Sadness
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened" ~Dr. Seuss
Brittany Miller
"Alvin!" I scream into the cold night air. I watch in horror as the backs of his legs ram into the railing, sending him tumbling towards the churning water below. He doesn't even scream as he falls, making my heart beat even faster. I don't move for what feels like a life time, trying to grasp what had just happened. I knew that Alvin was here when Andy brought me into the cabin. He said that he wanted to show me the lower deck which was… perplexing. What could be down there? If the yacht was anything like ships in the movies then it was all just cramped wine cellars and bed chambers. But then I spotted Alvin with Darren. I thought I was going to lose it right then and there, but I made it outside. Knowing Alvin, I thought that he would just shrug off the occurrence, but instead I found him standing next to me singing… oh God.
I lean my elbows along the railing, trying to catch my breath. Finally, my head snaps to attention. What am I doing? I'm standing here like an idiot while my best friend is probably drowning in a lake. Well, more like ex-best friend. Guilt builds up in my stomach, but I shove it aside as I slip off my heels and run for the opposite side of the deck. Without thinking, I climb up onto the railing, my party dress snagging on loose metal. I point my hands towards the night sky, pushing off with my toes to perform the dive. I close my eyes as I sail through the sweet night air.
I plunge into the water. The water is freezing, making my limbs stiffen up, but I push through the water looking for the missing boy. He still hasn't made a sound since he fell. I scan the water, not caring that the boat that was supposed to bring us home was trudging on without us. Everyone on the massive vessel is either drunk or simply doesn't care to help us.
The lights shining onto the choppy water eventually die off as the boat leaves me in the middle of the lake. My teeth are chattering so much that I can't even attempt to call out for Alvin. But even if I could, would he respond? He's spent a month thinking that I was dead and now he'll think that I'm just trying to waltz right back into his life again. But that isn't it at all… in fact; I never thought I would ever see Alvin again. I thought that we would be done with each other forever. We could move on. Me, onto my new life alone, and him… into the arms of Eleanor. I gulp back sobs, trying to keep calm as I put one arm after the other, scanning the lakes surface for Alvin.
"A-alvin!" I shiver, turning around in circles hoping to see something, anything move. What's the point? My chest feels heavy as I let myself sink under the surface of the lake. I feel like closing my eyes, feeling too tired to look for Alvin. What's the point? But before my eyes can flutter close, something in the murky water catches my attention. A red cap flutters in the current.
I snatch it, feeling a smile come to my lips as I stare at the thing. I kick my legs, feeling the nerves in my body tingle with sensation. I sprout out of the water feeling rejuvenated and revived. "Alvin!" I shout loudly. A loud splash catches my attention and I swim in that direction. "Alvin!" I scream when I'm almost at the source of the sound. All I can see is the foam of the water being kicked up. "Alvin?" I reach towards the middle of the struggle, pulling Alvin up. At least, I hoped it was Alvin.
But as I pull his arm upwards, the face I'm met with is defiantly Alvin's. His blue eyes shine with disbelief as he stares back at me under the moonlight. He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Come on," I say softly into the night air. "We should get to land."
He nods solemnly, following me to the closest shore. I drag myself onto the rocky beach, feeling out of breath from the swim. My knees feel like jelly and I simply lay there for a moment feeling colder than ever in the soft breeze. Alvin must have been feeling the same because he wasn't complaining about my delay and I could hear him shivering softly with every heavy breath.
Finally, I get to my knees, scanning the area around me. We weren't anywhere near Annie's so it would be impossible to get home in our condition. My cell is at home while I think Alvin's is either not on him, gone, or dead.
"Britt?" a soft voice comes from behind me. I turn slowly to meet his gaze. We're silent for an agonizing thirty seconds before he lets out a long sigh. "Britt… is that really you?"
"I thought you were mad," I say bluntly. I didn't mean for it to sound harsh, but it did. Alvin's eyes scan the ground around his knees.
"I was," Alvin sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I-I was just so surprised. I mean, everyone thought you were dead… and I mean, Brittany! Do you know what it did to everyone?"
"I thought you all would be better off without me," I gulp, thick sobs building up in my throat. I never thought I would ever have an encounter like this again. I try to push my feelings away, but my voice still shakes uncontrollably. "I-I-I thought that y-you…"
"How could you ever think that?" Alvin scoots towards me on his knees until he's close enough to put a paw on my shoulder. "Everyone missed you… especially me. I never knew how lonely life could be without someone to argue with," he teases dryly.
"What about Eleanor?" I couldn't help but ask. The last time I saw Alvin he was locking lips with my baby sister. I never suspected that my little sister would ever do something so sinister, but then again, shouldn't I have seen it coming? The way she always talked to him, and never wanted to miss a single boys' soccer game. Even if it was only JV. I should have guessed it all along… now I'm the idiot.
"Eleanor?" Alvin whispers in disbelief.
