The Eye Of The Ankh #Wattys2016

Chapter Twenty-Two

The musical was horrifically sad. I found myself wanting to curl up to Ethan the whole time, holding on for dear life, as if he was the last real thing and if I let go of him everything else around me would disappear.

That thought didn't help the sadness.

Maybe I was seeing the whole musical differently than everyone else. Ethan seemed fine, and there wasn't much sniffling going on around the audience. I can't really explain what was so fucking sad about the whole thing, maybe the fact that it was all of my old peers. All having a fun time preforming.

I was glad when it was over.

Ethan and I stood in the corner, his arm wrapped around my shoulder, holding me tight. I kept looking for Daisy, but every time I found her, she got distracted by someone congratulating her. When she eventually made her way to us, she smiled and held out her arms. I let go of Ethan and hugged her, tight.

"Well? What did you think?"

I smiled. "It was great. You did so well."

She beamed. "Thanks." She looked over my shoulder at Ethan. "Who's this?"

Ethan smiled, holding out his hand to her. "Ethan, friend of Alice's."

Daisy smiled, then pulled out her cell phone. "Will you take a picture of us? If you don't mind, Alice,"

I shook my head. "Go ahead."

Ethan took the phone and took a quick picture. Daisy took it back and smiled. "This is such a great photo." She put it back in her pocket. "How are you doing? The whole school heard about what happened."

Oh.

That's what I hoped didn't happen.

"I'm fine. Moved in with my aunt, and she put me in private school. Could you imagine? Me in a private school."

Daisy laughed. "Never in my wildest dreams." Someone called for Daisy and she sighed. "It's been really great talking to you. You'll have to come over some time, we need to get together again."

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess we do." I gave a fake smile. "I'll talk to you later, then?"

She nodded. "See you, Alice. Nice to meet you, Ethan," she hurried off, going to another set of friends. She was given a bouquet of flowers.

"Do you trust me?" I turned to Ethan.

"Of course. Why?"

I took his hand, weaving through the crowd. I dragged him to the gym, thankful that the doors were unlocked. It was dark in there, the whole place empty. No people. No janitors.

I grabbed his hand, ducking under the bleachers. Ethan followed.

It was even darker under there, believe it or not. We sat down on the floor of the gym.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked.

I shook my head, but it was so dark, I doubted he heard when I said 'No'.

"What's wrong?"

"I never wanted to see any of them ever again. They all know, about my parents. Anna gave me the option of staying at my school, this one, but I knew that if I stayed they'd all look at me like that, like I'm so fragile I'll break at anything Like Jude.. Like I need their pity. I don't. I don't need anyone's pity."

I was crying now. Ethan's hand was still holding onto mine. He pulled me close and kissed my cheek. Then my lips, silencing me.

We sat there in the silence for a while, Ethan so close I could feel his breath on my forehead.

I lost all track of the time. Ethan whispered at my hair line, "we should go" and started to stand. I stood too, and together we walked out of the gym. I checked the time on my phone. Quarter after ten.

Anna would wonder what took me so long. I'd tell her the truth. And hopefully she'd laugh.

Friday at school, I tried to talk to Jude. She had been isolated since Quincy died. I noticed the people that she was starting to talk to the wrong type. The druggies, the drunks, the tattooed daredevils.

She ignored me.

And I had had enough.

"Jude, why are you being like this? Do you think this is what your brother would want to see? He'd want to see you living life to the fullest like he was still by your side. He wouldn't want to see you with those people!" I pointed to her new friends.

Jude, her eyes lined with black and her hair layered to hell, scoffed. "You don't know them like I do. No one else came to help me through it. No one. These people—my friends—offered me help."

"Jude you were so harsh on everyone, no one wanted to help. You pushed everyone away. I was your best friend, and I'm not so sure about that now."

"Maybe if you weren't so busy hanging with Ethan you'd actually notice how I felt!"

"You lost a brother! I lost my only family! I don't have a brother I don't have a sister. I had two parents and they both died within the same hour."

"And you feel nothing."

I almost punched her. Right then and there. I nearly threw my fist. Start up the thing that started all my problems. But I didn't. Instead, she went at me.

I ducked and grabbed her arm, turning her andpushing my arm against her neck. "I swear to God, Jude, you need the biggestattitude check." I let go of her and walked off.