LADDERS OF LOVE

Page 2

Chapter 2

I woke up to the sweet melody of nature's alarm-mom. I've snoozed my actual alarm like thirty minutes ago. Either it gave up trying to wake me up or it broke. Pretty sure it's the latter part considering the fact that no one in a proper state of mind wouldn't have anything to do with me.

"IM UP! I'm up.", I groggily shout back to her. Partly because she had to wake me up like that. And also because she won't be able to hear me in this house otherwise.

Opening the bathroom door, I walk in and look at myself in the mirror. Staring back at me is a tousled girl with red eyes, swollen lips and tangled black-brownish hair that usually falls down to the small of my back. I don't even know why my lips are that big when I wake up, it doesn't even make sense.

I've always hated the fact that I have to always be in the middle. I'm neither short nor tall, my skin is not dark chocolate or white chocolate- it's some weird pale tanish color? I think? Is that even a thing? I don't know.

But the one thing I actually like about myself is my eyes. There the darkest shade of dark brown, like a vast mysterious expanse of mystery... I fancy that.

Anyways that doesn't matter. You can't be someone your not. I mean I'd love to have smooth silky hair like all those pretty pretty girls out there, rock red lips, or you know?Be tall enough for people to actually notice you?But everyone knows that can't happen unless I'm hellbent on investing a fortune for it. So. No.

After cleaning myself up, I tie my hair back and get into something comfortable- in my case a hoodie- and saunter downstairs. It's winter holidays and I'm chilling off.                          Like C. H. I. L. L. I. N. G.

Ok That's the biggest lie I've ever told myself. My finals are coming up in like 7 weeks and I have a shit load of studying to do. It's safe to say that I'm nowhere close to finishing it.

So. I sit in front of the T. V and flick through the channels while eating my cereal. Boring. Finishing my breakfast I climb back up and I sit down in front of my desk. I will be productive today.

But my mind involuntarily drifts off to my phone. People are enjoying there vacations I see. I swipe through everyone's stories and just as I was going to switch off the phone and start working, I stumble across the story of Dylan. Dylan Collete. The cutest most perfect guy I've ever met. He's that preppy jock-y type of guy in school. He's tall. Nothing but all lean muscles- not too much not too little. And he has the most head spinning smile. The most relaxing, the most oddly familiar voice that I'd be able to recognize anywhere.  And the one thing that I'll never get over him is his indescribably heart melting, heart clutching, heart breaking eyes.

Worst of all he's friendly. Even though sometimes he's just a jerkass jerk. He's a friendly jerk.

There's not a single soul in our school that doesn't know the name Dylan Collete. He's a heartthrob with the student population and a golden student with the teachers. With ALL the teachers. Be it academics or sports, there's literally no absolute thing he is incapable of doing.

That's not the reason he's a jerk though. He's a jerk because he dismissed our friendship without any excuses or reasons. He's a jerk because of that.

We used to be close around a long time ago. We were together for biology, chemistry, and physics. We used to crack jokes, laugh and talk with each other quite often. He always used to sit next to me . I remember one particular bio lesson where he simply turned around and just kept on gazing at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked him, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"Looking. ",I can still remember how soothing his voice was to my ears.

"At what?"

"At the sky"

I turned around and saw the pale blue background through the window next to me.
"The 'sky',Dylan is not on my face", I told him, air quoting the word "sky".

"I know", he didn't break the eye contact and he made no move to turn around.

Not being accustomed to getting so much attention I decided to make him feel awkward as well, cuz two can play at a game. Right?! I propped my cheek in my hand and looked right into his mesmerizing eyes. Besides, I wasn't going to neglect the perfect chance to check him out.

His eyes were the perfect color. Not too dark because I'm sure he doesn't even know what pain and heartbreak means. But not too light either because... because he was destined to trap innocent girls by those eyes. They reminded me of soil for some reason. Ok I admit it- that was a weird thought. But it's true! It's an endless universe of golden and green specks nestled among a vast forest of rich luscious...soil.

We kept up our staring contest until the teacher finally noticed why Dylan wasn't taking part of the discussion as he usually would.

When he finally turned around as if whatever just happened never happened and continued with his affairs , I was left star struck. What just happened? My best friend Sofia was having a fucking fit next to me and I contained my urge to roll my eyes.

"And what are you doing?" I was snapped out of my daze.

"He is so into you Cher" , now at this I actually did roll my eyes. Firstly because of the nickname, Cher / Cherry and secondly because He is not into me. Like him? And me? That's as likely as the sky is likely to kiss the ground. Dream on Sofia. Dream on.

"Don't call me Cherry. Or Cher. Or anything at all. ", because ever since my English professor ( who gave me the name since  I reminded her of a little cherry girl apparently?) died from an unnecessary heart attack at a heart achingly young age. I've been quite sensitive towards the topic. But I kinda liked being called Cherry; I feel as if she's still with me. Don't tell Sofe I said that tho.

"Pfft. As if you don't like it", she scoffed at me an returned to her work.