Save Me.

December 23rd.

The next day went as smooth as I could ever wish it to be. It was the 23rd and we all had the left time to pack our presents and set them by the Christmas Tree. I must say, the tree looks very nice this year. It was a wild, not too large pine tree that had golden and white ornamets set on the slim branches that formed the tree into a nice cone shape. At top our youngest sibling, Liz, had the opportunity to put the star, soon Aiden pulled off a small show before lighting up the tree. It looked really nice. I felt at home. Not only the sweet smell of mint candies set inside out Christmas socks above the fireplace, but it was also the wild, still alive pine's spikes that gave off a certain aroma that always smelt too good to be true.

There were also plans set for today by our father. As a tradition, right before Christmas Eve we would go to the Peters' place for a dinner. Yes, Whites and Peters were long-term allies and friends. We would do barbecues together, have dinners and call over for a game night ever snce old times. We didn't really know what pulled us together, maybe both bussiness and same aims in life, but it had never been for any selfish act. It's not even weird that me and Thomas are best friends. We've been like that ever since our childhood, and it feels nice to have such a good friend that you can always turn to.

Supposedly we were to leave to their place, since Thomas' brother couldn't walk and thus him getting here would be a hard thing to do. Lucas Peters, Thomas' younger brother, while driving was hit by an upcoming car, thus causing a collision which ended with Lucas' car flipping a few times in the air before crashing outside the road and into the trees. The police and the medics said, that he should feel very lucky to be alive. But he had lost the ability to walk and move any muscle above his waist.

How does he live with it? Well, I heard from Tommy that he now practices piano and might try tournaments. Lucas' is merely 19, younger than me too, but he has skill and passion for music. I remember he used to be in school's choir, not only to sing along with his friends, but additionally a pianist that took few solo lines. He is one hell of a guy and any girl should feel lucky to have him, despite his unability to walk.

Now this is  living inspiring figure. Lucas haven't tried to commit suicide, not even once, becuase he knew that no matter what his family will accept him the way he is. Yes, he might have limited movement and limited slots in his 'what I can do' list, but he's a great figure for a barbecue. He didn't give up on himself or his family, knowing that if he left he would leave his family crying, hurting, and he didn't want to cause them any pain.

The Peters don't live too far. I still remember how I took my skateboard and rode to him during warm summer days, back to when the trees were so full of life and the sun did it's best to give us a good time of our lives. Back to when the bees would be flying along with the warm wind and birds chirping lively tunes up in the trees. It all brought a smile to my lips and I really had to be thankful for how I grew up, where I grew up.

Soon enough we were there, by the fairly large house that was owned by Oliver Peters. An old, white haired man that always welcomed us with a bright, warm smile. However, his eyes looked exhausted, there were more elderly lines around his forehead and eyes, showing that he was slightly stressed due to several reasons he would never state to anyone. He was approximetly Thomas' height, if not a little shorter. His shoulders were pushed inwards but his back was straight, as if on purpose. He hadn't changed much, apart from the stress signs on his face.

Our fathers shared greetings, our mothers did as well along with them greeting me, the Goddess of the Universe, Laura White. Honestly, as much as I was being called that, I felt rather egoistic and slightly more high in spirits, as if being praised by the whole world wasn't enough for me to satisfy my ego. Yes, there was a small portion of ego inside my heart.

"Did Elijah call you yesterday? After we took you home?" Thomas suddenly asked as he continued to grin widely for my parents, noticing how his eyes seemed more exhausted along with dark eyebags beneath his eyes.

"Were you sleeping last night?" I asked the taller male suddenly, swinging him sideways by his shoulders to turn him at me. As soon as our eyes met, I let my hands fall down his arms as he looked like a victim in the case. "Thomas..."

"I can't sleep, Laura." He began as he inched closer to me, quickly looking around before he grabbed me by my hand and lead me to his room upstairs.

The area we were in looked far more different from when it looked like back in highschool. The walls were no longer blue, they were bright mint green, if not pastel green with white rims around the ceiling and floor. The floor was in bright white wood, unlike the dark, woren off wood we used to lay on and study. There were no posters apart from family pictures, awards that he had once won that were perfectly set in a small, round cabined above his work desk. Everything looked more fancy, yet somewhat casual and modern. Though, his bed looked undone, as if he ahad just woken up and didn't have the time to do it.

"Look at her." He suddenly said, kicking me out from a slight dream state as I continued to look back to the past. Soon I was given a fairly bright picture of him and... Poppy, a woman that looked fairly different from the way she used to look like. She looked more bright, more friendly and nice in so many ways that I couldn't describe. They looked cute together. I didn't know how to react to it, yet I felt my heart twitch at the sight. Tommy looked bright and happy, having his arm set around the red head's small shoulder, bringing her in for a tight hug as his other arm was set around the front of the woman's body, with her hugging her back in a merely same way.

"I can't stop worrying about her, Laura. I keep having these dreams... nightmares, where I have her with me, here, but then she's gone." Tommy tried to explain, his hands slightly shivering at the thought. "I don't know where she is, how she is, what she is doing for living.. If she's okay..." He continued as he let his hand fall, slightly sniffing after his words.

The situation struck me even more as I heard him slightly tear up. I had never thought that Tommy would love someone so much that he would cry. Honestly, even though he was slightly bullied in high school, I have never ever heard or seen him cry, so what was going on right now hit me like a train.

I froze. I didn't know what to do or how to act, what to say. I was lost in my own train of thoughts, in my own head, creating several scenarios that he had gone through all this time while he was alone. Elijah was off charts, as he is now the so-called mafia monster and Tommy comes from a too-good family to start again with Elijah. I wasn't there to help him go through it, to help him face the reality and help him fight his own tears.

"Oh, Tommy.." I whispered, quickly pulling him into a hug with the picture frame still in my hands. He had really loved her. It must've been so, but I couldn't help but doubt Poppy's love for Thomas. I will never let him suffer alone. Not anymore.

"It'll be alright. The police will find her." I continued to calm him down, hearing him sniff a little more as I had to tip-toe just to reach him around his neck. He was this tall. I stood at around, 5'8'', when he stood at 6'0'', if not 6'1''.

"No, Laura, you don't get it." Tommy mumbled silently before pulling away. His tear-stained face struck me again, his eyes were red as never before and his eyebags were even more visible, now that he had silently cried. "The police will not find her. She called me a few weeks ago, saying that she left the country and that she's alright."

"Then what's the problem?" I asked confused, furrowing my brows at the thought before withdrawing my hands from his shoulders, along with the picture frame.

He took his time with the answer, yet he didn't say anything as he was called by his father. Without saying anything he just brushed his hand underneath his nose and over his eyes, trying to look as natural as he could with this face before he walked away and out from the room.

I was left alone there, with my own unanswered questions that brought me this confusion that I have never had before. They, Tommy and Elijah, are keeping something from me. Something that could be lethal to our friendship and at worst - our safety. If Elijah really is what he is telling us that he is, then maybe, just maybe, we can trust him. I can trust him.

Slowly placing the picture frame back in place, I slowly slid my finger over Poppy's face with my chest growing hot and heavy. I couldn't understand myself. Understand, what was going on with me, with my head and my heart. It felt like jealousy, but why would it be it? Was I actually having feelings for Tommy?