"So? How did it go?"
"Uh?"
"The tour around the university. How did it go?"
"Oh... it was good. Yeah, it was good."
After I drive for another six hours back to Long Beach, I come home to find Viktor carelessly lying on the couch in the living room and watching something on the TV. The moment I step a foot through the door I feel some sort of tension. Actually, I feel it since the other day on our way back from the vacation.
We haven't talked about my choice of a university since then but there seem to be unspoken things that fuel this awkward tension between us.
"Did you do what you had to do?" I ask as I sit on one of the small stools in front of him, just wanting to start some sort of a dialogue. Have you ever felt so awkward around someone that you just feel the need to say something? That's how awkward I feel for a few days now.
"Hm?"
Have you ever wanted to have the ability to stop time? As the inevitability comes closer to becoming the bitter reality, have you ever wanted to be able to stop time? Yes? That's exactly how I feel.It's late March already. Spring is settling in, life seems to have awakened from the winter sleep. It's warmer, calmer, prettier. Nature's beauty is revived. Why don't I feel any calmer then?Viktor came to peace with the fact I'm not willing to give up on Berkeley. Or at least he pretends to have accepted it. He has, maybe, but I am not. I gave up on the hope of him following me to there. First, he promised to try everything possible to be with me but then he just defeatedly admitted that he will miss me.At first, his confession made me feel somehow loved by him. It melted me like butter. I liked his confession at first, but now... Now realisation has finally struck me. He has given up. He will not follow me to Berkel
"This one really does looks good on you!""I like the first one better.""No one is asking you.""Can you two just shut up?" I scoff. "You are bickering like kids."So, as you probably guessed I'm together with Lucy and Viktor and we are picking a gown for the Prom night. It would have been funny if it wasn't annoying. The theme this year is "Spring magic" and I narrowed the options to three and truth be told, I am with Viktor in this.The first dress I tried and he liked is in gentle mint green. It has a deep V neck and open back, really high slash and is high split with the upper part being covered in rhinestones. It's truly beautiful and really sexy. I love how it suits me.The one Lucy liked is a princess type of big, in gentle pink, with open back and again is covered with rhinestones. I like it too, but I feel a little like a cake.
"What do you mean you have to leave?!""It means that I have to leave," Viktor nonchalantly shrugs as he pushes another shirt in his travel bag. "Hopefully, for a few days. A week the most.""But... You can't! You will miss my graduation ceremony!" I complain."I'm sorry, little one. I can't miss this deal," he says without even looking at me. He just keeps stuffing his travel bag with clothes. "I didn't want to tell you earlier. I got the call the other day, when was your Prom night. I didn't want to ruin your mood.""But that was two days ago! Why are you telling me the last moment?!" I throw myself sitting on the edge of the bed and cross my arms angry and confused. "Why didn't you tell me yesterday?!""I told you, I didn't want to ruin your mood," he says as he pulls the zipper of the bag."And you thought telling me an hour before your departure is the r
This is the worst graduation ceremony you could ever see. Not because of the ceremony itself but because of me. I feel dead. Viktor is in jail. It's the reality, it wasn't a nightmare. I really hoped for it to be a bad dream. I hoped that I fell asleep while watching horrors and my brain played such unbelievable scenarios, but no. It's real. It's late May now and the weather is warm. Why do I feel so cold then? I barely slept and cried a lot last night, maybe that's the reason. Our school hosts a big and fancy graduation ceremony. There are togas, awards and diplomas. Lucy's boyfriend, Gideon is awarded 'best football player', the ultimate teacher's pet is awarded 'smartest student', Lucy is graduated 'most artistic student' and the list of awards goes on and on. And no, I'm not awarded shit. And I couldn't care less. I keep my nose stuck in my phone. Viktor's arrest and the exposure of
"Two extra-large coffees and two cokes! And please, hurry up! I totally forgot about them!" "You'll have them in a minute!" Good God, this day has no end. The cafe is fully packed up and some other people are waiting outside for a table to get freed. Where's this place? Downtown Long Beach, California. Why is it so popular? I have no goddamn idea. Maybe it's because of the perverted idea of my boss to make us wear super short uniforms. Just a tiny tight black dress with the name of the cafe written on its back in gold lettering. '7th Heaven'. Hell of uncomfortable clothing to work into. People of all ages constantly whistle after you, ask for your number, ask what else do you offer aside from the menu or in the best case- just stare at your butt. But hey, at least the tips are quite good. Even great. And who am I? Mallory Cox. Finally eighteen, to-be senior year in high school and trying to s
