Different Yet The Same

Chapter Eight

-Spark-

"Are you insane!?" I scream, my anger boiling.

Ember looks at me, shock plainly displayed across her face. I raise my fist, ready knock some sense into her. I pull back and...

Caleb grabs my arm before it can make contact. I turn around ready to scream at him for stopping me but he quickly says "Trust me, you would of regretted it."

I clench my fists in frustration, my nails drawing blood. I look at it and it's as if something snaps. I look at the blood pooling on my palm and...I start to cry.

"Ember I am so sorry!" I wail, salty tears streaming down my face, creating rivers of sorrow displayed for them both to see. I hold onto my stomach as a sob escapes my lips.

I feel two arms encircle my waist, I glance up and see Ember hugging me, I fold myself into her and give myself over to tears.

"Ok, no more hugs." Ember says after a few minutes, lightly pushing me away, going back to being her determined, calculating self.

I've stopped crying and now we stand there, all three of us, not knowing what to do next.

It's getting late so Caleb leaves, promising to walk with us to school tomorrow.

Ember leaves my room, with long strides, her face calm, emotionless, her stance powerful.

So then, for the first time all day, I'm alone.

Left alone to suffer through the seed of sadness that has planted itself in the pit of my heart and is growing bigger by the minute.

I slowly open my eyes, curling tightly into a ball on my bed, pulling my covers around me, soaking in the suns warmth seeping through my window.

I sigh, and just lay there for a few moments relishing in the serenity of it all.

I'm just about to drift off to sleep when my alarm goes off, blaring noise, thrumming the sound through my head.

I groan and roll out of bed, landing on the ground with a 'thud'. A burst of air escapes my lips, as my stomach connects with the floor.

I've got a bad feeling about today.

I quickly gather my books and a slice of toast lathered in butter for breakfast.

I throw on a pair of black leggings and a navy blue jean jacket over top of my pink tank top, my hair refuses to cooperate so I tie it into a ponytail, so it doesn't look like a birds nest. I take one last glance in the mirror and I'm on my way.

I run out my bedroom door, grabbing the side of the door frame as I do, and using it to propel myself forward, my socks creating no friction on the wood floors, sending me flying down the hallway.

I barrel down the stairs and see Ember waiting patiently. I look at her and smile, we match again, only she's wearing a red tank top and has tied her hair into a loose braid to the side.

Only for the first time...she doesn't smile back. She grunts and walks out the door.

Refusing to let it spoil my good mood, I skip out the door an dance elegantly over to Caleb's driveway. Singing at the top if my lungs as he smiles and claps, shouting for an encore as I graciously mock bow and blow kisses to my imaginary audience.

We start walking to school, passing the park, and walking through town.

We soon get to school, and just in time. We walk up to the large brick building, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for this Monday and what it may bring.

As we walk in I wave a goodbye to Ember and Caleb as they leave for class and I head over to French.

Gathering my things from my locker, placed by the library. I quickly scale the stairs to the second floor and practically run to class.

As soon as I sit down the bell for class rings. Piercing through the school corridors, like a screeching child.

My French teacher starts droning on about verbs and conjugation, as I take scarce notes, my mind wandering to more pressing matters.

Finally at 11:40, the bell of freedom is sounded. With a sigh of relief I flee my second period math class and sprint to my locker, quickly throwing my things hazardously into it.

I grab some food from the cafeteria and take it out to the courtyard located in the middle of the school. I walk out and see Caleb sitting in our usual spot, under the maple tree.

I plop down beside him and dig into my turkey sandwich, washing it down with large gulps of lemonade.

Since the weather is getting cooler the courtyard is practically abandoned. Containing no more than ten people.

I look around contently sipping my lemonade, but something feels different.

I look over at Caleb who's working on his art assignment an then it clicks.

"Caleb, where's Ember?" I ask. She never misses our little lunch date.

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen her since this morning, she wasn't in English either." He says slightly concerned. His hair ruffled slightly by the cool breeze.

Sensing that something is wrong I jump up and run from the courtyard and scour the whole school, anxiously checking every classroom and gym.

The bell for third period rings and I say to Caleb. "I'm skipping, somethings wrong I need to find out what." He nods and says he'll cover for me.

Thanking him, I race from the school and head towards town.

Slowing my pace so that I don't raise suspicion. I work my way through our small town, checking every store, from the book store to the coffee shop. Asking people of they've seen her. Thankfully everyone knows us, The Raven Twins, we got the nickname from our dark hair, very unique compared to our towns population, but sadly no one has seen her.

By the time school gets out, I've gone through every store at least twice with no luck whatsoever.

Defeated I head home. Walking down the old cobbled streets and cracked sidewalks. Kicking at every pebble, avoiding every crack or crease created from years of turmoil.

Once I get to Caleb's house I harshly knock on the door three times, pause and then a fourth. It's our secret code if something ever goes wrong, and right now something is definitely wrong.

I hear him clumsily clamber down the stairs and swing open the door. His face showing fear, concern and anxiousness.

"What happened?" he says exasperated. Breathing heavy, nervous sweat beading around his brow line.

He's gorgeous, a guy any girl would die for, he could take any girls breath away, have them love him, just like I-no, don't think about that, I chide myself. There's more important things going on.

Caleb looks at me pleadingly. Using all of the dwindling strength I have, I muster out the two words I dare not say, my voice clear and strong despite the circumstances.

"She's gone."