Disclaimer!: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE! I own my OC(s), and that's just it, we are on a fanfiction site/ story site.
ALSO - RATED MATURE FOR A REASON!
Like...sorry….not gonna give much on warnings…
Time for the chapter!
~ If I am to die….. Let me die protecting what I love…. ~
[6:00 pm CST; November 20, 20XX]
Walking back home from the bus stop, it had been a long day filled with college classes and work. The end of November is here, winter's full blast right around the corner. Enjoying the tunes from my headphones as I made my way home… that is…. until I hear Britney Spears Oh Baby, Baby attacking my ears, interrupting the last song.
I swear, one of these days, I will find out who keeps taking my phone to change the ringtones….
"Hello, hello, Astrid speaking."
"ASSSSTTRRRIIIDDD!", I winced as I lowered down the volume.
"Jules, what's up?"
"Welllll, I had an idea, and I wanted to talk to you about this idea that I have."
"If it involves me having to spend Thanksgiving break with you, you have to forget it."
"Astrid! It's a great idea, I just know it! So, in order to bring it into fruition, you have to spend break with me."
"And as I was saying before during our lunch break, since we are on a rotation list on who I will be spending the holidays with, this Thanksgiving Break I'll be going over to Lizzie's house."
"Buuuuutttttttttt Astrid~" , whined one of my dear best friends over the phone, "it'll be more fun if you come over to my house this break. Think about all the high-jinks we'll get into!"
Heading off the side-walk, and walking across the parking lot, I waved hi to the front desk receptionist as I headed towards the stairs, bookbag thumping against my leg.
"Jules, for the love of God and everything holy, we share an apartment", I stated, "we not only see each other 24/7, you're practically my brother."
"Astrid,... I don't think Lizzie would mind.. much…"
"Remember the incident in 11th grade?", I brought up as I made my way up the stairs of the indoor-apartment complex, bookbag going this way and that as the ascent was two flights of stairs.
"How can I for-... Oh shit, she would mind."
"She would not only mind, but she would wip out that safety knife so fast that she may end up accidentally leaving more than a 3 inch hole in the wall. The last guy that had the pleasure of pissing off Lizzie was lucky that Terry pulled him away last minute when she threw it."
"GrrrrrAAHHHHHH, you should stay at my house though! We shall have a legendary feast, play video games till the sun rises in the horizon, and my parents like you so, so much."
"Everyone's parents like me Jules, not just only your parents", I softly mentioned. "Another thing is that they are happy that I'm a little bit of a good influence on you, and that I, and everyone else in our friend group, are practically a second family. If any of us were in trouble or was having a rough day, we all have each other's backs, no matter what. Would you really want to make Lizzie angry? Especially when you owe her the most favors out of all of us?", I reasoned with him as I shuffled my keys.
I finally managed to get the right one in the keyhole and opened the door to our oh-so not humble abode. Stepping into the threshold, I proceeded to lock the door behind me as I made my way to my room. It was one thing to carry such a heavy looking book bag, it was another thing entirely to unpack said bag after a long day at university. Especially when I had surgery in my left hand not that long ago.
"You right, you right, I'll drop the subject of Thanksgiving Break for now then…. Well, on the bright side of things, I at least have you for this up-coming Spring Break. We'll go to the beach, do some yoga, power-lift a little bit….. Oh! You can help me out as my wing-lady-man, whatever it's called, and help me find a special guy since my last relationship ended with a dud an-"
"But Spring Break is only one day?", I finally managed to get a word in-edgewise as I readjusted my glasses.
"-d get those, wait…. WHAT?! What do you mean that Spring Break is only one day?! How could that happen?! WHERE HAS OUR SPRING BREAK GONE?!", Jules cried out over the phone as I continued to unpack in my room.
"Let me double-check real quick Jules, I could be wrong, but I do remember an email sent by the university stating that they were cutting Spring Break short due to a bodus reason by the university.", I calmly reasoned out, finally getting out my laptop from my book bag as well as my phone, readjusting my headphones to make sure that I could still hear Jules through all the shuffling I was doing and that they wouldn't get tangled with my glasses' earpieces. Having unpacked all my books, tupperware, chargers, and other things, while being careful with my left hand, I headed out of my room with my laptop and phone to work on the island in the kitchen, closing my bedroom door in the process.