"Hey, Mal... Umm... A friend of mine is throwing a party tonight and you can come if you want?" "That's actually pretty kind of you, Tom, but I don't know." "Oh, come on! It'll be fun! A bunch of eighteen,twenty year olds, drinking beer or Jägermeister and dancing!" "But who are these people? I swear if they're from my school I'll jump out the window." "So you'll come after all?" Tom jumps in excitement and his silver eyes shine under the artificial light coming from the lamp hanging over the bar. Seeing his excitement makes it almost impossible to tell him no. But knowing my mother, if I agree I'll probably won't live enough to go to that party. "I don't know, Tom. My mother is the problem..." "Remind me, how old were you?" "Eighteen," I murmur embarrassed. "Then why do yo
"Yes, I know it was risky! But she's with me, alive and safe!" In the distance, I hear Tom's angry voice. The sunlight shining on my face makes me open my eyes. I stare at the white ceiling and a moment later I realise it is not the one from my room! "Tom? Tom!" "Here, she's even awake. I'll call you later!" I sit in the bed and lean on the cold wall but the moment I get up, I regret it. My stomach is in a knot and a monstrous headache stabs me. "Heey, Mal. How do you feel?" Tom sits next to me on the bed and places his hand on my bare knee. "Tom, where I am?" I ask, staring at my own hand, trying to focus my blurry vision. What the heck happened last night?! "Mmm, in my bed," Tom shyly notes. "Why?!" I shriek in fear of what we've possible done last night and again, my whole body pulsates, stroked by
I pull clothes out of my wardrobe and throw them on the floor. I'm trying to find something decent to wear for tonight. Viktor said he'll come to pick me up at 6 PM, so I have less than an hour to get ready! I'm getting more and more nervous as the clock ticks. "Mallory? What's this mess you're creating?!" "I'm searching for something elegant to wear," I briefly brush off, not looking at her. "Like what?" "I don't know, a dress perhaps?" "What for?" "I'm going out on a date!" "A...date?" Mom stares at me with such a concerned look in her eyes. I expect her to flip again and scream some bullshit about me not going. "Yes, do you have something to say against it?" "I... With who?!" "If everything goes well tonight, I might tell you." "Yo
This is the worst graduation ceremony you could ever see. Not because of the ceremony itself but because of me. I feel dead. Viktor is in jail. It's the reality, it wasn't a nightmare. I really hoped for it to be a bad dream. I hoped that I fell asleep while watching horrors and my brain played such unbelievable scenarios, but no. It's real. It's late May now and the weather is warm. Why do I feel so cold then? I barely slept and cried a lot last night, maybe that's the reason. Our school hosts a big and fancy graduation ceremony. There are togas, awards and diplomas. Lucy's boyfriend, Gideon is awarded 'best football player', the ultimate teacher's pet is awarded 'smartest student', Lucy is graduated 'most artistic student' and the list of awards goes on and on. And no, I'm not awarded shit. And I couldn't care less. I keep my nose stuck in my phone. Viktor's arrest and the exposure of
"What do you mean you have to leave?!""It means that I have to leave," Viktor nonchalantly shrugs as he pushes another shirt in his travel bag. "Hopefully, for a few days. A week the most.""But... You can't! You will miss my graduation ceremony!" I complain."I'm sorry, little one. I can't miss this deal," he says without even looking at me. He just keeps stuffing his travel bag with clothes. "I didn't want to tell you earlier. I got the call the other day, when was your Prom night. I didn't want to ruin your mood.""But that was two days ago! Why are you telling me the last moment?!" I throw myself sitting on the edge of the bed and cross my arms angry and confused. "Why didn't you tell me yesterday?!""I told you, I didn't want to ruin your mood," he says as he pulls the zipper of the bag."And you thought telling me an hour before your departure is the r
"This one really does looks good on you!""I like the first one better.""No one is asking you.""Can you two just shut up?" I scoff. "You are bickering like kids."So, as you probably guessed I'm together with Lucy and Viktor and we are picking a gown for the Prom night. It would have been funny if it wasn't annoying. The theme this year is "Spring magic" and I narrowed the options to three and truth be told, I am with Viktor in this.The first dress I tried and he liked is in gentle mint green. It has a deep V neck and open back, really high slash and is high split with the upper part being covered in rhinestones. It's truly beautiful and really sexy. I love how it suits me.The one Lucy liked is a princess type of big, in gentle pink, with open back and again is covered with rhinestones. I like it too, but I feel a little like a cake.
