This chapter will start where the last one stopped, enjoy!
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I had to get out, take a walk. I wanted to clear my head, to either get my thoughts straight, or just forget them all together. The latter would be easier, but I knew it would be impossible at the moment. So I just continued walking, thinking and muttering to myself without comprehending where I was going. Somehow, I ended up at Olympus High School.
As I wandered the halls, my trance was broken by distant music. So I wasn't the only one who had taken refuge in the school's sancuary that day. I followed the beat to the music room, where I found one of the last people I wanted to talk to right now.
"Do you ever feel like breaking down
Do you ever feel out of place
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you"
I stood there silently, hoping Archie was too keen with his music to notice my presence. I had to admit, Archie was good at playing acoustic, and his singing wasn't bad. I could definitly relate to the words, as I'm sure most of us at the Brownstone could.
"Do you ever want to run away
Do you lock yourself in your room
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming"
At that point, I felt I prang of guilt, a familiar one, from long weeks ago. Only this one was stronger. I sincerely hoped Archie didn't feel so hurt, so angry, that he had to get away from it all. I didn't want him to have to resort to such measures, or worse, to feel any relief.
"No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
No you don't know what it's like
To be like me
To be hurt,to feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked, when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
When no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life"
I felt like saying, "I know how you feel now, Archie." To feel like you had a chance at something, so sweet and pure, for once in your life, only for it to be taken away. Taken away, by the one you wanted this goodness with. Yep, I was definitly feeling lost, and alone. Life was sure throwing me a wake-up call, and for once I was listening.
"Do you want to be somebody else
Are you sick of feeling so left out
Are you desperate to find something more
Before your life is over"
For the moment, I wanted to be someone else, anyone else. I wanted to be more left out, you avoided getting hurt that way.
What more is there to find? I had no choice to leave until we finished off Cronus, so where could I find this solid thing to hold to, that I longed for.
"Are you stuck inside a world you hate
Are you sick of everyone around
With their big fake smiles and stupid lies
When deep inside you're bleeding"
Fake. That was a perfect word to describe Jay. How could I have not seen it, past the lies and the deceit? Was I that desperate for attention? As for Archie, was I the cause of his hatred, his reason for the sound? He had avoided me for nearly four weeks, the time Jay and I had dated. He must hate me now.
"No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
No you don't know what it's like
To be like me
To be hurt,to feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked, when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
When no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life"
I don't know if his singing was theraputic for him or not, but Archie's song was killing me. It stabbed at my heart until it physically hurt, and I couldn't take it anymore. I had to apologise, try to make things right. I was going to do the impossible, make peace with Archie.
"No one ever lied straight to your face
No one ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy
But I'm not going to be okay
Everybody always gave you what you wanted
You never had to work, it was always there
You don't know what it's like What it's like"
He was right, he had always been right. I was a spoiled rich kid who had everything in life handed to me, and I couldn't take it now that I had to work for what I wanted. Archie was always right, and I was too stupid to see it. I had to tell him this, to say sorry for how rude I had been, for all I had done to him. I opened the door silently, and he didn't hear me.
"To be hurt,to feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked, when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
When no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
To be hurt, to feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked, when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
When no one's there to save you
No you don't no what it's like-"
"Welcome to my life," I whispered from the doorway. That was enough to get Archie's attention. He stopped playing, and turned to look at me.
"Oh, it's you," he said, the hurt underlaying his voice. He stood up abruptly, and put his guitar in it's case. I had to speak now, but I had no idea what to say.
"Archie, I'm sorry"
"For what, you didn't do anything. I was the one who treated you like dirt, and then acted too rashly. It's no wonder you hate me. Now, leave me alone and go back to your boyfriend," he replied. Surprisingly, he did not sound harsh, just sad and sorry he had ever done those things.
"What boyfriend? Jay broke up with me."
This got Archie's attention. He turned around, muttering something that sounded like 'Jay's an idiot.' He just stared at me, concern etched into his features. This startled me, but the silence was getting long, so I added,
"It turns out that he only wanted me because you did, but he was going to dump me for Atlanta. I heard his plans."
"You okay?"
"Yeah," I shrugged. I was hoping my voice had sounded calm, or at least ambiguous. Oh, well.
"Look, Archie. I know we've never gotten along, and I respect your feelings for me. Though," I paused, "you might hate me now. I sure wouldn't blame you."
He gave me a look that could melt the iciest heart. "I could never hate you, Theresa."
I smiled, and continued. "I don't know if I could ever be more to you, but for now, I would really like to be friends. So, wanna give it a try?" I must have looked like a weirdo. But a convincing weirdo, because:
"Sure," he laughed, and I felt almost happy. "We can try being friends. But on one condition."
I frowned, wondering what he could be thinking of.
"I get to call you Drama Queen again."
"Sure, Archie. I do believe the name suits me."
So, Archie and I were friends, but how long could that last.