Hidden Under Perfection

Chapter 9: John

Claire is alive, Claire is alive I repeat it over and over to convince myself that it is true, and the grief I have been feeling for the past two weeks lightens, Claire is alive.

The memory of our call is still fresh in my memory, her bright green eyes staring into my brown ones. The dark purple circles under her eyes and the rosey color on her cheek. Her pale skin and dark locks pulled back into a ponytail. My sister is alive. I can;t believe it, although it has only been a week it feels like forever since I saw her last. I miss her so much.

I have to tell dad and Jennifer, I have to tell Nadia, Claire's best friend. But what if someone finds out and hurts them to keep them gone, I can't tell everyone. Claire is alive.

Why was the sky yellow? Why did she ask me to bring the journal that we found five years ago? Why was she being so criptic? These questions pop up as I review our chat. Will she call again? And if she does what am I going to do?

The sound of my roomate calling my name brings me out of my thoughts, "John?"

"Yeah?" My roomates name is Bradley and he plays football at American University.

"I can't figure out this calculus problem can you help?"

"Yeah sure, whats the problem?"

"here," he hands me the paper.

"Okay," I show him how to solve the problem. "I have to make a call, if you have any questions wait until I am back."

Outside of the dorm room I take out my holo-notebook and call dad, it rings three times before he answers. My hands are shaking. His voice is rough when he answers, "hello."

"Dad..."

"Yes, John?"

"I... Claire is alive."

"What?"

"Claire is alive."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because, I had a conversation with her earlier today."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"My baby is alive," His voice is so soft I almost miss it.

"Can you tell Jennifer?"

"yeah, yeah I'll go do that."

"wait, you can't tell anyone else, incase someone kills her."

"Okay, but why would someone kill her?"

"I don't know, just don't tell anyone exept Jen."

"Okay son."

"Bye dad."

"Bye."

Okay, I have to call Nadia, her number is on my sister's phone but she gave it to me just in case something ever happened. Here it is, I tap onto her name and wait for her to pick up and her face pops up onto the screen.

Her dark skin is flawless, and her dark brown curls frame her face perfectly. Her eyes take my breath away, they are this light amber brown. Her mouth is moving but I am not registering what she is saying, "What?"

"I said, hi John, why are you calling me?"

"well, you know how Claire was pronounced missing?"

"Yeah, aren't you forgetting the 'presumed dead' part. There is a shrine for her at school." There are tears welling in the corners of her eyes.