***
ROSALEIGH ISABELLÉ
The chandelier dangled low from the high ceiling. Golden lighting decorated the stupendous hall as the ensemble played an unknown country music. Heels clanked against the plush marble floor as a old woman descended the staircase. Her face blurred but the air around her was regal. As she stood at the foot of the staircase, men bowed and women curtsied to her.
Where am I ? In a royal fairytale??
"Bellé, I need to dance. It's a custom I can't escape " a young male voice whispered.
"Go ahead Jayden, there are lots of girls who would love to dance with you" the feminine voice resonated, chuckles lacing her voice.
"Believe me Bellé, they all are clingy that is obsessed with power. You're my only get away." The same voice whisper grumbled as a pair of grey eyes came before me.
Everything started to fade as the only thing stayed were the pair of grey eyes which, now were staring down into my soul leaving me defenceless and vulnerable.
***
Waking up with a startle I looked around to find myself in my room. The grey eyes still haunting me as just a blur of them stayed in my head. The words kept ringing in my head like a broken record. Those eyes were so much alike to Alex's. My dreams were turning so vivid that felt like I've lived through them. This was happening since past months, exactly after Alex's arrival.
Before Alex's arrival I had them once in a blue moon but now they are more frequent. A mild ache started worming its way into my head. Not wanting to have a visit to Doctor Brooks I diverted my attention.
Looking past my window, I noticed the first beaming rays of sun shining their way into my room. Hues of orange and violet blended together in the sky, preparing to welcome the red sun that was making its appearance known. Sunrises have always been soothing for me. It was one of the wonders of Nature that intrigued me since as long as I remember.
After running my daily morning routine, a sudden urge for coffee had me walking down the stairs and into the kitchen where Alex was already seated with my parents leaning on the kitchen island. It's been a week since the masquerado ball and the tension had eased to some extent.
During my shower, I had decided to maintain amiable distance from him. Alex was proving to be the reason of my sudden headaches in past few days and that had me pulling up my guards.
"Morning Rosaleigh" Mama greeted kissing my forehead.
Small conversations were carried out between us as I tried avoiding Alex' piercing gaze. It was a sunday morning which meant no college today. Our exams were approaching within two months. Needing to complete my assignments and prepare for the examination I marched back to my room, willingly ignoring Alex' call for a video game.
A tiny knock at the door caused me to flinch, but I steadied myself before answering. "Yeah?"
"Rosaleigh" Alex murmured stepping into my room. He was uncomfortable. May be he noticed my distant behaviour.
"Yeah" I mumbled again, moving my eyes back down to the book I'm not really reading. I've been on the same page for over an hour. My mind is too busy to make room for reading. I've been sorting through the numerous ways to either voice out my queries about Alex triggering my memories or to ignore him for my own good and to live in the oblivion.
"Can I join you with the assignments?.. You see video gaming isn't going to score me marks.." he shrugged uncomfortably.
Swallowing hard against the hellacious knot that had appeared in my throat I spoke my next words.
"Alex, we both know you don't need a tuitor anymore. You're much better on yourself. So if you won't mind can you leave I'm in the middle of something."
I cringed at the sharp edge my voice held. Alex left my room without another word, a small weak smile on his lips as guilt settled in the abyss that was my abdomen, ruining the day for me.
***
The crashing sounds of window glasses and mirrors ringed around me and blood seeped into the soil from the half dead bodies of the goons. The hooded man in black pummelled the shit out of the them as a tiny blonde fragile looking woman silently watched her assailants getting battered. This scene earned whistles and claps around the theatre hall.
I was seated with my friends Alex included as another bone was broken and a cry of pain sounded making me wince. My untouched bucket of popcorn sat in the corner, my appetite was long forgotten the moment we entered the movie hall. I was sure if the barbaric scene continues it will end up me retching over the toilet bowl.
Grace and Lucy had dropped at my place earlier in the evening. Every Sunday it was mandatory to watch a movie of anyone's choice. Today it was Grace's choice of movie. She loved action movies which always ended bad on my side. Alex sat next to me enjoying the bloodbath. We hadn't spoken after he left my room.
Another cut sliced through the neck of man as bile rose up my throat. I shooted towards the exit and into the bathroom.
Soft caressing hands held back my hair as I continued to empty the last contents of my stomach. Lucille... I heard another person step into the bathroom as I looked up from the tiled floor I was currently seated on. Lucy was making her way into the bathroom which meant the person who held my hair back was none other than Alex himself. He continued to caress my back wordlessly.
Flushing red at the embarrassment I had brought on myself, I walked up to the bathroom sink washing off all the remnants of sick that managed to stick around my face. I was aware of Alex gaze on me as he moved to the entrance, leaving the door ajar.
"It always affects you so much.." Lucy chuckled as she forwarded a flavoured gum towards me.
"I am not returning in there again" I heaved out an exasperated sigh, chewing the gum.
"Me too, we can wait in the cafeteria till then" Lucy agreed walking out of the bathroom.
I thought Alex would leave our side and would go to continue on the movie but instead of taking a left he followed us on our route to the food court.
In about an hour's time Grace joined us looking more than pissed.
"You guys abandoned me again." Grace grumbled taking a seat.
"The movie wasn't that bad." she added gulping down my untouched coke.
It was the nth time during our movie dates where I and Lucy had abandoned her to watch herself. Two weeks ago, it was a zombie movie where they ate human intestines like noodles.
My eyes strained on Alex, blacking out banter that was going on between Lucy and Grace. His posture was tense as he looked deep in thoughts occasionally paying attention to anything.
My mind wandered back to the question he asked me when Lucy had gone to order food.
"Why do you act so rude to me?" Alex asked all of sudden. His voice held pain as his eyes flashed hurt.
I couldnt answer as I too didnt know why did I do that to him?
A small voice in my head was indicating that Alex was a major part from my past and I was afraid of facing my past. The pain I felt that time. I wasn't ready not yet. I was scared. Yeah being rude to him was somehow my defense mechanism. To stay away from him. A part of me was attracted while the other was intimidated by his aura. Obviously the latter dominated over the attraction as I felt the need to keep my distance.
Luckily before I could form a coherent reply, Lucy returned with our food killing the awkward conversation. Since then Alex was acting out of the place. Not once during the whole time we were in the food court, he glanced at me. Usually he keeps looking at me as if it eases his apprehension.