The Queen is Dead

Chapter 6: Nightmares Beginning: Johnathan

Every moment with her I cherished, every moment spent with her only left me with tortured feelings. It felt like it was the last time I would see her, the sinking feeling in my stomach becoming all too real. As we walked I tried to put on a brave face and pretend nothing was bothering me. However, I knew all too well I had a hard time hiding my emotions.

"What is it Johnathan?" Lizzy's voice asked gently. I glanced over at her and saw her icy blue eyes digging into me, demanding answers. I tried to cover it up, "Nothing you need to worry about." Another glance at her and her eyebrows raised into a perplexed arch. She wasn't going to take a blank response.

"Try me," she challenged. I took a deep sigh, my mind racing a thousand miles an hour. Something about this trip didn't feel right. However, I knew all too well her logical responses. "We are surrounded by the best scouts in the country and we are protected by top security," is something she would say to ease my troubled mind but this was different- this was definitely different.

"I'm just going to miss you that's all," I said, trying not to meet her gaze. The response was enough to satisfy her for now but I could feel her eyes cutting into me, I had a feeling she knew that wasn't the full story.

"Oh Johnathan, such a softy," she teased with a playful grin. I couldn't help but chuckle and I turned to meet her gaze. Her large grin was like the sun, it lit up the room and it was infectious. Her hair blowing in the wind only made her look even more like an angel; her bangs delicately dancing near her eyelids. 

"Softy? Nah. I am the biggest and baddest in town," I said with a sarcastic wink. She rolled her eyes, "Not even the scar can cover up the fact you are probably the world's largest baby," she said with an evil smirk. I placed my hand over my heart, my face contorting into a fraudulent hurt expression. 

"Oh that hurt Elizabeth Collins. How could you hate me so?" I said trying to force a frown to stay on my face. We stared at each other briefly before we both started biting back a grin. "Oh Johnathan Bly, I can only hate the way your breath smells you know that." 

"Nonsense! I call malarkey!" I quickly said, my voice cracking as I tried my hardest to sound British. Lizzy shook her head, "I only tell the truth," she said mocking my voice. I felt a smile starting to form, my will power to appear distressed fading. "I doubt it Ms. Collins." She rolled her eyes before glancing back up at me, her face contorting into a large smile. "You're impossible."

I stopped in the middle of my tracks to give a sarcastic bow and she and I began to laugh. But through the laughter I looked up and finally I began to wrap my head around the fact this was it. We were at the bus stop, the shuttle pulling up next to us. I hated this part. She wouldn't be for a long time and I only had spent a few moments with her as selfish as that sounds. God I hated goodbyes.

"Don't worry, we will see each other before the summer is out," she said trying to smile. I nodded, my face falling. "I wish we had more time together. Two days together out of nine months doesn't seem like much," I said with a sigh, forcing a smile. She nodded, a sad expression forming. "It isn't."

We both met each other's eyes and I pushed away the thoughts, focusing on the girl in front of me. "Well are you going to hug me or what?" I asked with a smug and sarcastic grin. "You're so unlovable." 

She shook her head. "You're such a dork."  But our sarcasm faded and we approached each other. The warmth spread through us as we pulled each other into a hug. I closed my eyes, forcing every part of me to remember this moment. 

"Goodbye Johnathan," she whispered.  I felt myself wince as if I were stabbed by an enemy. I swallowed back a lump in my throat, desperately trying to shake away the horrible thought that rushed through my mind. 

She won't be coming back.

 "No, not goodbye. It's only see you later," I mumbled into her ear with a steady voice. I heard a person yell and I opened my eyes, a man waving at one of us to get on the bus. I am sure he had enough of watching our gushy goodbyes. 

"You should go," I said sadly. She pulled away and nodded. Lizzy quickly made her way over and jumped onto the bus. She sat down and turned to look out the open window. 

I stood there for a moment, watching the bus drive away. But as the bus drove away, the ice eyed girl turned around and began to wave. I returned the gesture and smiled. Finally, the shuttle was out of view and I began to walk back to my motorcycle, my mind filled with the memories.