The Secret

Chapter 6

The phone ringing woke me up from my peaceful sleep and dreams. I rolled over to look at my alarm clocked. It was 10:00 pm. I don't know why I fell asleep so early, I didn't even do my homework yet. The school year coming to an end was really affecting my eagerness toward homework. I reached out my hand and felt for my cellphone on the dresser next to my bed. I put it to my ear without checking the caller I.D. and Grace's voice screamed in my ear.

"Oh so you are alive! I think it would be better to hear that you were dead instead of coming to the conclusion that you are avoiding me," Grace huffed into the phone and I rolled my eyes at her over dramatic ways. I don't speak to her for what, two days, and she thinks that I'm avoiding her. To be completely honest, I forgot about her. Life has just been weird now that so many people were finding their way into it. 

"I'm sorry Grace," I yawned. I might as well stay up now, Rebecca was suppose to be calling anyways. "What's new?" she groaned into the phone and I moved it away from my ear.

"I should be asking you that! You're suppose to keep me informed on what is happening. You're horrible." 

"I feel like everyone wants to be kept informed. There's not much to tell Grace, I haven't figure anything out. I don't even think there is a secret. I think Rebecca's probably being a pain in his ass so he just wants some space. Just like I want some space, it seems like everyone is just being a pain in my ass." So I was a little moody when woken up. Not my fault and I know Grace won't take it to heart. She knew me well enough to know I didn't mean half the things I say. 

"You've just woken up haven't you?" she asked. See, I told you.

"Hey, Rebecca's probably going to call me soon. You can stay on the phone if you want, but you have to be quiet." I told her and she squealed and promised to stay quiet. We waited patiently for Rebecca's call which came half an hour later.

"Aura! We really need to talk." Rebecca sounded frantic and I pleaded with Grace in my head that she won't say anything.

"Alright, so talk. What happened?"

"I saw Daniel today and we got into a little argument. He was so mad Aura. I've never seen him so angry before. He walked away from me and when I tried to touch him, his arm burned my skin. It was so hot! I think I'm going crazy, I'm probably feeling things. Can you-"

"Woah! Calm down" I said stopping her babbling. She quieted down and I could hear her quiet sobs. I didn't know why she was crying, probably had to do with the whole relationship thing. And did she say Daniel's touch burned her? His "secret" was definitely getting to her. She was imagining things and I give Grace props for staying so quiet.

"How can I calm down? I probably ruined everything and I'm not talking about this stupid plan. What if he never talks to me again? Oh gosh-"

"Will you just shut up? Damn, you have better things to worry about then a boyfriend. Wake up! He's not the center of your world. You can live without him. But if you feel that you will just die if he stops talking to you, then you need to calm down," I snapped at her. But the guilty feeling was nagging me so I found myself saying sorry to her. I really needed to stop feeling guilty. 

"Ok," she sniffed. "So what do I do?" There she goes asking for my advice again. I felt like one of those therapist. Probably not a good one, especially because of my just woke up moods.

"Just leave him alone for a little while. I'll talk to him and casually bring you up. Let's see how that goes," I said and she remained quiet. I wasn't good with advice but hey, I'm Aura Thomas. People should already know that. I heard my phone start to beep and I checked to see an unknown number. "Hey, I'll call you back," I said and didn't wait for a reply. I already picked up to the stranger.

"Aura? I hope I'm not calling at a bad time," Daniel said as soon as I picked up. It's like I can never have a break. All these people will be the death of me. 

"No, it's fine. What's going on?"

"I'm calling to tell you that I won't be able to pick you up tomorrow morning. I'm sorry." Something was definitely up. And here's the perfect time to figure something out. Hopefully.

"Why not?" I asked and he sighed into the phone. He sounded so depressed and it almost made me sad to hear him like this. It was unsettling. 

"Because.... I'm just dealing with a lot of things right now. I hope you understand."

"Oh, I understand. I remember when I bit into some weird candy in elementary school and I kept vomiting until the next day. It was really nasty," I said and I could feel his confusion. My brother taught me this trick, if it wasn't for him I don't know how I would have dealt with my parents abuse. He was my life saver and I was forever grateful.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. It was already working. I just had to keep it up. 

"Or when I decided I wanted to be a superhero and super glued paper to my skin. I called my self Paper Woman. I got into so much trouble." Well, trouble was an understatement. I was scarred for life with what they did to me. Especially when they thought it would a good idea to rip the paper off my skin as more punishment. Why was I so unemotional sometimes? Blame them. 

"Paper Woman? You really have no creativity." He chuckled and I smiled getting out of my bad mood. 

"Hey, I was eight!" I defended and he only laughed more. At least I was able to make him forget about his dilemma. 

"That doesn't explain anything. You're suppose to have more creativity not less," he said before laughing. If only he knew that everything creative about me was drained because of my parents. 

"Shut up, you would understand if you were there at that time," I said rolling my eyes as he continued to laugh at my expense. I should teach Rebecca how to do this, maybe I'll get some time off. 

"If only I had you there everytime I was upset. Thank you Aura."

"Don't you have a girlfriend? I bet she helps you when you're feeling down." I think I brought up Rebecca in a nice way.

He scoffed. "Yea right, I love her but all she does is talk about herself. Has no consideration for what I'm feeling. You're so much better to talk to."

I decided it would be best for me to stay quiet. It wasn't much that he said but it was a start to something I didn't want to finish. I hope what I think is happening isn't happening. That would suck, plus I don't want Rebecca becoming an enemy. "So... uh... I'll guess I'll see you whenever," I said and I heard him sigh.

"Aura?"

"Yes?"

"I'll see you in the morning," he said before hanging up. I felt the smile form on my face and was about to hang up when I heard a familiar voice.

"Forgot me again, didn't you?" Grace said coldy. I was surprised at her tone of voice.

"Of course not, I can't believe you stayed quiet through all that. Especially when Rebecca was talking about her whole burning hand." I laughed but Grace didn't join me which made me frown. It's like we switched places. 

"Aura, I think you should stay away from Daniel," she said sternly and I rolled my eyes. I can't believe she actually believed her bogus story. "I'm serious Aura."

"You really believe her? Oh my gosh Grace, I never knew you were so gullible!" I said but was met with only quiet. She was acting weird all of a sudden and I didn't know what was really wrong with her. It's like everyone was hiding something these days.

"Just listen to me please. I have a bad feeling about him."

"Yeah, and I used to have a bad feeling about sweatshirts. But look! Now I wear them all the time." I rolled my eyes. I ended the call and placed my phone on the dresser. I laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I was starting to do something I told Rebecca I wouldn't. I was getting attached and I didn't like it one bit.