We got interrupted by a hand thumping on the desk and I cringed back. I looked over at the culprit but only saw Angela stomping away to her seat on the other side of the room, "You're a monster! I will mention this to the police, your murderous hooman! Like, guys, you saw what she did!"
And that was a thing I feared. I looked around to see everyone's reaction but they looked deadpanned with nothing but unenthusiasm. Didn't anyone see what happened?
"Don't worry babes. They can't see anything from the paranormal world, you know?" I nodded and already schemed for an immediate conference meeting with the others.
I looked over at the door in instinct as if someone's eyes bore into me. And however, I wasn't wrong.
Clay was approaching me with a you-are-so-dead look and I stood up, widening my eyes in fright. Not that he was a better fighter but that I seriously didn't have the mood or desire to fight with who was my best friend. Not anymore. Except he didn't give a damn.
He jabbed a punch on my cheek and I tumbled sideways. I couldn't bear everything every time for him. Fury surged through me as he grabbed my collar, gritted teeth.
"Just because she is not in her state of mind doesn't give you a chance to take advantage of her every time!"
"And you don't always have the find a reason to beat me up like shit, Beca's imaginary boyfriend!" I shouted at his face, throwing him a punch. Gradually, we ended up at our throats when Joey came in between, grabbing Clay on his shoulders, "Look bro, I know he's all crap but you don't have to be like him. Let that bastard go cause when Beca comes to her senses, she's gonna beat up his ass, well. Let go-"
"No! He needs to learn!" He pushed Joey and was about to pounce on me, but all of a sudden, I felt a certain energy flowing through me, literally rubbing a prickling oil all over my skin. I closed my eyes and squeezed my toes and fingers curled in a fist.
I detected myself flying in another dimension and I knew someone was transporting me somewhere else, cause that's exactly how I felt when Casper used to transport us.
I realized my feet touch the ground, so I opened my eyes only to see us in baby pink coloured, polished and tiled room, containing sinks in rows. And behind was doors in the same sequence.
"What are we doing in the girls' bathroom?" Joey questioned and I came back to my senses.
"YOU!" I looked over at Beca whose deadly eyes pointed at Clay who stood beside me.
With an already disoriented mindset, I bulged my eyes out when I saw Beca floating in mid-air, tenebrous shadows rising like tentacles behind Beca. When she raised her head, I gasped when I saw her pupils turn midnight blue while the sclera was pitch black. Purple to lilac shaded color spread around the edges of her eyes and lips. Her pale complexion slowly altered to a blend of metal gray and navy .
What the hell was happening?
Her eyes had a noxious glare at Clay and she steadily raised her hand up, followed by a sash-like shaped shadow hovering on, making way to Clay's throat. He choked on his breath as the shadow strangled him. I was breathless at the same time being blank.
I didn't think I had time to scan the room for weapons so I came in front of Clay waving my hands aimlessly, hoping it might scatter the shadows.
"Stop Beca! I said, stop! I want you to leave Clay! Just-"
"What? I showed off my powers because of you because he attacked you and you lash out on me? That's rude. Legit rude." Her usual calm attitude now switched to being the frowny villainess. Which was definitely not good. She twisted the shadows, crunching her nose and adding pressure on Clay's neck.
Dread pooled in my stomach as I gulped.
My sight scattered, I spotted a soap on the sink.
"Joey," I whispered lightly, and when her widened eyes fell on me, I pointed to the soap after which she only smirked. I could just hope she knew what she was doing.
She grabbed a bar of soap and kept it low.
"Yo queen consort! Why don't ya leave the weak one and come tough? Oh wait, scared?" Joey mocked and even though I knew what she attempted, I feared if Beca would come on feet.
She already looked on temper tantrum, so she left her forceful hold on Clay and turned her head furiously, her shadows slowly creeping towards Joey. Clay fell down on his knees and I held his shoulders, for further comfort.
"And there goes flying tantrums. Oh wow, that's a joke. But...uh...really, I knew you had...leg problems!" She continued her act, yet the suspicion led me to fear.
Beca scoffed, toning her frown and dropping down her floating frame.
"Leg problems? Well, whatever shit that is, I ain't got that like you are gonna!" She sped up and almost panicking, Joey dropped the soap a bit forward.
I couldn't force my eyes open and heard a thud noise. Peeking out, I saw Beca on the floor, caressing her hips. There, Joey didn't waste a time rushing over Beca to our side, and nevertheless, I had a feeling to wait for Beca, then again she was not herself, that included risking our lives. So holding onto Clay to give him support, we three got out.
