Suspension

Chapter 9

I stared as he closed the door behind him and then blinked rapidly at the bright room. I drew the thick, red curtains and sat back on the lounge, silently mourning at how empty the room had become.

Not five minutes later, the door flew open and Alex ran in; pale as a ghost. I wondered if the world would unfreeze just to spite me, and Mrs Riley was screaming on the floor. I shook the thought from my mind.

"Talia, come quick, something happened to Reece. He was complaining and Aedie was yelling and then..." Alex yelled. I stood up immediately and ran, following Alex out into the backyard.

I couldn't scream. I had seen enough, but my heart was dying right then when I saw a completely frozen Reece standing in front of me.

He was facing Aedie, with his back to me, and his skin had taken on the icy quality of those that had been frozen at the same time as everyone else. I felt for his beanie in horror, and then sank to my knees with my hands on my head. Had I somehow done this? Was Jackson right? They should all just get away from me before something happened to someone else. I don't think my heart could handle any more pain.

"What happened?" I asked in a dull voice.

"He was angry and I told him to chill." Aedie said, her voice shaking, "He said for me to shut up, I can't tell him what to do, you have no idea what this is like. I said- 'just freeze already'."

I stood slowly and glared at Aedie who was suddenly flanked by Alex.

"Don't look at her like it is her fault that your heart is broken. I know that look." Alex said, calmly.

"Alex, you know that look because you broke my heart. She did this, I will blame her." I screamed. Aedie looked scared and I reminded myself of what she had just done. "Tell him to unfreeze, please, Aedie, I can't live in this god forsaken frozen wasteland if he isn't here."

Aedie shook her head.

'I tried, Lia, I swear, I tried. I kept telling him to go and to continue and to melt but nothing happened." Aedie squeaked.

"Tell him to unfreeze, NOW."

Aedie glanced at Alex who shrugged.

"Unfreeze, Reece, please." She commanded in a high and strong voice. Reece automatically resumed talking and his skin grew back to its normal colour.

"I'm like a puppy, I tell you. I follow her around and she acts completely indifferent to whether I'm there or not until she needs a shoulder to cry on or a freaking hug. I should've just left like Jackson, Carolyn and Lizzie Rose."

He didn't know I was behind him, a tear running down my face as he spoke. I sighed with relief and mouthed thankyou to Aedie.

"Is that really how you feel, Reece?" I asked. He turned, surprised with a sorry look on his face.

"Talia, look-"

"No, you listen if you want to know how I really feel." I said. Everything he said had hurt, but I was too glad that he was alive and well again to stay mad at him. I saw Reece glance uneasily at Aedie and Alex.

Then I ran, full pelt at him, connecting my heart, brain and mouth again. I jumped into his arms which were waiting and wrapped my legs around his waist as I kissed him.

While I did, I ripped the beanie off my head and gently placed it back onto Reece's head. I wasn't surprised that he kissed me back; I just wanted him to know that he wasn't my puppy and that he had to stay because I would be lost without him.