Queen of Frozen Diamonds and Shiny Metals

Chapter 3 : Who's looking for me?

I walked to the cabin calmed, but breathing heavily. My energy spent, it was hard to walk but as I slowly reached my home, the more I felt alive and safe.

I turned on the lights and kicked off my shoes. I went straight upstairs and stood in front of a wooden door where Demetri and Bienne was delicately carved on. I took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob. I was greeted with a cozy and comfy aura. Christmas lights were hanged on the wall. A collage of pictures of us on one side of the wall with the door to the closet. A bookshelf and a study table on the opposite side and a television with two wooden trunks on either side. His, the dark blue one and mine was the gold one. Those trunks were filled with our belongings. Anything, books, files. A buddle of pillows and blankets were in the middle of the cozy room. This is where we used to sleepover.

I lied down there and took a deep breath. I sank myself deeper into the mattress, deeper into his presence. After a while, I turned to face the ceiling. In the ceiling, attached were the skies, there were constellations and stars. And my hand suddenly flew to the necklace resting on my chest. I always felt that when I stare at them, I was up there. Living with the stars. I smiled contentedly and hugged his favorite lumpy pillow. I asked for those stars to be hung there so whenever we sleep here, i would always ask him to sleep outside with me, watch the stars and wait for falling stars to come. And when we did, we catch a cold the next morning. I was sad because he forbid me to ever sleep outside again after that and i ignored him for a whole week. So when he couldn’t resist me, he ask for those stars to attached there together with an aquamarine crescent necklace with an emerald star attached to the curve of the moon. Our birthstones. I still remember his words then when he gave it,

                                                                                                                                                                      

He turned me around as I asked why a moon and a star "Moon because you are my stars and i love it that you surround me and I love gazing at you. You give me hope when i am lost.” I laughed out loud at his childlike voice and when i looked up, his sea blue eyes staring at me with a small smile in his lips, making me blush. "Do not ever take this off, i dont care if your future boyfriend would ask you to take it off because he's giving you another one, but dont. ever." he said so arrongantly that i had to laugh again.

And i never did until this day.

I went to the walk-in closet attached to the bedroom and looked for a jacket of his. he was pretty big for a thirteen year older. No question why this maroon jacket could still fit me. This is my favorite because it was his favorite. I know, pathetic but I miss him very much.

I went to the ballet studio he gave me for my 11th birthday. Yes, he gave me a studio. He asked his dad to put up some mirrors to make it a dancing studio. He knew I loved dancing. I went for the shoe rack of my ballet shoes and put on a pair black ballet flats. Tied my hair up into a bun and started to lose my self.

I went Plié to Tendu to Fondu to Dégagé to Petit battement and Grand battement. Some of the movements were starting to become foriegn but there were still there, buried deep. I stare at myself, my oldself. I smiled at my reflection. She really was my old self. Wearing Demetri's jacket and a ballet pointe shoes. I wanted to be free so i danced and danced. Did some grand piruottes to a high fanning tuck jump to a barrel turn then run across the floors into a firebird leap then, continously spin la secondes then, I stop on a 180 degree arabesque. I took a look at myself, my ballet-shoes-clad feet flat on the floor and my hair damp, so was the jacket. It felt good. The muscle aches and spinning heads. I laughed out loud at my reflection in the mirror. Then again, I felt alive.

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I went back home early. Passed by the store for ingredients for dinner. I knew that when Veronica comes home, she'll be tired so I thought that I might be helpful and all. I made chicken salad and shrimp curry with mashed potatoes. It’s her favorite dish.

I was grating potaties for the mashed potatoes when she came home and as expected, she looked like an 80 year old woman who walked for hours. I didnt even notice she was in until she called for my name behind the noise of the music player. She looked happy to see me dancing while cooking in my shorts that said booty in the back, my pink panda socks and my hair tied up in a VERY messy bun.

I grinned as her laughing face. I was glad to see her laughing. Her stress gone. So I dropped the grater and took off her bag. Held her hand and sang.

I sang loudly and danced around the kitchen. Veronica joined me and together, we sounded like dying cats while dancing to the electropop music. Im sure we'll piss off the sissy neighbor next door . It was nice to see her free from stress. We laughed out loud as we finished the song.

"We sound like choking walruses. Mrs. Vasquez will kill us when she hears us next door." I said, catching my breath while trying to stop laughing. Well, trying.

"She will," She held onto the kitchen counter as she calmed her self down." But what is worse it than curry burnt when i eat it." She said laughing. I started to move as soon as I heard the burnt. She laughed louder when my feet scrambled on the wood floor to the stove. She lifted herself to sit in the counter. I know she's awesome. Takes one to know one. She unstrapped her heels and she drank the cold water i held out for her. She looked like she needed it as she took it in one swig.

"So how was work today?" I asked preparing the plates.

She took a deep breath and replied, "Same, same. All though there was an old strange man today asking where you where, how old are you, or are your eyes purple, or if you have lots of friends. So I worried, I got scared so I called you but you weren’t answering so I asked for an early leave." I turned off the stove and turned to her.

Old man? Looking for me, what if the man knew about me, but he was a bad guy who was not supposed to know about anything. So that would mean I am in great danger. Then that would mean Veronica is in great danger. No. I shook my head, pushing the negative thoughts away and turned to the lady who was waiting for me to talk.

"awwh, Veronica. I was fine. My phone was just off because I was looking around the neighborhood but I am sorry for worrying you." she smiled softly and kissed my forehead for a long while.

"its alright, honey. I am supposed to worry for you. Its my job. Although, I am mad at you, yet I still am glad to know your safe and sound. I love you, Darling." She mumbled in my hair. And my heart dropped. this is bad. this is very bad. how am I supposed to live out a lie now. Veronica is vulnerable. She is frail and delicate. But if this continues, she be in an even greater danger.

"Meeyah more, Vero." I hugged her tightly. My mind still focused on the old man.

She was right, she is supposed to worry about me. As long as she is near me, I will put her in grave danger. I am suicide for her. I need to look for that man and fast. Who knows what he needs from me. What if he could help me? But then again, I doubt.