S.M.S(Save My Soul)

Chapter 8: An Episode

After Afrikaans class, I was still feeling like I just got run over by a train so when I remembered I invited Eve over I felt like cancelling but the way she looked so happy when I invited her over made me rethink cancelling. I headed to my locker to place my books back before I even closed it shut someone else did it for me scaring the s**t out of me.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Eve said with a slight smile seeing me look so shaken.

"It's alright," I tried to laugh it off but even a blind man could tell that it was forced.

"You ok?" She asked me

"Ya just tired is all ready to go?" I asked her with a fake grin

"Ya sure lead the way," she enthusiastically said, I slung my backpack over one shoulder and walked side to side with Eve careful not to bump into anyone and all the while Eve was watching me like a hawk.

"And where are you two heading off to?" Anji stood in front of us with her squad arms crossed over her perfectly shaped chest and eyebrow raised with her eyes narrowed solely on me.

"None of our concern," Eve bluntly said eyeing Anji up and down with a scowl

"Well except it is mother gothel after all you were supposed to be our sweeper remember," Anji said to Eve icily getting up in her face, considering Anji was taller than both of us she looked a little more intimidating than normal something happened to initiate this extra foul mood she was in.

"I quick ages ago Angelica or has that peasized brain of yours finally shrunk to non-existent," Eve said with venom in her tone

"Why you son of a b***h," Anji screeched anger radiating off her in waves, none of us was expecting her to do anything so when she threw a punch in Eve's direction we were all shocked but luckily I was fast on my feet as I jumped in front of Eve taking the hit straight to the face and oh boy did it hurt like hell.

"f**k," I cursed tasting that all too familiar metallic taste of blood in my mouth, I rubbed my sore cheek cringing in pain at how sore it was.

"s**t Angelica what the hell is wrong with you," Eve angrily yelled at Anji who looked dumbfounded at what she did, she was a composed person so violence was never her thing so for this to happen she must've finally snapped because of something.

"Not my fault she got in the way," Anji said through gritted teeth but the guilt in her eyes could not be concealed from me so that was the best apology I would possibly get.

"I'm fine just a loose tooth," I sighed giving Eve an assuring smile with bloody teeth

"Oh my god Belle you need to see the nurse," Eve gasped

"Relax I'm ok nothing is out of place," I reassured her spitting out the blood in my mouth

"You say that wait till the pain kicks in," Eve cringed holding onto my arm as if I was going to drop at any second.

"I'm fine Eve ok," I laughed lightly enjoying her motherly tone.

"Oh relax Eve it's not like I broke her arm," Anji rolled her eyes at Eve and what surprised me the most was the way Eve changed completely going ice-cold as she stood up and took a dangerous step towards Anji. Any fool could tell that Anji flinched at the hard stare Eve threw in her direction.

"You ever lay a finger on her ever again and I will string that pretty little tongue of yours out your mouth along with your innards and hang you by the neck understood?" Eve threatened Anji in a spine chilling low voice that even shook me to the bones, she was terrified when she chose to be. Anji didn't say anything just gritted her teeth and left bumping Eve hard with her shoulder.

"f*****g b***h," Eve cursed after Anji left rubbing her shoulder before sighing heavily and turning her attention to me, "You sure you're ok?" She asked more tenderly caressing my cheek with her warm hand that sent tingles down my spine, the way she looked at me with such concern and how close her face was to mine was enough to make everything else disappear until it was just me and her alone in our universe.

"Mhm," I dumbly mumbled mesmerized by her eyes that bore into my soul, my response seemed to make her laugh as she did the most bizarre thing in the world, she booped my nose with her tongue. My eyes bulged out of their sockets as I wiggled my nose in surprise, she chuckled and stood up helping me to stand up as well by the hand.

"Let's get out of here this place is bumping me out way more than usual," Eve sighed

"Ya sure," I said shakily walking out of the school with a small smile and a little pep to my walk.

No one could blame me for feeling so high and mighty, I was walking home with a beautiful girl who I just couldn't get enough off. She was a fresh breath of air I didn't know I needed and she even tolerated me what more could a gal ask for.

"So do you walk home every day?" Eve asked while we walked to my house

"No just when I feel like it which is almost every day," I shrugged my shoulders taking in the sun shining above us.

