41. Library

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 Chapter 41 - Library 

 Run!

Run!

My heart hammered against my chest unhealthy like. My legs burned from the scared running that pulled on every muscle I had. Her blonde hair cascaded against her back as she sprinted for her life. The house was eerily quiet, the dead of the night, until screams consumed the hot air, one after another, again and again. Like a broken record, it was a constant horrifying shriek, coming from every corner of the house.

I tried to keep up with Kenzie's running, jealous at how fast she was, and envying how her blonde hair was perfectly curled.

We came to a dead end, her nicely cleaned pink girly room. 

She tripped on her foot, falling to the floor with a loud thump and another screech falling from her plump pink lips.

A blurred object was placed in my hand, something cold and smooth against my fingertips. A surge of adrenaline seared through my body and every vein I had, making the room spinning.

Run! Run!

Spitting colors of red spotted into my clouded vision with my ears being pierced by the intensifying cries from Kenzie. 

Ring!

Ring!

     Groaning, I slammed by alarm clock to end the sickening rings. Having to get up with the annoyance of my alarm clock before the sun rises should be a crime. It’s another day of school, and the worst day of the week - Monday.

    I was coated with a thin layer of sweat from my nightmare, and out of breath from the horrid images. Tears threatened to leak from my eyes, but I held a strong fight against them, and decided to take a hot shower to attempt to erase the thoughts of Kenzie and the night terror. 

    Yesterday, Alex and I spent the morning together as usual with breakfast, but didn't spend any time with each other afterwards due his band practice and the gig he had later in the day, which left me in pure boredom and gave me time to catch up on my studies and homework.

   College was turning into a persistent worry. With the school year ending, I hadn’t turned in any college applications, but my grades were turning out well, besides math, which I was still passing, just not a grade that I like to see. Graduation was scaring the hell out of me.

    Now, I was gradually getting ready, along with being grumpy in general. My hair wasn’t cooperating with how I pictured it to be. The pimple on my left cheek was still visible no matter how much makeup I powdered it. The hickeys on my neck from Alex were fading with the help of makeup, but they were still somewhat noticeable, which irritated me to the fullest extent.

   My outfit didn't fit like the way I wanted it to, leaving me just to put on one of Alex's black hoodies, and jeans.

   Derek was yelling my name from downstairs, adding more to my aggravation. I quickly obeyed and dragged myself downstairs.

     He was sitting in the kitchen, munching on his breakfast while reading the newspaper. I dully poured myself cereal as he discreetly watched me from where he sat. It was like having a stalker precisely observing me.

   "Laila," he spoke up.

   "Yeah?" I said with cereal filled in my mouth.  

   "How did you know?"

   "Know what?" I furrowed my eyebrows, directing my fullest attention on him.

   "You know, with asking me about your disorder the other day." he hesitated throughout the whole sentence.

   He threw me off guard with the unexpected question. I had no idea how to answer his sudden curiosity. 

   Honestly, if Alex were not to be in my life, I would have still been oblivious to my disorder and my medicine. Speaking of my medication, I haven't even taken it since the afternoon where Alex questioned it. And now that I think about it, I never felt so alive and normal in my own skin since then.

   Returning back to Derek, I shrugged, telling him that I didn’t know. He left it at that, and we resumed to eating our breakfast.

 Ten minutes later, we were at my school. I got out of his car while he mumbled ‘have a good day’

       I was still grimly walking, and wishing to be dead, or anywhere else, but the weather outside was finally decent, and spiked up my mood for the better of things. It was finally a sign of spring, with the snow melting, and soon, flowers were going to bloom.

     Walking in the halls, I easily found Alex at his locker, putting in his binders and folders. My smile warmed at the sight of him. He wore a black sweater, nearly identical to mine, which made me blush from our accidental twinning. He also wore skinny jeans and brown boots too.

    “Hey, angel,” His smiled crookedly, his face genuinely lit up from my presence. He leaned in, giving me a soft short kiss on my lips.

     I panicked for a second, thinking about the bystanders that were possibly watching, but decided against it. Everyone was passed the shock state that mute girl Laila and (bad boy mysterious) new kid were dating.

   “How did you sleep last night?” He asked as we walked to our first class.

     I shrugged my shoulders carelessly. He knew I couldn’t talk in the hallways, especially with so many people who could over hear me. Just thinking about speaking with so many students surrounding me caused me to cringe and shiver with an unpleasant taste in my mouth.

