Chained together

Chapter 5

Arinas POV:
The whole weekend all I could think about was my dads request.

It was repeating in my head over and over again to the point where it was all I could think about. I kept seeing my mother's face everywhere, kept hearing her voice in my head. My mind kept replaying memories, making me tear up in the middle of class. Everything was too much.

The teachers voice.

The chatter around me.

The sound of chawk on the board.

Everything was so loud.

"Arina? Are you listening?", the teacher snapped me out of my thoughts, the unapologetic stare leaving no room for me to argue.

I shook my head, my voice buried deep in my throat that burned along with my eyes that were brimming with tears. The teacher raised her eyebrow, before sighing, gestring out of the classroom, "Come outside, please."

I nodded and got up, hearing whispers as we exited the classroom. A tear or two fell, but I stubburnly held back my sobs. The teacher put her hand on my shoulder, "Has something happened? At home?"

I shook my head, keeping my gaze to the floor.

"With a friend, or partner?", she tried again, but I gave the same answer.

"Is it because of school?"

I shrugged, wanting to just run and cry it out.

"Well whatever it is, it'll be okay. Class will end I a moment, so just take your things and try to calm down, okay? If you want, you can go home if you're not feeling well."

"It's okay. I'll stay.", I told her, receiving a nod in return as the bell rang. I took my bag, Sophias voice a mess I couldn't make out as I bolted out of the classroom and towards the exit of the school.

I can't do this.

Mirais POV:
The next few days, Arina looked distraught and I wondered why. She often gets distracted normally, but this is too much spacing out, even for her. It worried me so much that my brain kept coming up with different problems, but I kept chickening out every time I tried to ask, telling myself that if she wanted me to know that she would tell me.

But today, when I saw her run away, crying her eyes out, my hear felt like it shattered right then and there. I rushed after her, all the way outside where I caught up and pulled her into a tight hug, her tears wetting my shirt.

After a bit we pulled away, Sophias voice nearby, "Ari, hey. Are you okay?", she asked, pulling her into a hug. I sighed, taking a step back as the two talked, rolling my eyes at Sophias almost theateric looking worried face.

Arina brushed off her worries and told her to just go back to class and that she'll just get some fresh air. When Sophia walked away, Arina let out another sob and I put my arm around her shoulders, "Wanna go sit down?"

"I'll go alone. You should go to class.", she all but whispered.

"What happened?", I asked.

Arina shrugged my arm off, turning to me with reddened eyes that glared into mine, "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Do you really expect me to let it go that easily?", I asked her, crossing my arms over my chest.

She shrugged, crossing her own arms in retaliation, "Really, I'm fine. Just got a bit overwhelmed in class."

"Arina, whatever it is that's bothering you, you can tell me. I'll listen-"

"Its not about that."