Tangled Strings

Chapter 7

"What?! You see it in that much detail? And you remember each and every thing?" Shock. Everything I said just brought shock to his handsome face.

"Umm... Yeah. How can I forget my worst nightmares!"

"And you saw how he fell... I mean we all know he jumped but I'm not sure—"

"No, he didn't!" Calm, I thought. "I mean he didn't jump for God's sake. Why would you all believe that? It's not like he had some trouble or whatever, any reason to end his life."

"Then what did you see? How did he die, then?" he asked, eager for information.

"I don't know, it's like he stumbled. I think some wire got strangled. I'm not sure."

"Not sure??" he asked suspiciously.

"Well..." he waited for me to finish with both the eyebrows raised up so that a crease formed on his forehead.

"Sure. Sure. I'm sure. Don't give me that look." I said and turned away my eyes.

He got up and sat down on the ground, on his knees, in front of me and took my hands. His eyes were soft as silk with pity and care and understanding. He understood my plight. Then he kissed the palm of both my hands. It felt so good. Good to be understood. Only he can understand me so well.

"Okay! Now don't think about it." he said. I managed a smile and nodded at him.

"You sure as hell are not going to get any of those dreams today!" he said with a big grin on his face.

"Why?"

"Because... You're here and I'm in front of you and any nightmare however bad it may be can't stand before me, right?"

"You sure as hell are right!" I imitated him and smiled. But a real one this time, not forced.

"Well, happy to bring your smile back, princess." he said, got up and sat beside me on the bed again. I smiled at him and I could see the shine in his eyes when he replied back with a smile. No gem, no crystal, no mirror can ever be as bright as that shine. And that shine made something move inside my heart. Just a little. I don't know what it was and it felt awkward too, but good.

"Umm... My father is okay with me staying in for the night." I started.

"I know."

"But how do you—"

"Umm... I-I eavesdropped." he said with a sly smile.

I shook my head, smiling and a comfortable silence took over us.

"Ash–" he was about to say something, but had just managed half my name, when Meghan entered. With a huge grin on her face she said, "Whoops! Did I interrupt something? Sorry. Bad timing!!" she just said three sentences and had us fumbling over ums and uhs.

Finally, Bryan said, "It's nothing, Meghan."

"Oh, but in case you want to come out of the room I'm downstairs watching TV." she said still with a smile on her cute, pale face, and left us alone closing the door.

"I think we should go down." I said after a long silence.

"Yeah, sure. But first wash your face. I don't want anyone thinking I made you cry." he said with a wink. I went straight to Bryan's washroom. It was a clean one. Normally, boy's clothes were hanging here and there, but not Bryan's. He kept his room clean. I went up to the basin and splashed water on my face
With my face still wet I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked fine, and not like a weeping little baby girl with red eyes all swollen from crying for a long time. There was no sign that I was crying or at least I didn't find any. I soaked my face in the towel which smelled of lilies. Lilies, I thought. My favourite. Did Bryan like them too? He never told me he likes lilies?! Well, he's got such high talent in hiding things. Secrets. I like people with secrets. Small secrets which I would like to unravel. Not big, harsh, sad secrets but small, cute and manageable secrets.

And Bryan has this interesting and, not to mention, quite charming talent of dealing with harsh conditions. I wonder how he can manage everything with such a cool head and chuckle it out away. He can make any person, who is in distress, smile, if not laugh, with just a wink and a crisp comment.

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A/N Another beautiful chapter... Ashley stays... Yay!! I'm so happy!!

It was so amazing to write Ashley's breakdown and I loved the way Bryan consoled her... Charming personality, eh? 😁😉

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PS- If you like scribbled short stories check out my new book From Within... Believe me guys, it's awesome...😊😊 Hope you LOVE it..!! 😁

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Love,
Anshara.❤