The Power of Love

The Return of Elise

(Elise)
I'm finally going back to school. It's been two years since the accident, two years without singing, two years in the hospital, two years since I've seen or heard from Ash. I've officially been forgotten by everyone, not even my parents have come to visit me. I was alone in a dark room for most of the two years since I broke down a lot from the nightmares of that night. Turns out, my lungs tries to collapse under me, causing them to rupture, which results in the body shut down and blood. Now Ash has gone and made his own band 'Lost Insanity's Minds'. And, now here I am, back where it all started. I'm started junior year, I was a freshman when I competed on America's Got Talent. I stand in the mirror, looking at how much I've changed. My dirty-blonde hair is longer and more alive than before, my once green eyes, now a metallic blue, I'm practically a walking stick, and I've developed curves and bra size. "Elise, hurry up. I wanna see Bailey!" My older brother, Ethan, hollers from downstairs. He's one of the only people I trust to actually care about me. My attitude has also changed, I'm no longer outgoing, instead I'm more shy and closed off. I twirl around, looking at my outfit one more time. A light blue crop top, with a white pair of shorts, with white sandals. I skip down the stairs, picking up an Apple for breakfast. Ethan chuckles, ruffling my hair slightly, causing me to swat at his hands. We jump into the car, hearing the car roar to life, as we pull onto the street. Ethan turns on the radio, trying cheer me up. Suddenly, Shinedown's 'Call Me' Comes on, and I open my mouth to sing. I freeze, before quickly turning the radio off, tears already begin to blur my vision. "Sorry..." Ethan says nothing else after that and that makes me happy. I hate it when people pity me because I can't sing. I just sing in my head, remembering my voice, imagining myself up on stage again. I look out the window, the trees and houses zooming in and out of my vision.

We pull into the school's parking lot, the hundreds of kids hanging out before class starts. We park into a parking space and now my stomach explodes with nerves. I hesitantly open the car door, stepping out. Like in those cliche movies or books, all heads snap towards me. My brother hands me my bag, closing the door behind us, as he walks beside me. Out of nowhere, a head of red jumps into my brother's arms. "ETHAN!" A voice cries out, as the little red head hugs my brother tightly.
"Bailey." He chuckles, hugging her as well.. "Bailey, meet my little sister, Elise." The girl, Bailey, suddenly jumps from my brother onto me. I give a small squeak in reply as I hug her back.
"Oh my goodness! I can't believe you're hear! You're so beautiful!" She shoots a glare at Ethan. "Why didn't you tell me your sister was coming or that she was so beautiful?" She hisses at Ethan, who holds his hands up in surrender. I feel a strong gaze on my back, sending chills down my spine. I slowly turn around, looking at the group of five, five boys I've known for years. I meet the gaze of silver, feeling my heart skip a beat.
"Ash." His name rolls off my tongue. Everyone seems to look between us, confusion. I didn't even realize I was walking towards him, until he was looking down at me, and my head was tilted upwards. "Ash..." I whisper softly. His gaze hardens as he glares down at me.
"Do I know you? Are you a fan?" He snaps at me, causing me to step away.
"Oh...I see...you forgot about me. I guess since I can no longer sing, there's not point in being my friend, right?" the words fall from quivering lips, tears blur my vision once again. I look up at them again, everyone except Ash, look sad and regretful. I let out a small laugh. "I remember all of you. Ash, Landon, Samuel, Max, Brett. It's so nice to see you again, my old friends." I whisper, a tear slipping from my eyes, when two large hands cover my eyesight.
"Elise, I missed you." A familiar voice rings in my ears, as I turn around.
"Jackson." I whisper, before I'm suddenly scooped up into his strong arms.
"If you're going to be an asshole Ash, don't do it to the person who believed in you when you didn't. She pushed herself because all of you depended on her voice so you can become stars. Think of someone else for once...Dicks." Jackson's voice growls. "Ethan, my dear friend, I'm kidnapping your sister for today." Jackson says, before I feel us moving away from everyone. I'm sat down in a silver Porsche 918, Jackson getting in beside me, as he screeches away from the school. "Elise, Ash isn't the Ash you knew. He's a star now, he no longer cares about someone who was in his life, he only cares about now. He's as popular as I am. Elise, I know you can sing. Two years is long enough. Too long have you been without a song and I think it's time you sing again. I'm throwing a party in a month's time, and I want you to sing." Jackson says and my heart clenches with fear.
"What if I fail? What if my voice is no longer beautiful? What if I collapse again?" I babble, until soft lips are pressed against mine. A soft moan escapes my lips as I run my fingers through his hair. Sparks explode inside of me, when Ash's face flashes in my mind. I break apart quickly, gasping. "J-Jackson..." His face has that famous grin.
"I love you." Wait, Jackson loves me?!
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Well, that was an interesting chapter, huh? So much happened in just the first chapter. What do you think will happen later on? Ash is kind of an ass, huh? What do you think of Elison?