     Shortly, we entered fat old man’s class room, and I mentally groan from the lingering smell the class room had. I blamed fat old man for it. His arm pit stains on his dirty white shirt was merely just the first evidence.

     Class started and I wasn’t having it. Fat old man’s monotone voice almost put me to sleep until Alex tossed a folded letter on my desk, startling me with a jolt in my body.  

    Groaning from being awake, I opened the paper, and gently smiled from the words before me.

Letter # 220

Dear Laila Rose Grey,

    I would put a poem but fat old man is sucking the life out of me and any creativity left in me. I hate Mondays, a lot. They suck and whoever invented Monday sucks too.

   Now, tell me where you sit during lunch because the past week you haven’t been at any tables at all

AWG

   Yawning, I wrote back to him. My handwriting was sloppy and careless. I shrugged, oh well.

   Letter number 221 was short. I simply wrote that I hated Mondays too, and told him I eat in the library instead.

     The dragging hour finally passed, and unfortunately, it was time for Alex and me to take our separate ways until lunch. If only we had more classes besides fat old man’s and art.

   All of my classes seemed to strain sluggishly than usual and it left me to almost die of boredom. I was either sleeping or just thinking off in space. I truly hated Mondays, although just blissfully thinking of Alex helped with enduring the boredom. Friday night couldn’t have gone any greater than it had. From the concert and to the night we spent together, it was something I’d never forget. It changed our relationship and demeanor together, which I was perfectly okay with.

   Finally after a long dull morning, lunch came around. I was a bit nervous to see if Alex would show up in the library or not. I wouldn’t be disappointed if he decided to sit with Jack, Rian, and Zack…or maybe I would.

   I honestly didn’t know.

     Hurriedly and avoiding eye contact with anyone in the hallways, I made it to the silent and serene library, which I’ve grown to love these past weeks. No one ever comes in here during lunch besides me, and another kid who studies to himself at one of the tables.

   I walked through the countless aisles of books. One thing about this school that I actually enjoyed was how massive the library was. They had every category known to mankind and a book for everyone. It would be easy to get lost in there.

   I sat down at my usual spot, in the deeps of the towering shelves that hid me from everything and everyone. The carpet was rough but I didn’t mind. Derek was kind enough to make my lunch – PB and J, crackers, grapes, and an apple juice box.

    Munching on my sandwich with two hands, my peripheral vision caught a small silhouette passing by. For a second, I thought it was Alex, but then again, it’s probably that one damn couple who comes in here once a week to make out.

   God forbid if it was. I didn’t think I could take seeing that scene again.

   But there it was again. This time, I peeked through the shelf I was leaning against, and quickly grinned at who I saw. Alex, who looked deeply confused, was wondering around.

   I assumed he was trying to find me, which led to my phone vibrating.

  Alex – Where are you?

  Biting back my laugh, I replied.

  Come and find me ;)

   He groaned loudly, echoing throughout the whole library, and earned himself a rude ‘shh!’ from the librarian. His steps were gaining faster as he left my eye sight. It was only going to be a short amount of time until he found me.

    Another vibration shook my phone, making me bite back my laughter even harder.

   Alex – Got shh’ed by the bitchy librarian. Oh the things I do for you. You’re lucky I love you. Now, give me a hint.

   This time, my laugh blurted out my mouth, and probably gave away my location, but I replied back anyway.

  Hint – I stay hidden from the ‘bitchy’ librarian, and yes, I’m lucky that you love me, too bad I love you more.

    “Look what we have here.” He cockily said, smirking with his hands on his hips. He stood tall just before me as I looked up at him. “I know your laughter from anywhere.”

     He crisscrossed right beside me on the floor, and took my chips out of my hands, which left me to scold at him. But he ate it anyway with no shame.

     The isolated area gave me the confidence to speak and made words flow out of my mouth more effortlessly. “How was your day?”

His expression changed, his lips thinned out and he turned a sick pale color suddenly. “I had a panic attack,” he solemnly whispered.

    “Oh,” I breathed. It sucked hearing that. Knowing he was in pain and I wasn’t there to stop it made me hate myself more than I did today. Images of Alex panicking, helpless and desperate for aid surfaced my thoughts.

   “I thought of you and everything was better.” He shyly mumbled.