"What the heck are you three doing in the girls' washroom?" Brittany scrunched her nose in probable disgust.
I parted my lips to utter nonsense, but the door grated open, revealing Beca in a mess. Her hair cluttered up like one of a wild horse's. She was rubbing both her eyes, slowly lifting her head towards me, "Austin, what...what's going on?"
A line appeared between her brows, and for a moment I had a tingling feeling of the actual Beca's aura around me.
"You, are you alright?" I asked concerned, holding her shoulders but she gave a blank look as if she knew nothing.
"Oh. Seems like you found yourself an actual girlfriend, for whom you're willing to go into the girls' washroom, right?" Brittany's voice rang through our eyes.
"Yeah right, smooth." Beside her, Angela hissed. I narrowed my eyes at them and looked at Beca, who actually behaved like she wasn't aware of our situation.
"So he got an actual one, did he?" Beca asked, confused. She forwarded but stumbled as she did. I put my hands on her abdomen as a way to catch her.
She cringed back instantly, with a blush chasing up her cheek. She looked down and scowled, "When did I wear heels? I can't walk on these." She muttered, after which she stared at Clay with a smile.
"Beca? Are...don't you remember?"
"Remember what? And what's happening? When did I come here, and why the hell am I wearing this...this baloney?"
"Oh lord, Beca darling. You should take part in the drama club, seriously. But however, I really don't wanna be part of your drama." With that, she set off with her other minions, thankfully.
"So you don't remember hanging out with those buzzing bees, the food fight with me, and ditching Clay with damn good insult?" Joey asked, confused herself.
"No...what's happening?"
-
Her shamefaced expression was enough to show how she was steeped in guilt. It was like all those memories 4 years ago. It was almost like the guilt washed over me aside- the guilt incessantly throbbing in my heart, yet I couldn't change anything.
"I...I did all of that to you guys? Lord, I can't even look at myself!" She shamefully covered her face in her palms, voice cracking to a meltdown.
I forwarded and held her shoulder for comfort but she instantly removed it, "Leave me alone." She then looked at me and widened her eyes, "Don't tell me...I kissed you, didn't I?" That time, I knew she was about to burst into tears by the way her eyes had turned a shade of red.
She recklessly stood up and walked a bit forward, raking her fingers through her hair, "I don't know why I did that but all I can remember so far is that something- as in a force or something controlling me. But I knew I was doing that. I remember doing all those, but it's like I was watching myself do things, but trapped in a box, unable to do anything other than witnessing myself doing those horrible things to you guys." she confessed, filled with utter guilt.
And that made a wave of melancholic thoughts washed over me. The kiss...nothing was real. It was all me. All those little hopes of being with her were crashed. The hope where I secretly wished she would even think about the feeling- but things couldn't be changed.
Dejected into a turmoil of inner shards, I left the room, banging the door closed behind. Those couldn't come back to me again. I have fought all those feelings throughout the years and now they came rushing back. Sleeping with other girls was a relief to my perpetual emotions, but right then, I couldn't even do that.
I sat on the bench on Organa's lawn, resting my forehead on open hands.
"Son, you have to get shit together." She whispered, sitting beside me.
"Oh hey, Organa. Um, what are you talking about?" I looked up.
"Confessing your feelings to her might ease things up a bit. That might also stop her from calling you a jerk. Which you are, but ahem, " she faked a cough and trailed off, "She kinda likes straightforward guys, you know? Keeping it all a secret wouldn't stop your feelings, that will only intensify your guilt." Her hand raised up, placing it gently on my head.
"She won't last like this for long. The dark magic will arise once again. If you tell her right now, it might be relieving- pleasing."
"She hates me."
"Her heart isn't that dark to show hate upon people she isn't quite aware of."
"But I am a total jerk to her. Always been. What's there to not know about me?"
"Your insides, child. The inside of you who only wishes to love everybody and not hate reality. The one who wants to spread love and forbid all toxic people to reach out. The one who only wants true love from his close ones, from friends and family. The one who loves Rebecca."
"I...I don't..." I simply couldn't find words after all she knew. I lowered my gaze and swallowed. She was right, probably, mostly. And maybe, I didn't want to face that truth right now. It was sweet but too bitter.
Taking the hint, she left with a wry smile and I exhaled.