Hey guys, sorry but I was dealing with practically a writer's block, so I just rewrote the whole story. I hope you guys enjoy the new version.(: Leave me reviews and comments please. -Jojo
"Between the Trees"
Chapter 1
*Beep! Beep! Beep!* I groaned as I reached over to hit the snooze button on my alarm clock. Why does school have to torture us by being so dang early in the morning?
Still silently arguing with myself about getting out of bed, I rolled over and threw my hand on the other pillow. I found with convincing sadness that Eric's pillow (Correction: My pillow) was yet again empty, as it had been for the past few nights. What should I care though? He left me without so much as an explanation...Why? I've asked myself this question a thousand times over in the last three days and still don't have an answer to it.
One week ago I would have been up to jump in the shower and get dressed for school happily, however now things were different since Eric- my ex-boyfriend of seven months -had broken up with me. Seven months of devotion and now nothing. Absolutely nothing. Maybe it was for the best, though I couldn't convince myself of it now as I angrily shoved the pillow I wasn't using onto the floor. Oh well, I guess all high school relationships end at some point, though I still hated the pain and insecurity that comes with it.
As I stared-blurry eyed- at my alarm clock that read five-fifty, I regretted even asking my parents to come to this stupid school in the first place. My alarm started blaring again intruding on my thoughts; I give up. I heaved myself up, swinging my legs out of the bed, and my hand to the sounding alarm, I began the morning, knowing full well that it was to be painful and tiresome.
For some reason my alarm was still screaming at me after I had hit the stupid snooze button five times in a row. Out of frustration I reached out my hand, grabbed the cord and yanked it out of the wall, almost knocking my lamp off the little nightstand in the process.
"Stupid alarm clock" I muttered, staggering to the bathroom in my green tank top and black pj bottoms.
Afraid to look in the mirror because of what I might find there, I slipped out of my clothes and jumped in the shower as well as I could manage without falling over and finished in ten minutes flat.
"I look like crap" I croaked, leaning on the sink counter, examining myself in the mirror for the first time since Friday. I had little bags under my eyes, probably from crying all weekend, and my hair was waded into something more resembled to a Pomeranian than the usual straight dark hair I wore it as. I sighed.
Hanging my head, more out of exhaustion than embarrassment, I saw the flyer I had mistakenly picked up on my way out of the lunch hall on the previous Friday. It showed my school as somewhere peaceful, with "Asheville Boarding School" in bold print at the top of the little paper. It displayed the main hall, surrounded by forest, known as "Hollandsworth-Maggart Preservation Acres". Students appeared to be frolicking in the path leading up to the school, both boys and girls, which was unusual for a boarding school, but also brought more allure to the school its self.
This one didn't show any parents, which amused me, since when my parents had signed up, an almost identical flyer had shown students walking in orderly fashion, flanked my parents on both sides, smiling widely and dressed in uniforms. Parents only come to bug you about your grades and embarrass you in front of friends anyway. Typical rents. As I scanned over the rest of the flyer I realized it was meant for third formers because in big blue letters was the word "Forms", which is what each grade is called at "Asheville School". Each grade is a form, freshmen are third formers, sophomores are fourth formers, juniors are fifth formers, and seniors' sixth formers. I was a fifth former; therefore I had no need for the flyer.
With a grunt I shoved the flyer off the counter and started, reluctantly, to make myself look at least somewhat presentable for school.
When I was through fixing myself as best I could I walked over to my mirror that hung on the door to absorb the outcome of fifteen minutes of preparation. To anyone else I would have looked fine like any other day, happy-go-lucky, dressed in my regular Blue skinny jeans, a green T-shirt, and jacket. To me I looked miserable and willing to crawl into a hole for an eternity, but life goes on. Evidently, anyway. I ran my fingers through my dark brown hair, twirling my ends around my fingers, delaying going my first class while I thought off into space. I looked to my nightstand by the bed which was a mess, my alarm lying halfway off the table, my iPod flung under the bed. I looked at my cell phone that lay untouched for the last seventy-two hours and bit my bottom lip as I thought of the text I had received three days ago.
I and Eric were going out to the lake to have a picnic tonight, just the two of us, and I couldn't wait. I was so excited, waiting in my dorm, I couldn't keep still. I wished Elie was here so we could both sing along to Hayley William's voice as it poured out across my room. Unfortunately she was in Florida for the weekend visiting her family. Instead of dwelling on my missing best friend I lay upside-down on my bed and start singing along to Train's "Soul Sister" as it flipped on from my iPod.
I heard a little chime come from the nightstand by my bed and squeaked in joy as I hurriedly grabbed for my cell phone. I didn't wait to see who was the messenger; I already knew as I flipped open my little green cased razor. Eric.
Hey
Even a three letter word got my heart racing. Soon enough I'd come to find out it was racing for different reasons. Excited, I looked over to see it was an hour earlier than when we had planned to go for the picnic and typed back a reply.
Hey(: Get out early?
Yea…hey can I talk to u?
Talk about what? Maybe he couldn't make it tonight or had another class he forgot. Confused and curious I typed back after a minute.
