Afire Love

twenty one

Chapter twenty one: My Cheeks Are Stuffed With Like One And A Half Tomatoes

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"Let's live tonight like fireflies,

And one by one light up the sky,

We disappear and pass the crown,

You're beautiful, you're beautiful."

~Beautiful Now, Zedd.

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A WEEK AFTER returning home, I'm sitting on my bed, fiddling with phone and just scrolling through my Facebook Feed. I'd felt really relived that my winter break officially started, which meant that I didn't have to embarrass myself in front of everyone with my miserable face. And that also meant that my life is going to get better. Or so I hope.

New Years is just two days away - well, that's exactly what my Facebook Feed says. There are posts about it absolutely everywhere, and I'd never felt so unenthusiastic like I'm feeling right now.

Christmas came and went. To be precise, I hadn't enjoyed it one bit. I'd decided to read books and date fictional characters under the non existent mistletoe during Christmas. My worst Christmas so far, I tell you. Last year, I was so excited for Christmas that I'd squealed and jumped and partied. But this year, I hadn't felt anything close to Christmassy.

Maybe those are the aftereffects of heartbreak. It's not like I've broken up or anything but having your heart squeezed by someone you loved and squeezing the heart of someone who loved you is also remotely close to heartbreak, right?

A picture of Marcie's on Facebook grabs my attention. She's wearing a cropped top with a high-waisted skirt that did a good job of covering only her curvy ass, and she's leaning over a little, sticking her tongue out, with her eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.

Happy New Years, the description of the picture reads.

I scowl. How foolish can people be? Who'd seriously celebrate New Years by posting pictures on Facebook? If it came to me, I'd scream at the top of my lungs and seize the day.

If only I were happy enough.

Dad has become busy again. He's almost always not at home, which left me alone with absolutely nothing to do. I haven't heard from Edward. Neither have I from Abin. And I am okay with that. Having distanced myself from them surely has helped me a great deal.

I charge my phone, getting up from my bed and walking toward the kitchen. Right on cue, my stomach grumbles. Just as I open my refrigerator to find something to eat, the bell rings. I curse under my breath, bidding the food a temporary goodbye and opening the door.

Standing in front of me in his ripped jeans is Abin, with roses in his hands and a huge smile on his face. I give him a despicable look and his expression immediately changes.