Chapter 2 TwO

GWEN'S POV

I headed home key in hand this time, 'Celecoxib' I needed that, lots of 'em. Arthur's call had disrupted my nap, I had no idea I had slept off even, being awoken like this like I was thrown out from the other side, jump-started the migraines I have come to accept as a part of my cross in life, I struggled to fit the keys into the keyhole, looking down was hell, I couldn't look up either, my eyes were gonna pop anytime soon, I could feel it and my eyes hurt badly, one would think I'd get accustomed to it, like the grace, it's pain is renewed every morning. Still playing games with my keyhole, I made a prayer to God, "Dear Lord save me from this suffering yet again, lest thy servant collapses at her doorpost. Amen"

Almost immediately, the key slammed into its hole, home, whatever it was. "Thank you, Father," I say, more than grateful he harkened to my plea.

I make my way into my home and slump on the couch, the medicine could wait, "I need rest" I mutter falling into a daze.

~I see her, beautiful, so beautiful, she's aware of this, and it shows, I walk with her to the lake as she guides me and the rest. Why do I feel we are not the only ones? I try to get a glimpse of her visage from our reflections in the water, but can't, "There, there little one" the words roll out of her mouth like a blueberry shake? 'I love blueberry shakes' I smirk

I turn and she's gone, vanished into thin air, I search high and low, but can't find her. I seem to possess unnatural abilities as I can climb trees efficiently and swim, wait I haven't given swimming a try yet. Unclad I dive headfirst, but I'm still falling, a feeling I recognize waves through me as I see myself headed for a whirlpool, my eyes close not in anticipation, but in embrace of what I...~

'Lol, a dream' how pathetic, my left hand goes to my temple, I feel its throb lighter now, but still there. The digital clock on my table keeps blinking the time in grey hues. 19:26. Man was I hungry, I couldn't whip anything up now. I concluded I'd sleep in the living room as I nestled into the couch.

12:42 a.m

'Food' I considered, 'I had to eat' Glancing around my house I begin to gather strength just enough to whip myself a sandwich. Peanut Butter and Jam, probably that. I try to get up but the duvet slips down, instinctively I pull at it and claw at my thigh Instead, 'Shit'.

....FLASHBACK

"Shit" Gwen groaned, she wouldn't hear the end of this now. "Six years in this school Gwen and you still get your thighs scraped by a metal stapler" Aisha commented laughing, trust her to make a jest out of everything, Gwen rolled her eyes and tried to hold in her chuckle. "C'mon, laugh it off you know you want to" Ace mock-chided. 'These girls, my girls' Gwen ruminated

She let out what could pass for a laugh, she loved them. In all her years in this Unity school, they were the only ones who stayed, they mightn't get her though, but she loved them and they in turn did. But did they?

In the recesses of Gwen's mind, the vivid memories of high school played like a bittersweet reel. Aisha, with her luscious brown hair and a towering presence at just 16, seemed like the epitome of friendship. Little did Gwen know that behind the beautiful face was a gullible mind.

'The hallways echoed with laughter, laughter that put me on edge, all of them haters of one another'. Gwen didn't know the kind of knot she was entwined in. Aisha's laughter, once a source of joy, now resonated like a haunting melody, a constant reminder of a friendship that turned toxic. It made the black-haired's tummy churn.

And then there was Ace, a lighter shade of brown but no less impactful. Short in stature, yet possessing an alluring hourglass shape, Ace embodied a siren's allure, behind all that was a playful little girl, someone Gwen had loved, laid beautiful plans for. She reminisced about the times when her trust was misplaced, and she became unwittingly entangled in the manipulative games of their classmates, their plan to ruin their friendship. But one can't be used else they let it right?

The images of their faces lingered in Gwen's mind, etched with indifference that cut deeper than any physical wound.

High school, once a supposed haven of camaraderie, transformed into a stage for Gwen's emotional turmoil. The laughter and fun times were revealed as a mirage, this she had always known, but it hit deeper knowing her friendship was as fake as theirs. Gwen's heart bore the scars of their deception, a visceral reminder of the twisted companionships that left her with a ton of regret.

As she retraced the contours of their faces in her mind, conflicting emotions swirled within her. Longing for acceptance clashed with the sting of betrayal, and the tears that once symbolised surrender now, well, symbolised self-hate

The room still suffocating with the weight of memories as the flickering candle, diminished. *clang* her plate had fallen, Gwen jolted back to reality wishing she didn't still care as much, wanting it all to end

12:57 a.m

Her deep brown eyes turned darker in anger, she couldn't believe she was but a fool, a puppet, hamstrung by love, 'love' she sneered, slamming her sandwich on the kitchen counter Gwen preferred to sleep at the moment and took steady strides headed for her bedroom. "grrr" her tummy rumbled, 'Okay, so they made me mad, that's not enough to starve myself right?' Gwen negotiated with herself as she made her way to her food den and yanked her sandwich materials away.

GWEN's POV

I couldn't help but feel pity for myself, I was stupid, I had given them everything they wanted and they outsourced me. Me! I forced a spoon of peanut butter into my mouth, man was it delicious. Skitty's P.B was best, the nuts in it must have gotten them known worldwide, of course, I knew others had nuts in it, but, Skitty just hit different. I let in the voices gnawing at the back of my head, they always kept me company, especially when it was going bad, unlike the others... they never left.

YULE UNIVERSITY

I stood outside, watching the halls, the paintings on the walls, the art and monuments, yet I didn't see her, I called yesterday and she agreed to meet with me, but then, she had never been one to stick with a time. I walked over to some campus girls.

"That guy's coming over here" the brunette informed the others, I presume she's Ruby having heard them chatting earlier

"Meh, he's not my type" tsk blondes, who likes them anyway, unwavered I keep walking towards them

"He's fine actually, not bad, just fine"

"Hey" I say dragging their 'attention' like I didn't have it already

"On a second thought" whispered the blonde, "He is cute, charming even" might I add she's a bad whisperer

"Hey" Ruby replies her cheek red, I find it cute, why is she embarrassed?

"I'm..."

"Ruby" I cut her short,

"whoo whoo" whistles another brunette, "I guess you have no excuse to turn down our party request now Rubes, right..?"

I understand that's the place where I say my name, but I ignore her

"Let's take a walk Ruby"

It's been a while since I came here, it housed a lot of memories, ones better left forgotten. Mum and Dad, *cough. Now, I just have to figure out where Gwen is.

GWEN's POV

Arthur, I see him, quite an early riser I must admit, good-looking too, 'I must get to the bottom of this', I understand he's on the lookout for me, *sigh 'Arthur' I think, mentally slapping my forehead, as most of the sitcom would do

I do hope my hunch's wrong and he has no interest in the group he just walked over too.

The brunette's blushing hard, what has he done now? Sly bastard, he didn't put any effort and she's blushing so hard, sure it's not as hard as I say, but so what?

'Take a walk?' you don't say? a sinister smile finds it's way to my visage making my expressionless face preferable.

"Arthur"