Four more days to go. Four more days and everything should supposedly be alright. I gazed out of the window solemnly, the light drizzle splattering on the windowpane. Occasionally the harsh sound of the thunder pricked my ears and a shudder ran through my body. It wasn't raining heavily, but the dark clouds and the grey sky were foreboding a storm.
"JJ, let's go," Shaun called out and I turned around, clasping my tote bag in one hand consisting of food for Logan.
Due to the rain, Shaun was dropping me off at the lighthouse in his car because the roads were slippery and my bicycle wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, he was going to hang out with his friends at a nearby pub and the lighthouse was on the way. Shaun was expected to pick me up in two hours since we couldn't risk getting stuck in a summer storm.
I was going to smuggle the bag of food outside the house since I didn't want mum to get suspicious. Just as Shaun and I slipped into our boots and prepared ourselves to move out, my mum intervened, "Where are you two going in this bad weather?"
"Uh-Shaun is taking me to the pub-the-the café I mean. It's been long since I have met my friends from school," I lied and my mum crossed her arms against her chest.
"Yeah, we'll be back in two hours before the weather gets bad," Shaun added with ostentatious casualness.
"Okay then, come back quick. Take your jacket with you Joy, and Shaun take care of your sister. She won't admit it's cold until she gets more sick," my mum instructed and I rolled my eyes. My mum gently smacked my head and I smiled sheepishly. "Also Joy, tell Logan that I cooked him extra rolls with less pepper, just the way he likes it."
"L-Logan?" Shaun and I stuttered in unison. How did she know? Trying my best to not let my voice waver, I continued, "What's Logan got to do with this? We don't even know where he is! Who's Logan though? I mean he-he's just a friend, but of course we wouldn't hide him! And even if we knew, we're not going to meet him. Pfft . . . Why would we? We-We . . . "
"JJ," Shaun said wearily and my mum laughed. "Maa figured it out."
"Of course I figured it out with the food missing. You both are bad at lying," she joked and pulled our faces together against her chest to kiss us. Shaun and I whined as she showered us with love. "Not that I complain being blessed with you two wonderful children."
"You don't mind us helping Logan with the cops and all---?" My voice was muffled due to the tightness of the hug.
"I don't mind you two helping him when grandpa's got your back. I don't think I can stop you even if I want to. Your grandpa would lecture me if I stop you from helping and besides, Logan's a decent boy, isn't he?" mum said with a hint of humour and squeezed us to the point that we were unable to breathe.
Shaun and I wrenched free from her grasp in embarrassment and mumbled in chorus, "You're the best maa."
"Oh go on you two and come back soon--- " she broke off as Gemma appeared from her room. My mum took a glimpse of her dressed in neat clothes and suggested, "You two can take your sister out too."
Gemma's eyes widened as she shook her head frantically. She knew that Shaun was going to the pub and even if he sneaked her in, she loathed the blasting music and meeting new people. However, mum being her usual self would order the exact opposite thing that Gemma didn't want to do.
Mum thrusted a coat against Gemma's face and pushed us all out of the door. We grumbled and stomped towards the car. It was no logic for Gemma to tag along, she would burst into a fit at the pub. It was advised to not let Gemma near the trigger points that could elicit an extreme response from her, but mum's logic was reverse. She felt that the more Gemma would be exposed, the more she would get better. It was true in certain cases, but not in all. Especially when it would add to Gemma's anguish. In other words, it was stupid really.
Gemma sat in the back while I sat on the passenger seat in the front and Shaun drove. Before we got into an awkward silence, Shaun said apologetically, "Sorry Gem that you were forced to accompany us. You don't have to come to the pub with my fellows hanging around. You can stay with your sister at the lighthouse."
"Okay," Gemma's agreed almost instantly and I sighed. I preferred Gemma to not go to the pub, but at the same time, Logan and Gemma didn't get along well. A laughter bubbled inside me when I recalled Gemma calling Logan a slut because Jamal had apparently come to conclusion that Logan and I were fooling around.
"It's been a while hanging around with my little sisters." Shaun merrily took a left turn towards the boulevard.
"You're going the wrong way," I corrected him and he shook his head.
"Let's drive around a bit, it'll be fun. The weather's not all that bad now, is it?" he chirped and I scowled, contradicting him. He knew that I didn't like the rain because I loved sunshine. I loved warmth. I loved summer. Not some wet, cold day with an air of melancholy. So Shaun glanced back at Gemma who was quietly tracing the shadow of the water trickling down on the window. Gemma loved the rain. "Having fun Gem?"
"Yes," she replied. "I love the rain and as long as we're in the car, I'm fine. I hate getting wet."