I then proceeded to start my laptop to find that email, opening up a different tab to cross-check with the university's calendar. It was one thing to get information from the university via email, another to fall for a prank email sent by a computer major that could hack the system. I should know, Jerry did that once out of rage for the basketball team when we were in highschool. Man, how time flies, three years have gone by since we've all been in high school. Three years since that happened….Continuing on and getting my head out of memory lane, I found both emails saying the same thing: Spring Break was one day for our university…
"Okay Jules, I was right. Spring Break is only one day for our university, and pretty much it's only for our university. No other university", as I continued to click through various news articles after finding out that information, "is doing that except for ours", I finished.
"DAMN IIITTTTTTTT! Rotation lists, weird university mambo-jumbo, the near-on…..gaaaaahhhhhhhhH!. AFTER ALL OUR SUFFERING WE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE!", he yelled in my poor-horribly sensitive ears, causing me to wince in the process.
"Jules, it'll be fine. You'll be fine. We can always hang out together."
"WE COULD HAVE GONE TO MY FAMILIES SUMMER HOUSE….. SOMETHING OTHER THAN OUR APARTMENT, HELL, MAYBE EVEN A COTTAGE! AGhhhhhhhhh, the rest of my family wants to see you though…"
"It is what it is, Jules. Things happen, but look at the bright side. You can use this as a means to get a part of summer break, right? Anywho, how long will it take you to get back over here?", I continued on, closing various tabs on my laptop.
Moving my laptop to one side of the island, I make my way to my room once more to get my photos from last year and the year before. Finding them in the box under my desk, I gather all my items as a little tingling sensation in my left wrist, where my hand still feels weird from my surgery weeks past. Heading back to the kitchen island with my box in tow, I close the door to my room once more.
I finally hear Jules' response, after what feels like an eternity (which was about 2 minutes).
"I should be back within 45 minutes actually! I'm heading to my car now, probably going to pick up Lizzie and her 'lovely' other half Melly since we haven't met up in a while. I should probably call them to make double sure that they are free from the airport, since they just came back from Chicago a while ago… Hopefully it's a yes, but knowing Lizzie and her planning, she probably accounted for everything and wil- speak of the devil and she shall appear. She's calling me right now, I'll be home soon Astrid."
"See you soon Jules! Be careful coming back!", I cheerfully yelled back. It was then I ended the call, and continued on with sorting my pictures.
After laying out all my pictures with the full intention of procrastinating, I take my trip down memory lane. Using my phone, I put on some music, preferably the classics like Panic!at the Disco's new album, Pray for the Wicked, to play through my earbuds as I forget about school for a short while. With it not being a call, I decided to have one earphone in and one earphone out, since it won't be long till Jules comes home with everyone else behind him. Knowing Jerry and Terry, they'll catch wind that everyone will be at the apartment, so they will also be stopping by to hang out one last time before the break. As it should be, everyone should see each other one last time before we go our separate ways for the week. All things considering, spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with Lizzie will be nice, I just hope Melly manages to behave herself… Hopefully… I wince when I think about the first holiday that we all spent together, and the pictures that resulted from such a splendid holiday. ~Memories~, I sighed.
I looked at photos from our first Thanksgiving in college, then the proceeding Christmas where Terry and Lizzie looked adorable in their reindeer headbands. Another 2 photos from the following summer with one showing Melly and Jerry trying to kill each other after a game in the arcade, the other with Jerry looking smug and Melly looking like she's going to murder him. Fourth of July where Terry and I had an eating contest to see who ate the most smores. A photo of all us starting our first day for Sophomore year in college, another photo for my 20th birthday with those really cool foreign exchange students. Photos of us cutting cake and me in my brand new, navy suit, looking dapper and happier than ever. At the bottom of the stack of photos, I find the photo of Jules and I after that incident when we had just graduated high school, and a wave of melancholy overcomes me as I remember staying at Lizzie's house for that transition period.
Seriously, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here right now.
[7:00 pm CST]
Time flies when looking at all the pictures that I had over the years. To think I managed to get my baby pictures, and even the pictures of my mom before the incident, my grab and go was a bit hasty, so I have to say 'go me'.
Sometimes I wonder how she's doing up there in heaven….but only God knows….
Before I knew it, I heard some loud voices from the hallway, and of course a big ~
THUD
"ASSSTTTRRRRIIIDDDDD!", Melly screeched with enthusiasm.
"WE'RE HERE!", Jerry sing-songed.
"Did you miss us?", Lizzie walked into my line of sight, setting her bag down to give me a hug.
"Who wouldn't miss y'all? A day without all of y'all is a pretty crappy day.", I shrugged as I got up to hug her back.
"Hey! What does that make me, the next door neighbor or something?!", Jules pouted playfully, running towards me and hugging me from behind, sandwiching me between the both of them.