Sure wanna come over?
B there in 5
I sat criss-cross on my bed and looked over at my nightstand as my iPod started to play Nickelback's "It's Not My Time"; I didn't bother to sing along this time as I fumbled with my phone in my fingers. I wonder what Eric would want to talk about. It couldnt be something bad right? No, stop thinking like that! But…
A soft knocking on my door brought me out of my self-cautious thoughts. My heart raced as I approached the door. I took a deep breath and smiled as I opened the door, no one was there. Confused, I stepped out into the hall but it was also empty. That's weird, must have been someone else's door that was knocked on and I mistook it for sounding like mine. I turned to go back inside my dorm but my foot stepped on something and gave a crunching sound. Surprised I quickly stepped back and looked down to see a crumbled up note lying on the ground.
The corner of the paper had what looked like "R" scribbled on it, curious I picked it up and unfolded it to examine its contents.
Dear Ree-ree,
First off I'd like to say I'm sorry, I really wanted to do this in person but I couldn't bring myself to and I feel like a total jackass…It's just you're a great girl and don't think this is your fault but I just really need some space right now. You know, just a break. I still love you, I always will. I just think we should just be friends…it's not that I don't like you it's just me…I just really need to be single right now. I'm sorry
Ps. We can still be best friends like we use to –Eric
I stared at the note, not comprehending its meaning as I read it over and over again. It's not that I couldn't read, it's that I didn't want it, it couldn't be, true. I gasped and only had enough composure to utter one word. "No". I walked backwards into the wall, unable to control my balance. I sank down to the floor, no longer holding it back, tears streamed down my cheeks as I hugged my knees to my chest; I resisted the urge to scream out.
After what seemed like hours I composed myself enough to stumble into my room and fling down onto the bed. I looked down at my phone as it stared vibrating. I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and flipped it open. I had three missed calls but they were restricted and had no number. Then a text popped open on my screen.
I'm sorry…
My breath caught in my throat. I shifted to a sitting position and rested my fingers on the keyboard, unsure of what to write back. Minutes past and I hadn't moved an inch, frozen in place by the numbness radiating from within me. I flinched and looked up at my iPod sitting in the crook of my clock as the lyrics to 12 stones's "It Was You" started playing. The song hit to close to home, I'd always listen to this song and think how lucky I was to have Eric. Ha, what a joke.
I couldn't listen to it any longer, my anger building my the second. An aggravated screech escaped me as I relished some anger as I flung out my arm. My iPod hit the floor with a thud, clicking off as it slid under the bed, my alarm clock skimmed the nightstand coming to a stop halfway hanging off it. Before I could break my phone in half I shut it off and slammed it on the nightstand, burying my face in my pillow I screamed as hard as I could, tears staining my pillow and shirt. I pulled my keens up to my chest and just lay there.
The sound of my door being knocked on jolted me back to the present. I hesitantly reached my hand out towards the knob and turned it to open the door, but before I could start to open it, it swung towards me and I had to hop backwards to get out of the way in time before it hit me.
"Hey! You almost hit me wh-
"Ohmygosh! Red! Where have you been! Why haven't you been answering my calls and texts?" Elie screamed, interrupting my complaint and throwing her arms around my neck. I didn't know what to say so I silently hugged her back. I had neglected my phone for the past three days and just thought about how worried Elie would have been that I wasn't answering.
"I...uh...I'm sorry Elie I didn't mean to ignore you I just have been having a bad weekend is all" I said, stuttering more than once. As I said this Elie loosened her grip on me and held me at arm's length apart to look at me with a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay? What happened to you? You seem fine to me…well besides the weird way you're acting that is." Elie rambled, fixing her blue eyes on mine.
"Well… long story short Eric broke up with me on Friday so I've kind of been out of it. You know not having him here and all. I guess I just need to get over him…" I told her; well it seemed more to me than her right then. After staring at my feet for a few seconds and not hearing a reply from Elie I looked up at her face. It was a complete look of surprise mixed with anger, sadness, and curiosity. I knew that look. It meant she wanted to know exactly what happened and why it happened, I wasn't in the mood for story time at the moment though. I just looked at her face and shook my head back forth- on the verge of tears- pleading for understanding and that she wouldn't ask me.
Elie was staring at me through her blonde bangs- that hung straight across her forehead along the line of her eyebrows- as if to say, "I'm waiting" and, despite my emotional turmoil, I giggled as I imaged her taping her fingers on a desk like in one of those old criminal shows.
"What's so funny? You don't seem all that happy to be laughing at anything." Elie snapped. Great now she's irritated.
"Nothing, I was just thinking is all" I said, frowning as she shook me a little.
"Well…?" Elie prompted me. I started to look at my feet but met a hand on my chin holding my face from looking down "Don't think your gonna ignore me Red. Tell me what happened, please." That immediately shut me down. I didn't want to answer her and relive the moment that had my body shaking and my heart pounding in my chest so hard I swear Elie could hear it. I shut my eyes tight trying not to get worked up.
