Chapter Seventeen

She's here.

It's a sunday afternoon. Anne want us to watch a movie, then have dinner out, her treat. She said she would like to make it up to me because she missed my birthday. It's not a big deal as long as I'm finally going to see her in person. I really need her, specially now that I feel like something is messing up with my mind.

I applied a liquid eyeliner on my eyelids to the corner of my eyes making, not that bad of a wing. It's something new and I also want to impress Anne, let's make that clear. Wonder how she'll react if she sees me wearing a bit of make up. Will she even notice it?

This is going to be a good night, probably the best I'll ever have for months. I picked up my camera sitting on my bed. Made sure to charge all the batteries earlier, I can't afford to not capture this. I turned it on as I headed down stairs to greet the girl knocking on my front door.

My heart is beating fast on my chest. I'm kinda nervous. I know it still hasn't been a month since we last saw each other, but for two people who's used to seeing each other everyday, it's unprecedented to be separated just like that.

I aimed the camera's lens on the door way as I open it.

"Smile!"

I clicked the picture button when I got a glimpse of the most, most stunning girl I've ever seen on Earth. She is the every other synonym for beautiful. Straight out of a Victoria Secret runway. She's just breathtaking. Imagine that.

"Oh, okay~," she did smile bright showing me her perfect teeth. Her straight silky blonde hair parted on the side, her face is natural, it bear nothing but excitement. "Alright, that's enough I want to see you too, " She said as she pulled me outside by my hand. Her voice sounding seductive I already know what's coming next.

Without anymore second thought and hesitation, she grabbed me by my waist and closed the gap between her face and mine. Her lips were soft and warm just as I remembered. Her mouth tasting like mint, hands roaming at my back, her tongue teasing to get in. She was amusingly confident, I can't help but smirk in between our kisses. She's full of surprises approaching me like that outside where everybody else could see. I can't even stop this, I'm instantly carried away by her touch.

"Miss me?" She whispered on my ear then leaned her head on the crook of my neck. I feel her hot breath tickling me as she breathed heavily to catch air.

"So much..." I answered then encircled my arms around to hug her and kiss her some more.

I didn't know for how long, but as soon as I opened my eyes I saw an orange car parked at a distance, it had it's headlights on and on the driver's seat is Karlene. Her eyes immediately shied away when she saw me glancing. Before I knew it she was starting her engine and driving away. I don't know where she's going, don't know why I even care at the first place. Maybe because I still need an explanation of what happened that afternoon.

Anne pinched the bottom of my chin tilting my head so I could focus on her, "What are you looking at babe- and what's this...?" She examined my eyes, squinting to get a good look at it, "Make up?"

"Yeah, I figured I'd put some on," I laughed nervously, anxious of what she'll think of it.

She pulled away for a moment then busted out laughing, "You look like you haven't slept for days! I mean- no offense but, it just looks... hideous."

"Here," She shut me up before I even speak, pulling out a pack of wet wipes on her sling bag. "It's never too late to wipe it off babe," She took a sheet then volunteered to erase it herself, "Just a bit of lipstick would be fine, don't you think so too?"

"Of course if you like it much better that way," I forced out a smile.

I shouldn't have forced myself to wear it when I knew it's not that good. Should've practiced harder. If I did, it wouldn't look like I haven't slept for days. Tsk, I actually thought it would suit me, and she would find it cute.

"I borrowed my friend's car for tonight. I told you about him. His family is rich, they own a school, crazy right?"

I raised my head to look up to her then nodded. We got in the car. Don't even know who this guy is she kept talking about. I never met him in person, but he seems like he's a nice guy. Too nice if you ask me.

"Anddd after my test in chem he let me drive his Porsche around town. It was the best moment in my life..." She started the car still dreamy about it. "But don't get jealous, we're just friends." She shrugged.

"Well, looks like you had a lot of fun while I was away."

"Babe it's not like that!" She shoved me playfully. "I just felt more free spirited nowadays..."

Silence flooded inside the car. I guess I was just caught off guard when she said she felt more free. What could that possibly mean? Am I keeping her from doing the things she wants to do? But even before, we always do the things she wants, everything is in her favor. And I don't get it. What else is she looking for?

