Part 7

2 weeks after the accident...I happily made my way to Lucy's house, which was just a few blocks away from mine. My heart was light with excitement, knowing I had the key to her house, just as she had one to mine. It was our little secret, a bond that made me feel even closer to her. As I softly opened her door and tiptoed inside, I knew she never locked her door when she slept. Like me, she was afraid of the dark and often had nightmares.Lucy's room was on the first floor, and as I approached it, I couldn't help but smile. Her room was huge and incredibly beautiful, with soft pink walls that seemed to glow in the morning light. Everything in her room, from the delicate dresser to the elegant wardrobe, was a mix of pink and white, like something straight out of a fairy tale.As I stepped closer to her cosy bed, a huge grin spread across my face. She was completely buried beneath the covers, her gentle breathing the only sound in the room. She looked so peaceful, so angelic, that it made my heart swell. I felt incredibly lucky to be the one who got to protect her, to be by her side whenever she needed me.I slowly drew back the curtains, letting the warm sunlight pour into the room, bathing everything in a soft, golden glow. The light touched her face, and she stirred slightly, murmuring in her sleep."Mom, leave me alone," she muttered, burrowing deeper into her blanket. She was always a heavy sleeper, tough to wake up. I could have used the classic ice water trick, but I had a better idea this time.I crept up to the edge of the bed, bent down, and gently brushed her blonde hair away from her ear. Then, with a grin, I leaned in and screamed, "Wake up!""Ah!" she yelped, startled, and tumbled right out of bed. I couldn't hold back my laughter, the sound filling the room as I dashed out before she could recover and catch me.Lucy quickly scrambled to her feet, her eyes narrowing in a mock venomous glare as she shot me a look that promised payback. I laughed even harder, feeling a rush of joy as she chased me out of her room, her footsteps pounding against the floor.This was our normal, our playful routine, and it felt so good to have it back after everything that had happened."Kristen, you're going to have to pay for that! Stop right there, you sneaky rat!" she yelled, lunging at me. I bolted down the hall, laughter bubbling up as she caught up to me and tackled me face-first onto the sofa. I tried to stifle a snicker at the sight of her hair, which now looked like a bird's nest."Come here, you little witch!" she squealed. When she suddenly shoved me off the sofa, I quickly turned the tables, tickling her until we were both laughing uncontrollably at our childishness."Just be grateful I got you up in time before we missed our assignment," I said, trying to catch my breath."Assignment?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly confused."Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about that," she groaned, rubbing her forehead in exasperation."We have to leave in 10 minutes, so you better hurry," I said, tapping my watch with a mock-serious expression.She quickly got ready, dressed in a striking red tube top and a knee-length black skirt, her high ponytail swinging as she moved. The outfit highlighted her natural beauty, with her golden hair framing her oval face and brushing against her shoulders. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, her nose was sharp, and her lips were small but perfectly shaped. Like me, she wasn't a fan of heavy makeup; we both preferred to keep things natural, which was far better than a cakey face.Lucy didn't need makeup to look stunning—her natural beauty shone through effortlessly. Even in shorts and flip-flops, she'd turn heads. Today, though, she looked especially gorgeous, and I couldn't help but admire her as she hurried to finish getting ready.I was dressed in a knee-length beige gown that hugged my curves, with my hair styled in beach waves cascading just above my waist. My natural, plump pink lips had a touch of gloss to enhance their volume.Kristen glanced at me with a hint of surprise. "You look a little out of the ordinary today," she said, her tone more complimentary than critical. With a puzzled expression, I shrugged, and she responded with a warm hug and a giggle. "You look sexy today," she added slyly, gesturing at my outfit.I gave her a perplexed look as she continued, "What's gotten into you today?" The thought of meeting William made my stomach flutter, and I felt a blush creep up my cheeks that I tried, and failed, to hide."Is it because of the green-eyed hottie?" she teased, winking at me. Her playful comment made my blush deepen, and I could feel my face growing redder from embarrassment."No," I replied, trying to suppress a smile as I pulled her toward my car. She giggled but let the matter drop, not pressing any further.As we drove, our conversation turned to William. Kristen asked a series of quirky questions and teased me about our previous encounter, her laughter filling the