Masquerade - The Complete First Novel

- 19 -

(Dakota)

I wake up to the sound of sizzling and crackling. Sitting up, I recall Harper's funeral. I whip the tears and start to walk towards the hallway. My bare feet touch the cool wood as I walk into the kitchen, seeing someone cooking scrambled eggs. I let out a scratchy, "hey," as she turns around with a smile.

"Morning! Well not really because it's two p.m. but, anyway, get some eggs!" I let my eyes go wide as I see the color of her hair has changed. It was something bolder than blue. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was wearing her glasses with none of her make-up. The brightness of her hair was almost hurtful, the color of a bright school bus or yield sign.

"You changed your hair..." Ana grabs a plate of eggs and toast, sitting at the table.

"Yeah, you like?" She places a plate in front of me, which I gladly slid forward.

"It's...bright!"

"That's what I love about it!" She starts to eat and I join her. I find myself staring at her hair, wondering if it actually looks good or not. A hand falls on my shoulder and I see Sean walk into my frame of vision. I scuff to myself and take a seat at the table to eat my food, looking down now. "Morning, Sean!"

"Morning!" He sits down next to her, taking my best friend away. I'm not taking this too far. I know that. They giggle and laugh, as I sit there. I guess this is what they call a 'third wheel'. I start to peel my eyes away from them and try to look at anything else.

I find that the floor has a dent in the wood near the island. I guess they decided not to fix the board. I start to notice small things I didn't see when I came in for the open house a month ago. The door had a weird indentation and I felt odd about the right bookend on top of my shelf, something I found in the attic when I moved in. It was beautiful. They were two white owls at either end of the long string of books. Something was off about that particular bookend, but nonetheless, I dismiss it and turn my head to the kitchen.

The flower seemed to be on the edge of death. The color has almost faded away completely from the petals, and the small stem started to slump to the side, taking the rest of the flower with it.

I finish my meal and clean the dirty plate, putting it in the dishwasher. I sigh loudly, trying to communicate my pain to the happy couple. They don't notice my efforts for the school bus to stop being lovey-dovey with him.

I slam the front door as I walk out, making sure I made myself clear. I hop over the row of flowers and sit on the bench, swinging.

What could those pills mean? Why were they there? It makes no sense why Clem would have a bottle of Xanax in her vent. Was that her medication? No, that doesn't make sense. But then again, none of this makes sense.

I kick the ground with my bare feet, making a dent in the soft, uneven mound of dirt. "Are you okay?" I look up, seeing Ana standing on the porch. Her shoes touch the grass as she jumps over the flowers, walking closer. I bring my feet to a criss-cross position and look away at the neighbor's yard. A small white picket fence separates us. I can feel the weight of a person sit next to me, as I sigh. "What happened?"

"You know what happened," I swung my head around to face her. Her hair was down now and in wisps and twists. She raises an eyebrow, confused. "He doesn't know anything about me. I want him gone. He is not welcome in my house anymore.

"Dakota, he just wants to help you,"

"No, he doesn't! He wants to fix me. And I can't be fixed!" Tears gather in my eyes as Anastasia's is dry. I cry more easily than her. It's depressing really, how weak I am.

She gets up from her spot on the bench, holding my hands, "If you want him gone, he's gone," I look up in surprise.

"Really?" Her grip on my hand tightens as she guides me to my feet. I can feel the mound of soil underneath my toes. I've never noticed how horrible this spot smells.

"You have been through enough if you really want him gone. He's gone," I smile and hug her as we walk back to the house. I stand outside as my feet are covered in dirt. Ana walks in.

I immediately hear yelling from both sides. I jump as the door swings open, Sean walks towards me with a bag, "You are a selfish, no good一" My ears start to block out all the cursing, as my brain decides to turn it into white noise. "You need help," he walks out, flipping off Ana as he does so.

I can feel my eyes fill up with tears. As I sit on the bench I have on my porch. Ana sits next to me, wrapping her arms around me. "I don't know what to do anymore," she shushes me as I finally feel safe, crying openly.