Love is in the Air

Chapter 2

The pic on the side is of Eve!

We got twenty minutes into the drive to my parents house before we turned around. I love my family so much but I don't want to be with them right now. It's nine in the morning and the pain I felt yesterday subsided. It's just bruises now, but they're dark purple and I don't want to go into public.

"Let's go to the flea market." Holly says.

"I don't know Hol, I'm covered in bruises."

"So? You're good."

I sigh. "Alright, okay." I give in. I force myself up and go take a shower. I leave my hair down and put on a black pushup bra and pull a white tanktop on and an oversized knit sweater. The holes in the knitting are large enough to show my bruises but small enough to keep me warm since it's snowing. I pull on black leggings and put on boots with it. I grab my purse and follow Holly out the door.

We get in her car and head to the flea market.

We start to walk. It's an outdoor flea market.

We stop at every stand. When we reach the center, there's a man on the stage and people surrounding. I stop at some stand to grab some hot chocolate.

I start to sip it, and look at the stage.

I do a double take.

It's that guy.

Oh my fuck.

Holly is completely obvlivious to my freaking out. The man has a guitar strapped to him. People seem really interested.

I can't stop myself from staring. This man is a beautiful specimen.

He takes a deep breath. His smile fades.

"So, for all of you regulars out there, you know I'm a pretty happy and reserved person."

Everyone cheers. He smiles a little.

"Well last night, I wrote a song. It wasn't my normal Michael Buble or John Mayer style. No, this was more Linkin Park."

People cheer again.

"But it was inspired." He says. "See, I was out with my sister. You know, Christmas Caroling, and we stopped by a townhouse and this girl came outside. Her eyes were red as if she'd been crying, and there was a necklace clutched in her hand. We sang silent night. It seemed like we'd made her really happy, and we went on our way. She was so beautiful. She took my breath away, and I couldn't get her out of my head. I convinced everyone to turn around before we called a cab because I just wanted to get one more look at her before we headed back to my place. It was almost like I had to. She was so stunning and she was unhappy."

Holly is no longer oblivious. She looks at my snowflake necklace, and then back at the man.

"Well, when we passed again, there was a crowd outside of her place. There was a black Toyota Colorlla parked outside and the girl came running outside. She had blood on her tank top and her cheek was red. She was trying to get in the car. I remember the girl looking behind her and she made direct eye contact with me. A girl came out of her house with a bat and suitcases of things. The necklace was gone. This guy, he was probably my age, twenty five, and he came outside. The girl was abused by him. He yelled, and I quote, 'I swear to God Eve, if you leave, you'll never see me again!'" The man pauses. "Never in my life have I ever wanted to hurt someone as badly as I hurt that man. My heart clenched when the girl walked back up the steps. The guy said, "Damn right." But she went in, grabbed her necklace, and came back outside. He grabbed her arm hard. She flinched, and then slapped him. She told him not to touoch her. That they were done. I was about to explode. He let her go, and she got in the car with the other girl, and they were gone in seconds."

There's a hush over the crowd.

"My little sister was upset over this. She cried over this. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I want to find this girl with the snowflake necklace. I looked everywhere online. I have a few more places to check."

"Why do you want to find her?" Someone asks.

"So I can make sure she's okay. I could've done something. I should've done something. I want her to be mine. I know you guys probably think I'm crazy."

"No." someone says.

He's not crazy. I'd be doing the same thing.

"Well..." he trails off. "Let me sing the song."

I can't help but stick around.

Hey, girl, you know you drive me crazy

One look puts the rhythm in my hand.

Still I'll never understand why you hang around

I see what's going down.

Cover up with make-up in the mirror

Tell yourself, it's never gonna happen again

You cry alone and then he swears he loves you.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?

Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?

Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end

As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found.

A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect

Every action in this world will bear a consequence

If you wade around forever, you will surely drown

I see what's going down.

I see the way you go and say you're right again,

Say you're right again

Heed my lecture.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?

Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?

Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end

As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

Face down in the dirt,

She said, "This doesn't hurt."

She said, "I finally had enough."

One day she will tell you that she has had enough

He's coming round again.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?

Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?

Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end

As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

Face down in the dirt,

She said, "This doesn't hurt."

She said, "I finally had enough."

People are cheering.

I didn't realize I was crying until Holly starts to pull me away.