Beats

Chapter 16

Somehow I managed to wake up at the appropriate time. I shook Elisa awake and she walked like a zombie to the bathroom. I looked into my clouded mirror and observed myself. I wonder if my father looked like this. Scowling, I peeled myself away. 

I picked out black gym shorts with a red stripe on either side and a white men's tank top from Obey. Itwas one of the nicest shirts I owned. I brushed my hair out and checked for any blemishes.

 "Such a girl." I muttered to myself, but continued to check. 

Thankfully there was none. I laced up my red Vans and jumped down the trapdoor, almost crushing Elisa. 

"Sorry." I said with a laugh. 

Elisa giggled too. Her hair wasn't as puffy as it was yesterday and was smoothed out. The ringlets seemed picture perfect. She added a touch of mascara and a thin line of eyeliner onto her top lid. For the occasion, she added identical wings. 

She was wearing a cropped leather jacket and a plain white tanktop. Her choice of pants, ripped dark gray skinny jeans and matching Doc Martens. I was starting to wonder how much that suitcase of her actually held. 

"You look cute Lis." I added before walking away. 

She blushed. "As do you." 

I went downstairs and she followed along with me. 

"You hungry?" I asked, pulling out leftover pizza from the night before. 

Elisa nodded and sat at the table with me. I went over every song with her as we ate. 

"I'm nervous." She said quietly as I cleaned up. 

"Don't be." I said giving her my best attempt at a movie star smile. 

She tried to smile back, but really did seem scared. 

"Listen Lis, they're going to love you. You have the most beautiful voice, most prettiest face, and the sweetest personality. How can they not?" That was corny as shit. 

Elisa smiled though, but drummed her fingers on the table. A sincere question came to mind. 

"Lis, do your parents know about this?" I asked, turned to her. 

Her moon-like eyes stared at me blanky. She lightly sighed and looked toward the table. "Even though my father loves me more than life itself, he'd probably think it was a waste of time trying out for something like this." 

I rested my elbows on the table and leaned in closer to her. "What exactly do you mean?" 

Elisa stopped drumming her picture perfect nails. "When I was in Kindergarten, my father signed me up for one of those America's Next whatever.." She paused. "When I went in, they told him I wasn't good enough for the show. He'd never been so angry in his life." Three beats. "Every single time I wanted to try out in a contest, he said no but didn't explain. I guess he doesn't realise I still remember the incident." 

Her voice was almost a whisper when she finished. I scoffed and shook my head. "Elisa you are going to be perfect." 

"Really think so?" She asked, tying her hair up in a messy ponytail. 

 I nodded and Elisa smiled. She gave me a peck on the cheek, and went to go upstairs. Most likely to brush her teeth or something. I sat around for a little. 

I tried to imagine what Rachel would do if she knew of all of this. She'd probably push her hair back and give me some sarcastic remark, then laugh. I felt my face flush. It sounds like I was in love with her. But in reality, she was my hero. Nothing but my hero. She was the best at anything and everything, and I could always see her doing the best. I felt my eyes water a little. 

"Aleks?" A little voice called from the steps. 

I jerked my head back and rubbed my eyes. Elisa was standing there, looking small on the steps. 

"What is it Lis?" I asked. 

Her face seemed pale. "I thought I heard something upstairs, can you brush your teeth with me?" 

I couldn't help but smile. This was her baby voice, where when she was scared or alone, she needed someone there. I got up and followed her up the steps. Our bathroom was small with dark teal decor. The shower curtain had little cartoon dolphins on them. I looked all around for Elisa's suitcase, but it was no where to be found. 

"In the closet silly." Elisa managed between brushes. 

I took a peek and there was a travel sized case. It was over-sized and with a shrug I knew it was exactly Elisa's taste. A light pink pastel color with lace, exactly her taste. I closed the closet and brushed my own teeth once she was finished. She sat on the toiletseat and began to space out. I wondered what she was thinking when a random bang came from downstairs. 

I spit the mouthwash out of my mouth and looked up at the door, then to Elisa. The color from her face had drained. "That's what I heard up here." 

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I motioned for Elisa to just stay put. She clenched her fists and nodded. I peeked out the door, and the air was still. My hands were shaking and my legs felt like  Jell-o as I walked out of the room. So much for a scenery change. Elisa was following me at this point, but I didn't protest. I carefully look out into the downstairs from the stairs. Nothing. 

"Get the acoustic." I whispered. 

In a matter of seconds, Elisa had grabbed the gutair in it's case and had joined me on the steps. 

My heart was still thumping. "On the count of three, we run out the door." 

Elisa gave me a quick nod. "One.." One beat. "Two.." Two beats. "Three." 

We dashed down the stairs as fast as our legs took us. I grabbed my dinky cellphone and Elisa got my jacket for me. The downstairs was freezing, as if the temperature had changed in the past 5 minutes since we had been there. We went outside and I slammed the door. I heard the automatic lock click shut. 

When I turned back, Elisa was already sneaking down the driveway. I caught up with her within seconds. 

"That was weird." I muttered. 

Elisa just nodded. Even though it was chilly out, the color in her face was returning. She handed me my jacket silently. I ran my tounge over my teeth. Something was wrong with her, but I didn't want to ask what. 

I stole glances at her the whole entire time we walked to the bus stop. The bruises from days ago had vanished, and her eyes weren't so sad as they had been. I hadn't realised this the other night, but she had a light scar on her jawbone. 

"Lis what's that scar from?" I asked brushing my index finger on it. 

Her mouth twitched. "Slammed into the corner of a desk. I was in preschool." She gave me a small smile. "Other kids at the school were bigger than me, and I was pushed completely accidental." 

I let out an airy laugh. "I never went to preschool." 

Elisa set her big eyes on me. "Really? It was probably the easiest years of my life." 

I tipped my head to the side like dogs do. "What happened there?" 

"Molding clay, coloring, snack time, nap time, ABC's, dancing.." Three beats. "It was sort of like a daycare. Majority of the kids there had parents that went to the college next door." She looked at me. "My mother was too busy." 

I nodded. "Sounds like heaven." 

Elisa laughed. "It was."

I felt like saying, Heaven like when I'm with you my dear? But it was ridiculousley hokey, even though it was true. Instead we walked in silence for the rest of the way there. I should've been nervous about the gig, but instead I was itching to find out what happened in my house before we left.  My skin still prickled.