"Cool, my mom picks me up considering my place is like two hours from here," she scoffed finding it annoying how far she lives from school. I wasn't sure what to say to that so I just said the first thought that came to mind

"Sorry," I sadly said

"Nothing to be sorry about non of it is your fault," she shrugged, after that awkward conversation, we walked back to my place in silence.

When we got home I unlocked the front door with my spare key and walked in locking it behind Eve. We headed straight to my room considering Eve wasn't hungry after I offered her something to eat but on our way to my room I heard laughter in the lounge all too familiar voices and I thought I was going mad before I went to the lounge to check out who my dad was laughing with. Turned out it was Lauren looking as radiant as ever, she was sitting with my dad on the couch with a wine bottle on the coffee table and each holding a glass of wine. They looked pretty cosy just watching tv and laughing about god knows what.

"Belle, you're home and you brought a friend," Dad was the first to notice us and he seemed a bit out of it probably floating on cloud nine along with Lauren, he looked slightly carefree and I might even go as far as saying he looked happy genuinely happy.

"Hey dad, hey Lauren this is my classmate Eve she's going to stay for a little bit to finish our project," I lied smoothly not wanting them to ask for any further discussions but before I could leave, Lauren trapped me with a question.

"How are you, Belle?" Lauren asked her forehead creasing in concern,

"I'm fine thank you, how are you?" I asked through gritted teeth already done with this conversation considering that Eve was right next to me.

"That's good but your dad here tells me that you seem hesitant on going to Kyle's funeral," and there she blows, now Eve even looked more confused than ever and for once in existent my dad noticed my discomfort.

"Hey, Eve why don't I show you around the house while these two talk," dad suggested placing his wine glass on the coffee table and standing up swaying a little bit before getting his balance intact.

"Uh sure," Eve awkwardly said before shooting me a 'We will talk about this later' look. The moment they gave us some privacy Lauren patted the empty seat my dad occupied a moment ago motioning for me to sit next to her. With a heavy sigh, I pulled on my big girl pants and sat beside her even though all I wanted to do was run for the hills and never discuss that night as long as I shall live.

"How are you doing?" Lauren asked with that fairy motherly tone of hers that now just irritated me because she sounded like she was talking to a baby.

"As I said earlier I'm fine," I bluntly said through gritted teeth wanting nothing to do with where this conversation was going.

"Is that so, from what your dad tells me you're anything but," She said gently placing her glass down for a moment to pay her full attention to me. The scent of alcohol assaulted my nose and I cringed away from her hating the smell, I was never much of a fan of alcohol and probably never will be.

"Well he doesn't know me he's only assuming, I said I'm fine so I'm fine," I grunted

"Ok, then why don't you don't to come to Kyle's funeral? I know he would want you there" She asked blankly

"No one would want me there I'm the reason he's dead!" I snapped angrily standing up quickly before I could strangle the woman for using that baby tone that just aggravated me even me.

"Is that what you think?" She asked bewildered that I even thought that

"Yes for christ sake! I got your husband killed Lauren you should be plotting my demise not trying to comfort me" I yelled angrily pissed off that she was being so nice to me when she shouldn't, I guess my insecurities kicked in at that moment considering every time someone was nice to me I got suspicious for good reasons too no one was nice to me without wanting something in return so what did she want from me?

"Bellenthu sit down," she ordered firmly crossing her leg over the other, that meant serious business. With an aggravated sigh I sat down sulking like a little kid.

"You know the day kyle died it felt like a small part of me died with him, I never would've imagined him dying so soon but it was his time but I sleep better at night knowing he is in a much better, safer place. That night made me realise two things, one- never take those close to you for granted because you never know how much time you have left with them and two- you never know how quickly your life can flash before your eyes so holding grudges and hating so much is the worst thing you can do, I'd rather live my life to the fullest with no hate and die knowing that I had no regrets," she explained softly with a few silent tears falling down her cheek when she mentioned Kyle.

I felt terrible for snapping at her but then again I felt terrible for even being alive. I didn't understand why she wasn't trying to choke me to death for the death of her husband and for how disrespectful I was being if I snapped at my mom like that she would've slaughtered me on the spot without blinking an eye. Lauren was too kind for her good and people will and probably have taken advantage of that yet here she was still sweeter than candy.