   My hands jerked his head, giving me clearance to kiss him hard without warning him. Our lips were set in motion with in only a matter of seconds. His hands traveled around me, scooting me closer to his warm body.

   He disconnected our lips, and smiled against mine. “I love you, so, so much.”

   “I love you, too.” I pecked his lips again, cheekily smiling close to his face.

    We sat for a while in quietness while playing with each other’s fingers or hair, doing random things nonchalantly. His fingertips were the regular – calloused from guitar playing, which reminded me of his whereabouts last night.

      “How was your gig?” I asked while messing around with his hair at the same time, not like it wasn’t messy before or anything.

     “Good, actually, a decent amount of kids showed up, and we got paid.” He sighed with relief and his bones loosened. It was obvious he was relieved with the money he made. After all, he was a month behind on his rent. “Well, I have something to tell you.”

    “Tell me,” I urged. Hearing, ‘I have something to tell you’ from anyone always and forever will make my breathing stop and slow down the beating of my heart. The anticipation was going to be the death of me.

    “Right after graduation, the band is going on a week tour around Maryland, a gig each night for seven days.” He had a goofy smile bright on his face and was blushing madly.

 “Wow, Alex,” I was in shock. “That’s absolutely – wow.”  I was lost for words and had too many thoughts racing to mind to even form a sentence. Graduation seemed so far away, but it was coming up closer than I thought despite it being March. Alex gone for a week? It’s possible for me to live, I know, I’ve done it before, but what if something happens to him during that week? A car accident could occur or a freak accident, I don’t know, but something horrid could certainly happen in a finger snap.  

     “I know,” He responded with a chuckle, amused by my shock and speechless state, but little did he know there was a war of overthinking in my mind. "The last night we'll play at Rams Head."

   "Rams Head?" I exclaimed. "How did you book that one?" 

    Rams Head was one of the best local venues that any starter band would be lucky to play. So many local bands that were now in the lead of the scene played there at their beginnings. 

   "Hometown Anthem, who we're opening for, got it booked. They're from our current record label." He explained.

   "Yeah, but we're not talking about any venue or bar, it's Rams Head!" I said.

   "That's why I want you there. I'll put your name on the list."

"Well, I can't wait." I genuinely smiled. 

The lunch bell sounded off and both Alex and I groaned in an illusion from the nuisance. 

  "C'mon, let's get to art." He sighed, picking up my books for me.

   We walked together hand in hand through the halls and made our way to art class room. Today Miss. Berry-Winkle was absent, leaving us to watch a movie on ancient Egypt.

    Alex and I sat in the very back of the dark class room. The projection of the film left a soft haze from its colors, allowing me to see somewhat. The boring monotone narrator silenced the room and had everyone either sleeping or wishing to be somewhere else. Even the substitute was obnoxiously snoring away. 

     A letter unexpectedly landed delicately in my hand. I glanced over to Alex, who was sitting next to me. He had a small smirk playing off on his lips. He shrugged and pointed to the paper.

Letter # 222

Tinkerbell,

Tomorrow, 7pm sharp, I'll pick you up.

It's a surprise

AWG

   I pouted my lips from what I had read. Curiosity got to the best of me of trying to figure out what this so called surprise would be. 

      My hand fished in my bag for a pen and paper for letter number 223. The inside of my bag looked like a tornado passed through. It was evidence of my untidiness and showed how much I could care less about organization when it came to my school work.

   The beginning of the school year, I was so set on things and had my goals in place. But now I was lacking just about everything. I lacked sleep, the grades I wanted, support from my family, scholarships, and just about everything I ever hoped for.

   At least I have Alex, I guess.

Letter # 223

Alexander,

    You know I hate surprises, but keep it 7pm, Derek should be gone by then for a college class and my father will probaby be stored away in his study. 

- Tinkerbell/ Angel/ Laila Rose/  Extraordinary girl / Your girlfriend 

_________________

a.n

They're cute as hell bye

So sorry if this chapter is short, yhis week was from hell, everything is crashing down on me all at once (mid terms, my dog of ten years passing away, and my depression getting worse ugh)

I hope everyone had an amazing week, and remember to get sleep, drink water always, and eat too! See you guys soon x 

Chapter dedication; AndreaGomez028 (You win a free Alex Gaskarth...plus shipping and handling)

- Kc Dec. 12, 2014