To Be Different; Part One

To Be Different; Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I blinked once, twice, and three times. My surroundings focusing in and out, the lighting too bright for my eyes to adjust quickly. I feel myself being lifted and something being wrapped around my shoulders. What's going on? But there is no reply to my question. Only silence but I know someone is there with me, someone is watching me. I plan on turning my head, but I think better of it. For a strange reason, I'm afraid to look behind me.

My eyes finally adjust and focus on an object on the ground, my silver necklace Ari had given me a month or so before he died. I reach for it but it's pulled away and disappears. I feel the confusion go to my face but I look for it again and find it lying there, waiting. I stare at it for a good few minutes and then try to reach for it, only for it to be pulled away once more.

What the heck? I hear someone laugh and I turn around, seeing the boy with Ari's eyes looking at me. What's going on? He doesn't answer me but in his hand is my necklace, dangling there. I walk towards him, my heart going out of control and memories spinning around in my mind. I put my hand out and wait for him to give it back, he doesn't.

Can I have it? He looks at me like I'm crazy. I repeat it again, can I have it? His face is blank and his eyes bore into mine. I close my eyes to stop myself from staring deep inside the sea of green and turn my head so I am not tempted to look into them, hoping I'll find Ari there, waiting for me somehow. Look at me Cassie, please. The boy asks gently but I can't, I force myself to ignore him. Please. I shake my head, I can't look into those eyes they'll bring back too much pain. I won't give it back until you do.

 I feel the anger wash over me quickly and I jerk my head to the right and open my eyes slowly. Give it back. I'm not looking into his eyes, but at his lips, which may sound weird but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Look into the eyes I fell in love with so long ago. I need that back now.

Need it back or want it back? The boy mocks me, his lips turn into a smirk and I can no longer look at them. I force myself to look into his eyes and I am surprised to see what I find. There is sadness, almost alike to the sadness I saw so much when I was with Ari before. But this sadness was different and though the boy smiled I knew he was in pain.

I need it back, please. I close my eyes and breathe in deeply, repeating my sentence, waiting.

 Fine. I feel the necklace being placed into my palm and my fingers close around it, holding it.

 Thank you. Where are we? I ask him but I get no reply and I open my eyes to see an empty space where the boy just was. But from somewhere far I hear his voice, don't drown in your sorrow Cassie. It's not worth it.

Was I drowning in my sorrows? I wouldn't think so, but I close my eyes once more and feel my memories take over again.

~

"Cassie?" I turn around and see Ari waving from the top of the bleachers. "Come on!"

 "Coming!" I call to him, a smile plastered on my face. Sitting beside him was one of the only guys in school that wasn't exactly a jerk but he wasn't much of a Mr. Nice Guy either.

 "Hey, Cass," Brennan said to me as I sat beside Ari. "'Sup?"

"Nada, what about you?" I ask him just to be polite.

"Just hanging with my main man Ari, just like old times", he smiles. But the smile is a fake as his get up. As soon as Brennan found out about Ari, he ditched him ASAP just to make sure he wasn't listed as "Gay boy's boyfriend." This by the way to Brennan would not have been a great way to get the ladies.