𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝔼𝕀𝕃 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟙
~ 14 ~

I grunted as I struggled to sit up, my eyes feeling heavy as the feeling of crusty forced my eyes shut.

“What time is it?” I asked myself groggily, sighing I rolled over searching for my phone. I pulled my phone out from under the pillow and glanced at it. “When did I take the phone off the charger?” I asked myself as I sat up.

Glancing down at my ankle and moving slowly.

It only took two days of no school for it to not hurt anymore but it still feels strange when I move it.

I should probably get ready it’s already almost 2 in the afternoon. I told myself as I got to my feet, my body feeling drowsy and fatigued.

I checked my phone once more as I opened the front door, the sun pooling over my roof as it rained down on me. It’s really nice out today, I like it when it’s sunny out it feels less dreary in the fall. I thought as I locked the front door.

I slowly made my way down the street, ignoring all the cars that passed when my phone rang startling me. I glanced down Blaine’s name sprawled across the ID.

“Hello?”

“Good morning how is your ankle?”

“It’s doing better, thank you it slowly is getting better doesn’t hurt as much to walk anymore.”

“That’s good are you heading out today?” Blaine asked.

Just before he could say anything a car passed the sounds of its screeching as it made a rough turn around the corner at full speed. “What the hell, does a person have a death wish or something?”

“You two? I was in the front yard earlier and some idiot decided to drive like a madman down the street as if he wasn’t driving on some residential area, lucky for him there were no children out at the time.” Blaine said sounding disgusted

“It’s crazy, he could have killed somebody and if he lost control he could’ve crashed into me,” I spoke.

A silence fell upon us as I could hear the hose from his front yard spraying something in the background.

“If you heading to the grocery store, do you think you can pick up something for me? Mom ran out of flour and she was hoping to make something today but unfortunately, she doesn’t have the flower.” Blaine said.

“Sure, what kind of flour does she need? Also, are you still going to be trying out for that soccer team?”

I could hear silence then the sound of him mumbling to himself irritated. “Yeah, I was going to go down there later today and talk with the coach… Goddammit! Why won’t you fit?” Blaine argued as it sounded like he was slamming something into another object.

“Are you trying to put the hose away?” I asked as I listened intently the sound of the hoses cord dragging on the grass, and the exasperated sighs of Blaine’s breath as he struggled to put it together.

“Yeah, if only these things could just wrap themselves up, I hate putting the stupid hose away.” Blaine snapped as he cursed on the other end swearing that he would cut it in half if the cord wouldn’t just stay still.

“I’m surprised you haven’t killed the hose yet; the poor hose being treated so poorly by you.” I teased as I rounded the corner.

“Poor hose? poor me I have to find a way to wrap that stupid thing in a perfect circle to stick it to that hook, I’m the one suffering here.” Blaine said as he grunted before saying fuck it.

“I feel bad for your and laminate objects, they must get so much abuse from you,” I said jokingly.

“Good thing there simply just objects, then I won’t have to feel bad about it,” Blaine said as I heard him plop down on the leather couch.

“You’d make a terrible Belle you’d be getting into so many he fights with the teacups and the other living objects that they would prefer to live with the beast than you,” I spoke.

“Yeah well, at least the objects when yell at them or fight with them to do what I need them to do it they aren’t alive if they were able to live I’m pretty sure my cell phone charger would’ve packed his bags and left by now.”

“You’re not making the matter any better you’re just making me sympathize with your personal items, plus what would you expect you practically yank on it and tangle it, and… Do anything imaginable to get the thing the charge.”

Blaine said nothing for a moment, I just listened to the sound of something in the background as I got close to the grocery store. “I have to let you go now I’m at the grocery store I’ll talk to you later,” I said not waiting for him to reply before hanging up.

Somebody really needs to teach him how to use a hose, it’s been a long time you’d think he would learn how to tie it back up. I thought as I paid for a cart and entered the grocery store.

The smell of fresh food filled the air, a cool breeze hitting my face as I walked past the fruits and vegetables. What did I need again? I asked myself as I looked down the bread aisle.

“I should really start thinking of making a list… I think I might need some bread.” I mumbled to myself as I grabbed a loaf checking the expiry date before sticking it in my cart. I wish I knew what kind of bread mom bought it’s never the same it’s not as… fluffy as when mom bought it or maybe I’m just imagining what the bread would have tasted like. I thought as I slowly made my way through the store.

A stared for five minutes as I looked at the cans of soup, contemplating which can be better for its money when a shadow passed over my can startling me.

“Blaine?” I struggled to say as I looked at him. He wore a white T-shirt that looked worn out, a small piece of paper in his hands as he looked thoughtful.

“Huh?” He said sounding confused as he looked at me.

“What are you doing here? I thought you said you were going to talk to the coach,” I said slowly as I looked at him his eyes wide almost surprised to see me. “If you’re just going to come to the grocery store you could have picked up the flower yourself, why ask me?” I asked.

“What are you talking about?” Blaine seemed confused as he stared at me, his eyes scanning me as if he was questioning what I was wearing.

What you’ve never seen a girl wear an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants before? It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve seen me in clothes outside of looking decent first school. I thought annoyed.

