I don't know why and I don't know how but there I was, standing in the middle of a meadow, gazing at the little flowers waving as the wind blew them lightly. Where the heck am I?
Suddenly it all changed, the meadow was burnt, the fire was still there and it was spreading fast. I screamed for help but no one came. I squeezed my eyes shut as the heat got overbearing. A laugh erupted from beside me and I snapped my gaze towards it to see the familiar style of hair and the brown mischievous eyes.
"Don't look so tense, Casey. Relax will ya?" He chuckled lightly. I suddenly realized that the sweltering heat was gone and I looked around only to see that we were in his car. I remembered this, it was right before the crash. I quickly turned to look at Bryan with wide eyes.
"Bry, you gotta listen to me. You have to slow down, we're gonna crash and you won't survive." I told him slowly, trying to not freak him out even if I was experiencing all different levels of anxiety attacks inside.
He chuckled, "Nice try, Case, but I'm afraid I'm immune to your little scandalous pranks." I hit my head on the dashboard in frustration. I have no plans in watching him die again. "Whoa, are you okay? Don't do that!" Bryant demanded as he frowned at me, taking his eyes off the road to inspect my throbbing forehead before looking back at the almost empty road before us.
I took a deep breath and counted the seconds in my head, my shoulders was tense and my legs were ready to move, my hand was on my seatbelt and I'm ready to push the button to undo it. I'm not letting him die again.
The headlights came into view and the familiar fearful shout that came from my brother resonated through the car. I pushed the button with my thumb and tugged on the seat belt to undo it but my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach when it won't let loose. I frantically pushed the button as car honks filled the air and the familiar pull of the car being swerved came.
"Bryant!" I yelled in distraught.
"Casey!"
My eyes snapped open as I woke up, sweat covering my entire being and my chest rose and sunk in a quick pace.
It's just a dream. It's not real.
I picked my phone up from the bedside table and winced as the harsh light illuminated the room. It was only 6. I picked myself up from my bed and walked the distance between my bed and my brother's before plopping down on it. Sighing deeply, I kept my eyes trained to the ceiling as my fingers rubbed the worn out cloth.
I can't sleep again, it's always been that way; I wake up from a nightmare and fail to fall asleep again. I rose from the bed and pulled the door open gently, stepping out of the room and making my way to the mini gym. Won't hurt to train my kicks and punches.
After an hour, I decided to end my training and hit the showers.
The warm water hit my back but it has never had that 'relaxing muscle' effect on me so I have never really understood why they bothered to say that in stories.
Reaching for the towel, I wrapped it around my body before stepping out and putting on some baggy clothes. My hair was still wet so I didn't bother pulling it into a ponytail and let it air dry.
I left the house after making myself some grilled cheese french toast. I walked while munching on the toast and observed the road as cars sped by.
The school towered over me after a few minutes of walking and I could feel the dread of meeting that new kid. I swear I will butcher him alive if he starts to pester me again.
"Hey nerd!"
I sped up and instead of turning around and see who was calling.
"C'mon Casey, don't be that way!"
I froze when I heard that nickname. It's been a year since anyone called me that name and hearing it again brought up an onslaught of memories. With a dangerous expression, I turned around slowly to meet face to face with Adam.
"What did you call me?" I asked in an eerily soft tone. Adam paled and he looked like he was having a face off with a reaper. He looked ready to bolt out of here. With a loud gulp, he backed away a few steps. "Look, Casey- Cassandra- Nerd, whatever you're called, I didn't mean to offend you, I just- you wouldn't acknowledge me."
I scoffed at him and stalked towards him. Grabbing the front of his shirt, I muttered quietly so only he can hear me. "Listen good and listen well, no one and I mean NO ONE calls me that. You are no exception. So don't go around calling me Casey like you're him."
I realized my slip up too late and before I could dwell on it, I spun on my heels and stalked to the school entrance. I do not need anymore shit to deal with.
I was aware that I was being a bitch to him. He didn't know the story behind the nickname but that didn't change the fact that it hurt to hear it be said by anyone else. Every time I hear someone call me Casey, some deranged part of me would hope that somehow, Bryant would stand before me, give me his signature grin and a hug. And every time, those hopes would get crushed.
