I clutch my legs, heavy head resting against the window. A cold breeze ushers through the sky, as the darkness evaporates, giving way to a large glowing sphere. My attention fixates on a small sparrow, gliding along a withered branch of an old orchid tree. It's chirps echo happiness, but I only feel misery. No call from Taylor, no message. Two whole weeks of isolation from someone I value dear.
I fist the material blanketing my naked figure and sigh. My eyes glimpse across the torn paper, If only you knew. The black ink, in stark contrast to the white, imprints itself on my mind. An anonymous note posted through my letterbox three nights ago, leaving a tidal wave of questions seeping through my mind. A knock on the door startles me.
"I hope for your sake that you're awake. It's time for you to go back to school, thank god" my fathers hoarse voice shakes through the room, and I imagine his tongue slowly caressing his sloppy lips, as he sniggers. Despite attempts at remaining calm, a spasm of fear erupts itself through my entirety.
"I am" I timidly reply. Taking a shallow breath of relief, as his foot steps slowly drown out into nothingness.
I find my feet, dragging my slouched body to the ornate dressing table. Letting the blanket slip from my grasp, it crumples to the floor, leaving my body bare. I allow my trembling fingers to trace the car protruding from my torso. Forcing the horrifying memory to the back of my mind.
The mirror reflects a bland looking seventeen year old girl, with a ghostly pale skin, tainted by a wash of freckles and hazel hair. I quickly avert my gaze, dressing myself and masking my emotions, replacing them with a smile.
"Are you ready to go sweetie?" My mother calls from the landing, the words latching at her throat, indicating her emotional distress. I shake my head, ignoring the observation, my eyes studying the time; 7:15.
"Yes" I reply, picking up my school bag from the floor. Ready to return to another year of hell.
I hesitantly approach the school gates, the metal iron works presenting a war in. My shoulder feel cold without the touch of Taylor's and my apprehension grows by the minute. The note and his absence, linger on my mind and no matter how hard I try, the connection refuses to disappear.
My eyes flicked through the mass of people and I try to tame the annoyance growing at the animated scene. The collision of two warm, muscular arms being placed around my torso, soothes me. The smell of mind, alerts my senses that it is him. An involuntary smile appears across my face at the contact, out of the relief that he is safe. My mind catches up with my body and I suddenly feel irate, no longer calm.
"What the hell happened to you? I've left so many messages. A text wouldn't have hurt." I rip from his grip and pivot on my feet, so my body parallels his own. He awkwardly moves his tanned arm toward his hair, pushing the thick mess back. A habit he acquired some time ago.
"I'm sorry Sophie, it's complicated. A lot happened while I was away and I didn't have the time to get in touch with you. You know I would never intentionally ignore you." Taylors fingers move to my hair, brushing the loose strands behind my ear.
"You got back three days ago. What's your excuse for it letting me know you were okay then? Do you understand how worried I was, if it wasn't for Ivy, I would have lost mind" my eyebrows furrow and I let out all my caged anger.
"Nash contacted Ivy? That son of a bitch. We had a deal, that it would be safer if- never mind." I detach my clouded mind from the situation, I want to forgive him, tell him it's all okay, because he's my best friend and I love him. But I can't, so instead think logically.
