The MW: Becoming Darkness

Chapter 3: The Other Side

Addie and Jack arrived by themselves. They explained that they had decided to stay in an apartment they have in Hoants since they had to pick me up, and it didn't make sense to return to their home.

Marcus said he would meet us over a diner in Salt Lake and have breakfast first.

Six Flags opens at 10 am and we arrived in Salt Lake around 9:00 a.m. so we had time.

Addie and Jack weren’t used to waiting with the rest they had year passes and were going to get me one as a gift. One for me, and one for Marcus, they had big expectations and plans, I guess.

Not only that, they also were going to buy express passes for every game for everyone. They sure wanted to spend their dad's money, moreover, since their dad left the country without them often. To be honest, after the third month of Addie giving me expensive presents and trying to refuse, I noticed that she got really upset and annoyed if I said no or refused to accept them. With Addie as a friend, you had to be grateful and not complain and Jack wasn’t easy either. Their friends were all they had so giving something to us made them happy.

Addie had two pals in school, but I knew that I was her best friend in the whole world. She had other 'pals' she didn’t care about, all but one, Omar. Honestly, Omar got the Jackpot and didn’t even appreciate it. They were so close now to being a thing, thing.

Jack on the other hand had tons of friends but he only trusted two… Me and Marcus.

I love my crazy small pack of friends.

We arrived at the diner and there he was. How is he taller than I remembered? There he was, the perfect dark blond guy. With those inspiring green eyes and his… Oh, so gorgeous face being magnified by the sunny light.

He was wearing all black clothing. The jeans, the T-shirt, even the jacket. With a big fat smile on his face, he seemed nervous but so darn happy, staring straight at me. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and of course, this little girl had to blush.

“Good morning guys… ready?” He asked, standing up to greet us and let Jack through when he noticed Addie went on the opposite side of where he originally was, so he could be right in front of me.

“Yes, dude. What about you?” Jack asked while opening the menu.

“Yes, I believe so. Their coffee is pretty good here.” He answered Jack looking straight at me with this goofy smile that just made me blush again.

I wasn’t up to eating. I wasn’t feeling good, well my stomach wasn’t. I don’t know what it was if it was the nightmare or simply the butterflies his goofy charming face was provoking.

I could see how he didn’t keep his stare away from me. Jack talks to him and without taking his eyes off of me he responds.

The butterflies got more intense as our eyes met. But as the butterflies grew wilder, so did the unfounded warnings against not falling for someone who would only hurt me.

The waitress came over to take our order and smiled at the tender thing in front of her. We were there because Addie remembers they served the most delicious hot cakes, they brought to your table everything you might need, from the regular maple syrup to chocolate and marshmallows they even gave you gummy bears.

She remembered how her family got together in this place the last normal birthday she had before her mother got sick and wanted to celebrate the winning battle against death the best way possible.

She seemed so enthusiastic.

That made me unfocused to the glare that wouldn’t stop.

The hot cakes were the most delicious thing I tasted in a long time.

I have been caring for myself, and one little sin wouldn’t kill me.

Jack seems to be enjoying seeing his sister so happy.

And the perfect dark blonde makes me wonder and gives a green light to my imagination.

The two of us holding hands all over the park, hiding to kiss at the side of one of the park's trees; riding Goliath, and feel the adrenaline melt into screams and touches.

And without noticing, everybody was up and trying to get my attention.

“Violet, we are going to be late… Snap out of it” Jack says, panic in his eyes. Probably as a reaction to my previous TBH episode that landed me in the hospital.

I felt how my face went red in front of everybody.

“She is back” I heard Addie remark.

“Yes, I’m going I’m going… I couldn’t sleep that much and I haven't been able to snap out of this state that’s all…”

“Nervous?” Jack teased.

“Nightmare,” I answered.

“The war dream again?” Marcus asked.

“Nope, the same world different scenario. More vivid and disturbing, don’t want to talk about it.” I say, my face falling because it was a semi-lie. I was tired, but they caught me daydreaming about a romantic day with a boy, a boy that enthralled me, but parts of me were yelling at me was unworthy of my trust and, therefore, my heart.

“Got it, let’s go,” Addie said bitterly.

Addie seemed surprised that Marcus knew what was going on and she didn’t.

She looked at me first with anger, then with an upset look, when finally she half smiled.

I didn’t need to translate, she felt angry because Marcus knew something she didn’t. Upset because I hadn’t talked about it with her, and then she was happy because her plan was working out. She felt like Cupid and nothing that happened would stop her glare.

I was glad she let it go before I could fully remember the dream.

Everything went fast. Addie´s family was well known in Salt Lake. Thank goodness nobody would mess with her family, they didn’t need bodyguards. They had allies all over the city that would protect them and they felt free to go and do as they pleased.

From what I gathered Addie's dad was involved with international diplomats, the mob, the cartels, politicians, non-profits, and even activists. Yet neither Addie nor Jack ever fully say what their dad's role is. Is he a lawyer, a diplomat, or just a mogul?

We went to the lockers and put all the stuff we wouldn’t need right away.

I just took my little bag and put my wallet, a little bottle of water, my camera, and my cell just in case my mom called.

Addie had to go to the bathroom and I went to change a dollar for some quarters to make a penny with the picture of Scooby–Doo, my favorite cartoon when I was little. When I heard Marcus and Jack gossiping they were worse than Addie and me.

The day was perfect, sunny, the air was good not as cold as you expect for the first days of April. My birthday would usually land on a stormy and gloomy day. So being so close to my birthday I was surprised we weren't drowned in water by now.

When I got near them they went silent. This seems to be their new sketchy normal. A sense of betrayal erupted in me, but these feelings were so confusing.

My logic was at odds with my feelings.

They both had cracked smiles on their silly faces, staring at me Jack with an 'I know something you don’t' kind of look, mixed with guilt. Was I right? Of course, I was right, but was it something positive or something they were hiding to save face or get my anger?

Marcus had puppy eyes on me. I felt a quick shiver down my spine and noticed Addie at the bathroom door waving at me to follow.

I excused myself and went to the rescue.

She just wanted my advice on her hair.