"I-I thought you and h-her… were-"
"Friends," he finishes reassuringly. I look down at our hands, only noticing now that his hand was holding my clenched fist comfortingly. His thumb rubs over my cold fingers making me feel warmer than I should. I try to smile, but only manage a grimace. He stands up slowly, holding his hand out to me. I take it, and with a little bit of effort, I stand next to him. Now that I look at him in the moonlight, I notice just how beautiful he is. His brown hair is dripping in his face and his dress shirt is clinging to his slender body. Alvin's shoes slosh as he makes his way towards the dense forest. Ruefully, I follow close behind feeling more afraid than ever of what might be living in the woods.
We walk up towards high land. Eventually, we find a clearing free of rocks and debris from the nearby trees. The only thing separating us from the compact dirt is a thick layer of pine needles. Alvin goes off by himself and gathers a few sticks and stubby logs. He takes out a lighter, shaking it to rid it off any water.
"What is that for?" I ask, referring to the cigarette lighter in his hands. He shrugs, only making more confused. "Alvin… you don't smoke do you?"
"Of course not!" Alvin says sitting up straight instead of hunched over the construction of his fire. "But I hang out with a bunch of guys who do. And when they lose their lighter they go berserk. Plus, how cool would it be if a famous person came up to you and asked if you had a lighter and you had one?" he rambles on.
"I think I get it Alvin," I roll my eyes just like I used. And as if we had blasted back to the past, Alvin nudges my sides, making me jump. "Alvin!" I whine as he keeps pocking my side and tickling me like he used to. Alvin had always figured as a kid that tickling a girl was the equivalent to actually getting into a fist fight with one since Dave had pointed out to Alvin and his brothers that they were never to hit a girl under any circumstance. But of course, Alvin got around the rule and made up his own version of fighting. "Let go!" I scream, giggling my head off. Alvin bites his lower lip, trying to keep me in his grasp. "Alvin!"
"I don't think you know me at all," he moves his hands over my hips and neck making me squirm. Eventually, I stop squirming. I watch his face as he tries to conjure that same reaction. I let Alvin move his hands up and down my sides, his hands getting gentler with every stroke.
He pulls away.
"We should find shelter or something," Alvin states blandly. "We're going to get hypothermia out here."
"No we're not," I tug on his hand. "Besides, we have a fire. Everything's going to be alright."
"Yes, we are," Alvin says, now standing. His looming body is dark against the moonlight as he towers over me. "What happens when the fire goes out and this God awful wind picks up… And even if we don't, I'm not going to take any chances. I lost you once Brittany…. I don't think I can lose you again."
"Okay," I nod, my heart sinking in my stomach. I feel heavy with guilt as I follow him up the path. How could I do this to him? I deserve to die for all the trouble I've put him through. He deserves someone better than me… someone like Eleanor. She's kind, sweet, and can cook… She's beautiful in every place that I'm not. I'm evil. I caused everyone I love pain and I deserve whatever's coming to me.
I watch Alvin's body disappear into the darkness of the forest as I stop dead in my tracks. My feet are planted into the pine needles that make up the forest floor. My vision becomes wobbly as I stare at the large red wood trees surrounding me. I pick up my right foot to start walking again when a twig snaps somewhere behind me. It's like one of those cheesy horror movies, but never the less, my body tenses up in fear. I scan the area around me, not really knowing what I should be looking for. A bear? A monster?
What I see in the distance is much worse than anything I could have imagined.
A man with a burlap sack in one hand and a pistol in the other is laughing to himself. He looks like a hermit of some sort. He has a straggly beard and torn rags for clothes. He almost looks insane as he laughs at the moon. I struggle to take my eyes off of the man, hoping with all of my heart that he hasn't seen me. But apparently, my luck has run short.
"Hey little girl," the man says in a gruff, drunken voice. "Wanna play?"
Before I can register what's happening to me, I open my mouth and let out a blood curdling scream, hoping that Alvin isn't too far up the trail. The man belches and laughs again, pointing his gun at me. "Alvin!" I scream again, but before I can hear a response, a bullet rips through my shin sending me down to the forest floor. Tears spring to my eyes while terror builds in my heart.
"Brittany!" a distant cry catches my attention. But before I can answer, a grimy towel is shoved in my mouth as a gag and the man is stroking my cheek. I want to do something, anything but take this. I can't run away, I can't scream, I can't even hurt him.
"Come my little dove," he whispers in my ear, his liquor scented breath stinging my eyes. "We have much to do." I stare at the man with wide eyes, screaming and crying against the gag. He picks up a rock and examines it for a moment. "This should shut you up," he says bluntly before bringing it down on my skull.
My vision goes in and out for a couple seconds. "Brittany!" I hear again, but I can't think. I feel so… tired. My eyes droop, sending me into a coma like sleep. Nothing but darkness.
~HOLY-
What? Alvin and Brittany just got back together and there's some crazy guy in the woods? NO! Don't worry though, this will all start making sense soon :) I'm not just being random and adding a kidnapper in there!