"We know Gem, you're the best sister. JJ here can't enjoy a bit of rain. Tell JJ that it'll be fun for a little drive," Shaun said loftily and I snorted.
"JJ, it'll be fun for a little drive," Gemma said to me sincerely, taking Shaun's words literally and I gave in.
"Alrighty!" I feigned enthusiasm and off we went on a short drive.
* * *
It was difficult to reach till the lighthouse. The downpour became more intense as we made our way on the narrow strip of land which would soon disappear. Our boots were getting stuck in the mucky sand, the sound of raindrops was hitting our strong umbrella and Gemma and I were clutching each other tightly. Shaun had offered to come along, but we brushed him off saying that we were tough girls. It was hard for him to trust us considering that Gemma was autistic and I was dying. He reluctantly let us go when I continued to insist stubbornly.
We climbed the stairs like a snail, Gemma assisting me all the way. Few drops of water sprinkled on our heads through the porous walls. The moment we reached, I knocked thrice on the door. The door flung open and Logan stood there looking absolutely bewildered. I was trying to catch my breath desperately and Gemma was fidgeting with her clothes that were slightly drenched.
"It's raining like shit outside and you came here? You could have got hurt Joy and look how sick you are. You shouldn't be here," Logan said angrily as he grabbed my hand and pulled me in. Gemma followed in and Logan hastily locked the door. Gemma started to unbutton her wet jacket and I slumped on the bed tiredly, too exhausted to even remove my boots. "You're such an idiot Joy."
"My sister's not an idiot," Gemma retorted and stared at Logan furiously who ignored her.
Logan crouched down and started to remove my boots gingerly. I tried to wave him off, but he didn't let go. "Hey, I can do that on my own. I'm not a child Logan and since when did you start caring about me?"
Logan looked up, hurt evident in his eyes and I wanted to take back my words immediately. We were friends and of course he cared about me, didn't he? Logan quickly averted his gaze back to my legs, concealing his emotions. His thick eyebrows were drawn together in a frown and he mumbled, "I-I do care about you."
"I'm sorry." I reached out to hold Logan's hand. Suddenly, Gemma pushed Logan away and snatched my boots from his grip. Logan glared at her as she took a protective stance in front of me. I laughed, shaking my head and reached for my bag. "Here's the food Logan."
"You don't have to bring them everyday." He got up, took the bag from me and put it away. "I mean it Joy, I don't want you to be silly and come here in a storm. Don't-don't do that next time."
"There won't be a next time because there's only four days to go!" I exclaimed and patted on the bed beside me for Gemma to sit. Gemma retrieved her phone and started to play a game which she was obsessing over in the past few weeks. Sometimes, she became extremely engrossed in the game and wouldn't put it down until she faced my mum's wrath.
"Yeah, four days is plenty of time for that asshole to find me," Logan said bitterly.
"Don't be so cynical! Be positive, we have come a long way. The cops aren't too invested in this case as much as I know because they aren't putting lots of efforts. There have been many cases where teenagers in our town have run away from their homes and returned back safely in a few days. They're treating yours as one and I think they have a feeling that your uncle is not innocent. Also, this storm can distract them more, I'm sure your uncle won't win. We won't let him," I promised earnestly and Logan simply nodded.
"I hope you're right." He started to bring out food for the three of us. Gemma and I didn't eat much since we had eaten at home. Logan ate quietly as I chatted with him. We didn't realize that two hours had passed by until I could hear the loud roaring of clouds.
I walked over to the window which was latched firmly and it was raining cats and dogs. The storm had already descended on us. The ocean and the sky merged darkly together and the waves violently dashed each other.
"It's bad, isn't it?" I felt Logan's hot breath fanning against my neck and I flinched. "You're cold?"
"I'm not cold, you startled me. Don't come creeping up my back," I said, a slight tremour distinct in my voice. I could feel Logan standing right behind me, his breathing and his voice surprisingly warm as he hummed in response. He placed his hand on the small of my back, his nose lightly brushed the crook of my neck and I shivered. I turned around slowly and weakly shoved Logan away when I felt Gemma gawking at us.
Logan suddenly grabbed my wrist and I shot him a perplexed look. "What happened?"
He stared at me curiously and pointed at my nose. I brought my hand up in confusion and touched that particular spot. My heart stopped beating when I felt something wet. Blood.
"Joy, are you okay?" Logan held my shoulder in concern, but I hustled past him.
"It's nothing, I'll be fine. This isn't something new, it has happened before." I didn't realize that it was me spewing comforting lies as I rushed to the bathroom, the dread in the pit of my stomach growing with each second as my blood dripped from my nose.
* * *
A/N :
Joy's nose bleeding isn't random. For people suffering from leukaemia, it's difficult for their blood to clot and they occasionally have nose bleeds. It may or may not be severe.