The Runaway Dreamers

Chapter 8

I was woken up that night by a loud thud from what sounded like a room just down the corridor from me. I sat up in my bed, which now felt so ironically uncomfortable. It was like a pile of feathers when I fell asleep on it and now it was like sleeping on a rock. I decided I needed to go back to sleep. I checked my clock, 4:00am. Crap. I knew if I didn't fall asleep soon I would have no energy for, well, today!

I tried my best to fall back in to my dreamy slumber but, despite tossing and turning, I couldn't get comfy.

Then, I heard a knock at the window. I turned quickly, my heart suddenly beating fast. There was nothing there. I told myself it was just my imagination and dismissed it immediately, once again struggling to get back to sleep. Just as I began to drift off, I heard if again. A gently tap against my window, I slowly looked at it and I saw nothing, just as before.

This is getting ridiculous, I told myself. I heard it a few more times after that but I tried my hardest to ignore it. I must have been dreaming. After it continued, I couldn't stand it anymore. I looked up one more time, and I wished I hadn't. There, standing on a branch from a near by tree outside my window, was my dad holding Maia's little, green ribbon.

I screamed! With that, he was out of sight. I couldn't stop screaming. Before long, Carlos burst in to the room, holding my head against his chest and holding me there. His body was warm, I didn't want to leave his side. "Carlos, will you stay with me? I'm so afraid!" I pleaded, my breathing still heavy with fear. He nodded, a subtle smile appeared on his face. I kissed him gently on the cheek, and huddled up to him, trying to forget about the horrible episode I had just witnessed.

Being with him made it surprisingly easy. All I cared about was being with him. But I was confused about what we were. Were we a couple? Nah, we were way too close as friends for that. But were we friends? It always seemed more than that. I didn't want to think about it too much, the last thing I needed was to go and confuse myself.

The next morning, I found myself alone in my room. I guessed Carlos had just gone down for breakfast. I grabbed my dressing gown from the back of my door, and walked downstairs resisting the temptation to slide down the pine wood banister.

As I got to the end of the corridor, Carlos, Denise, some other members of staff and a group of olive officers were all huddled around Maia's door, which had been sealed shut with police tape. I looked at the scene in complete confusion. Denise noticed me and hollered me over to join them. As I quickly walked over, I couldn't help but ask what had happened.

"Denise, what's going on?" I asked. "Why is Maia's door taped shut?" I feared the answer as I briefly recalled last nights dilemma.

"Oh, Saffron... I know you were quite fond of Maia, I'm so sorry..."

"Denise, calm down just tell me!" I tried to keep her calm but I was struggling to control my own emotions at the same time.

"Maia is dead, Saffron. I'm so sorry, dear." Denise began to cry as I collapsed to my knees, cupping my hands over my mouth as I cried and cried for her. This was all my fault. I screamed hysterically in pain. How could something so sinister happen to such a sweet, innocent child? To my friend!? I felt sick, horrendously sick. I couldn't control what I was doing. I stood up and kicked the door open to reveal Maia's chalked outline on the floor.

Two police officers grabbed me and blocked me out of the room, closing the door behind them and re-taping it. I had never felt so vile since that day when I was just 7 years old. I felt disgusting. I ran over to Carlos and hugged him tight. He was all I wanted, all I needed. That was when I decided, I'm not to get close to anyone else.

Just Carlos, only Carlos.