Take Me Away | ✓

» 30

K A D E N

Weeks passed turning into a month. They were quiet, with no sound of Dante but that did little to reassure me. I kept my head down. I avoided Zach at all costs. I invested more time into my studies instead of beer bottles on the nights I couldn't sleep.

I got another job. I went to school, came back and again. It turned into routine and for a moment I welcomed the stability.

It didn't last.

For a while though, I was content. Most of the time it was when I was alone, nobody to bother me. Only sometimes I enjoyed the company.

Phoenix came by at times and then more and more often. I grew to having her around. I didn't have to tell her my every waking thought and that was okay. In the same way, I didn't asked her about her demons.

Sometimes, I did wonder. Like when she was sleeping, her forehead would crease for a moment before smoothing out. I'd hear her shallow breath before it evened out. Or her hands curling into a fist before going slack.

Tonight, I didn't see any of those signs. She remained in her curled position on my mattress. Breaths even, no sign of waking up anytime soon.

I began to get dressed, pulling on the t-shirt I'd thrown aside a few hours ago. It was just past eleven. Since I'd started working at the garage, my hours had changed. Rather than the day, I was taking night shifts which suited me fine.

Grabbing my jacket and keys, I glanced back into my room. Phoenix would leave after a while. I'd come back to an empty mattress but for a second I stayed where I was. I pulled the covers over her a bit more and brushed the hair away from her face.

Then I left.

-

It was a quiet night at the garage. Nothing much came in or out. But by the time I was done, I was covered in oil, the smell of petrol clung to my skin.

I was even let off early that night, earning a clap on the back from my new manager who told me to 'get some sleep'. I didn't know whether to be glad or irritated. There were still hours left until the sun rose.

Just as I was getting into my car, thinking about how I'd fill in the time, my phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID I pressed it to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, stranger."

"Taylor?" I frowned, holding the phone away from me to see her name glowing off the screen.

"Who else would it be?"

"I haven't heard from you since the day you stormed off."

"I didn't storm off."

"You--"

"Where are you? I really want to see you."

I frowned again, looking back in the direction I'd come from the garage. The lights were barely visible from this distance.

"Where are you?"

"Right here." The voice didn't come through the speaker but from directly behind me and it certainly didn't belong to Taylor.

I didn't want to turn around to confirm what I was already dreading. What I wanted was to close my eyes and wake up hoping this was all a bad dream. Anything would have been better than what would follow.

Yet, I seemed to be stuck in reality and I had no choice but to turn around. I saw Dante and with him was Taylor. She cut the call, folding her arms just as my own fell away from my ear and limp by side.