Shadows

Chapter 5.

I jammed my finger into the power button of my laptop with frustration, sighing with exhaustion. I slammed the lid of it down while running my fingers through my hair.

I had first looked at Casey's account, because I couldn't help it but stalk him a little. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Casey Freeman. Normal, random posts of inside jokes I don't understand. The only thing that changed was his relationship status.

The frustration began when I went on Ally's page.

She had changed her name to Ally Campbell Freeman. Her relationship status had changed to "Married." Her profile picture was her and Casey with a heart edited in between them. And for the cherry on top of the sundae of despair, her latest post was a link to "Love Struck" by Blood on the Dance Floor.

After I had thrown up in my mouth a little, I had angrily shut down my computer incorrectly. She already stole Casey from me, why did she need to steal a band I like, too?

I put my face in my hands. Another epiphany. 

Just like how nothing can keep me from hating Ally, I couldn't help but just feel the slightest candle flame inside me that I had for Casey. And I couldn't blow it out, no matter how hard I tried.

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 I had been staring at the text for at least ten minutes in shock.

Come over to my house to work on the project! -Alex

I had gnawed my bottom lip so much, I was surprised it wasn't bleeding. I knew I would regret it if I didn't go, but I would also regret going. 

I shook my head. This is my one and only chance, I should take it. I pressed "Reply" on my cell phone.

Sure. Be there in ten minutes.

I took a deep breath to clear away the queasiness in my stomach without success. Then, I shouted to my mother I was going to a friends house, grabbed my keys, and climbed into my 12 year old car. Ignoring the "Check Engine" light that's been on for years, I twisted the key in the ignition and drove to the address he had given to me earlier that week.

My knuckles were turning white as I clutched the steering wheel.

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As I walked up his pathway to his front door, I looked around to try to calm myself down. Alex's house was in a woodsy neighborhood and his house was 2 stories tall, although still on the smaller side. Before I knew it, I almost ran into his front door. Laughing at myself, then taking a step back, I rang his doorbell with a shaky hand.

Faster than I expected, the front door opened and an angel was on the other side.

"Hey," Alex greeted, relaxed. I tried not to stare at the black socks, the stone-washed skinny jeans, and the Blink-182 shirt.

"Hi," I said softly, barely audible.

"Come inside," Alex murmured, stepping aside. I strode into his house and he closed the door behind me.

I stood in front of the front door awkwardly as Alex ran to go get a pen and some paper from the office that was to my left. In the meantime, I kicked my Converse off and pushed them into the corner where they would be out of anyone's way.

"Okay," Alex said lightly, "Now we're ready."

I half-smiled as I followed him to the right, where the living room was located. He set the pen and paper on the glass-topped coffee table as we sat next to eat other on the leather couch.