car.When we arrived at school, I glanced around the locker area, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. My heart sank a little when I didn't see him. We quickly gathered our books and headed toward my first class, hoping he might show up there.I spotted the guy who had helped William save me in the cafeteria. I wracked my brain, trying to remember his name as I walked toward him. Jack, Jim—oh, that's right, it was John.John's stormy-grey eyes shifted in my direction."Hey, John, right?" I said, extending my hand for a shake. He just looked at my hand cautiously like a creep but didn't make an effort to shake it. I cleared my throat, awkwardly pulling my hand back."Thanks for saving me," I said, offering a friendly smile. He stared at me as if I'd just landed from another planet. His broad shoulders tensed as he crossed his arms."Um... I am looking for William, can you tell me where can I find him?" I asked warily, taken back by his posture."He left," he muttered under his breath, barely audible."What?" I asked, hoping I'd misheard."You heard me." He said glaring daggers at me.What was his problem? His hostility was startling. I couldn't understand why he was so irritated with me."When is he coming back?" I asked. My heart beat starts to increase and my palms became sweaty. This guy scared the shit out of me."Look, William has gone back to London and he is not returning back." He said in a raised voice."I don't understand. Why would he leave suddenly without a word?" I asked him."Maybe because he doesn't want to see you." He said rolling his eyes."Excuse me?" I asked in an angry tone. What gives him the right to talk to me like that? His expression became more serious."I suggest you stop looking for him and get a new plaything because I am pretty sure he is dont playing with you. He is way out of your league and a weak girl like you is no match for him." He hissed. his eyes started to change colour but it was gone within a blink of an eye.My heart raced with anger."How dare you say such a thing to me? Who do you think you are?" I raised my voice, challenging him.He continues to stare intensely at me for a long drawn moment before finally breaking the eye contact and walking away. I scoffed.I couldn't believe he'd said that to my face. The thought of William hating me crushed my heart, leaving me bewildered and in pain. John's words echoed in my mind, confusing me further. What had I done to deserve such animosity from him? Everything had seemed fine between us—how could he just disappear without a word?Tears streamed down my face as I wrestled with a whirlwind of emotions. I felt utterly heartbroken, unable to make sense of the situation. That night, sleep eluded me entirely. I tossed and turned in bed, consumed by anger and frustration, cursing both William and John under my breath. My eyes frequently darted towards the window, hoping to see William's familiar figure searching for me.Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into a dreamless slumber, my mind still a storm of unanswered questions and unresolved feelings.After two weeks, I managed to push the memories of William to the back of my mind. The ache of missing him had faded, and I found myself adjusting to life without his presence.Lately, Stanley had been appearing in my dreams again. I almost forgot about the dream of our first kiss, and now I found myself craving more of those experiences. However, the dream had started to repeat in a loop, playing out the same scenes over and over.I was unsure if my feelings for William were deeper than mere attraction, especially after John's outburst. The dreams about Stanley seemed to trigger something inside me that I couldn't fully grasp.Stanley felt incredibly real to me in my dreams. Despite my efforts to ignore these feelings, my nights were filled with memories of our first meeting, replaying daily and leaving me with a strange sense of happiness. I was relieved that William wasn't around, yet a sense of worry began to creep in. Deep down, I felt a gnawing guilt.I couldn't distinguish what was real and what was a dream anymore. William was real but had vanished like a fleeting dream, while Stanley was a dream that felt so tangible. This confusion left me questioning my own emotions and the reality of the feelings I was experiencing.The rest of the week flew by, and fortunately, I managed to steer clear of John. Monday morning arrived with a mountain of pending assignments waiting for me. I woke up extra early to tackle the workload, determined to make a dent in it before the clock struck 8:00 AM. I prioritized the most important tasks and got them done just in time.After finishing the crucial work, I took a quick shower and dressed in a neatly ironed button-up shirt and a pleated skirt. I needed to stay focused on my classes and grades. I brushed my hair, tied it back in a ponytail, and slung my bag over my shoulder. With one last check in the mirror to ensure everything was in place, I headed out of the house, ready to face the day.