"Then you're a bigger fool than I thought," I mumbled under my breath and left without another word because for sure my dad was going to whoop my ass for what I just said. I don't take back what I meant she was being foolish for not hating me. She should be angry even a little bit or maybe she was just good at hiding her emotions and she was plotting my death but if so then that would be the best damn day of my life just to finally have these demons in my head to shut up once and for all.

I found Eve and my dad in the garden and he was showing her some of moms rare flower collection.

"Hey Eve ready to start on that project?" I asked her hoping to get back in my room aka my sanctuary.

"Ya sure," she beamed walking towards me," You have a pretty neet collection of plants," she complimented.

"Thanks, it's my moms," I forced myself to smile and led her to my room before locking it behind me.

"You ok?" She asked noticing my bizarre form,

"Ya I'm good thanks, so how do you like the place?" I quickly asked her, changing the subject.

"Oh my gosh, I love your house truly its..." her voice got muffled by the roaring blood in my ears, I felt dizzy and tired all of a sudden and I couldn't shake off the world from spinning so I leaned against the wall to steady myself and stare at Eve as she spoke trying to look normal even though I was the furthest thing from normal. I took a deep breath and counted to ten in my head trying to focus on Eve well one of her and stop my racing heartbeat.

Breath

I took a few more deep breaths before the world stopped spinning and I could only see one Eve who was still talking animatedly about god knows what.

"And why didn't you tell me you had such a hot mom?" She gasped.

"She's not my mom just my dad's friend," I answered with a tight smile feeling my mouth being dry and my throat itchy all of a sudden.

"Alright, what happened earlier what was that all about?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing serious, my dads going to a funeral I don't want to go to and they're trying to convince me otherwise," I lied smoothly but that just made my mouth taste even bitter than before, sweat lined the back of my neck as I tried to swallow down the lie I just told.

"Oh, why don't you want to go?" She asked.

"Funerals freak me out and after my moms, I just never wanted to go to one ever again," I said honestly trying to mix in some truth in my lies.

"Oh, I'm sorry I asked," she sadly said pity filling up in those hazel eyes of hers, pity I did not need nor want.

"It's alright you were curious is all," I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly as if not bothered by her questions when honestly I wanted nothing more than to jump out the window and run away, why do people like bringing up the past when I was trying to escape it.

"BELLENTHU ANNA KHULE!!" I heard my dad yell from the hallway, s**t.

"Your middle name is Anna?" Eve asked with a small smirk.

"Ha, ya funny right," I tried to laugh it off but I was shaking like a leaf thinking of all the ways my dad was going to kill me. I didn't get a second to breathe as my dad tried to unlock the dad and found it locked.

"BELLENTHU OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!" He yelled on the other side banging on the door, the noise of the banging on the door triggered something in me as my heart rate spiked and the walls around me began to close.

"Breath," I whispered to myself trying to calm myself but without realising it I slid to the ground alongside the wall with my knees to my chest and my hands covering my ears. It was too much noise and the walls were way too close for my liking, my eyes were tightly closed so I didn't see when Eve came up to me and gently touched my exposed arm.

All hell might as well have been released as I got the fright of my life and all I saw when my eyes opened were those men staring down at me with menacing smiles, I was terrified but most of all angry. They did this to me they made me this mess that no one wants.

Without a moments notice, I jumped on the middle guy with a cry and began scratching and punching wherever I could.

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" I screamed strangling the guy, I got a bit too confident as I got thrown to the ground hard knocking the wind out of me. I coughed my lungs out feeling my back age tremendously, when I opened my eyes I was no longer in that dark ally but back in my room and when I looked up through hazed eyes Eve was on her knees rubbing her slightly bruised neck. Trinkets of blood littered her arms and even a few scratches on her face, I could see her bottom lip was busted by the blood dribbling from it.

Did I do that?

"Eve?" I cried in shock covering my mouth.

"Stay the f**k away from me," she cried standing up slowly before grabbing her bag and unlocking the door before running past my dad, who was shocked at her appearance before his eyes fell on me. The damaged crazed lunatic of a daughter he never wanted.