"I'm just saying that I'm happy we are all here, together, right before the holiday. I see you everyday, but for everyone else there is always a time constraint or conflicting schedules. As you can see", I motioned to Lizzie and Melly as we let go of the hug, Jules still hugging me from behind, "they just came back from a different state because of their internships."
"It's not only just because of our internships", Melly had already made her way to the kitchen, looking through the fruit bowl and choosing an apple, "we were coming back anyways for the holidays, and to pick you up for your winter surprise~."
My goodness, everyone with their surprises. What will it be this time, I don't know, I'm just hoping that it's not something grand like years past….. They nearly gave me a heart attack when they got me the motorcycle that one year….
"I don't need anything grand guys", I looked each of them in the eye, some more than others, "all I want is to have a happy time with everyone. All I ask is for -."
"Your love and affection.", everyone said in unison, all of them with soft smiles as I felt my face heating up.
"You've said that so many times that everyone has it memorized", Terry chuckled, making his way forward as he proceeded to bear hug me and lift me in the air.
"Wait, Terry", I hear Jules say from somewhere around me, "do the thing, do the thing."
Terry gasps very loudly near my ear, as he then has his hands under my armpits, turns me around and has me facing away from him. Now I'm just facing everyone else.
"What in the hell are y'all do-"
{ Lion King; The Circle of Life } begins to play.
"OOOOOiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!", I am flailing my arms and legs all around to no avail, as Terry is just swole, he's fit, he is the one who has trained me in the ways of exercising … and he has me in a way where I am just not reaching him via my legs. I try to reach him with my arms, but I can only get his arms, and even then I don't want to risk him dropping me. Terry is a 6 feet, 5.5 inch, African-American badass who hasn't skipped arm or leg day since Intermediate school, and he is holding me like Simba from the Lion King.
When did Terry and Jules even discuss this?
Jules pops up next to me, he has in his hands what appears to be the maroon paint that we used for our painting class. Terry then lowers me down, assuming that they are going to recreate the beginning scene of the Lion King. I bend my knees, causing Terry to lower me even more, and I pretty much head butt Jules in the forehead as I spring back up into action. The stinging sensation of my forehead, readjusting my glasses as I scramble away a bit, and the wet sensation of having paint inadvertabtly dumped on me due to my rash thinking.
Our reunions always end with one of us being a mess, and somehow that ends up being me.
"TERRY!", Jerry is pretty much ready to reprimand his boyfriend, something that happens once in a blue moon. Terry is usually the responsible one, Jerry is the impulsive and reckless one that follows Jules and I's fun plans.
How the turn-tables…
Melly is the one reprimanding Jules as he got a bit of paint on him too, the Circle of Life still playing in the background.
Fun, fun, fun….
"Everyone", Lizzie calls for everyone's attention, with someone turning off the music, "since we are all here, we might as well go out to eat. I know Melly and I haven't eaten anything since two today."
"I haven't eaten since lunch-time today, so I'm more than happy to grab something.", I chimed in.
"Same here."/ "Likewise." / "Absolutely." / "Food is a must."
"And, like usual when we are going out to eat," Lizzie continues, "who is going to pay for the food."
"Well, I am.", I stated, nodding my head.
"NO."/ "Not a chance." / "In your dreams." / "Like hell you are." / "HA, no."
"JAAaaaaj? But -."
"We are not letting you pay, and even if you try to sneakily pay like the last few times, we will do all we can in our ability to stop you.", Melly pointed at me, not because she was angry, but more along the lines that she felt guilty that I've paid the majority of the time.
"Astrid," Jerry started to pat my head, "let us treat you out more often, let us share the burden of buying and giving food."
"But-.", I tried to get out.
Melly puts a hand over my mouth, which I then proceed to lick, because I'm still childish. This is where I end up on the floor, as Melly calls for vengeance. Well, not necessarily vengeance, more like payback for doing something gross for the nth time. With all the training that I do with Terry, in no time at all I'm pinning her down only to be bucked off and scrambling once more. My glasses are going back into disarray, multiple someone's are yelling "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT", and I can hear the CLICK, CLICK of the camera.
See, this is why I like when we are all together. We know how to have fun, and be crazy-stupid-little-hell-raisers.
After doing a successful take-down of Melly and performing a new pinning technique, I have managed to make her tap out before anything hectic happens. I get off from on top of her, with me extending a hand to help her up. Once we are both up, I start giggling, as I see that some of the paint that was on me is now on her, and on the majority of stuff in the living room.
