Shadows

Chapter 6.

Black Veil Brides suck was once again etched into my bedroom wall with black Sharpie and Brennan's messy handwriting. I sighed.

Uncapping my own marker, I scribbled out suck and wrote are much more beautiful and talented than Brennan could ever hope to be. 

Next time he comes into my room and writes on my walls again, he can think about that for awhile.

This was not the first time someone has intruded into my room. I have about a dozen or so scribbles on my walls where Brennan has written an offensive message, and I have crossed out and written a cruel comeback. Some days I find books missing from my shelves where Theresa has decided to read my books and not give them back, only for me to steal them back from her bookshelf in the middle of the night. I've had to put a combination padlock on my lower shelves with doors, so my DVDs stop coming and going as they please.

It's true. You really can get used to anything after awhile.

 Suddenly, the sound of "Why Don't You Get a Job?" by the Offspring starting pouring from my phone. Smirking at the ringtone I set for Casey, I dug it out of my backpack, pressing the green button. I pressed my phone to my ear, excited to hear Casey's voice.

"Hey, Casey!"

"Hi."

My heart sank. He sounded miserable, even over the phone. 

"Casey, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice going serious.

A pause. My palms were damp.

"Ally dumped me. I think it's for good this time."

"Oh my God." It was like someone had thrown a brick and it hit me in the face. "Oh my God. Are you okay?"

"Not really." I could picture him running his fingers through his hair. "I guess there's really nothing I...I just don't know."

This had to be it. The phone call that would change everything, right? I saw it like a light at the end of a tunnel. A chance. I took it. 

"I'm really sorry, Casey. I can't imagine how broken up you are-"

"Into a million tiny little pieces."

"Yes," I agreed, my eyebrows raising, "So just call me anytime you need me, okay? I'm always here. If you want to hang out to get your mind off things, or just talk, or whatever. Best friends, remember?"

"Right." I could see him smiling in my head. I smiled back, even though I was alone. "I'll take you up on that offer, Harp."

"Great."

I heard his mom calling his name in the background. "Sorry, Harper. I have to go."

"Bye." I took my phone away from my ear to see that he had hung up.

I jumped into the air, fist pumping, screaming in joy. I was finally done with being Ally's shadow.

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My stare at my laptop screen was broken by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

Doing what I usually do, I ignored it and waited for someone to answer it. But after I remembered that both my parents were working and my brother is at his friend's house, I got up to answer it.

After running down the stairs and tripping on the last one, I swung open the front door. My stomach jumped up into my throat when I saw who it was.

"Alex?" I said in disbelief.

"Hey!" He said nonchalantly.

"Hi," I managed to choke out without sounding too different. After swallowing my stomach back in its rightful place, I asked, "Um, Alex? How do you know where I live?"

I saw his cheeks flush a rosy red. "Well, me and Casey rode our bikes to Harper's house once, and she mentioned that you lived in the same neighborhood. So I asked where, and this is where she told me."

Harper! I wasn't sure if I wanted to strangle her or to hug her. "Oh." I scratched the back of my head, embarassed.

"So, Scarlette," Alex said, thankfully jumping into a new subject, "I was wondering if you wanted to give this whole 'hanging out' thing another try." He smiled a sweet smile that made me melt into a puddle on the floor.

I look over at his car in my driveway. "Now?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. I was never a "right-now" person.

"No better time than the present."

I didn't need to think twice. "I'd love to!" I exclaimed, grabbing my purse from the table next to the door and following Alex to his car.

After climbing into the passenger's seat, I asked him, "So, where exactly are you taking me?"

He smirked. "It's a surprise."

I rolled my eyes and watched him pull out of the driveway.

As he drove to wherever he was taking me, I once again enjoyed the easeiness of being with Alex. It was more comfortable than breathing, even when he was looking forward at the road ahead of us. In fact, I wanted it more than oxygen.

We once again talked, joked, laughed and told stories during the car ride. Once again, I wished the moment could never end.

My trance was severed when Alex took the key out of the ignition.

"We're here," He announced, once again making me fell faint with his smile.

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