Testing Vickie

Chapter Two

I kept running and running until I got to my best friend Anastasia's house. It had finally gotten dark. How many times had we done this together? Trained together for cross country? Run from our troubles to our own world? It took me an hour and by the time I was there, it was dark.

Climbing over the back-gate, I head for the little hut out in the corner of the garden. It was so secure because Anastasia was an only child. I didn't want to disturb the house, all the lights were already off. I quietly went to the pot of blueberries where the key was hidden. I shifted the pot from the two bricks it is propped upon and felt for the key. My hand rested on something cold, rough and I pull out a gold key with a faded pink A and V key-ring. I put the pot back as best as I could and quietly felt my way to the door and unlocked it. A soft click and turn of a doorknob later, I was in the hut. Should I turn the lights on? Do I light one of the candles?

I turn on the warm fairy lights with the flick of a switch on my left and the four-meter hut lights up. Immediately my eyes draw to the neat yet cosy space, the sofa bed at the back wall under the fairy lights, already propped out as if I was expected already to come here. The T.V console directly to my left parallel from the sofa bed, a dark wooden round table separating them with a larger plain burgundy round rug underneath. I look at the storage shelves on the left wall. Ana is always so neat, organised and tidy. A stack of beanbags are along the right wall and I plonk myself on them for a bit. A soft thud sounds and it is so satisfying. I look at the displays of artworks that Ana has made to decorate the hut. A sculpture of a dancer moving to second position, a sketch of a flower and an inspirational text piece. I remember scrounging through the vast depths of the internet with Ana 2 years ago. 'One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.' I chose that quote. From where? I can't remember. The wings were Ana's own creation, each stroke, each change of colour so deliberate yet so natural. It was a statement in our home at Ana's home.

A soft wave of drowsiness lands upon my shore, lapping into my brain. Maybe I should sleep. It'd definitely do me good. But then my mind snaps back again, I'm not in the normal or real world. My own mother and brother don't know who I am!

I start to close my eyes *next page*

until hands around my shoulders shake me violently. I wake up suddenly, confused as to where I am, rub my eyes then look up. The light streaming in through the window is blinding, only blocked partially by someone standing over me.

"ANA!" I wrap my arms around my best friend, her auburn hair with hazel streaks suffocating me but I don't care. It's just a relief to see her again. 3 seconds pass, then she steps back quickly. Her violet eyes alert as she gives me a look once over.

"Who, who are you? How did you get in here? Why are you here? How do you know who I -"

"It-it's just me Ana. It's your best friend? Victoria? You know? The one who you tell everything to?" I am flabbergasted, my mother and brother have no idea who I am and my best friend doesn't either. It's like I don't exist.

"I, I have an imaginary friend called Victoria. She's my only friend anyway. And, and she looks like you."

"Turns out Vickie is not imaginary I guess." I say, matter of factly. "I do know everything there is to know about you though. You prefer everything at a dining table set on the right, you're an organised freak in the best way possible, you've gotten first in a cross country race only once because I convinced you that you should at least beat me once and that your favourite colour is blueberry blue." She stands there like she's about to topple over and fall. I lead her towards the bed. "I know you love to draw, sculpt and photograph. I know that you like to sit in cafes with a small mocha and one sugar and just watch people on the street walking by or on the bench at the park, two and a half kilometres away with pretzels and get all googly eyed over people's dogs."

"Ok, ok. I get it. You know everything there is to know about me." She says, her hands up in a mini surrender and quick as a flash I shoot my hands up like a gun and say:

"pow"

Ana falls back laughing, "You are real!"

"You doubted whether I was?" a mocking puppy face casting into my features.

"Yes. No. It's just, I don't know. Everyone would mock me for it when I said that I had a friend. And that it was you."

We fall into an awkward silence. I stop, and ponder for the first time since I got into this, realm? dream? mess? How do I make everyone remember me? How can I dissolve everything? Make it all go away? Maybe that true love fairy tale business does work out…

In the corner of my eyes, Ana's nose scrunches up. "What have you been doing all day?"

"Well, yesterday I landed in my old house and saw Oli and mum. They have no idea who I am. Then I ran all the way to your place, turned on the fairy lights and fell asleep."

"Well you stink. My mum and dad have gone to work, you can come inside and have a shower."

"Do you have any food? I'm starving."

"I haven't had breakfast, I was going to make-"

"Pancakes with cheese and poached eggs." I say, interrupting her.

"Right, you know everything about me.” She says, light smile on her lips. She hops up and bounds to the door. "Well, you know your way to the bathroom then. Let's go!"