Monstrous

20

                                                                                    Isabella Mayer

            “Dad, I will be fine. Ellis is next door with the Princes’ safe and sound, there is no need to tell her to come over. Stay safe in California, love you, bye” Before my Dad could rebuttal anything, I quickly ended the call. My dad was in California visiting old college friends and picking up a super expensive crib for the baby that Ellis and I picked out online. The storm was out of the ordinary, and came out of nowhere. I was alone in the house preparing for the roaring storm that first came with heavy rain. Just in case, I gathered candles, and lit them around the living room where I took refuge. I had brought down my duvet and pillows and threw them onto the couch. I made sure my phone was charged up, that there was food in the refrigerator, and the curtains were drawn in case the wind became strong and broke the glass. The thought of me staying alone made me a little anxious, but I needed the isolation to fully cleanse myself of the week I’ve had. 

            While watching a romantic comedy, I kept going back to the week that recently passed. Storming out of the diner after arguing with Adam, the two of us actively avoiding each other in the halls, it didn’t take much effort, we just simply erased each other’s existence from our memories. Another girl was on his arm and I focused on myself and planning school events, like the Halloween dance. At the football game yesterday, I watched him actively, I had no other choice, I was also part of the photography club and our school prides itself on having stellar pictures of our athletes. He was amazing, there was no denying that. When it comes to Adam and I, it was a constant game of cat and mouse, since we were kids. I hated how much of my mind Adam took up, as much as I wanted to forget him, I couldn’t. Even though we were sworn enemies, every time I needed a shoulder to cry on he was always there, things were always easier when we were kids. Now everything is just a complicated storm.

            Deep in my thoughts, loud bangs pounding on the front door shook me terribly and brought me back to reality. The storm outside was worsening, I shot up from the couch and ran up to the windows pushing the curtains to the side to witness the horrific scene. The streets were completely flooded, the strong forceful winds had knocked down trees, water was pouring nonstop of the grey lightening littered sky. I do hope everyone is safe, especially Roxy and Autumn. The thought of Autumn, instantly crossed my mind, our friendship was nothing but a question mark as of now, even though I was still furious with her, I missed being around her.

            “OPEN THE f*****g DOOR!” Before I could fully analyze another complicated relationship I had in my life, booming screams came from behind the front door followed by more knocking. At first I thought it was the storm making the noise, immediately I ran to my front door to see who could possibly be out of their minds to leave their house in the middle of a raging storm. The rapid knocking continued until I opened the front door, I was hit by wisps of rain and fierce winds, but the thing that shocked me the most was Adam standing there in nothing but jeans and a hoodie, but before I could question him, he stepped inside my house and shut the door behind him locking it.

            I took a few steps back in complete bewilderment, he pulled the hoodie off of his head and looked at me with wide eyes. Adam was completely drenched from head to toe, his bright red hair was now a dark dampened color that stuck to his forehead.

            “W-What are you doing? A-Are you insane?” I couldn’t even think straight with Adam standing in my house right now. With him creating a puddle at his feet, I wondered what possessed him to leave his house and why was he in mine?

            “Your dad called, he was worried sick because you weren’t picking up your phone. Everyone has been trying to get in touch with you, why haven’t you been answering?” Adam took a step closer to me causing me to take a step back. Last time we spoke we got into a heated argument about how he has changed into a horrible person, he didn’t like what I was saying so he called me a pretentious stuck up brat. 

            “I-” I looked towards the living room, still completely taken off guard by his sudden arrival. That was weird, I haven’t heard my phone go off in the last few hours, so I quickly jogged into the living room and picked up my phone that was resting on the couch. After numerous attempts of trying to turn it on with no luck. I concluded my phone had died, great.

            “My phone must’ve died while I was watching television” I turned around and Adam was already texting away on his phone in the same spot I had left him in. I walked up to him slowly with my arms crossed having nothing else to say.

            “I just let everyone know that you’re fine..” Adam said looking back at me slipping his phone back into his pocket, he pulled his hoodie over his head and turned around retreating to the front door.

            “Wait, you can’t just go back out there” With my words Adam immediately halted, my words had just slipped from my lips without much thinking. He turned around to face me once again. I didn’t even know what I was proposing myself, my mouth hung open, a complete loss for words.

            “Do you want me to stay, Isabella?” I loathed when he said my full name, I hated how my name sounded on his lips, I hated what it did to me and how it made me feel. His question was too direct, his stare made me fidget nervously like a complete i***t. Did I want him to stay?

            “Due to the weather circumstances, yes” I stated with my chin held up high, I didn’t let any of my emotions pour through even though I was freaking out. Adam’s lips curved into a smirk, my eyes rolled and I turned on my heels.

            “I’ll get you something dry to wear, and while I’m doing that can you please clean up your mess Adamson” I motioned to the puddles that scattered the floors before retreating further into my house. 

            I was currently in my basement going through boxes of school apparel to find correct sizes for the redhead upstairs. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t having a nervous breakdown, I said I needed alone time, to mainly ponder about him, and if I was truly ready to let him go, I needed an escape and instead I was trapped with him. I wasn’t going to let my nerves eat me up, after scavenging through my father’s unhealthy amount of school apparel, I found sweatpants and a sweatshirt that would be a perfect size for him.

            “Adamson!” I hollered when I stepped into the now dry entry hall with no signs of the person who caused it. The thought of Adam slithering through my house sent shivers up my spine. There was a pile of wet clothes at the bottom of the stairs, if his clothes were here. I inhaled sharply with wide eyes. Is he running around naked in my house? 

