Timberline Academy

Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

(Last chapter guys)  {3 days later}

          I adjusted my tie as I stood in front of the mirror. This shouldn’t be today; this shouldn’t be ever.

          I breathed in deeply as I stared at myself in this suit then I laughed at myself. This was the suit I wore when Victoria and I went to the Halloween ball. A lump formed in my throat and I held it in. I slipped our ‘engagement’ ring into my pocket.

          I looked at the picture of us together on that wonderful day; the day I knew I was bound to be in love with Victoria Helena Williams.

          I drove to the service in silence; then I thought of the name Victoria gave my car. Dorothy, because we want to get the hell away from home. Tears stung my eyes as I drove away from campus.

          I was one of the last people to arrive. The church was filled with people from our school, teachers, and the headmaster. I saw Misha and Evan standing by her. Misha had a knee length black dress that was longer in the back and Evan had a suit on with a red tie.

          The church visitation room was a medium size. Two sets of five pews filled the room. The carpet was a deep crimson and the walls were an eggshell color that made the room naturally bright when the sun light came in.

           Victoria’s casket was a deep shiny black color with silver rails. Her long deep brown hair was down and curly like it naturally was. She wore a black dress and she had red roses tucked into her delicate hands.

          I stood next to the coffin with Misha and Evan and watched people come up. Most of them I’ve never see, never heard her talk about, never knew Victoria’s name until now crying or mumbling nonsense.

          Mrs. Knight eventually came up crying. She hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear. “She loves you so much; present tense.”

          “I love her too; present tense,” I mimicked biting my lip keeping tears from falling out. She took her seat and eventually my parents came up.

          “She was an amazing intelligent girl.” My father murmured.

          “She is an amazing intelligent girl,” I corrected. My mum hugged my tightly and took her seat next to my father.

          After ten minutes of people acting as if they cared Misha, Evan, and I took our seats in the first pew to the left side and the Minister stood on the small podium to the side of Victoria’s coffin.

          “Victoria Helena Williams died too young for her age,” The minister started. I zoned out the rest because it was all bullshit. Victoria wouldn’t want this…

          “Can we have Philip Carnaway up to say a few words please,” The minister requested pulling me out of my trance. I hesitantly stood and walked to the podium.

          “They say you meet the person you love unexpectedly; well I met Victoria because she hit me in the back of the head with her duffel bag.” I got a few chuckles from that. “Victoria is my chameleon, my wild child, my family of misfits, my everything. She was honest and she didn’t sugarcoat things to make you feel better.” I mumbled

          “Victoria taught me to live and love and to do what I want and not what someone else wants. She will always be in my heart, my sweet Victoria Helena Williams,” I finished and then returned to my seat.

          After the service was over they started to close the casket. I watched Victoria Helena Carnaway’s face for the last time as they closed the casket. It felt as if the weight of the world collapse on top of me when they sealed her casket shut.

          I ran out of the church into the back of the gravel parking lot where my car was. I held onto my car as I ejected the apple I had forced myself to consume this morning.

          I didn’t bother going to the burial; I couldn’t bear seeing her in that box any longer. I had gotten in the car taking off my tie and jacket and I had rolled up the sleeves to my white dress shirt.

          As I drove up the back road to Timberline I had stopped at the gates. I stared at the sign that said ‘Welcome to Timberline Academy, School for the troubled’. It was clearly old and made out of cheep wood.

          I left my car running and I got out. I stared at the sign. No one was welcome here; you were either a something or a nothing. I had started to kick the sign.

          I had screamed at the sign kicking it harder every time. It had started to crack and break. I got back into my car and pulled in reverse aligning it straight with the Timberline sign. I stepped had down onto the gas pedal running straight over the sign taking it down.

          I was caught and arrested for vandalism and destruction of property. I was kicked out of the academy and was forced to move back to New York with my parents.

          I had arrived at the apartment with things in hand. I had ignored Paul and went straight towards the lift.

          “Philip I missed you so much. Where’s Victoria?” Addie asked when I had exited the lift.

          “Victoria is dead,” I growled and her face dropped.

          “What happened,” She asked.

          “She killed herself.” I sneered ending the conversation walking into my apartment.

          I ignored my mother’s hugs and went straight to my room.

          I opened the door and the honey light beams filled the air. I smirked remembering the last time I was in here was Victoria. The sheets still smelled like her.

          I stared at my wall and saw the ‘All work and no play makes Philip a dull writer’ paper Victoria wrote for me and frowned at it. I started to slowly cry letting the tears fall down my cheek. How will I live in this world without my Victoria Helena Carnaway?

          I never found love again. I continued to do drugs and drunk heavily and write books. I never talked to Misha Caster or Evan Jacobs ever again. I traveled the world doing all the things Victoria was never able to. I stayed as a tormented writer.

          So Dr. Bruce when you tell me ‘To write about Timberline Academy,’ realize that the academy was more than just a year at a boarding school. It was the definition of Heaven and Hell. I have never learned more in my entire life than while at that school; I don’t mean academically I mean emotionally. I had learned what it was like to live. I learned what it was like to take a breath of fresh air, to love, to feel venerable. I learned that there are other people in the world than me. I had learned how to tame a chameleon. Most importantly I had learned that no one will ever love me more than my Family of Misfits.

It’s over! Epilogue next and then I will be doing a personal conclusion of the book. It has been one hell of a ride with all of you.