Melly's red hair is in disarray, with maroon splashing this way and that against her pale skin. She and I definitely would need a shower, as splotches of maroon were all over her clothes as well as mine. Some of the paint is blocking my eyes and is covering my glasses. Feeling the stickiness of my hair, the uncomfortable way my clothes are starting to dry in some awkward places, and even my hearing maybe affected as I feel the paint in my ears.
I look to my right and Terry is nearly doubled over with his other half, Jerry, as they are laughing to ungodly proportions. Lizzie is just chuckling to the left of them, a closed eyed smile as she takes out her handkerchief from her breast pocket to help clean some of the paint away from my cheeks. She is basically ignoring her other half, opting for me, her adopted sister, forever and always.
The only one left is Jules, who is…
CLICK
CLICK
CLICK
I then look to my left to see a camera in my face and Jules standing behind said camera. A shit-eating grin on his glorious mug as he is going all around me and Melly to get the 'best' pictures possible, and potentially blackmail.
It's days like these where I wonder, what could go wrong?
[8:00 pm CST]
After much cleaning up and three showers later, we all decided to hop into one car, because, well, carpooling saves the planet…
Well, that and because no-one wants Jerry or I to drive, and since Jules drove Melly and Lizzie, we all decided to Tetris ourselves into Jules' 2019 Mord Ranger. Myself in the middle of Terry and Jerry, since, well, I am…..well….shorter….than them, so it only makes sense that I'm in the middle. Lizzie and Melly are up in front with Jules, and of course, Jules is driving his big ass truck.
"And as the holidays progress, we should definitely get you a new-.", Melly was looking back to Terry, him nodding along to what Melly was saying. I was zoned out, a little bit, cause it's been a long day.
Customer service tends to take the life out of people, let me tell you…..
"Hold up.", Jerry interrupted. "We should definitely ask," he glanced at me,`` the person in question if she would want to get it new."
That most definitely brought me back to the present.
"Say to what with the new to the who now?", ah, yes, that college education made me an articulate being to society.
This is when I started to have a bad gut feeling…..a sixth sense of the sort. But not due to what was just said, no, probably...maybe….for something that we will be doing later tonight? I'm shaken out of that thought though.
"We were talking about getting you a new phone for Christmas," Melly was now fully turned around in her seat to address me fully, Terry rubbing my hair, "and we will all chip in for getting you this new phone, so that you wouldn't pay in installments or anything."
"My phone is still good though…."
Melly starts shaking her head no, "your phone is slowly starting to become a brick. What percent is it right now?"
I take out my phone, with it being in power save mode, the IRoam coming to life as I hold it up. It's at thirty percent, the last time I checked.
"Yup, I knew it," Melly motions for me to give her my phone, which I gladly do so, "you m'am, are at five percent."
Melly then rights herself back in her seat, facing the front once more. She then grabs the charger that is always connected in Jules truck, from what I can tell from the back seat, as I hear a beep boop to show that my phone is now charging.
"It still has a few years left in her…"
"Your phone is the 2016 model Astrid, it's time for an upgrade", Lizzie stated, glancing at me from the shotgun seat.
I start to use various hand motions (the harmless kind) to try to convince them that my phone is still good, "My IRoam Wind tablet lasted longer, and that was a 2013 model…"
"You had to have that constantly connected to some power source to actually have it working a few years later.", Jules casually remarked, putting on his blinker and then turning into our destination, Olive Bush.
The names of these places sound so damn weird, I swear that in a different plane of existence they would be named something much cooler…. Seriously, who names a restaurant after a bush, or an electronics company like Pineapple?
"Can we discuss this later, I don't know," I wave my hands, trying to, I don't know, divert attention away from the subject, "maybe when it's getting nearer to Christmas time?"
Everyone, except for Jules, shared a knowing look. Some type of deep understanding that they all know me by now, and I know them too well by now.
They are most definitely going to buy me a new phone…..and it's not like I'm not grateful! On the contrary, but I just don't see what's the problem with keeping something that could still be in use for a bit longer? But that's just me, and they are right about my phone becoming a brick. Not only is the battery abysmal, I sometimes lose calls, I've dropped it so many times (but I had the case, so no cracks) that I wouldn't be surprised that it affected it somehow. Hell, I even had to get my phone refurbished due to water damage… Then there is also the problem with storage…
"-rid?, Astrid? EARTH TO ASTRID?!"
GRAaAAAAAAHHH
"STOP PINCHING MY CHEEKS MELLY!", I started to swat Melly's hands away as a means to protect my poor cheeks.
