Twintastrophe

Edeline: The Journey of The Blind Man

"You know, she's always had that rebellious streak," my father explained to the police officers. The female, with her blonde hair, slicked back into the tightest ponytail I could imagine, shoot the young British detective next to her a look of distaste. "She gets it from her mother, no doubt."

My tongue peeked out from between my lips as I struggled to pick up the Victorian teacup with my cuffed hands, not even wincing as the metal dug into my wrist and through the skin. Releasing a huff of frustration, I gave up, leaning back into the cashmere loveseat, ignoring the pointed glare thrown at me by the untrusting male.

"Sir," the female, whom earlier introduced herself as Officer Margaret, interrupted my father before he could launch into another one of his stories. My father raised a brow as if surprised by her audacity to stop him. "Your daughter," she spat the word like it was a curse, "vandalized the school's award winning garden."

Chuckling dryly, I picked at the chipped mint green nail polish. "I have pollen allergies. That stupid garden is like a death trap for me."

"That 'stupid' garden is the meeting place of the LGBTQ+ club!" She chastised me.

I'm frustrated.

"Let me help you dumbass!" I wanted to scream as I watched Dylan's head hit the lockers with a thud. His body slouched to the floor and I can see the drops of crimson running down his cheek as he shoots me a 'Stay Back' glare.

Lee laughed along with his goonies, squatting down and harshly grabbing Dylan's cheeks and forcing pained blue eyes to meet sadistically triumphant brown ones."Aw, look at the little faggot!" He chortled, twisting Dylan's face to the side. "Is he sad because his little bodyguard won't help him?"

He's referring to me. I know he's referring to me because I'm the only one who helped Dylan wipe his bruises. I'm the only one who sat next to him at lunch. I'm the only one who laughed at his pathetic joke attempts.

I'm the only one who knew him.

"Ed..." Dylan heaved, struggling to get my name out. "Is...not your...play...thing."

My fingernails dug into my skin and I tried not to cry as I watched Lee punch Dylan once, hard, in the gut. It's enough to make Dylan cough up a mouthful of blood and whimper in humiliation. The crowd around me isn't cheering, isn't booing, isn't moving. I'm not moving either but it's not because I don't want to.

It's because I can't. Dylan won't let me.

"You're right," Lee admitted with a sigh. "Eddy isn't my plaything."

Lee isn't stupid, as much as I want to believe. He knows I'm unattainable because I don't have a dick between my legs. Dylan, unfortunately, does and that means Lee, football captain, has free reign to him.

Dylan, the twig of a boy I've known for so long, the one I loved like a brother was under my protection and Lee, the addicted motherfucker, was testing my limits.

My eyes burned with annoyance that is only a couple seconds away from hatred. I stand and with little effort, I yanked my wrist apart harshly causing the metal chain to snap. The reaction on the Brit's face akin to one of awe, impress and, of course, fear. My father just casually sips at his tea, one thick arm laid on the arm of his chair. Before any of them can say something, I turned on the heel of my ratty, high top, black Converse and stalked up the stairs to call Zoey and Scarlett.

~

"THAT BITCH!" Zoey screeched, much to the irritation of the librarian. One piercing glare from the otherwise silent Scarlett efficiently shuts him up. "I can't believe you let her talk about you like that."

Rolling my eyes, I hoisted myself out of my seat and planted my feet firmly on the wood table before drawing myself up to my complete height. The study group of nerdy boys situated at the table next to us squinted at me in disbelief. Tossing her light blue hair behind her shoulder, Zoey placed her face on her open palm, throwing them a flirty grin that had them blushing red, gathering their textbooks and rushing away.

"Dumbasses," I muttered under my breath, kicking my graded papers and tests of the table. They fluttered in the air like white doves before falling to the floor without a sound.

"Down," Scar muttered quietly once, tugging on my black sweatpants, once, twice. After I climbed down, settling back in the seat, she asked me, "When are you and your dad moving?"

Running a hand through my thick hair, I sighed exasperatedly. "Tonight."

Zoey narrowed her eyes at me threateningly before speaking, poking me in the chest with her  finger. "You better call us you dumbfuck."

"Vulgar as always Zee," I sighed as if I was disappointed, checking the G-Shock on my wrist and cursing. "Fuck. I'll see you guys later." Sending me a quick wave, Scar diverted her undivided attention back to the gruesome, horror mystery in her lap. 

Saluting the annoyed librarian mockingly, I walked out of the stuffy library. I hit the ground running as so as I felt the cement under my sneakers. My converse clad feet slapped the pavement, my arms pumping at my sides and my breathing shallow. I'm grateful for the change in the seasons because the warm air of spring feels crisp and cool on my neck. The grass is still wet and shimmering from last night's rain causing a rainbow array of colors to decorate the ground. I continue onwards with my pursuit ignoring the weird stares and ignorant laughter of those who don't know that someone is dying as they complain about not having the right shoes.

~

"Hey, Dylan."

Taking his freezing hand into my own, I slipped my fingers through his limp ones.  His untamed, knotted blonde hair is splayed under his head like a corrupted halo. Needles protrude from his wiry arms, connected to bags of fluids keeping him alive. The heart rate monitors adjacent to his bedside beeps continuously, interrupting the silence in the pure white room. 

"What's up? If you say the roof, I will punch your teeth out." Silence. "I got arrested again. Vandalism to that stupid garden you despised. It'll take them months to fix it back." A shallow, almost empty beep from the monitor. "I won't be here to see the ending results but I'll know you'll be awake by the time they fix it so that you can destroy it in my place." My voice cracked in the middle of my sentences and I squinted my eyes, refusing to succumb to the tears. "Dad and I are moving to New York City so I'll get to see Addison again. When I find her, I'm going to choke a fucking explanation out of that stupid bitch." I stopped, lowering my head and bringing his hand up to my temple. "Charlotte misses her so much. I miss her so much. I miss you so much." I let out a watery laugh, curling into myself. "I can't believe I've let two people I love, escape me. Remember when you used to have a crush on her until she introduced you to Titus? The look of adoration and confusion of your face was hysterical."

"Edeline, dear?" I jumped, watching the short, plump woman in the doorway step into the light to reveal soft, Italian, facial features. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of me before taking in her dying son. "Dylan is a strong boy Edeline. He wouldn't want you to cry over him."

I choked back a sob, biting my lip so not to scream, "He wouldn't want me to leave!"

Determination overrides her features and she placed a warm hand on top of my own. "He loves you too."

"I...I just...I wanted to see him...one last time," I admitted, the vulnerability eating away at my insides. 

Shaking her head, Anna-Marie tutted as if I was stupid. "You will see him again. He will wake up. He will wake up."

I couldn't tell if the sentence was for me or herself.