Tortured Souls

Chapter 7

The sun had set, casting a gentle twilight glow across our neighborhood. I sat on my bed, surrounded by scattered notebooks and half-finished assignments, my mind drifting as I stared out the window. It was one of those evenings when the world felt heavy, and I just needed to talk.

I turned slightly, my heart lifting at the sight of Alex's silhouette in his window next door. He was leaning against the frame, his expression contemplative as he glanced out at the street. Our houses were close enough that we could easily chat, and the familiarity brought me comfort.

"Hey, Alex!" I called softly, not wanting to disturb anyone else in the house.

His head snapped up, a grin breaking across his face. "Hey, Alaria! What's up?"

I leaned out a little, resting my arms on the windowsill. "Just trying to escape the chaos of schoolwork. You know how it is." I sighed dramatically, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Tell me about it," he replied, mirroring my posture. "My homework is piling up, and I can't focus on anything with Jason being all weird lately."

"Ugh, tell me about it," I said, rolling my eyes. "He's been super intense. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around him. It's like he's waiting for any excuse to blow up. You should be able to hang out with your friends without him judging."

Alex nodded, his brow furrowing. "It's not fair to you."

I leaned a little closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I just wish he could see that I'm not trying to come between you two. I just want to be friends."

"Trust me, I know," Alex said, his voice equally low. "You're not the problem, Alaria. Jason needs to chill and realize that friendships can exist outside of our relationship. You deserve to have a support system."

A comfortable silence enveloped us for a moment, and I could hear the faint sounds of crickets chirping outside. I smiled, grateful for the bond we shared, even in the midst of all the drama. "Thanks for being here for me, Alex. You have no idea how much it means."

"Of course," he said, leaning back slightly. "You're my neighbor and my friend. I'm always going to be here for you. Plus, I'd rather talk to you than do my math homework."

I laughed softly. "Same! I can't believe we have to suffer through this nonsense together."

Just then, the light in Alex's room flickered as he turned on his desk lamp, illuminating his face. "Want to have a mini study session?" he suggested. "I can help you with that assignment if you want."

"Only if you promise to let me help you with yours too," I countered, smirking.

"Deal," he said, crossing his arms with a playful grin. "But you have to promise not to let me get distracted by you."

"Me? Distract you? Never!" I feigned innocence, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

As we settled into our respective study modes, I felt a warm glow inside. Despite everything going on around us, there was still a sense of safety in our little routine. We could escape to each other's windows and share our worries, if only for a little while.

"Hey, Alaria?" Alex called after a few minutes, breaking the comfortable silence. "If you ever need to talk about anything... I'm always here. Just a window away."

I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Thanks, Alex. That means more than you know."

As I glanced at him, I realized that even in the chaos of our lives, there was still a light in our friendship that couldn't be dimmed.

🌧️ ☕️ 🎥

The soft patter of rain against the window fills the room, blending with the gentle hum of the TV. Aly has been asleep for an hour, and now it's just me and Alex, sitting side by side on the couch, a comfortable silence between us. Or at least, it should be comfortable. But my mind's been racing the whole time. My back aches, the twins shifting restlessly inside me, but that's not what's really gnawing at me.