Stevie's POV:
"Everything is going to be okay" Isabella said quietly looking down into her mug of tea.
I slowly nodded my head looking into the distance.
I don't know what to think of Tom anymore.
But one thing I know for sure, Tom wasn't in the room with me that night at the party.
It wasn't the Tom I know and love.
Everything was silent until we heard the front door open and close, silent chattering coming from downstairs.
"That's probably Melissa, I'll go downstairs and scold her for leaving so abruptly." Isabella said laughing anxiously putting her hand on my shoulder, setting down the tea mug.
I watched her walk out of my room and gently shut the door.
I was left alone with my thoughts sitting in the middle of my bed. Dim pink lights coming from my fairy lights hung above my headboard.
I thought about what changed with Tom.
Was it something I did?
Something that made him change his mind
about me?
I immediately feel the tears forming in my eyes.
I shake my head from these thoughts.
I can't blame myself for his actions.
I hear a knock at the door, interrupting my thoughts.
"Hey Stevie" Melissa says softly, peaking her head through the door knocking.
I look over, "Hi Meli" I say smiling, wiping my eyes.
She slowly walks in, Isabella behind her.
"What happened to you?" I question, looking at the envelope in her hand.
"I'll get to that.." Melissa says sitting down on my bed, quickly sharing a glance with Isabella.
" I went to Tom's house, with Ryan.." Melissa answers after a long pause.
"What? Why-Was he there?" I ask suddenly curious.
"Well, I was planning to have Ryan beat the shit out of him.. but I found this on his desk" Melissa says handing me the envelope.
"How did you get into his hou-" I begin to ask confused.
"Just read." Isabella interrupts looking into my eyes.
Confused, I begin to reopen the envelope.
I pull out a letter and reluctantly begin to read it.
I feel Melissa's and Isabella's stares as I read.
I put my hand on my mouth, feeling the hot tears begin to run down my cheeks.
I fold the letter looking up and Melissa.
She has concern and sympathy in her eyes.
" I-I"
Melissa stops my sentence and reaches into the pocket of her sweatshirt.
She pulls out a small black lighter and carefully lays it in the palm of my hands.
I look down.
The lighter.
I turn it over and see my initials carved into the side of it, next to a small heart.
I let out a small gasp, running my fingers over the marks.
Flashback:
I giggle, feeling the high of the weed, running throughout my body. I lay my head gently on Tom's shoulder. We sit on the cold floor of the hallway, enjoying each other's company.
Tom holds the joint up to my lips. I take it from him and inhale the joint, feeling the rush from the weed.
I pick my head up from his shoulder and glance at Tom with the joint still in between my lips.
He staring at me, admiration shining in his eyes.
"Your absolutely perfect Stevie. In any and every way." Tom utters softly, staring into my eyes.
I exhale softly parting my lips and blow the smoke from my mouth into Tom's face, locking eyes the entire time.
"You're just high, and saying things." I state still feeling the buzz from the joint.
"I'm not. I mean every word." Tom whispered before he leaned in and locked our lips for the second time.
End of Flashback
"Stevie?" Isabella asks, waving her hand in front of my face.
"Oh! Um yea, sorry" I stammered looking back down at the lighter in my hands.
I smiled to myself holding the lighter to my chest.
I looked up at Melissa and Isabella smiling at me.
"I still don't know.. How do I know he won't hurt me again?" I questioned placing the lighter on top of the letter.
"I understand completely." Melissa says looking at me
"It's all up too you." Isabella adds looking back down at the lighter.
I look down, I know that I shouldn't forgive him, being that easy, letting him.. win, but I.. love him.
We can get him the help he desperately needs, but he has no one. It's best to stay by his side, be there for him, even if that means staying just as friends.
But even then, he left. I hope even if I never see Tom again, that's he is getting the help for his issues, that he's bettering himself for the future.
And who knows how long that will take, when Tom will return, if he ever even does.
If it's truly meant to be between Tom and I, we'll find each other again, even if it's 10 years from now or in another life.
I look at my alarm clock on my nightstand.
2:32 A.M.
We should get some sleep, we've had an, well eventful day.
"Yea, tell me about it" Melissa says laughing along with Isabella.
"You guys can borrow my pajamas.. I see you're not in the apparel to sleep." I say looking at Isabella's and Melissa's outfits from the party.
"Thanks.." Melissa adds standing up walking to my closet.
I lay down, staring up at my celling.
I wonder what Tom is doing right now, if he's ok..
I think to myself.
I miss him.
"Oh! I forgot to get you guys blankets and pillows, I'll be right back." I say standing up and walking out of my room.
I walk down the dimly lit hallway to the laundry room downstairs.
I walk down stairs passing the window by the front door, the small porch light shining through the window, making human like shadows reflected on the walls. I open the closet door and grab two pillows and some blankets.
Knock knock knock
What the hell.
I slowly walk to the front door, curious as to who is knocking at this time of night.
I step on my tippy toes and look of of the peep hole in the door.
I take a glance around.
No one is on the porch.
What the fuck.
I reluctantly open the shades to the window next to the door with my fingers, only leaving enough room for my eyes.
I don't see anyone, or anything.
I glance by the large Oak tree on our lawn.
I notice a human like figure standing next to the oak tree.
I don't see any features, just the outline of this shadow, masked by the darkness.
creeped out, I quickly remove my fingers from the blinds, shutting the porch light off.
I run upstairs and into my room, slamming the door shut.
"Whoa, what's wrong?" Isabella questions.
"Nothing" I pant, catching my breath.
I toss them the sleeping essentials and climb into bed, exhausted from the long day.
As I finish whispering goodnight, I remember.
I shoot up in my bed, now sitting up.
"Drug dealer, Melissa?" I ask crossing my arms in the darkness.
"Goodnight, Stevie." Melissa whispers in a fake perky tone.
Isabella snickers, and I roll my eyes.
We soon drift off in a deep sleep.