"GET YOUR HEAD OUTTA THE GUTTER! WE HERE!"
Terry and Jerry had already gotten out of the truck, with me sliding from the middle seat to the right to follow after Terry. Lizzie helped me get down, deciding not to help Melly. Gotta say, I have the most dotting, protective older sister, and it warms my heart. Bit sad for Melly though, cause I have asked Lizzie this before, but she would choose my side in a heartbeat if things were to go ary.
Lizzie then proceeds to mess with my hair, as Melly gets out of the truck, handing me my now twenty percent charged phone back to me. I nod my head in thanks, now both Melly and Lizzie are messing with my hair, which I lean into.
"I never understood how you get your short, brown hair so soft and fluffy," Melly wondered out loud.
"It's because I get her all her hair products now," all of us now trailing behind Jerry, Terry, and Jules, "only the best for my adorable little sister."
I look at Lizzie, being a bit embarrassed and happy by the compliment, "you don't, bu-."
"Bu-bu-BUT nothing, Astrid," Lizzie looks me clear in the eye, "after everything upon anything, I am going to spoil you rotten like I should have all those years ago."
"AND WHAT ABOUT ME?!", Melly is now flailing her arms, and from the corner of my eye Terry is just shaking his head no while holding back Jerry from picking a fight with Melly.
"Astrid and you are different Melly. You should know that by now."
"I dooooo know that! All I'm asking is that you-"
That's when Lizzie grabs Melly by the shirt, pulling her into a kiss. A rather….COUGH… I look away towards Jules, who happens to whistle while Terry is covering Jerry's mouth, about ready to make a scene and start a fight.
Jerry is absolutely fuming, let me tell you. Red in the face, veins popping out, the whole she-bang of flailing against Terry as he wants to rip Melly a new one. They fight, they bicker, they are basically Zoro and Sanji but just in a different, more deadly form. Like that one time they decided to start throwing things at each other and I nearly walked into a whole fiasco in of itself.
Please, everyone, stop making a scene. I look at everyone else in the restaurant, and with all eyes on us, we definitely stand out in a crowd.
"Did we ask for a table?", I nudged Jules.
He sighed.
Big mood. I then proceeded to go to the hostess and then ask for a table for six. The wait time wasn't too shabby, ten minutes is rare these days, especially at this time at night on a Saturday. I then got the standard device that would let us know when our table was ready, and thanked the hostess as I turned around.
Finally settling down, Jerry and Melly were bickering when I went back to the group. Lizzie was chatting with Jules, Terry listening in on both conversations in the middle.
"How long is the wait time?", Lizzie motioned for me to sit next to her near the corner.
"Ten minutes", I shrugged, "once in a blue moon, especially with our group."
"That's true.", Jules hummed, nodding in agreement.
BUZZ
BUZZ
BUZZ
Everyone on the bench stood up, with Terry leading Jerry and Lizzie dragging Melly while grabbing my arm to lead us towards the hostesses. I swung my arm around Jules' arm, as a means to make sure no one was left behind.
I handed the hostess the device, one person grabbing the menus as she led us to our booth. Taking our seats in the booth, somehow all of us fit in there, we made ourselves comfortable to the best of our abilities.
All said and done, we went on with our evening, talking about the mundane.
Reminiscing about years past.
Talking about the future, and what we wanted to do, since graduation from university is just three more semesters now.
We talked about our dreams, teasing each other about dreams coming and going.
The last bits of the conversation, I remember them vividly….
"Astrid", Lizzie waved at me as I was engrossed in my desert.
I swallowed, "uh, what is it, Lizzie?"
"I just wanted to confirm that you could be the Maid of Honor for the wedding.", Lizzie swirled her wine as she made to drink from it.
"Lizzie, we've had extensive talks about this," I leaned in, "I am more than happy, and honored, that I can be part of y'alls wedding. I will be the Maid of Honor, just that-."
"You will be wearing a suit, instead of a dress," Melly finished, taking another swing of her beer.
"Exactly.", I nodded.
Lizzie reached out, rubbing my hair as she smiled.
"I am more than happy to let you do that," Lizzie then brought out her hand, calling for the waiter, "excuse me, I would like to get the check."
[ 9:30pm ]
"Okay, where to now?," Jules called out to us as we all made our way back into his truck.
"How about the park?", Jerry leaned over the seat. "I know a good park that we can go to, it's not even fifteen minutes from here."
Another bad gut feeling… It hasn't left since the restaurant, and it's only getting worse as the night progresses. I know the difference between a stomach ache, a stomach virus, and my bad feeling, and this is definitely a bad feeling.
