The Last Night

Conflict

Chapter Nineteen

"The last night I felt this conflicted was never. I guess everyone has their first times. But I guess this will be my first and last."

^~^

After Alice and Sarah abducted me earlier, they'd messed with my hair and, dare I say, put make up on me. I was a bit untrusting of Sarah with that stuff since she used to be all clowny, cake-face, makeup overload stuff. I sure as hell did not want to end up like those Clowns. But I guess it was okay. Thank God she didn't put much on me.

We talked about the masks while they were fixing me up. Alice had the same one as Erik. Something inside of me felt weird. I don't know how to describe it, but just knowing that she had him gave me mixed feelings. I was happy since he didn't have to be with one of the Clowns, but I was somewhat saddened that I didn't have his. But I'm just being selfish again so it doesn't really matter.

When they finished, they put me in front of a mirror to behold their masterpiece. I almost couldn't recognize myself, which was really weird because when you look in a mirror, you obviously know it's yourself, but I guess it was just the shock that I looked so unlike my usual self. But it wasn't in a bad way. My hair was curled and put in a half up, half down style with the hair clip I got in my package. It was a wonder how they actually made me look nice.

After they were done, they looked amazing. Alice had taken off her glasses and replaced them with contacts. Her dark hair was straightened out so it looked longer than it usually was. It was weird seeing her without her glasses but not bad. Just different. Sarah looked nice too. She'd put it up in a ponytail then curled it with some strands loose to frame her face. She hadn't overdone the makeup, which was good. They looked really pretty.

While they were completing their looks, I sat to the side and waited. After the reminder of Erik, I couldn't stop my mind from wandering to what happened last night. Why did I do that? I know Erik isn't like that anymore. I knew that, but why did I say that? He's saved my worthless life twice already, and I've only repaid him with my crummy attitude and misplaced anger. I'm abhorrent. Maybe this is what my family sees in me. Maybe this is why I drive people away from me. Maybe this is why I'm wanted dead.

Anyway, back to present time. Alice, Sarah, and I were walking out to the bus. Erik seemed really happy about something. He had this grin on his face like he'd just done something amazing. He didn't even notice we were there. I would've called out to him, but did I have a right to anymore? After what I said?

Alice tapped my shoulder. "You okay there? Your injuries aren't bothering you, are they?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing.

She gave me a skeptic look. "You sure about that? Your face begs to differ."

I nodded, gripping my mask behind my back.

"Hey, something seems different about Erik. Have you guys noticed it?" Sarah said.

"Now that you mention it, he does," Alice said. "Overall, he's the same, but something feels different when we actually talk to him."

"Yeah! I know right!" she exclaimed. "It's subtle enough that I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Same here. Ame, have you noticed anything?"

I thought for a moment. I already know he's different, but that all relates to his list and what has happened so far. I can't really tell them any of that so I decided to fake it. "Not really. He seems the same as always," I lied.

"Are you sure? I swear something feels different," Sarah insisted.

"I can't sense anything different."