I didn’t wait for Blaine to say anything I just turned on my heel and walked down a separate aisle, trying to distract myself from his judgemental stare.

“I get that he’s mad because the household objects don’t listen to him but he doesn’t have to lie to me and then look at me like I am a slob,” I said to myself angrily as I started putting things into my cart with a thud. “Great and thanks to that moron and forgot to grab my soup.”

Angrily I went back down the sixth aisle glancing around me to see if Blaine was still around. When I didn’t see him, I scurried down the aisle grabbing whatever cans of soups I could see before I ran into Blaine.

Relieved I made my way to check out waiting for the people in front of me to bag their food and leave when I saw Blaine walk up from the last aisle.

Ugh…. Why couldn’t this line hurry up? I thought slightly annoyed as Blaine stopped in front of me looking at his paper, a strange basket resting on his arm.

What did he just go frolicking in the fields or something what’s with the basket? And why didn’t I notice it before? I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes.

Moments later Blaine looked at me his eyes studying me again, but this time with curiosity.

“Have we met before?”

Are you freaking kidding me? Is he really pretending he has no idea who I am? Is this some stupid joke to get out of having to explain what he’s doing at the grocery store? I thought as I suppressed the urge to punch him.

“Really you’re going to pretend you don’t know me now? You were just on the phone with me like a second ago talking about how you are mad because the hose wasn’t working and that you were going to talk to the coach about joining the soccer team in the town.” I said irritated.

Blaine cocked his head to the right in confusion, his lips parting as he was about to say something.

I didn’t let him say much of a word, I glanced over at the people ahead of me sighing in relief as the last person went up to hand in their food.

I didn’t say anything more I just went up to the cashier and started placing my items. Blaine followed me with curiosity in his eyes.

“Soc- ceer?” He said sounding stupid as if he had never heard of the sport.

Please tell me he stuck his finger in an electrical socket, and that’s why he’s dumb now. I thought practically praying that he was injured and not fucking with me.

Blaine followed me outside of the store as I bagged my groceries, his footsteps light almost like he wasn’t actually walking.

“Miss, I can guarantee you I have never met you before and I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Blaine finally said with a more relaxed tone as he looked at me curiously.

Miss!!! What the heck am I a stranger to him? Why is he being an idiot?

Screw soccer he should get in the acting he is really good at portraying a stranger. I thought as I ignored him.

“Really, I have no idea,” Blaine said sincerely as he cut in front of me his eyes hard as he looked directly into my eyes.

“Okay, and let’s say you don’t know who I am then who are you?” I asked as I stared back with daring eyes.

My name is—”

“Hey!” Elizia said calling out to me, her voice high pitched with excitement.

“Hey…” I before glancing back at Blaine who was now gone. What the hell wasn’t he just… I thought as I looked around. How did he disappear so fast?

“Did Blaine go yet?” Elizia asked eagerly. I looked at her confused for a moment as I tried to process what I just seen.

I did see him, right? Nobody moves that quickly and silently, right? I thought as I stared blankly at Elizia’s fuzzy sweater.

“Hello? Earth to Zaphira.” Elizia called out. Snapping her fingers in front of me to get my attention.

“What!” I finally said snapping back into reality as I shook my head in confusion.

“Did Blaine leave?” She asked again slightly confused.

“I… I have no idea.” I said truthfully. Besides if he has enough time to go to the grocery store for God knows what reason I’m sure he had already left. I thought.

“Are you okay? You’re not getting sick, are you?” Elizia asked looking worried as she walked up to me putting her hand on my forehead.

“No, I’m fine don’t worry I think I just… I think I’m just tired still.” I said as a small headache developed.

“Okay you should probably go home and rest, I’ll text you if I get a hold of Blaine,” Elizia said as she hugged me.

“Okay, I’ll see you later Elizia,” I said as I started to rub my temple.

Elizia waved goodbye to me as she disappeared down the street, humming to herself. At least this gives her a little bit of time to be with Blaine some more and hopefully before Raven gets her mitts on him. I thought as I started walking down the street.

I walked silently down the street; my bags heavy as I grunted. Maybe I should start thinking about buying less in one go. I thought as I struggled to keep walking.

I slowly came to a stop at the end of the street when a rumble filled the silence. I looked up the clouds darkening as the storm began to roll in, I watched slowly as the clouds blanketed the sky when I saw the light for the crosswalk change.

Dammit! Does it have to ring now? Geez just when I have to carry a crap ton of groceries too, I hope I can make it before it starts raining heavily. I thought praying as I managed to get across the street before the lights changed.

The atmosphere began to darken as I got closer to home, cars coming less frequently as the weather began to shift. A cool breeze seeped through my shirt as it chilled me.

I got closer to my street when a strange feeling surrounded me, the hairs on my neck rising as the feeling of someone watching me loomed over me. Somebody behind me? I thought as I nervously turned my head to see if anyone was behind me.

I turned my head back sighing nervously as I hoped that the feeling would go away when the sound of whispers danced around me as if somebody was talking to me.

Who’s there? I thought annoyed when a shadow passed by me nearly making me jump out of my skin as I whipped around.