Blue Jay #Wattys2016

GOODBYES

The first thing I did when I got home was check the answering machine. I had missed a call from Alexis;

   “Hey, Christy. Sorry I missed you. Call me when you get this, I need to talk to you.”

   I called her back as soon as the machine beeped.

   She answered on the second ring “Hello?”

   “Hey, it’s Chris. You said you needed to talk to me?”

   “Oh, yeah…” there was a long pause “I can’t move in with you until the summer, sorry sis. I have to finish school and grad and prom, so.”

   “Oh.” I sighed “Too bad. I guess I can be patient.” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice.

   “I’m real sorry ‘bout this, sis. I hope I can make it up to you. Hey! What are you doing on our birthday?”

   This revelation shocked me “Um, I don’t know, why?”

   “I was just thinking, maybe we could have a party! You, me, Marc, all of my friends. And I have to meet Andrew.”

   I noticed she said my not our, but I ignored it “I don’t really think it’s a good time for a party… maybe next month.”

   “That’s when our birthday is, silly.”

   I dug my phone out of my pocket and turned it on. The date on the screen was April 13th, exactly a month away from our birthday.

   “It’s April? Huh…” I murmured into the receiver.

   Alexis giggled on the other end of the phone “Are you always so oblivious? Anyways, what are you guys doing in school?”

   “I wouldn’t know.” I muttered.

   “Oh. Right…” she said slowly “Things must be so much harder for you than me, I’m so sorry.”

   It was only harder on me for reasons that she couldn’t know about. Nor would she ever understand, not that I would tell her. It would just be so much easier if I could tell her. Scream in triumph about how I’d lost my virginity at 17. I couldn’t be happier than I was at that moment, and I knew that these were supposed to be my dark days.

   But how could I be sad when I was in love with such a perfect being? And, the icing on the cake, he’s in love with me, too! These aren’t my dark days, these are my victory days.

   “It’s been… different. I-”

   I heard a loud bang from upstairs. I jumped and dropped the receiver, the cord saved it from smashing against the linoleum.

   I held my mouth shut to keep from screaming. I knew exactly who it was. Clare. It had to be, I’m completely alone, this is the perfect time for her to take me.

   All I have to do is walk up those stairs and present myself. What’s the sense in running when you’re so close to death?

   I ran up the stairs and threw myself onto the bed in my room. I had my eyes squeezed shut, tensing myself for whatever she had planned.

   “Christina, what are you doing?” Andrew’s velvety voice wafted throughout the room.

   I slowly opened my eyes to find his beautifully sculpted face staring bewilderedly at my figure.

   I sat up “I thought you were Clare.” the words came out as one.

   He bent down in front of the bed and gazed up into my eyes “You have to stop this.” he whispered “It’s not right. You know you’re safe, right?” I nodded “Then please, for me, be calm. She’s not going to get you. She won’t come near you.”