Roadtrip Oneshots

Jacklyn, Afraid of Heights

Brooklyn

It always made me freeze. Every time. Without fail.
Just like now.

I hadn't realised how high up we were. I'd climbed the ladder without thinking, following Rye and Jack, leaving Mikey and Andy to wait down below. It wasn't even for a cover or anything, just for a day out, and like an idiot I hadn't thought... again.

Rye had gone first, to see if it was safe enough, and once he had done Jack had eagerly followed. It took me some convincing, but I then followed them, nervously ringing my hands together before I pulled myself up.

Once we'd reached the top of the building, there was a railing overlooking the town we were in, and I couldn't even remember the name of it. I joined Rye and Jack, the three of us leaning on the railing. I looked across the horizon, seeing tiny houses and cottages separated by rivers and fields. Not a big city that we usually went to, but somewhere quiet, where the five of us could chill, and have meaningful conversations.

"It's quiet here." Rye was the first to speak, and as I looked over I could see that he had his eyes closed.

"Yeah... it's a nice change from the city." Jack continued, and I heard a heavy sigh. I stayed quiet. It was nice just hearing them have a chat that didn't involve them showing off in anyway. That happens way too much.

"Enough of that rapid pace in the city... we should move to somewhere like this in the future, the five of us, and then we can be as loud as we like." Rye chuckled, and Jack and I laughed. In all fairness it was a fair statement.

The three of us stayed up there in silence after that, taking deep breaths, and breathing in the open air... the silence... the peacefull atmosphere...

"Boys!" Andy yelled from far, far below. Rye pushed off first, crouching down beside the ladder and peering over the edge.

"What?" He called back. I took a deep breath, keeping my eyes closed. I didn't want to leave this place... it slowed everything down, especially the things that had been moving too fast.

"Are you guys ready to head off yet? There's someplace across town that we want to look at!"

"Alright... we'll be down in a second!" Rye turned back. "Time to go." He smiled, before lowering himself onto the ladder and disappearing from view.

I began to feel uneasy then.

"C'mon Brook... they'll only get mad if they have to wait." Jack chucked. I smiled, before following my friend. I watched Jack begin his decent, and then I took a step too close to the edge. Looking down, I felt a sense of déjà vu hit me, and I stumbled back a step before freezing on the spot. How could I have been so stupid? Why do I never think?

The horizon began to spin, and my knees buckled, sending me staggering back to the handrail and clutching it tightly. I slowly lowered myself to the floor of the roof, breaths expelling from my lungs in heavy pants. My hands felt clammy, and the beat of my heart pounded harshly in my ears.

"Brook?"

I didn't hear it at first, too preoccupied by the fact that I was stuck up on this roof. Too preoccupied by my laboured breathing. Too preoccupied that my heart was beating too fast.

And when I did hear it, It felt like I was stuck in a fish bowl, the voices on the outside being distorted and becoming fuzzy by the interference of the water that was all around me. My vision swam, and I clenched my hands even tighter over the handrail, pulling my knees into chest in an attempt to ground myself.