(CURRENTLY EDITING!) Right Before My Eyes

Chapter 4

I awake to the sound of my own scream, as I sit up in bed. When I recover from the dream, I lay back down and try to get more rest but I can't get the picture out of my head of Layla lying dead in front of me, her parents missing. I know, I called them her parents, not mine. Because they aren't... Right?

I finally fall back asleep, waking up again a few hours later. I get out of bed, get dressed and am downstairs by 9:30. All of the boys are already awake, either making breakfast, or watching TV. I sit on the couch, asking what todays events would be. When all I get back are groans that they are "hung over", "it's too early" and "stop yelling" I laugh. Today should be fun.

"Well, Reece and I have to go to work." says Landon, as he and Reece walk out the door. They leave so fast it feels like they are in a rush to get away.

"Yeah, I do too," says Auggie. "But not until tonight."

"Ah, so that leaves the rest of us." I look at Tyler and Skyler.

Skyler avoids looking at me.

"We should do something fun. I'm in a good mood." says Tyler.

Auggie laughs, "You're always in a good mood."

Tyler shrugs.

I hear my phone go off in my pocket again, but don't answer it. Auggie gives me a weird look, like he's wondering why I don't pick it up. I should, but I ignore it. I already know it's them, my "parents" have been trying my phone every day since I left.

"So, uh, what're we gonna do?" I ask.

"Hey! I just remembered there's a Fair going on close by all weekend. We could go today." Tyler suggests.

"We should wait until Reece and Landon get off work." Auggie says.

"Orrrrr," Tyler begins. "We can go again tomorrow, when they are off work all day. Besides, Auggie, by the time they get home, you'll have to go to work not long after."

Auggie seems to think about this. "Alright. You all wanna go then?"

The rest of us nod our heads in agreement.

We get to the Fair a little after 11am and my stomach flutters as I get a glimpse of some of the rides. I'm ready to jump out of the car, but when we finally find a parking spot, Skyler hesitates to get out.

"C'mon dude," says Tyler.

"I'll catch up. I'm gonna run to the store real quick." Skyler says.

I don't know if anyone else notices, but I do. He's not going to the store. I can see in his face that he is just trying to avoid being there. Is it because of me? Is he mad about the other night? As excited as I am, I need some answers.

"I'll come along." I decide, jumping back into the car. He is silent, but I can tell he wants to tell me to go with everyone else.

I don't understand why he is being weird. That first night I talked to him, he came off a little odd, yes. But another day, he was different. Now he is acting strange again.

"I-" I begin, but he cuts me off.

"You should've stayed with them. I want to be alone right now."

"I know. Why are you avoiding me? I thought we were friends. I just would like an explanation."

He is silent for so long, that I don't think he's going to say anything. When he finally speaks, my heart jumps.

"To be clear, you're the one who pushed me away. And... I have been avoiding you because I usually don't let myself like someone as much as I am beginning to like you. It never goes well. So I was trying to make myself forget about it. I probably could have, had I not kissed you." My head spins with everything he's saying. We've only made it across the parking lot. He parks the car in a new spot and continues.