Unseen Strings

Chapter 7

Unknown

Yesterday

My beautiful Angel. So lovely, so sweet. I couldn't help but stare as she walked along the sidewalk, her hair tousled, her clothes slightly oversized. It didn't matter. I saw beyond the surface, to the raw beauty beneath. Laci, her annoying shadow, practically dragged Angel across the grass, the boy trailing behind them like an unwanted puppy. Angel's face was a mask of forced cheerfulness, but I saw the weariness in her eyes, the way she rolled them at Laci's every exaggerated gesture. No one who truly enjoyed themselves rolled their eyes that much. They reached a table where two people were already seated. My blood ran cold as the man stood up and embraced Angel, his arms lingering a moment too long. I felt a surge of primal rage. I wanted to rip him from her, to erase that smug grin from his face. But of course, I couldn't. Not in broad daylight. Angel flinched, her discomfort palpable. I knew she wanted to escape, to break free from the suffocating grip of Laci's social circle. And then, I saw him. The man from last night. The one who had dared to touch my Angel, to claim her as his own. The one who had filled me with a rage I hadn't known I possessed. He stood there, a smug smirk playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint.

He was officially on my list.

______________________________________________________________________________

Angelina

Present

The alarm rang and my body jolted to attention. I felt heavy with anxiety as my eyes scrolled around the room. Ever since I got the box yesterday, I had basically huddled down in my room. I hadn't even bathed. As the clock flashed 7 am, I suddenly realized that for the first time in my college career, I didn't have to rush to catch the bus. JJ was going to pick me up, whether Laci liked it or not. I was tempted to crash back into the bed and sleep another near hour, but then I got another whiff of myself and cringed. JJ was nice enough to pick me up...I could've been nice enough to be clean. I dragged myself from the bed and crept by Laci's room. I could only imagine the chaos unfolding within. I quickly showered, scrubbing away the remnants of the previous night. As I stepped out, my phone lit up with a flurry of notifications and showed 7:30am. Laci's side of the bathroom was a chaotic mess, overflowing with an array of beauty products, making my own modest collection seem downright meager. My eyes searched for my robe, but it was precariously placed, holding up Laci's horde. I sighed and I peeked out of the door cautiously, relieved to see Laci's door was still closed. I quickly wrapped a towel around myself and darted back to my room, shutting the door firmly behind me. As I turned on the light, I was startled by my own reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of my door. I'd completely forgotten it was there.

The steam from the shower clung to my skin as I stared at my hair, long and damp, cascaded down my back, reaching almost to my waist. I shook my head, trying to rid it of the lingering drops of water. I just rolled my eyes at myself as I grabbed a brush and I began to detangle the knots. My reflection in the mirror was a bit of a mess: damp skin, damp hair plastered to my face, and a general aura of dishevelment. I twisted my hair into two messy braids, securing them with a couple of bobby pins. I shoved a sundress over a t-shirt. It was a vibrant shade of turquoise, but unfortunately, it fell much shorter on me than it had on her. Laci, bless her heart, had all legs and no curves. I, on the other hand, was blessed, or cursed, with a more... generous figure. Sighing, I adjusted the hem, wishing it was a bit longer. Just as I finished lacing up my old converse, a knock sounded from the front door. My heart leaped into my throat. It could only be JJ.

I quickly grabbed my backpack and rushed out of my room, my eyes darting around the apartment. Laci's door was slightly ajar, but there was no sign of her in the living room or kitchen. With a quick glance towards Laci's room, I made a dash for the front door. I yanked open the door, nearly colliding with JJ, who had his hand raised to knock again.