            “Hey Goldie, can I ask yo-” Adam proudly emerged from my living room with his boxers being the only fabric on his body. I choked up as he approached me with a single care in the world. I diverted my eyes away from the specimen and cleared my throat. 

            “Here are some clothes, there is a bathroom down the hall if you must-” I began motioning down the hall, Adam took the clothes from my hands without letting me finish.

            “I’m good here thanks..” Adam said, cutting me off, my eyes darted around the entry hall distracting myself from the male currently dressing himself. It was a few moments before the coast was clear and I was able to look at him.

            “Anyways, you had a question?” I asked to straighten myself out, Adam nodded, fixing the sweatshirt on his body. Adam looked over his shoulder and bit his bottom lip.

            “Piano keys are a bit dusty, when was the last time you played?” Adam motioned to the disregarded piano that sat in the corner of the living room. When my mother first left, it was painful to play and look at it, but now I don’t even notice it’s presence. I looked back at Adam and wondered why he was curious.

            “Why does it matter to you?” I hissed in a faint whisper. My arms crossed over my chest and brushed past him, walking further into the living room. The deserted piano used to be my life, now it was nonexistent. It was a gift from my father to my mother when she found out she was pregnant with me, he knew that she had a love for music like no other, and eventually she passed down her impeccable talents down to me, but now the love I used to feel to play has been poisoned with hate and resentment

            “I remember coming here everyday after school when we were young because my mother was forcing me to take piano lessons. At first I hated it, then as time went by, I realized that I didn’t need to be dragged here, I loved watching you play..” His words touched me in a way I hated. I envisioned two kids, one blonde girl with a blue bow tied in her hair and a redheaded boy with muddy sneakers running around, making paper plans out of sheet music, violently bashing the piano keys until they learned how to make real music. I often forget about the delicate times Adam and I shared. A smile came to my lips and my head nodded.

            “Yeah, we would lay on the carpet listening to classical music for hours and my mom would come in with freshly baked cookies and milk” I turned slowly to face him, his eyes went over the numerous memories we shared before looking at me.

            “When did things become so f****d up between us? Our parents swore we would be best friends..” Adam smirked and shook his head ripping his gaze off me while he took a few steps closer to the piano that represented millions of moments that we shared in the past. He asked a question that I asked myself hundreds of times. So many things happened between us, it hurts to know we could never go back to when we were younger. Had I known as a child that a friendship that was once so precious to me would disintegrate, I would’ve cherished the moments we had together more.

            “I miss you Goldie Locks..” Adam whispered, the nickname he gave me when we were still preschoolers. I saw it in his eyes, that he was speaking about a time that was long gone. I missed him too, my feelings for him were so conflicting, it hurt.

            “You hate me Adamson..” I bit down on my bottom lip forcing a smile trying to fight the tears. He shook his head at me and sighed deeply. He didn’t say anything after that, we just held each other’s gaze. I was only moments from completely breaking down in front of him, I refused to speak.

            “Autumn was the one who told me to ask you out on a date..” Adam breathed, he turned away from the piano as if it was painful for him to look at and walked over to the couch, and claimed the seat I was once sitting in. The moment of truth shocked me, I was confused on why Autumn would do that, did she pity me? Or did guilt eat her up?

            “She told me the reason why you were mad about us kissing because you had told her that you liked me, that you had feelings for me” Adam looked up at me, my face was flooded with embarrassment. Note, never tell Autumn anything ever again. It’s not like I could run away from this. There was a raging storm outside, and Adam would just find me if I tried to hide inside the house somewhere. I couldn’t go anywhere which meant I was forced to deal with this conversation. Maybe it was time for me to be honest, and let go of all the harbored feelings that’s been weighing me down.

            “I-I did tell her that, yeah. A lot has happened since I told her, things have changed..” Adam tightened his jaw at my words and looked away from me nodding his head.

            “Like what?” He mumbled, bringing his eyes to meet mine. I shifted uncomfortably where I stood, my arms uncrossed and I ran my fingers through my hair. There was a time where we used to tell each other everything, now we were complete strangers to each other.

            “You’re different, and you know I am too. I’ve had a lot of time to heal from the wounds my mother left, I made new friends, I’ve been going out and trying new things-” I started to ramble, it felt like I was explaining myself to him, Adam rolled his eyes not believing a word I was saying and it infuriated me.

            “I’ve been heavily considering joining the cheerleading team, I hooked up with someone, I-” Both Adam and I were shocked at my words, I didn’t mean to be so reckless with my words, immediately Adam shot up from the couch and took several steps towards me.

            “It wasn’t really hooking up, like s****l i*********e, it was more oral stuff, and hand-” Adam looked as if I buried a dagger in his back. If only he were to find out that I did those things with Nile, his best friend. It would truly hurt him.

            “With who?” He asked blankly ridding himself of any emotions, protecting himself from anything that I could say that would hurt him. Then I realized, after everything, how I treated Autumn badly, how she knew that I got with Nile, but didn’t tell him anything to get back at me. She didn’t tell Adam that I had feelings for him because she wanted to get back at me, but to steer him in the right direction, to me.

            “It doesn’t matter, he doesn’t matter to me. It was a mistake..” I spoke with all honestly, I cared about Nile, like any friend would, but looking back, I wish I never did the things I did with him, because in the end, I was hurting the person whom I really cared about. I had no feelings for Nile, but for Adam I felt everything, love, pain, jealousy, happiness, anger.

            “Let me play you something..” I whispered, turning away from him, I said trying to take his attention off of what I told him. The piano was our connection, music was our hidden love language. It felt like eternity since I last played, but the piano was calling my name. I heard Adam sigh from behind me, as I took to the piano bench. My eyes found Adam once again who looked at me with a confused and restless expression.