Should I tell everyone?
"How about we stay in tonight and watch a movie?", I suggested, also leaning in but over Melly's seat.
Jerry began to pinch the left side of my cheek, "we need to walk off the food and alcohol, might as well take advantage of the good weather while we're at it."
I swatted Jerry's hand away from my cheek, with him starting to play with my hair instead.
"What if…...I have….a bad gut feeling about this?," I mentioned off-handedly.
That's when all attention went on me, I leaned back in my seat as everyone started to think seriously about what that feeling could be. If going to a park, together, as a group, could potentially spell trouble.
If it could be dangerous.
If we could risk it.
"Let's take this to a vote," Lizzie slapped her hands together, "all in favor of going to the park."
Jerry and Melly actually agreed on something, with Jules also agreeing to go.
Which means we are at fifty-fifty on going, which then means.
"Heads or tails Astrid?"
Time for the deciding factor….
Luck.
Fate.
"Heads." / "Tails."
Lizzie flipped the coin, turning it over and on the top of her hand, it showed…..
"It can't be that bad Astrid," Jerry patted my back, "if anything happens, I'll be there to kick anyone's ass."
I softly chuckled, " I bet you would."
The gut feeling grew even stronger.
"I bet you would…"
[10:00 pm CST]
"That was farther than expected," Lizzie slammed the truck door as Melly tailed behind her, Jules had already parked and turned it off some minutes prior. Something about frogs near the lake, according to Jerry, piqued his curiosity.
"I'll head over with Jules," I pointed towards where he went, "the buddy system has worked for us so far."
"How about we do this…..we split up where I go with Jules and Astrid, and the next group would be Terry, Jerry, and Melly?," Lizzie made her way next to me, wrapping her arm around mine.
"HAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"
Melly's jaw nearly dropped to the floor with how hurt she looked. Lizzie doesn't look too happy either, with the possibility of something bad happening, and that Melly, alongside everyone else, knows that my weird sixth sense is usually right.
Welp, time to start walking.
I look back, saying over my shoulder, "don't worry Melly, I'll make sure to keep Lizzie safe." I grin wide, swinging around real quick to smack my bicep as Lizzie and I headed to where Jules was. I could hear Melly laughing a little, yelling back to me an 'alright'.
[10:30 pm CST]
"There you are!", I pointed to Jules as he was carrying a frog in his hands. Another one was situated on his shoulder, and another on his head.
If we didn't know him, we would have steered clear of him seeing how many frogs are surrounding him.
Lizzie was careful to reach Jules, reprimanding him for going off by himself as I kept aware of our surroundings.
The lake glistened, with the sounds of the crickets chirping, and the frogs riveting. For the most part, we had the park to ourselves, hearing the rustling of leaves here and there. Some rabbits out and about, a fox making its presence known, then hiding again.
Everything seems still and calm.
But my gut feeling is getting worse the longer we stay.
"Hey guys, we should see what everyone else is up to.", I motioned to the trail that we came from, hoping that we could go back and be together.
A chill ran down my spine.
I immediately went to go grab Jules and Lizzie, not really paying attention to the poor frogs, as I dragged them towards the trail.
I started running as I felt my stomach sink lower and lower. Butterflies in your stomach be damned, this feeling of dread, this anxiousness, I just hope whatever danger that may lie ahead.
I just hope that we can get through it.
"Astrid, what's wrong?! / "Astrid, slow down! What are we running from!?"
"There's no time to…."
That's when I heard it.
CER-CLICK
I pushed both Lizzie and Jules away from me as fast as I could.
I wasn't even able to look where the sound came from before….
BANG
POP
BANG
POP
BANG
POP
I was shot in the back three times.
I remember falling forwards.
Lizzie got to me first, flipping me over gently as Jules yelled something, going after the assailant.
"Astrid, Astrid, stay with me. I'll keep pressure on your wounds, just stay awake for me, okay?", Lizzie was touching my cheeks as she applied pressure to my wounds.
She was doing her best to stay calm, now that I look back.
I very weakly managed to touch her cheek with my left hand, mustering my strength as my body wouldn't cooperate with me.
"You know….you're the best big sister that anyone could ever dream of…"
"Astrid, don't…."
"My bad gut feeling is…..", I sucked in some air, feeling the metallic taste trickle out of my mouth, "gone...now…."
"Astrid…", Lizzie whispered.
I felt a wet sensation on my face.
I smiled, finding it hard to wipe her face.
