Dear Ocean Sky

Chapter 11 | Alex

"Mamá please come pick me up," Alex said into her phone. Her voice sounded broken and raspy. She knew she probably shouldn't have run away from Kata like that, but she didn't want to try to explain herself. She didn't know how. She had even begun to feel happy. Kata made her laugh and at first it was just a response but then- it became genuine laughter.

Rock and alternative.

"Are you okay? Alex, what's wrong?" Ms. Cairney said, worry oozing from her voice.

"I don't want to talk about it right now. Just- please Mamá?" It was taking all of Alex's strength to not start crying.

"Okay. I'll be there soon." Alex could hear her mom grabbing the car keys as she ended the call.

My Chemical Romance.

Alex let her back slide down the brick wall she was leaning against as she pulled her knees up to her chest. She curled up as small as she could and started rocking slightly. She knew she probably looked crazy, but she was on a hidden part of the school wall, and she could care less at the moment.

"Famous Last Words."

Alex pushed her hands against both sides of her head, trying not to let memories surface, but they bubbled up anyway. Clear as day. Like they happened yesterday.

***

"And to think, you didn't want to listen to them!" A exclaimed jumping onto Alex's bed.

Alex laughed like she had been all night. "I know, I know okay? You're right! You're always right!" She plopped on the bed next to A who then began to tickle her. Alex held up her hands in surrender. "You win! You win!"

Alex flopped over to lay on her stomach and A draped his legs over Alex's. "So what's your favorite song?" he asked.

Alex thought for a moment about all the 'My Chemical Romance' songs she had listened to in the past months. "Hm, I'm really not sure. I don't think I know them all well enough yet." A mischievous look passed over A's face. "Oh no, not again! I know that one well enough!"

"Yeah but you can never get enough of it! It's so good!" Suddenly A's smile was wiped from his face. "It just has so many emotions poured into it. Those guys opened their hearts to show us the pain inside them. It just..." A trailed off and started looking out the window. Alex sat up to look at her best friend.

"Hey," Alex put her hand on A's shoulder. "You okay?"

A looked over at his friend and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm good."

Alex knew better than to push him, and before she knew it A had hopped off the bed to grab his phone. He started blasting 'Famous Last Words.' The two friends started singing along like they had so many times before during their sleepovers together, but instead of A's usual belting and jumping around, even though it was not an energetic song, he sat on the bed singing the words underneath his breath.

"So many bright lights, they cast a shadow
But can I speak?
Well is it hard understanding?
I'm incomplete...

My eyes are shining bright
'Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
And I'm so weak..."

By the time they reached the bridge, A had tears clouding his eyes. They began to drop with each line.

"I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead..."