Too close to lose you

Chapter 1.

Amelia's pov.

“And what else” I say to my distressed friend sitting on the sofa bed beside me. She’s been having trouble sleeping and wanted to have a slumber party hoping that would keep her calm, but from the look on her face, I’m guessing that plan failed.

“I don’t know, it’s like the girl in my dream is

stuck. But it feels like years have passed.” Brielle responded, looking like her dream was genuinely concerning her.

“The girl, the person in your dream is not you? And you know this.” I said in a comforting tone, hoping that it would give her comfort if only slightly.

“Well, of course it’s me!” She says more like she wants to convince herself otherwise. “In the dream, it just doesn’t feel like me. it feels like I’m there just to watch.” Her words hung in the air as concern and tension clutched each of our hearts.

Vivian was lying on the beam bag bed in the opposite corner of the basement we were shacked up in for night began leaning in, which if anyone knew her knew it was a big deal. Because she's hardly ever present.

Before Brielle story, she had been in her phone most of the night, only raising her head to answer direct questions and play her round in any games we decided to play. Total opposite of me and Brielle, who hosted this slumber party.

But for as long as I can remember, she was always there. so no matter what it seemed, i knew she cared for us as much as we cared for her. There are two other friends in our little group, but the three of us could never be apart. We pretty much lived together. We all had a toothbrush at each other’s house and didn’t need to bring spare clothes anymore as we had clothes in each other’s closet.

“So what do you think it means,”Vivian said, bringing me back to the conversation.

I scoffed, no longer able to bear the tension and needing to create some relief.

“Probably that she needs to stop cramming for the exam tomorrow and eat more than protein bars for dinner.” I said jokingly, trying to brighten the mood.

it worked slightly as Brielle lips began to curl as she scrunched up her nose at me.

Brielle was beautiful as she was smart, but I would be blind if I didn’t notice how dull her skin has become and the dark circles around her eyes. Her curly honey blond hair was always big and covered her half of her face, but today, her hair is perfectly sculpted into a halo braid wrapped around her head, exposing her tense long neck and puffy eyes.

Brielle finally let go of the nervous shed been holding, saying, “Maybe you're right. By the way, Amelia, did you prepare for the test? Do you need my notes” I shook my head in amusement.

She never stopped, did she.

...

Exam Week. The only time this quiet town ever seemed to panic. With the fall dance the following week, the results are released. All the students were hoping to pass, and all the parents were rushing them to any before school or after-school tutoring so that they could. My parents were not able to participate in the towns annual craze, as one was often deployed to different countries on different special assignments for the military. The other was a traveling nurse who rarely made it home. This time for me is like watching a cheesy chick film for a friend, and it was bringing out my inner bah humbug.

“Whatever the grade is, I’m not going to ask you to the dance,” Vivian teased with a smirk. as soon as she found me in the school halls.

“Oh darn, I almost forgot some tall dark and handsome is taking my place this year.” Sarcasm laced on every word I said, to which she elbowed me in my side. Vivian met her boyfriend two summers ago on a camping trip, and he transferred to this school this year. since then, the two private beings have been joined to the hip.

“His cousin is coming as his plus one, apparently is also supposed to be transferring to this school after exams.”she said as Brielle came skipping down the hall.

“Guys! guess what?” She’s squealed.

“Kevin asked me to the dance.” she rushed out before we could respond.

“Yay, just need to find my prince charming,“ I said flatly. I looked at the ceiling with my arms outstretched.

“anytime now.“ looking around for my date to fall out of the sky like it did for my lovely friends. It's not like I really need a date for the dance. But it's our junior year, and i would not mind the thought of one.

“Ryan, said that his cousin is a really stand-up guy I’m sure that you guys will hit it off,” Vivian assured. i lowered my arms after getting no response.

We turned towards the classroom hall as the warning bell rang.

Vivian leaned into me and lowered her voice into a more demanding tone, “They’re going to meet us after school, so be nice when you see them, ok?” I shrugged and nodded.

She started to lower her voice as Brielle and I turned in our first class. Vivian was already in her early college classes, so we only shared Spanish class together.

“Good luck, girls,” Vivian said, before her attention drifted to her buzzing phone. she turned as she was looking at her phone, i noticed her eyebrows frowning as she read whatever was shown on the screen,

“f*****g idiots, I swear if we lose it I’m going to kill them.” quickly before we could ask her what was wrong she stormed down the hall, grumbling more curses to whoever it was.

The bell rings almost immediately, making everything else slip from our mind but the exam. Brielle and I take a deep breath before entering.

“Good morning class, if you were paying attention as you entered the classroom you will see that we are in block period for today’s exams,” mr.walterburg picked a pointer from the counter aiming towards the whiteboard, tracing the instructions underneath the block period schedule.

1. All electronics except your graphing calculator must be in your locker for testing.

2 . #2 pencils only, please have a spare pencil prepared and sharpened before testing.

3. You are excused for any restroom breaks! Just make sure to hand in your test before you leave. You will get it back when you return.

4 Cheaters are booger eaters!

“Now, are there any questions before we begin?” Different students asked their questions before we began testing.

There were twenty questions, but each question had two parts, and their word was problem in the back that needed to be solved four times before getting the correct answer. Everything was going well, except I kept feeling that eyes were on me. I just assumed that a student was trying to copy my answers, which didn’t bother me. It’s not like it will affect my grade. Hopefully, for them, I got all of the questions right.

“Alright five minutes are left in the class. At this time, all exams must be turned in. If you are not on the last question by now, you will need to schedule a make-up exam after class. for the rest of the class time, you may use it for study hall or to take a restroom break.” After turning in my exam, I asked to be excused and headed to my locker.

it didn't take long for the person I was waiting for to make an appearance.

“Hey Amelia, how is it going with the exams?” I look up to see my locker neighbor, Lillian, gorgeous was too simple of a word for her. She had long dark hair and had a smile that would have all of the boys drooling if she wasn't so shy. She dressed in oversized street fashioned like clothes that hid her curves. She wore minimal to no makeup, but it only gave her a natural glow that made her gem stone like eyes pop out.

Sadly, I only get to see her during this time. How a beautiful girl like her seemed to vanish during the day was an astonishing mystery I could never understand. Especially since she walks with a seer's cane. She’s not fully blind but she says it helps her get around in school easier.