"Promise me…..that you….and Melly."
"Astrid, of course I'm going to marry the person I love," Lizzie chuckled, "you're going to be there when I walk down the aisle."
I hummed, not in agreement, but as a way to acknowledge her way of thinking.
That sense of dread felt like no other...and that's probably because….
Today's the day….now isn't it?
I started to feel colder and colder, and I didn't know how much time had passed.
"I already called nine one one Astrid, don't worry, you're going to be fine.", Lizzie tried to reassure me.
Tried to reassure herself.
"I already called everyone over," they should be here soon.
I looked her in the eye as my vision started to fail me.
"Hey….Lizzie….."
" Astrid?"
"Tell everyone…"
"Don't….Astrid….please…"
"Tell everyone that…...I love all of you…..so…...so…..much
"Astrid…..please….."
"….Please…...be…..hap….."
"Astrid..Astrid….ASTRID!"
" MEDICCCCC! I NEED A MEDIIIIICCC! SOMEONE, ANYONE, HEEEEELLLLLLPPPP!"
[11:30 pm CST]
I'm guessing my spirit has left my body, as I can see everyone huddled around me. My body, hanging onto life with the support of the machines, the constant beeping to show that my heart is still working. That the oxygen is being pumped into me through my neck.
The doctors, the emergency responders, on our way here told them that I should have died on the spot. That I was alive for more than twenty minutes, after being shot in the way that I had been, was a miracle in itself.
I can't help feeling depressed as everyone….everyone is just…..
Crying.
Lizzie is screaming, tears streaming down her face. Melly is pleading, talking to one of the doctors to see if there is anything else they could do to save me. Jerry ran out of the room, face filled with rage as he kept blaming himself for suggesting to walk in the park, that he pushed for us to go. Jules is sitting in one of the chairs next to my med-bay bed, bent over, crying into his hands as he keeps repeating over and over….
"This can't be happening."
Terry is the only one that is keeping his calm, holding my left hand with both of his hands, kissing my fingers, my hand, through all the chaos.
I'm...I wonder what expression he is making….but one part of me is scared to see him cry too..
I know, seeing them all like this, that it's the end for me.
I never expected to ever see Lizzie lose her cool, to break because of me. She always has a plan, a witty remark….she always could keep her emotions in check, regardless of the situation.
Melly, always over-protective, always kind, to think that she would be the one pushing through to see if there is some way to save me. Some way to keep me whole, even if my chance to wake up was slim.
I know that Jerry could lose his cool, that he gets frustrated with coding and would throw his rubber ducky 'assistant' across the room when he was stuck…but he would always bounce back with a smile and a gleam in his eyes. I don't want him to feel guilty. I don't want him to think this was his fault…..
Jules, my very dear friend, a brother from another mother….I sighed as a spirit…. Pretty much my partner in crime as we would get into butt loads of trouble… I should have confided in you more, and told you to take care before I passed out.
Terry is the most collected of the group, the second in charge to Lizzie. Strong and brave, he has always made the best of a situation. He doesn't get angry easily, only when strangers disrespects the people that he loves and cares about. I know that he has lost people dear to him due to illnesses, but from a freak accident, no, freak situation like this? I wonder what is going through his mind right now as he stays calm amidst this whirlwind of emotions.
Terry, Lizzie, and Jules, we've all known each other since Elementary school. Over ten years of friendship, of all of us being a family away from our birth families.
I promised that I would be the last to go, when we were young.
I promised that I would be there for the wedding…
I promised to be there for them when they were having a hard time.
I promised…. I promised so many things. I promised so many things thinking that I would always be there...that I would be right beside them.
Remembering that, actually remembering it in my final moments, I just want to scream.
I want to cry out that I'm sorry.
I want to say that I don't want to go.
I want to tell them I'm still here, even when, deep in my gut, I feel that time is short.
That I'm going to have to go into the light.
It was never….never my intention to…. I didn't want to cause so much heartache, so much pain.
I don't regret my actions, I don't regret saving them. I'm happy that they don't have a scratch on them.
All I regret is that I couldn't save their hearts as I took the hit.
Melly gently guides Lizzie out of the room, finding that calming Lizzie down takes priority now that there was no viable option to save my life. As they head out, Jerry heads back in, eyes bloodshot due to, what I can only assume, was him crying somewhere in private. I notice his hands, which are now bloody, and as I reach out, I only pass through him.
I call out to them.
They can't hear me.
I motion at Jules and Terry, trying to get them to notice Jerry's hands.
They can't see me either.
