George
"Damn!" I startle when Shane exclaims. "Every week, our activity gets insanely difficult!" Her chocolate gaze glares at the photo references of female poses. "Did you two fight? Or something? Is this his punishment for you?"
I stare at the poses.
I don't even know where he is.
Where is he?
Did he find the lost wolf?
"Will he kill the werewolf?" I mutter.
"Werewolf? Again?" Shane exclaims. "I'm having a hard time with this figure drawing, but you are thinking of that story? Come on, George. Werewolves aren't real."
"The-the story has good a plot, though! As if it's real," I reason out.
It is real.
Clarkson stops drawing and looks at us.
"I will visit Emy," I tell Shane. "Wanna come?"
"Who's Emy?" Clarkson tilts his head to the side.
"Hi, Emy!" Shane greets, looking at the cold stone.
"O-oh. That's Emy," Clarkson says hesitantly.
We go straight here, to the cemetery after class. I feel the warmth of the grass as I sit down beside Emy.
"You know what," Shane excitedly speaks. "George has a boyfriend!" she screams.
Clarkson's eyes widen. He sharply jerks his head at me.
"Our Professor!" Shane exclaims.
"What?" Clarkson furrows his eyebrows.
"No! Jared is not my boyfriend. Damn it!" I hit Shane's arm hard.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Shane yells at me.
"This is a cemetery. Keep your voices low," Clarkson says.
"You keep insisting that he's my boyfriend," I grunt. "Maybe you are the one who really likes him," I glare.
"W-what?" she stutters. "No! Why would I?" Shane's voice changes.
"Oh, come on! I can see how you watch him from afar," I say and roll my eyes. "Your voice even changed."
"See! You watch him. You're like a security camera-"
"You like him," I conclude and nod my head.
Shane fakes a laugh. "That's not true," she says.
Silence.
"Oh, you didn't know her yet," she suddenly speaks. "Um, Emy. This is Clarkson, our new friend. He's very kind. He acts like our referee every time our argument is getting out of hand," she laughs a bit. "And this is Emy, our high school friend."
"Hi, Emy," Clarkson greets.
"We miss you," Shane bites her lower lip. "I remember how we became friends that quick. You're the only one who approached me," she smiles. "And then you suddenly introduce me to Georgie.
Silence.
I chuckle, "Yeah, I remember how awkward our first encounter was. You're too shy that you're hiding your face even when you're drinking water," I laugh.
"But now you're too comfortable that you slam whatever and whoever whenever you wanted," I add.
"Hey," Shane frowns.
More than an hour passed by when Shane decided to leave.
"You like reading books?" Clarkson asks.
I shake my head.
"But," he pauses. "You said you're reading a book, right?" His brows furrow.
"O-oh. Well, the story is really good," I answer.
Silence.
He looks at Emy's name intently. His fingers play with the grass.
"How..." he stops, "did she die?" he asks in hesitation.
"Suicide," I answer.
"Huh?" Clarkson asks in confusion.
"That's how she died. She...took her own life."
"But, Miss Firefly!? I want to play with Emy!"
I watched my younger myself from afar.
"What's going on?" I whispered in my mind.
Everything is dark aside from the lady with fireflies forming her figure. Emy was standing still, meters away from us.
Miss Firefly.
I haven't seen you for a while, my imaginary friend.
"No, Sweetheart. You won't be playing with her anymore."
"But why?"
I moved my gaze and saw Emy slowly fading.
"Emy!" my younger self cried.
But Emy turned and faced me. She gave me a small smile before she vanished. "Bye, George."
"Emy!"
I gasped as I quickly opened my eyes after the horrible dream ended. I looked for my phone on the side table.
'5: 39 am
March 11'
"Ugh. Damn this aching head," I groaned.
I saw a notification.
'Emy ❤️: 1 new message'
I was about to open the message when my phone vibrated.
'Mommy Woods calling...'
"George? W-Where are you?" I heard her voice tremble.
"At my apartment," I frowned, "Why?"
"Can you come over?"
"Why? Something happened?" I quickly got off my bed.
My heart started beating fast all of a sudden.
"Emy. She's gone."
