A Walk On The Beach

Chapter 19

Girl

OKAY THE BALL is in one day. One day – that’s like twenty-four hours. This is so unlike me, but I am freaking out! I am freaking out like mad!

Okay, breathe, Ally, breathe.

Cameron is talking to me. I should listen.

“So, we have the makeup artist coming at one. The dresses are ready. The hair dresser is here at three. We should be ready for the limo at six.” Cameron has a long list of things to do. It is all planned out; no turning back now. God, I am turning this into a mission.

“Ally?”

I look up.

“Are you okay? You don’t seem to be breathing.”

Oh, boy. Did I just forget to breathe? Breathe, Ally, breathe.

Cameron’s face is full of concern. Now I feel bad. “I’m okay, Cam. Carry on.”

She sits down beside me. “That’s it.” She frowns. “Are you sure you’re all right, Ally?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

“I’ll get you something to drink, okay?” She gets up, leaving her list behind. I try not to look at it.

It’s going to be fine...just fine.

God, who am I kidding?

No. I just need time to forget all this...stuff, whatever this stuff is. It’s ridiculous. I think it’s time to change my name. But that’s going to cause some confusion. Man, its magic is wearing out already. I can feel it slipping.

Wow, nothing I’m thinking is making sense.

Right, you can do this, Ally; walls up, power through this.

 

“AARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING! OH MY GOD!”

My cousin Cameron is freaking out! It’s the day of the Charity Ball. I just arrived at her house, and her maid warned me that ‘Ms Cameron is not herself today’. Now I’m standing by her door, shocked by her scream.

“What happened?” I dare ask.

Cameron turns around, tears running down her cheeks from her fire-burning eyes. “Ally! Have you seen your dress?”

I hesitate, because my answer will affect my cousin’s response. But it turns out she doesn’t need an answer.

“It’s ruined! Ruined I tell you!” she yells. A little bit dramatic, I think.

“What do you mean, Cam?” I ask, frowning.

She thrusts a box towards me and then flops on her queen sized bed and started to sob.

I look down into the box. Inside are...the remains of my dress. Gold pieces of silky fabric flutter from my fingertips. “Wow,” I murmur. There is a note, too.

It says: BITCH, YOU THINK YOU CAN STEAL MY SHOW AT THE BALL? YOU’RE NOTHING. GOOD LUCK FINDING A DRESS NOW.

“Who would do this?” I whisper.

Cameron looks at me like I’m stupid. I feel stupid, now. “Who do you think?”

I shrug, not wanting to think. My mind knows who it is. My heart pushes it away.

“Diana. It’s obvious. I’m her sister. I know her,” she says. “That bitch.”

I sigh and sit on the bed in my white t-shirt and denim shorts. “You know, Cameron, Diana’s probably done me a favour.”

My cousin brushes a lock of dark hair off her face. Shocked, she says, “What?”

“Events like this... well, they don’t suit me.”

Her eyes are as wide as saucers. “But you don’t know who you are!” Cameron says louder than intended.

“Cam...”

She jumps off her bed. “No. Ally.” She spits the words out. “That’s not even your name! Do you even know who you are?”

I stare at her. Somehow, I’m not angry. I’m not upset. I don’t feel anything. I’m not even surprised.

Cameron paces around in the massive space. “I don’t get you. Do I even know you? Do I even remember your name? Do you remember?”

I stand up. “I think I should leave.”

“No.” She stops pacing. “You can’t just leave like this! That’s just you, isn’t it? Always boxing it up whenever you can’t be bothered to just sort it out. Why are you always running? Why can’t you accept that there are unhappy things in life that just can’t be erased from your memory?”

I blink but don’t say anything.

“You’ve confused everybody around you. We don’t know how to act around you; we don’t know when you’ve zoned out or back in reality – what is wrong with you?” Anger is bubbling in her chest, escaping as harsh words through her mouth. “I haven’t seen you in years. What happened? Why are you...different?”

Without a word, I walk out and slam the door.

 

I think I’m in reality.

 

(Author's Note: Sorry, readers, for keeping you in suspense now. Will Ally finally meet Jordan? I haven't actually written that part. So when I've got it all pretty and ready, I'll post it. For now, I'll hope you'll keep on following my stories! And I know the chapters are really short, but I just wanted to keep the story flowing and get Ally and Jordan's views in and stuff. So I'll try to edit things a bit and add in details here and there. Can't wait to actually finish this story. I've been writing it since forever! Til next time.

 - Holly.)