Teen Romance Fantasy

Act 41 (Ch)

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snoop around. This level sucks, doesn't it?"

Once I stepped into my room, my eyes locked on Sarah, who had been standing in front of my computer and eyeing the game over screen curiously. I had been so caught up with my families nonsense that I forgot to turn my computer off.

"I've been stuck on it for a week now. Have you beaten it?" I asked rather surprised. I never thought that Sarah was the kind of person that liked video games. Then again, she did get quite far, when we played prophecy. That guy Oscar and that Rosie did mention that they played Prophecy at the school festival. Perhaps Sarah played with them sometimes.

Just thinking about that Oscar guy made my blood boil. His perfect blonde hair and his gentle grey eyes were just too much for me. He was just like Tyson. Handsome. Athletic. Probably smart. Everything about him was better than me.

"Really? Do you have a heart left? If you want, I might be able to help you. It will only take two minutes." Sarah innocently smiled at me. Her cold voice echoed through my thoughts. Just a second ago her voice had been warm and inviting similar to a flame but now it changed into snow.

I was at a loss of words. Even when I opened my mouth, my voice failed me. I couldn't speak. Sarah was glowing just like a star in the night sky. The colours of my room faded into the void. A moment of silence and insecurity.

Being torn between my emotions, I nodded shyly. I reached for my chair and got comfortable in it, while Sarah stood right next to me. If her hair had been just a little longer, it would have touched my shoulder.

I got high on the scent of her perfume. Vanilla with a touch of cinnamon. It had become a scent that I admired. I was greeted by that scent five times a week. Sometimes it had been a little stronger. Those were the days, when I had been close enough to Sarah that I could see the lack of life inside of her eyes. Marbles. That was the only way I could describe it. Her eyes were actually marbles.

"Alright, let's see... I guess I'd begin here. Move this one right there. Then continue on the right side."

I did as Sarah asked of me. For some reason she managed to see combinations that I couldn't even have thought about, if I stared at the screen for an hour. She was thinking fast and detailed.

"Great, now move those two pieces. It's a gamble but I'd go for it. Perfect!"

"How about that one?" I asked, once I finally had an idea myself.

"Well, it's not a bad move. I'd say go for it."

We moved the last pieces in place. I hadn't even realised before but we were actually beating the level. I couldn't believe it until even the game told me that we had beaten the level with a perfect score. Sarah and I looked at each other in disbelief. Her eyes lit up and without thinking, we gave each other a high five. Her hands were as cold and rough as always. Blisters, cuts, you called it. Why were her hands like this?

The more I looked at my own thin hands, the more my hands began tingling. I could still feel her hands on mine and I could still see that joyful gorgeous smile on her round face. Without even realising it, I smiled. What was going on?

We sat down and began going through the topics for the next math exam. I was concentrating and yet my eyes shifted towards her. Her voice was loud and clear to me, despite the fact that she had actually been mumbling. Why did she look so angelic?

For how long we did study? I don't know. I just remember that at some point May knocked on my door and told us that dinner was ready. She lead the way down to the dining room and couldn't stop talking to Sarah. I had no clue what they were talking about but apparently Sarah wasn't as bothered as I would have been. At the very least she began to giggle a few times.

We all sat down on the dining table, which had perfectly been set already. My mother appeared from the kitchen and brought the soup. Sarah had been drooling once she sat eyes on it. She gladly accepted a full bowl. My mother was overjoyed. Her red lips formed a sincere smile, as she handed her favourite soup bowl to Sarah, which she had brought with her from Korea.

Despite eating herself, May couldn't stop talking and even my mother was as intrigued as always but I stayed silent. I watched Sarah, as she smiled and laughed. It felt familiar, as if it hadn't been the first time that Sarah ate dinner with us. She acted as if she and May had been best friends and as if she had known my mother for a century.

I didn't realise that my mother asked me, if I wanted to try the soup as well. I was in my own dream world, where all the sounds around me had been muted and where every second and every image lasted for an eternity.

After dinner, Sarah tried to help my mother in the kitchen but she was instantly sent away. We ended up studying again. Sarah was pleasantly surprised, when I began to get a few calculations right. Usually I would have been excited as well but for now all I could see was Sarah. I was in a trance that lasted until I saw Sarah standing at the front door again, putting on her shoes. Suddenly my heart began urging me to do something.

As she said goodbye to me and my family, something inside of me began feeling uncomfortable. I was disappointed. I didn't want Sarah to leave. I wanted her to stay for just a while longer. I wanted her to continue smiling and laughing. I wanted to see her eat dinner with my family. I wanted her to stay by my side.

"I'll accompany you on your way to the station!" I suddenly declared. I hadn't said anything since we ate dinner. It felt unreasonable to hear my own voice again and even my family stared at me in a surprised manner.

"Thanks but you don't have to do that."

"No! It's gotten dark already... Let me just put on my shoes real quick."

Here we were. Just Sarah and me on our way to the train station. It had gotten rather cold, despite it being impeccably warm just a few hours ago. Barely any people were on the road. It was as if we had been isolated from the rest of the world.

"You really didn't have to come all the way out with me."

"It's fine, I don't mind."

"If you need any help with math, you can always call me."

"Thanks but I don't think it'll be necessary. By the way, I haven't properly thanked you for today yet. You helped me out a lot."

"It's nothing. I'm glad I could help. Oh, that's my train! If we don't see each other before, good luck with your exam! I'm sure you'll pass!"

I couldn't say anything. Sarah ran away. She started raising her hand and winking at me. She was beautiful. I couldn't stop my heart from beating loudly. I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. I couldn't stop this feeling of wanting to reach out to her. To hold her hand. To ask her if she could stay for just a while longer. I couldn't stop my mind from accepting the truth.

I had fallen in love with Sarah Archer.