"Elie…please…" I whispered, so soft I wasn't sure if she heard me or not. I didn't really care. I had made my decision; I wasn't going to tell her. At least not right now. I heard Elie sigh and was instantly relieved.
"Fine. But your gonna tell me right? Like when your ready or whatever that is." Elie said, in a defeated tone. Yes! I would tell her I promised myself, just not now.
"Yes, I promise. Thanks for understanding." I said, hugging her again. Elie didn't say anything but she hugged me back so I guessed that was a welcome. "I'll be okay, I just need some time." I looked at her with a serious face and she nodded with a weak smile.
"Come on were gonna be late to class. Oh and don't forget your lab binder, we get lab partners today remember?" Elie said as we disentangled ourselves to grab our book bags. "Oh yea I forgot" I muttered, grabbing the unattractive blue binder and stuffing it into my book bag. I looked at my phone but thought better of it and just grabbed my iPod and shoved in my jacket pocket. "I hope I don't get stuck with Ben, he's so annoying" I said, locking the door to my dorm and running to fall into step beside Elie.
Ben was one of those guy friends that you've known since elementary school that's always liked you but you never really returned those emotions. I never liked Ben, I'd just always put him down easy every time he'd asked me out and tried to avoid him as much as I could.
"Why do you have to worry about Ben? Aren't you gonna be partners with Er-she paused. Oh yea…never mind" Elie said, a sorry expression showing on her face. "Yea" I muttered.
"Sorry Red I di-"
"Its S'okay Elie" I said, interrupting her apology. The last thing I needed right now was pity considering I was trying to ride myself of the weekends dilemma.
We were half way to our classes as we went under the bridge and I was dreading walking through that door. Eric and I had always been partners and now I didn't know who I was going to pair up with. Without another word, we walked on in silence to the big oak tree and stopped to say good-bye. Elie had Yoga first period and I had Chemistry so we always walked about half way between both classes and parted, that just happened to be where the big oak stood.
"See yea at lunch" Elie said as she hugged me lightly, barely touching me.
"Okay" I said, watching as she turned around to walk the opposite direction without another word. I sighed. Great…now I have an ex-boyfriend and an uneasy best friend to handle, this was just perfect. My day was looking up.
"Time to go to Chemistry. Woo" I said sarcastically, swooshing my pointer finger in a little circle in the air in front of me. I turned to go to class and smacked into something, hard. Crap, I didn't know I had been standing so close to the tree. I had my eyes closed and my hands clutched to my head so I was surprised when I heard a voice speak up.
"Are you okay? Man you must have a hard head. Sorry bout that" a young husky voice sounded.
I looked up to see who I'd mistaken for a tree. The "tree" happened to be a young guy, probably a fifth or sixth former by the size of him. He was casually dressed, had black straight hair that flipped up at the ends right above his eye brows, tanned skin that you get when you live next to the beach, a tight set jaw, and silver-blue eyes that were now peering at me curiously. I realized I must have looked stupid standing there holding my hands to my head, not answering him and I blushed.
"Sorry I-I didn't mean t-to bump into you, I've been out of it lately" I said, stuttering. I hated when I stuttered, I always seemed to stutter or jumble words when nervous.
"Its fine, you can bump into me anytime you want. Though I wouldn't say the same for your head" said blue eyes smiling. I didn't know what to say so I just laughed nervously. Blue eyes smiled at me again, displaying his perfect straight white teeth, his smile making two little dimples in his cheeks, and laughed a little to himself as he extended his hand to me.
"By the way nice to meet you…Uh?" said Blue eyes, with a questioning look on his face. I paused for a half second and took his hand as I looked up at him. He must have been 6'0 because I was 5'6 and still had to tilt my head a little to look up at him. Definitely a sixth former. He smiled again and looked down at our joined hands that were just holding each other, not shaking anymore.
"Oh sorry, I-I…uh…I'm Red." I said, snatching my hand back and at the same time trying to hide my embarrassment. What's wrong with you? Get a hold of yourself!
"Red? That's an unusual name." He said, sticking his hands into his jacket pockets nonchalantly. Now that I actually looked at him, I noticed that was almost all he had on. He was dressed in a blue v-neck shirt, a pull over black and blue plade jacket, blue jeans-like me-, and topping it off with black and white converse sneakers. Wasn't he cold? It had to be at least forty degrees outside; even I was freezing standing there in my heavy coat.
"Uh…yea that's not my full name." I said, looking at my wrist to find that I had forgotten my watch. I pulled out my iPod and peaked at the time that read seven twenty-seven.
"Oh crap! I got to get to class! Sorry I have to go. See yea around." I said, stuffing my phone in my pocket and started to turn towards class but was caught by a firm hold on my arm. Surprised, I turned to look at him.
"Sorry, uh do you know where the office is?" He paused. "I'm new…so yea." He said, catching me off guard. Think! Come on…the bridge!
"It's over there past the bridge, turn to the right and it's the first door on you're left, you can't miss it." I said in a rushed voice, pointing over his shoulder.
"Thanks" He said, letting go of my arm. I didn't reply, instead I whirled around and half-ran, half tripped on everything in my way to class.
