Sarahs Pov
I opened my eyes to my cream colored ceiling and Bruno fast asleep in my arms. The clock ticked away, the faint outline of the hour hand showing me it was 12 Am.
Suddenly my phone started vibrating.
Who is calling me at this unearthly hour?
(did I mention the hours of sleep are THE unearthly hours for me?)
A small smile crept up as I realized it was Mia, my childhood friend. We literally grew up at each other's houses. Yep. Perks of having awesome neighbors. Sadly last year she moved back to India ..it was a heartbreaking experience for me... yet we talked to each other every day. She was the only one who knew about my HUGE crush on Jack.
"HEYY SII!!", she shouted deafening me in the process. I laughed sensing the noisy environment she was in.
"hey mi!! what made you call right now? and whats the noise in the background?"
"ITS DIWALLIII HERE!!", she shouted. I chuckled remembering about the festival of lights, apparently, a beautiful festival celebrated in India. When she lived back here in London, we both used to celebrate the festival even though I had no clue what it was about. After we finished, her house looked breathtaking lit up with candles..ah those days
"I miss you", I whispered melancholy seeping into my voice and silently in my soul
The voices in the background seemed fainter now as I heard her soft whisper
"I too Si...but...what happened dear? You rarely talk about..um.. talk aloud about your feelings.." the last part barely audible.
Oh, my. She knows me inside out. And with that, I told her about everything that had happened all the while eyeing the bracelet now kept on my study table as if expecting it to change its color again.
"Hmm... a little strange given the situations..but ya know it could be your imaginations ...well I shouldn't disturb u...bbyez", and with that hung up abruptly.
Strange. Mia never...NEVER does that..why, she keeps on ranting about every minuscule object in her view! She could make a whole conversation on even a mundane subject as studies...
I took one last glance at the bracelet and just for a second it seemed to change color as if to tease me as I drifted into a deep slumber.
Jacks Pov
I brushed the number softly, now turning into an impeccable shade of black. I took the pendant and inspected it but nowhere was such a number written. Frustrated I ran my fingers through my hair when I heard my phone ring. Irritated I picked it up.
" YEAH SAM I AM ON MY WAY", I shouted frustrated at his lack of trust on me.
"THE HELL MAN, YOU ARE FRIEKING OUT EVERYONE! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" he shouted right back at me. Typical old chap. I looked down at my watch and my eyes widened in horror as I realized it was 12 am.
shit. How did this happen?. I pulled off just for a moment...
I raced my bike and entered panting into the shop only to be greeted by a bear hug from Annie.
"Dear boy, you scared the living daylights out of us!', she said in a stern voice. "Now off you go home "
Annie was the owner of the shop. A sweet middle aged lady, she ran the whole shop and its different branches with her husband Frank. Both of them were like my second parents, always there for me.
I sighed, realizing it was time to go home...but the thought of my little angelic step sister Sofia made me smile as I rode homewards.
"AWEE JACCKIIEE! YOU ARE HOME! screamed Amelia as she broke into a fit of giggles.
Amused, I watched my drunk stepmother fumble to greet me. Usually, people took on a totally different persona, so was the case with her...only it was much better...for the short time she actually felt like a mom.
." hey Amelia", I said opening the fridge to get some cold water for her.
she clutched my shoulders making me turn around, surprised I looked into her eyes...soft and vulnerable...oh dear...i hated this part. The moment I looked behind the layers she hid...I tried to feel something..anything..but all I felt as always was...
pity.
For her condition ..the way she built walls so high so strong but I knew it was not my quest to break those.
"mom" I whispered, the words sounding strange in my mouth.
"ah..jack...you are so much like your father..", she smiled her breath reeking of alcohol making me gag. I took her hand and gently led her to the couch making her sit, but she immediately curled up into a ball, her eyelids fluttering close.
" I loved him you know Jackie..you remind me so much of him...I hate him for leaving me...oh Jackie...I am such a terrible woman..", she mumbled as she fell asleep.
I watched her, replaying the scene over and over again..the one in which she wakes up and hides behind her walls again..the time she threatens me.
Sighing and tired I trudge upstairs to my room, and as I lay inside my covers a strange tingling sensation on my stomach reminds me to make an appointment with aunt Nancy.