I rushed to Emy's house. I saw police tape everywhere.
'Police line do not cross'
I saw Emy's mother outside.
"W-Where is she?" I asked in a trembling voice.
Mrs. Woods cried. I wrapped my arms around her.
"She is gone."
"What?"
No.
"Georgina, she... is dead."
"Stop that," I hugged her tighter.
Silence.
No.
"No... No, there's no way. It's not a good joke," I denied. My voice cracked.
But, Mrs. Woods cried.
I fell on my knees.
"This can't be," I sob.
My hands trembled.
Am I still in my bad dream?
"I want to see her."
"You may not want to–"
"Please."
We went inside. The police officers were everywhere.
Some of them were taking photos, while others were searching. We were guided by a policeman. The policeman opened Emy's room.
My eyes went wide after seeing her.
"No!"
Hanged.
"Emy!"
Her small frame was hung. A scarf was tied around the mini-chandelier at the center of the ceiling of her neat room. A knocked-down chair was resting below her body. Her eyes were partly open. She was in her pink nightgown.
I took a step forward.
The chief of police blocked my way.
"Sorry, ma'am. You cannot come any closer."
"Emy!" I hugged Mrs. Woods.
"She can't do this," I mumbled.
I closed my eyes.
"She won't do this," I cried.
She's a strong girl.
"She... She," I sobbed. I swallow the lump of my throat.
"Shhh... I know George. Shhh..."
My gaze stares at the yellow police line. While waiting from the outside of Emy's house, I check for her last message.
George, I love you. I'm really thankful that I finally had a sister. I know we're quite different from each other. If you're reading this, it means I'm not with you anymore. Please, don't cry. I'm still with you, not physically tho. I'm here protecting you. I love George!
"I'm... sorry," Clarkson says while hugging me. I rest my head on his shoulders.
"I miss her, Clarkson," I cry. He caresses my back and hugs me tighter.
I let go when I realize that I hug him for so long.
"Hi!"
I am shocked, to see a familiar man coming out of my apartment.
"What are you doing there, M-Mister?" I ask, staring at him intently.
"Oh, well-"
"Georgina! Where have you been?" I hear Aunt Liz yells.
"Uuhh, Uni?" I answer, raising an eyebrow. "What are YOU doing here?" I ask and give her a meaningful look.
"Oh," she nervously laughs. "Well, this is Joaquin," she smiles awkwardly. "He is Jared's Uncle."
I give him a stare.
"She's Georgina, my niece," Aunt Liz says.
"Nice to meet you," he says with a bright smile. "Oh! Aren't you Jared's student?" he points a finger at me.
I slowly nod and look at Aunt Liz.
"Yeah!" Aunt Liz says and holds my shoulder.
"I'll be going now," he glances at Aunt Liz. "See you around, Eli."
"B-bye!" she waves goodbye at him.
I enter my apartment and throw my bag on the couch. "What was that?" I ask.
"N-nothing," she quickly walks to the kitchen. "I cooked. Are you hungry?"
I follow her. Slowly, I give her a nod and a teasing smile.
"W-what?" she nervously asks and raises her brows.
I shrug.
Her gaze softens. She walks towards me. "You cried," she says and holds the sides of my face.
I quickly wipe my eyes, "It's nothing, Aunt Liz."
"Did someone hurt you?" she holds my arms.
"I-I just remembered Emy. I miss her, Aunt Liz," I whisper.
I hear a sigh escapes her lips.
"I'm still confused. Why does she have to do that?" Aunt Liz mumbles. "I miss that girl as well. She's the closest friend you've ever had."
"I miss her sudden visits just to spend her time with you," she adds.
The thought of Emy made me miss her even more.
I go upstairs to change my clothes.
Sigh.
"Eliza!" I hear a male voice while I wash my face.
"He's Jared's Uncle..."
My eyes widen after realization hits me.
Jared's Uncle?
I quickly rinse my face and run downstairs only to find Joaquin sitting on the couch while talking to Aunt Liz.
"Oh. Hi, Georgina!" he cheerfully greets me. A friendly smile forms across his lips.
That means he's a vampire as well.
"What are you doing here?" I stammer.
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