella's voice came out from behind Johnny. She snaked under his arm and appeared in only his missing shirt. "Where have you been?!" She rushed forward and grabbed me up.

I just stared at her a moment.

"Rosie!" She shook me a little, "where have you been?!"

I felt my eyes widen. "I was...here?" I answered tentatively.

The last thing I remembered from the night before was drinking whatever Marcus had brought back to the table. After that...things got hazy. Just then my third alarm rang, warning me it was 8:00.

"Rosie-!" Stella began.

"I've got to go! I'll be late!" I interrupted her and hugged her back before rushing out the door. I decided it was best not to chance waiting for the elevator, which was notoriously shorty, and began running down the stairs.

Every week day, I caught the 8:10 bus to school. It was crowded and if I wasn't waiting at the bus stop by 8 or 8:05 the chances I would've been left raised about 50%.  I could feel time counting down as I tried to race against it. I hated living on the 8th floor, but it was better than the 12th. Just as I managed to reach the bottom floor and race out of the double doors, I saw the bus pulling up to the stop a few feet away. I yanked open the door and started to shout, but it was too late. The bus pulled away. College wasn't far, but the bus ride made it shorter. Walking could take nearly an hour. I didn't want to be later than I was already gonna be. I sank down to the ground in sadness and annoyance at myself.

"Hey," I heard a familiar voice from above, "wanna explain why you're on the ground like that?" He asked.

My head turned upward and saw JJ standing over me.

"Well?" He vocalized. "What are you doing on the ground?" He repeated his question, I could sense a dash of annoyance. He never seemed the repeating type.