Have you ever wanted to have the ability to stop time? As the inevitability comes closer to becoming the bitter reality, have you ever wanted to be able to stop time? Yes? That's exactly how I feel.It's late March already. Spring is settling in, life seems to have awakened from the winter sleep. It's warmer, calmer, prettier. Nature's beauty is revived. Why don't I feel any calmer then?Viktor came to peace with the fact I'm not willing to give up on Berkeley. Or at least he pretends to have accepted it. He has, maybe, but I am not. I gave up on the hope of him following me to there. First, he promised to try everything possible to be with me but then he just defeatedly admitted that he will miss me.At first, his confession made me feel somehow loved by him. It melted me like butter. I liked his confession at first, but now... Now realisation has finally struck me. He has given up. He will not follow me to Berkel
"So? How did it go?""Uh?""The tour around the university. How did it go?""Oh... it was good. Yeah, it was good."After I drive for another six hours back to Long Beach, I come home to find Viktor carelessly lying on the couch in the living room and watching something on the TV. The moment I step a foot through the door I feel some sort of tension. Actually, I feel it since the other day on our way back from the vacation.We haven't talked about my choice of a university since then but there seem to be unspoken things that fuel this awkward tension between us."Did you do what you had to do?" I ask as I sit on one of the small stools in front of him, just wanting to start some sort of a dialogue. Have you ever felt so awkward around someone that you just feel the need to say something? That's how awkward I feel for a few days now."Hm?"
It's such a pity we have to leave already. I fell in love with this small neat town, its friendly people and beautiful landscape. Originally, we were supposed to stay for four nights but the weather was in my personal favour. It was heavily snowing during the last night of our stay, so instead of leaving on Wednesday morning, we leave on Thursday. I can't say I'm disappointed, a whole day being in complete privacy at a mountain cabin with Viktor only, is far from being a reason to complain. At first, Viktor was a little moody for having to stay closed in one place for over 24 hours but I know how to fastly turn that frown upside down. If you catch my drift. Anyways, this was just the perfect vacation and I will gladly accept people calling me names for being with Viktor if that means I will visit more such incredible places. "Do you want me to drive?" I offer my d
"Come on! One more! Right here!" "Ugh, fiiine." Our first day here flew away in doing nothing. We ate, warmed each other in bed and rested. Six hours are tiring, no matter if you are on the driver's or the passenger's side. For our second day here we decided to make the best out of it. We decided to go on a walk through the town and I want to take photos of the whole place. I pose next to big live and beautifully decorated Christmas trees, I take a few selfies with Viktor with the downtown's decor as a background. I take a lot of photos. Memories might stay forever but I want to secure myself and have photos. "Tell me we are staying for at least a week!" I bounce joyfully in front of Viktor on our way to one of the few small restaurants in the town. "We can stay for as long as you want," he chuckles. "How about a month?" I giggle.
I have never been the angel everyone thinks I am. I have never pretended to be one, I don't know why people think so highly of me. Is it because of my looks? People say I have an innocent and handsome face.I took the silver eyes from my mother. And thanks god, because my father has the most basic brown eyes you can ever see.Those eyes have seen much. Maybe too much. They have shown me pain and happiness, they have shown me naked bodies and pretty faces. They have shown me love and disappointment. They have shown me much.And that ash-blonde hair, I got it from my mom again. Messy untameable locks that felt the entangling fingers of enough girls.I don't pretend to be a player. No. I was something much worse.I got much from my mother. But I wish I got her courage to leave. I wish I got it sooner.I was born and raised in what I thought was a happy fam
"Wake up, little one.""Huh?!""Come on, wake up," Viktor's long fingers gently brush my hairs."But why?" I complain still asleep then roll to the other side."We need to leave," I hear him chuckling then."Uh? Why?""I promised you snow for Christmas, didn't I? Come on, get up. It's a long drive.""But... it's 5:30 AM for god's sake," I cry out as I check my phone."Yes, exactly. And it's almost six hours drive. Come on," Viktor laughs and pulls me out of the bed. "Come on, get prepared. I packed you warm clothes already, all you need to do is simply get up and get ready."I groan and complain, I curse and cry at the fact I was awakened so early. I have never been the morning type but never had problems with waking up early when I have to either. Never had problems with it but when i