War Between Worlds

A Storm is Brewing

When I get to my locker, I find Lily leaning against it, on her phone. Once she sees me approaching her, she runs into me and tackles me.

“I was so worried when I didn’t see you during the last block. I called you like a billion times, but you didn't pick up! What happened to you?!” I debated in my head whether to tell her about what happened between me and Chris, but I wasn't ready to relive it. “I just didn't feel like going to class. Besides, I was called to the office so it can be my excuse.” Lily looked at me and then looked back down at her phone.

“You could have texted me back though. We could have skipped together. You think I enjoyed being in Mr. Hendrick's class while he went on and on about the 15 Amendments? I really didn't, especially since you weren't there.” I opened my locker and took out my bookbag.

“Well, what if I told you I could make it up to you? How does having a sleepover at my place sound? My parents are out for the rest of the week and I don't want to be by myself for so long.” Lily closed my locker for me and looped her arm with mine and dragged me to the exit doors. “Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world.” As we made our way to the parking lot Lily caught me up on what I missed in class and some drama that she overheard in the halls throughout the day. When we got to the parking lot, I locked eyes with Chris, who was leaning on his car. The events from a few moments ago replayed in my head and my cheeks felt like they were on fire. On our way to the car, Lily is stopped by one of her other friends. Her friend asked her about attending a party on the football field tonight and Lily said that she was all in.

I wasn't into the party scene, but Lily was a wild rager. She would go to every party that was open to invitations and she would turn them into raides. It didn't bother me that much because she couldn't drag me along to them, but I sometimes miss her when she’s gone.

Her friend then proceeded to ask her if she could stay after school and help with the preparations. Lily then turns to me, seeking my approval.

“I’m not your mother or keeper, child. Of course you can go”. She laughs and hugs me before walking towards the football field where a bunch of people were crowding. I turned toward the car again and found Chris still staring at me. Did I really make the right decision in letting Lily leave me alone with Chris?

I walk to the passenger side and climb in. "Your mother called and told me to babysit you." He says as he enters the car. The car ride was awkward, to say the least. I want to break the silence, but what do you say to someone in a situation like this? I lean my head against the window and watch the trees pass by. “Gabby…I-.”

“I don't want to talk about it.” If we talk about it, it'll make it real and it’ll change everything. It can take our friendship away.

“Probably all the more reason we should talk about it.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and I was afraid he might tear the wheel from its post. But after a few minutes, he sighs and tugs a hand through his hair. “Fine, you don’t want to talk about it with me, then let me tell you what I think happened. I think we let our emotions get ahead of ourselves. You were mad at me for what happened earlier and I didn't know why, we didn't know how to act. I didn't know how to act. I thought I was going to lose you, so I didn't run after you and…..” He trailed off and returned his focus on the road. Chris didn’t turn to look at me to see if I was still listening, but maybe he was just trying to keep his eyes on the road. I wondered if he noticed me staring at him. A bit of his hair curls around his ear. Any other day, on any other car ride, I would have reached over and tugged on it, twisted it around my finger until I coaxed a smile out of him and, when I did, I would poke him on the cheek.

I want everything to be okay between us, like things used to be, like it was hours ago. I reach out and capture that errant curl between my thumb and forefinger. My hand brushes against his cheek as I tuck it behind his ear, and through that light touch I feel the shiver that moves through his flesh. He then lets out a soft sigh as his shoulders relax and his grip on the steering wheel loosens. As he pulls onto my street, I pull away.

He puts the car in park when he slides into my driveway and then turns to me as I make my way out the door. “I’ll be back. I have to sort stuff out at home and pack up some clothes for tonight and tomorrow.”

“Who said you were sleeping over?” I said, mocking his stance. I want us to go back to normal. That's all I know.

He squints his eyes and pouts, “Your mother asked me because you didn’t have the audacity to invite me.” He then sticks out his tongue and puts the car in reverse. As he reverses the car, I stick out my tongue and make my way to my front door and head inside.

My house isn't that big, but it's not that small either. It's a 4 bedroom, 5-bathroom house with a backyard and porch area. Like I said, not big, but not small. I head to my room and get to my homework. After I finish, I go downstairs to the kitchen to get a snack. After that, I headed to the living room and put on a movie. Hours go by when the doorbell rings, I get up and open the door. Chris and Lily stand in the doorway with their luggage.

“These aren't mine. This drama queen decided to pack her whole room into suitcases and made me carry them down to my car and up to your house.” Chris was carrying mostly all of Lily’s bags while she was only carrying a duffle bag. I step aside and let them both in. I pointed Chris to my room so he could drop all of Lily’s stuff and then I showed him to the guest rooms.

Once we finished settling in, we spent the rest of the night watching movies and eating. I woke up at around 2 in the morning because of a distant sound. I felt achy and my head was pounding, like a hammer trying to break through a wall that couldn’t be broken as I cautiously opened my eyes. I squinted around the room. I turned to my nightstand to find that my phone was lit and slightly vibrating, indicating that someone was calling. I turned to see if Lily was awoken by the sound, but I found that she was sleeping soundly. Not even a storm could wake her. I reach over and pick up the phone and look at the screen as I slowly and steadily get out of bed. My mom was calling. I looked at the clock and it read 2:49 a.m. It was too late in the night for her to be calling to say goodnight. I answered the phone while making my way to my bay window. The line was silent for a split second and all that could be heard on my side was the pitter-patterning of the rain hitting the window.

"Sweetheart, are you there?" My mom sounded out of breath. I could barely hear it over the blood pumping in my ears and the splitting headache that I woke up with. My eyes turned hazy like they were trying to make sense of the reality they had been awoken to.

"Yes, mom, I'm here. What's wrong? What's that sound in the background? It's too loud. I can barely hear you." In the background I heard thunder and lightning smacking together, like she was in the middle of the storm. I walked up from my bay window and walked towards my door and towards the kitchen. “I’m about to tell you something that might sound crazy, but I have to tell you because I have no more time. I was going to ease you into this, but that's no longer possible.” I hear her huffing and puffing on the line. I hear thundering footsteps hitting the ground and the smacking of metal against metal.

“What are you talking about, you have no more time? You can tell me when you come back. We can sit down and talk about whatever you need to tell me…” I feel my heart begin to race even faster and my hands begin to shake. I grab onto the countertop, trying to steady my breath and my hand.

“I have no time, we have no time, Gabby. Just please listen, if I don't tell you this then….all hope is lost and all the preparation me and your father did will go to waste.” I turned my back to the countertop and slid my back down against it. “ Remember when I used to sit on your bedside and tell you the story about the angel who fell in love with a human…..”