Broken Strings

A clear mindset

Peter’s POV

My legs became shaky the moment I bought the ticket. The elderly man seemed to pick up on my nervousness placing me on the first carriage ahead of the others waiting in line. I managed to not look down until we reached the top for the second time. I was lucky enough to have a seat on my own. I tried wondering how Amelia’s date with Simon was going. I didn’t like him from the moment I met him. If I was half the friend to Amelia I hoped I was I should have stopped it before she had the chance to wander off on that date. Simon is the type of guy that uses women. I can tell, I have witnessed dreadful things that any mere mortal couldn’t dream up in their most awful dreams. The ground was so far away as the wheel slowed. Something clicked within my brain and I pulled my legs to my chest, tucking myself up like a cocoon. “Mate! Put your legs down!” the old man yelled from the red platform I boarded this death machine on. I shook my head, not that he could see it, and took hold of the metal cables. With my eyes closed I hoisted myself up so that I was now standing in my seat. When I looked down what seemed like hundreds of people staring back up at me yelling words I couldn’t decipher. I couldn’t spot Amelia nor her date. I never planned to jump, even though a few people were yelling for me to do so. Sick, sick people! I just needed a surreal way to clear my head. A way in which I could let go of the crap my Father had ruined my life with. “Buddy! Sit down!” I did as he said and the ride began to turn again. When my seat reached the red platform, boy did I receive a scolding. It was definitely worth it though. I felt clear, free.

I reached the ground and people cursed at me as I walked by them, some of them disappointed I didn’t provide a show and other’s disappointed I even contemplated it. “Peter!” I felt a cold hand swipe across my face. “How could you do that to me!” she cursed. Amelia.

“I wasn’t going to jump,” I promised her. “I’m fine, jumping was never my intentions.”

“Well why the hell would you do that?” she yelled. People began to stare but I don’t mind.

“I needed to clear my head,” I explained.

“Well that’s one hell of a way to do it!” Amelia looked mad, furious even. My stomach sunk with heavy guilt as I realised what she’s just witnessed. I wasn’t going to jump.

“I’m sorry,” I frowned. Her face fell from anger to sadness.

“Just promise me you weren’t going to jump. Promise me that Peter. Please,” I pulled her small shaking body to mine holding her close.

“I promise you,” I whispered in her ear. “It was never my intention.” I wanted to ask Amelia about her date with Simon, was he the sleaze I knew he was? He was nowhere in sight. If he hurt her then so help me.

“You were right about Simon,” she said taking my hand and pulling me from the snickering crowd.

“I didn’t say anything,” I said. I always had my opinion but never voiced a word of it.

“I knew you didn’t like him. I was just excited you know, about having an actual date,” she frowned, slightly embarrassed.

“You’ll find someone someday. He’ll be perfect,” I told her. Was I kidding myself about my feeling towards Amelia? She is the greatest friend I’ve ever had and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to risk losing what we share.

“You think so?” she asked looking up from under her hoodie.

“I know so.”

Amelia’s POV

I cannot believe Peter. Why would he do such a thing? He says he wasn’t planning to jump but what if he slipped? It would have been out of his hands. “What are you thinking about?” Peter asked.

“Nothing,” I lied. The night air had grown cool and the stars were glistening brighter than usual.

“You’re a horrible liar, you know?”

“Mm,” Peter rolled in his swag, his face inches from mine.

“I am sorry ‘Lee,” he whispered, his voice quiet and sorrowful.

“I know you are,” I replied. I couldn’t help being angry at him but I was more scared for him. What if he was lying? “I can’t wrap my head around it.”

“I told you I needed to clear my head.”

“But Peter, you could have went for a walk. You could have screamed, seen a counsellor. Peter you could have spoken to me,” his eyes fell shut and he rolled onto his back.

“It was something I needed to do alone. I needed to forget and start over,” I watched his eyes squash together as he tried to push the memories away.

“Forget your Father more like,” I corrected him. “And the Ferris wheel was the ride your father petrified you with, wasn’t it?” Peter nodded.

“Got it in one.” Silence filled the space between us until Peter’s face changed. “So I think we should push on tomorrow, what do you think?” His eyes were wide as he tried to see through the dark.

“I think that’s wise.”

“Do you feel like we’re living like slums?” Peter’s question caught me off guard. I remembered back to the day my Father called me a slum. The memory stung my chest.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think we deserve something special?” I looked to him confused.

“Special?”

“There is something I haven’t told you about me,” he smiled. I looked to him confused.

“What?” I asked prompting him to continue.

“Are you sure that you’re ready for this?” I nodded excitement building.

“Well my Mother is a lawyer,” how could she be a lawyer and put up with a man like her husband? “She is quite wealthy and she puts a small amount into my bank account every week. She knew this day would come, I knew this day would come,” I looked toward him confused. I rolled in my swag so my body was facing his.

“So you have some money. How much a few hundred? A thousand?” Peter’s cheeky smile widened. “More?” I gasped.

“I have around fifty thousand,” he whispered. I heard snickering comments from the site by ours.

“Fifty thousand?” I gasped. He’s bloody rich! “How?”

“I told you, my Mother.”

“Wow, so what? Are you planning on University? Buy a house?” Peter laughed.

“No, I was planning on something else. Maybe a holiday? I’m not ready to settle down. I’m young, I want to travel the world,” he chuckled.

“Wow, your practically set for that holiday,” I laughed with him.

“There is just one catch,” he began.

“What could possibly stop you?”

“Well nothing, I want you to come with me,” he smiled.

Hello again! Hope you're enjoying! Some way to clear your head isn't it! Don't fret, Peter isn't in a dark headspace or anything like that he just needed a way to be in control of his emotions. Love you all! xoxo