I tried to focus on her stories. My mind threatening to fly elsewhere, I shifted my body to Anne rather than towards the window where there is nothing else to see but a reflection of myself. I kind of hate myself right now.

She speaks so impatiently, not leaving any detail behind as she tells me about her weekends out with her new friends. It's just weird since she's usually not the type of person who likes to spend her spare time getting wasted.

"What about you babe? Has anything happened in here yet?"

That questioned surprised me and made me question myself. What did happen? "I-," I paused, don't know how to put it.

"You know what babe? it's fine. I know you're not really into socializing and stuffs, it's fine..."

"I actually made a friend... And she's umm..." Now what? She's a teacher?

Anne restrained herself from being shocked as she turned to look at me her brows bent in confusion. It's not that shocking. But maybe coming from me, it really is.

"She's my neighbor, and... She's a really good baker," I said.

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"I'm just warning you, you shouldn't get too close with someone you just met."

"She's really not that kind of person you're thinking." I defended.

"You don't know that Ellie!"

I sighed. We pulled up to the movie theatre. There's already a line outside, and it's people who's dying to see the new horror film. I would've preferred that, although we're going in the opposite movie room. Anne wanted to see a romance film staring her favorite actor. I'm not much of a fan of romance movies but I guess I don't mind as long as she's happy with it.

As long as she's happy, maybe I don't  mind other things... I wonder how long I can keep this up.

--

"Who's that? You've been playing with your phone since we got here," I tilted my head questioning Anne.

She turned off her phone when I caught her. "No one." She gave me a smile and caressed the other side of my face.  Then she stood up from her seat giving me her popcorn bag still uneaten. "I'm going to the restroom, I need to pee."

"I'll go with you." I insisted.

"No, no. Enjoy the movie."

"I rather go with you than watch a straight couple frickle frackle. C'mon."

She laughed then rolled her eyes. "Very funny babe... But really, I wont take too long."

We had a long staring contest before I decided to let her go. She was more than thrilled to piss than to watch the movie. How can I not be concerned about that? Anne left in a hurry, she walked pass by few people earning grunts here and there as she blocked their screens. Before I could make up my mind and follow her, she was out of the movie theatre leaving me alone with a bunch of other couples smooching on their seats.

The uneasiness in my chest did not let me be as I tried to convince myself that she's coming back eventually. It's been half an hour since she left, and the restroom is just by the theatre's entrance. My legs were anxious to get up. It paced and bounced against the floor. My eyes kept looking at my phone's clock every minute. I couldn't even focus on the movie. The speakers in this room is blaring from left and right, and the huge screen in front of me takes about half of my sight, but why is it that I turn my head at the right each passing second even thought there is nothing to see there? I'm hoping she'll come around, but reality is often disappointing.

I'm just worried about her.

I got up my seat. My senses is telling me to check up on her. 30 minutes in the restroom is concerning. What if she actually needs my help? My foot were itching to reach the exit. I didn't bother to laze around, I sprinted out of here and into the movie theatre's corridor.

No one is in here but me, and I feel it longer than it really should. That, or I'm purposely slowing down. I'm scared, and frigid, as I walked through the narrow, quiet hall. The restroom is at the very end. It's just shut closed, and nobody dared to come out of it.

I knocked on the door. After waiting a couple minutes for nothing but complete silence. I decided to let myself in. I just need the truth. I just want to know about her. I walked through all the open stalls, even double checking but she's not in here.

Then I was faced by my own reflection in the restroom mirror. I touched my face, it was getting cold, and losing colors as I stared at it more. I didn't notice that my eyes were shedding tears. It was then that I felt a thickness in my throat. That when inhaled to breath, it just suffocates me even more.

I ran outside with every little hope I had in me. The exit was just so close, but my feet were being weighed down by my growing panic.

Go, just go. I want to know the truth, I can't be an idiot every single day.

Then by the movie theatre's entrance I caught a glimpse. A glimpse before my mind goes blank. And I see nothing but it around the world that is turning dark. My greatest fear, inflamed before my eyes, and will be forever burnt inside me.

How is Anne holding someone else like she held me an hour ago?

"Fuck you," I muttered. "Fuck both of you..."