Veronica Blue

Chapter 11

I couldn't sleep that night. My head was spinning. My thoughts racing through the events of the night and how confused I was.

I decided to do a mental recap.

So I managed to get my two best friends -presently not on speaking terms- to come over to my house for an activity.

Then in the middle of that activity one of my friends got a paranormal experience right in front of me and the other friend. She then runs off and out of my house and the other friend follows suite.

I redo my mental recap one more time and come to the conclusion that none of it made any actual sense.

Could it be that what happened to Amira was as a result of something we had seen in that book? Or was it something else she had seen in my room? Or was it an encounter entirely different, external and unrelated to any of the things that happened that night.

I couldn't stay in my room that night obviously. So I just stayed up ad watched comedies on tv to distract myself as I waited for my mum to get back. When she did get back, I asked if I could spend the night in her room and she agreed.

I didn't want to tell her the actual reason, so I just told her I was having trouble sleeping and I thought it would be easier to sleep if I was with someone else.

I didn't want to spend too much time dwelling on what had happened that night because I had to get ready for school. I decided I'd ask Amira about the whole thing in math class.

"Nicole! Hurry up or you're gonna be late!" My mum called out to me. I had told her she didn't need to help me get ready anymore because I wanted to get used to doing it myself.

I got ready quickly and soon we were in the car headed for my school. The drive was awfully quiet though. My mother asked if I was okay but I just told her I was thinking about a dream I had that I didn't really recall.

I got to school a little late so the hallway was not as crowded as it usually was when I get to school. I walked through the weirdly quiet halls and went straight to my locker. I concluded that the hall only seemed weird because of the nostalgia of the events of the night before.

I took my necessities and went straight for chemistry class. I couldn't pay attention in that class because I kept on thinking about that night.

"Don't worry, Nicole. After this is math class. You'd talk to Amira about last night, and clear out your mind." I said to myself under my breath.

Chemistry class went on for like forever. But it was finally over. Immediately I went over to my locker, switched notes and went straight for math class.

I got to math class early but Amira wasn't there yet, so I decided to wait for her.

The class started. It went on. It ended. No sign of Amira.

I thought that to be rather weird and unexpected. It wasn't like Amira to skip class or school even. I was bothered. I was bothered because this can only mean that Amira was not okay.

Once it was lunch time, I decided to look for Amira. As I was looking for her, I bumped into Veronica on the hallway.

"Veronica!" I exclaimed. I had totally forgotten all about her, I was too busy worrying about Amira.

"Oh hey, Nicole." She said awkwardly.

"What's wrong?" I asked "Why do you sound so nervous?"

"Nothing." She said with an exaggerated smile. "Just that after last night..." She trailed off.

"What happened after last night?" I asked.

"Nothing serious." She said with a shrug. "I've just been skeptical."

"Skeptical?" I asked confused. "About what?"

"About...you." She said with a wince. "You and your grandma, Nicole."

"Why would you be-"

"Isn't it obvious?" She said with an awkward shrug. "That book."

"So you don't want to be friends with me anymore?" I asked as my expression fell.

"No!" She spat. "Nothing like that. I still want to be your friend. I'm just...skeptical."

"Alright." I said unsure of what else to say. "I can't find Amira." I said.

"I don't think she's at school today." Veronica said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I looked for her. Obviously." She said with a shrug. "You're not the only one that's worried, you know."

"Yeah. You're right." I muttered. "I guess I'd just call her when I get home."

"Good idea. You should totally do that."

"Yeah." I said dryly. We had both been talking dryly. Like we were numb and not feeling emotions. The conversation had an uncomfortably weird aura.

"Anyways, I have to go now." Veronica said.

"Yeah. Me too." I said and we both went our separate ways.

School dragged on rather slowly. Probably because I couldn't wait to get home so I could call Amira. But eventually it was over.

The moment I got home I took out my phone and decided to give Amira a call.

The first time I called, it just rang on and she didn't answer. I tried a second time and it was the same thing. And so was the third. I was starting to get anxious. It seemed like Amira didn't want to talk to me. Was she also skeptical about me?

I decided to try calling a fourth time. It rang on for a couple of seconds. But before the end of the the caller tune the phone started to heat up and suddenly it started to spark. On reflex I dropped it on the floor and without a second to spare, it blew. Right there it caught on fire. I screamed and ran into the bathroom to get some water.

I poured a whole bucket of water on it but it didn't die down even a little. Instead the sparks got intense. I ran out and went for the fire extinguisher as quickly as I could. I sprayed the phone crazily and it finally stopped, but the phone was damaged. I couldn't use that to call anyone. I just left it on the floor right where it had burnt and stared at how black it had become and how black the spot where it burnt was.

I couldn't call Amira, and the only other option was to go over to her house.

I left immediately because I was worried. I didn't want it to look like I didn't care and then find out later on that something really bad happened to her.

When I got to her front door I paused to take breath. I was nervous, she probably didn't want to talk to me anymore. She probably thought I was scary now.

I summoned up the courage to push the doorbell. It rang but no one came to answer, and I didn't know if I was to push it again or wait. I waited a bit, no one came so I decided to push it again. Just as I was about to, the door opened and Amira's mother was on the other side.

"Oh, h-hello Nicole." She said with a weak smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine Mrs Saheed." I said with my own weak smile. "Can I...can I see Amira?"

"Oh, I'm afraid she doesn't really want to see you." She said sadly. "At least not right now or today. Or any time soon."

"Oh." I said under my breath. I knew it. She was scared of me. If only I didn't call them over to open that book everything would have been better. Veronica would be fine and Amira won't be scared of me. And I wouldn't feel so hopeless. "I guess I'd go home then."

Mrs. Saheed nodded and shut the door.

I went back home feeling miserable. I just plopped unto my bed and stayed there until I fell asleep.