What did I expect…..I'm only here in spirit now…..
Luckily, Terry manages to look away for one second to see his beloved right behind him. Actually seeing Terry's face now, he's been crying too, with a solemn look in his eyes. Terry gets up rather reluctantly, looking back and then gently letting go of my hand.
He tries to lead Jerry out of the room.
Jerry just shrugs him off, sniffling as he plants himself where Terry was earlier, on my hospital bed, right by my side. Terry looks hurt by such an action, but he then goes out of the room, wiping the tears out of his eyes, and potentially going to find a doctor to patch up Jerry's hands.
I look to my right, where the door is, seeing a figure clouded in smoke? Fog? The figure in question is certainly shrouded in mystery.
My time….my time...my time is so short…..
If there is a God, if there is some higher being…..I would hope to meet everyone again…someday...
I don't want to go. I don't want to leave. I want to stay by their sides for a while longer.
I want to spend the holidays with them.
I look at the figure once more, with them taking out a pocket watch, pointing at the time. They beckon me to follow, but I reach out and lightly tug their cloak.
"Would it be okay," I whisper, "if I gave them one last goodbye?" I look at the figure, and then to all of them.
The figure, with what I guess was affirmation, rubbed my hair with their reddish-brown skin that shined under the fluorescents of the hospital. They left the room and stood in the hallway, once more pointing at the time.
The clock is ticking.
I start with Jules, who I kneel towards as he still sits in the chair. I try to press my spirited forehead towards him, only to pass through him again. I opt to just look him in the eyes instead.
I tell him to take care, that I love him. To look out for everyone, even in my stead.
I tell him thank you for being my sworn brother.
I then go to Jerry.
I sit to the left of him on my hospital bed, holding my ghostly hand to try to touch his cheek, to no avail. It is better to try, than to not try at all…
I tell him it's not his fault, that I don't blame him or anyone.
I tell him to take care of himself, that they all need to keep each other afloat. To still be there for one another, to finally get along with Melly.
I get up as Terry gets back into the room, a doctor in tow. He gently taps Jerry by the shoulder, motioning for the doctor to come over to bandage him up. Terry then steps back, looking over everything.
I walk over to Terry, going on my tippy toes to reach the top of his head.
I try to rub his hair.
I try to wipe the new tears that are forming in his eyes.
I tell him thank you, and that it's going to be okay. I try to tell him that I'm going to be fine.
I tell Terry that I love him, and that I wish him all the happiness in the world. I attempt to pat his shoulder one last time as I leave the room to go see Lizzie and Melly.
Sitting on the bench outside, Lizzie leaned on Melly as she wailed. Seeing someone that is usually calm, cool, and collected become so vulnerable, to show such grief, for someone like me…..
I'm so sorry.
I kneel in front of Melly first, telling her to take care of Lizzie.
To be her rock, to try to get along with Jerry.
I thank her for taking care of me in her own way, and that I'm glad to have a friend and future sister-in-law from her. I tried to rub her hair, and to wipe the tears streaming from her face.
I finally made it to Lizzie.
My big sister.
The person who convinced her family to adopt me, the person that supported me through dark times, the person that has been with me since we were in Elementary school.
I thank her for everything.
I thank her for loving me.
For caring for me.
For seeing me as me, and for accepting me first.
I give her nose a kiss, both hands trying to wipe away her tears to no avail. I tried to hold her hands one last time, even if it was futile.
I look to the figure to my left, they are pointing at the time.
It's time to let go.
I get up from where I was kneeling, dusting off the imaginary dirt from my knees. I walk towards them, looking back one last time as we head towards, what it seems, the end of the hall. I walk beside the figure, soon hearing the slamming of doors, the rushing of doctors, and the screams of….
"DON'T GO!"
It's hard not to look back.
As soon as we reached the end of the hall, the whole dimensional plane shifted. Now….
Now….
I think I'm no longer on the mortal plane anymore.
A/N -
3 inches = 7.60 cm ~ish
6ft, 5in = 195.58 cm
Probs will keep on doing conversions and the like for later chapters
Anywho, hope I did well for Chapter 1, can't wait to see all of y'all for Chapter 2….
Let's just say I won't be merciful, and all that jazz to Astrid,
(Screams Sorry! In the distance)
Only warning, going forwards, is that this is definitely not for kids…. And strong themes….
Stay happy and healthy, I know I'll try.
A/N won't be this long, going forwards.
Also sporadic updates all around for side-piece, main piece monthly or every-other month.
Not gonna abandon anything too easily.
Peace,
- DH