The day passed by quickly without a hitch. Adam tried to catch me in the halls and from the looks he gave me when he thought I wasn't looking, it looked like he was a bit reluctant to talk to me but that didn't stop me from rushing out of there like my ass was on fire.
Finally, the day ended and I gave out a relieved breath. I walked out of Physics with a hand on the strap of my bag.
I glanced behind me when I heard a commotion. I didn't make it a habit to go around sticking my nose in other people's business but there was just something off about this crowd. Everyone seemed to be extremely focused by what's going on and some were even cheering. They would usually stand there and watch in silent fascination, which made me sick, but seeing them cheer like this made my stomach churn and I could feel bile rising.
I rushed to the crowd and elbowed through the teenagers who were standing on their tiptoes, trying to see what's going on. I ducked when a hand swung past me in the midst of the excitement.
That was extremely close.
I continued to push past them and finally took a huge breath of air when I survived my battle through the sweaty bodies. I swear, one day, I'm going to introduce and give off free deodorants to these teens.
However, all thoughts flew out the window when I saw what was happening.
A kid was pushed up against the lockers, cornered by Maddison. The kid was wearing thick rimmed glasses and she was quivering in fear, her hands wouldn't stop trembling as she held them close to her chest and her eyes were as wide as saucers behind her glasses. Fear was written all over her face and she pressed herself harder against the lockers, looking like she was trying to shrink into one of them.
Maddison was wearing one of her infamous glares as she sized the girl up. "Where is my bracelet, you bitch!" My eyes widened at her question as the puzzles pieces clicked into place.
Bryant gave Maddison a bracelet when they were together and she loves that bracelet so much, she never took it off. I helped Bryant picked it off the jewelry shop the day before he gave it to her. If this kid really did take that bracelet, she's really asking for an early funeral.
Everyone knows not to acknowledge, moreover, touch it.
I heard a snicker behind me and whipped my gaze to the source and saw a couple of goofballs trying to hold in a laugh while watching the unsettling scene before them. That's when I saw something glinting in one of the guy's pockets.
My eyes narrowed on the object and I saw one of the familiar charms Bryant chose that day. My eyes snapped to the boy who pocketed the missing jewelry and I gave him an accusing glare as my eyes turned into slits.
These guys thought it'd be funny to mess with something my brother left for someone he loved and to place the blame on a poor girl who doesn't know anything about it.
I knew I should've kept up my image as the weak nerd but the severity of how messed up this situation is snapped something in me and caused me to stalk up to the guy and grabbed him by the scruff of his collar and dragged him forcefully out of the crowd, shoving him in front of Maddison.
"Leave the girl alone, Maddison," Though I didn't scream or yelled at her, my tone was stern and the words seem to catch her attention.
"Check his pockets, you'll find your bracelet," I ordered her before turning my gaze towards the girl and looked at her blankly. It didn't take her long to take the cue and make a dash for the school's entrance.
When I looked back at Maddison, her whole face was beet red and her eyes showcased fury. She grabbed the guy by his collar and forced him to stand up right.
"How dare you."
She didn't need to raise her voice to let the guy know she was beyond pissed. He started stammering but all that could be heard was the echo of Maddison's famous bitch slap.
I looked away and turned to leave but a hand caught my wrist. My reflexes kicked in and before I knew it I was already twisting around and got his hold off my wrist, taking his instead, ready to break his wrist.
When I realized what I did, I dropped the hand like it burned me and looked up at the person. Shit, he's gonna suspect something.
And of course fate hates me so dang much that it decided to let the person who grabbed my wrist be someone who I was trying to ignore the whole day.
Adam.
â¢~â¢~â¢
Sorry for the wait.
So turns out that the headaches I've been getting aren't because of my deprived of sleep state but I caught sinusitis and I have to stay away from cold things .-.
Karma works fast. I'm regretting getting into that fight 2 days ago ð
Anyways..
Despite the whole thingy, I did make you guys a promise to finish this book ASAP so I am going to TRY to edit one chapter everyday (hopefully I can live up to that).
Thank you for the comments, votes, support and love you gave this book and me, I'm so lucky to have you guys as my readers and I love you guys to death â¤ï¸
See ya tomorrow -J