❝ Why do I feel like I'm just a chapter in your book while you're my entire story? ❞
❝ Well, you're obviously wrong, because you're my entire novel, cover to cover. ❞
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
A blank canvas. That's how my life was. Until she took my hand...
o4. chapter four: we broke ourselves. cool, right? <3
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I tried to swallow the lump that formed in my throat at her unblinking gaze. How in the freaking hell am I supposed to tell her how I feel when she's just standing there, looking so darn earnest and innocent?!
"Ash? Is anything bothering you?"
Yes, your eyes! They make me wanna go sob like a newborn baby in a corner.
"Er, no." I cleared my throat, hearing my voice, which oddly sounded funny.
"I guess you should go rest. You drove all the way—"
"No!" I broke in, before taking a deep breath. Too loud. "I mean, no, I'm fine. It's just that I..." She was blinking, a puzzled look across her features as she dropped the sandwich she was working on. She took a step closer, and I leaned in further so that we seldom had an inch of gap between us. This is it. "Serena, I want you to know that—"
"Hey! Do you guys need any help?" A cheerful voice rang out, and I cursed myself for not taking action sooner, stepping away from the girl to take a disappointed stance. My heart fell, not that anybody noticed. I didn't bother looking at the intruder; I'd recognize the voice anywhere. "Er, did I interrupt you guys?"
"Ash was about to tell something?" Serena's inquisitive voice rang in my ears, but my mind was set. Kill Gary.
"N-nothing important. I'll tell you later." I waved it off monotonously and took the bowl of fried bacon and the plate of toast, hurrying out of the kitchen. Tears stung my eyes for no apparent reason, forcing me to blink them away lest they fall.
Breakfast had been a dull affair for me. Serena introduced us to her friends: Shauna, the brown-haired girl who was sitting beside Misty; Trevor, the orange-haired boy from before; Tierno, another dark-haired boy; and finally, Calem, even though we knew him. I noted, with a tinge of jealousy, that the girl alongside Serena in her profile photo was Shauna.
There were compliments thrown around, further introductions, and whatnot, but I remained silent and kept to the corner of the table, as far as I could get from Gary. It was nerve-wracking, though, to sit beside Serena after making a fool out of myself. What if she felt uncomfortable when I leaned in? Her eyes shone with concern, but nothing more.
It only worsened when Tierno jostled the table, sending a cup of ketchup tumbling over to Shauna, who pushed back on her chair in alarm and, by extension, managed to push Serena away from her. This, of course, meant the clumsy girl fell on me. We hit the floor with a thud, chairs strewn about, and ketchup falling to the floor with a sploosh.
A sharp pain shot through my back as I tumbled to the ground, knocking the air out of my lungs. A strange heaviness settled over my stomach, and I struggled to stay conscious.
