Familiar Strangers

Chapter 6

The phone went silent.

“Hello? Jasmine?” Melissa removed the cell from her ear and tapped the screen lightly with the tip of her pink fingernail.

Nothing.

She shook her head frustrated with her sister. No, not for hanging up, although it had been quite rude of her. No, she was frustrated because, as much as she hated to admit, Jasmine had gotten to her. Jasmine, her twin sister who basically didn’t even know her had hit a raw spot.

Not that she cared about her biological parents. Really she didn’t! Really…Melissa’s hands were shaking. Her fingertips tingled. She didn’t want to care.

Do I care? , she wondered. Melissa felt her insides twist a little with an unpleasant feeling. Fear. She closed her eyes and breathed out in order to calm herself. It’s not bad to care… a tiny voice inside her said.

But right now it was and not only because it could cause further complications with her plan. If she got involved, well then she added one more thing on her list of things she was afraid of losing, when she was caught. If! If I get caught!

She continued walking towards Jasmine’s house, at a constant slow pace, deliberately moving less quickly than usual. Her way of gaining time so she could conquer her calm again.

Whatever! I have managed well up to now on my own, right? I don’t need them or their… she stopped herself and replaced the word she was about to say with another approval.

The time had come. She was there, in front of the door. Carefully, trying not to make a sound, she pulled Jasmine’s key out of her purse. A perfect fit, it unlocked the door with ease. She stepped into the house holding her breath.

“Where have you been?” a female voice shrieked in her ear as two soft, delicate arms closed her into a hug.

Jasmine stopped abruptly.

She placed the receiver on her chest as she approached cautiously the window, which was actually she realized while taking a closer look some kind of door opening to a balcony. Her fingers wrapped around the cold handle. Should she open it? Her better judgment said no. But she hadn’t been a very good listener of her better judgment lately.

The door slid open and Jasmine shivered as the midnight breeze hit her. She began closing the door to prevent the cold for seeping in, but then her attention was captured by the full moon, shining brightly in the icy darkness. Stunned she stepped outside and gazed at it dreamily. Standing there beneath the night sky she forgot all about the situation she was in, instead she got lost in the glowing constellations.

Then two arms invaded her bubble through the shadows. After only seconds she was immobilized by an unknown force. The phone dropped on the floor. Her mouth was forced closed by a rough, dirty hand. She felt the warm breath of someone next to her ear and panic overwhelmed her. Dread stabbed her with all its mighty force deep in the stomach.

“Listen you little bi+ch! I know everything! I saw you! Do you hear me? I saw you and you better help me out if you don’t want to end up in jail! Understood?” an unfamiliar voice hissed viciously in her ear.

Jasmine’s eyes flattered around desperately. This didn’t sound good. It didn’t sound good at all!

 Okay don’t freak out! Melissa ordered herself buried deep into the woman’s embrace. Finally after a few more moments of sweet words and hair stroking she let go of Melissa and looked into her eyes love clearly engraved in them.

“I know we agreed you’d be freer this summer but I never thought you’d be gone all day! And you didn’t even call! And with your father away I just…Oh my! I’m sorry, I’m overreacting again…” she placed her hand on her cheek and laughed.

Melissa didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t even dare to blink.

 This is my mother. This is how it could have been.

She was suddenly so confused and lost. One the one hand she loved her mother, she really truly did, she was the one person that attempted to understand her… And then there she was… For a moment her defences lowered. For a moment she was ready to fall under this new, unexplored spell. But the moment went by as soon as the woman’s scent hit her nose. She smelled of vanilla. Melissa’s mum smelled of roses.

Roses…How could she forget the roses? Her expression turned cold, her eyes went blank. She had almost betrayed the woman who raised her. And for what? For the woman who had abandoned her! Get your shi+ together Mel. She felt her wall thickening, turning into impenetrable steel ready to protect her from her own vulnerability. Never again… she vowed. Never again.

“I’m getting back to being myself now!” Jasmine’s mother said and winked, completely unaware of the change that had taken place inside the girl.

“Yeah...” Melissa replied and waved her hand dismissively as if shooing away an annoying fly. “So uh-huh, you get on with that” her words coated with scorn “and I’m going to take a shower instead! How ‘bout that?” she gave her an obvious fake smile.

“Honey, is everything…?” she said extending her arms towards her attempting to get closer.

“Absolutely! Everything’s absolutely fine Beth!” Melissa spat at her, unconsciously using the name Jasmine had first used when she was introducing their mother to her.

Beth’s hand flew to her mouth and her eyes grew wide. She took a few steps back, as if Melissa had struck her. She swallowed hard a few times before straightening up and crossing her arms in front her chest. Her surprise was replaced with disbelief and worry. She didn’t understand.

“Um…okay…eh…you can…um…” was all she managed to word, maybe she would have said more but Melissa refused to give her the time.

“Glad we talked!” she told her before storming off to her borrowed bedroom.

Her heart beat hard as she leaned on the door after closing it with a thud. Her breathing was fast and uneven. She covered her face while shaking her head with frustration.

Once more she had lost control. Firstly with Adrian and now with her…Ugh! It all looked like seventh grade again! I’m not going back to that. I will not become that scared little girl again; unable to control her actions, emotions or what happens to her! I said goodbye to her a long time ago.

Did I take it too far though? She wondered for a second. God! And it’s only the first day!

Her uninvited guest let her go little, once she nodded her understanding. Jasmine turned to come face to face with a guy around her age. She gulped not knowing if she should be thankful of that or not. He was clearly stronger than her but maybe she would be able to outsmart him. He was just a boy after all.

“Who…” her voice came out shrill and scared. She coughed clearing her throat and started again. “Who are you?”

“Does it really matter?” he smirked at her, knowing he had control of the situation.

“Then what do you want?” Jasmine locked her eyes with his. She had learned that that was the best way to read people. Or at least intimidate them.

“That’s more like it!” his eyes reflected a darkness Jasmine had never seen before. Yet that wasn’t all, so she remained optimistic. He remained silent after that.

Jasmine waited for him to respond. She watched as his looked to the side and nodded as if understanding an order he had been given by an unseen master.

“I’ll keep in touch” he promised before trailing his finger on her cheek and disappearing in the night.

Hello guys! See I was faster :) Tell me what you think ;) Cya!