Hello, you’ve reached Penelope’s voicemail. I can’t pick up right now so please leave a message. *beep*“Uh... Hi, Penny, I know I’ve said this in the past 30 something voicemails I left but, yeah. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. Call me back when you can, yeah?”I sighed before hanging up.I rubbed my face, trying to make the worry lines go away.I’ve been sitting on this same, worn out swing in the backyard of Adam’s house for the past 30 minutes, trying to reach out to Penelope. The others were waiting inside. They took a single glance of my ‘I am terribly anxious so you better not shit with me right now’ face and instantly saved their rants and questions for later.If anything happens to her...I shook my head, trying to push all my paranoid thoughts away. That can’t be healthy.I settled for staring off in the distance, wondering what the hell happened to m
“You are not going to fight in that competition, Case!” Adam yelled and I glared at him in defiance, my nose flaring in anger.“You can’t tell me what to do!” I screamed at him in frustration. We’ve been going at it for more than half an hour now and I’m getting tired of his shit. I will fight if I want to fight. He can’t control me.“Yes, I can and you’re not competing, end of discussion.” He stated firmly and I snorted at him. He thinks he gets to call the shots here? Well he better get off his high horse before he gets thrown off.“You’re not my father,” I seethed at him and he narrowed his eyes at me.“Well, I know for a fact that he wouldn’t want you to go. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t let her risk her life for anyone. Hell, I wouldn’t let her street fight!” His voice raising an octave higher and we continued to yell at each o
I looked around, searching for Levy in the horde of people. It was hard because most of the people here are tall and has a bulky build but with great determination to find that buffoon I call a friend, I elbowed my way through them. I received annoyed growls, glares as sharp as daggers and some shoves back.Finally, after bloody hours trying to find the idiot, I found him leaning against a wall, flirting with a red-head. I was pretty sure my face was as red as that girl’s hair by now.Fucking bitch. The fuck he thinks he is, making me search for him while flirting with some prostitute. I stomped up towards him and grabbed him by the ear.The girl, upon seeing the murderous look on my face, scurried off.Oh be afraid, bitch, be very afraid. I thought darkly before snapping my gaze back to Levy who looks like he might piss his pants.“Where the hell have you been?” I thundered and he shrank back just to wince, remembering the hol
I stared into the deep depths of those startling blue eyes, fully aware that he was stepping closer.Unconsciously, I got off my bike and leaned on it, trying to calm myself while taking the helmet off.He left a huge impression on me from the last time that I saw him. Trust me when I say it was not the good kind.“What are you doing here, Case?” He asked me softly and without realizing it, anger was bubbling up in me and I felt my insides boil with fury.“What am I doing here is none of your business. What are you doing here?” I snapped. I didn’t know why I was so enraged but I didn’t have it in me to care.He shook his head. “You’re standing on dangerous grounds right now, Case. Are you mad? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” He sneered at me and I regarded his taunt with a scowl. He’s being irrational right now. He knows that I can kick ass.“What are you implying here, D
I took the ceramic cup and picked it up, bringing it close to my lips to blow it. Steam rising above the dark liquid. I sipped on it and the bitter taste filled my senses, flooding my taste buds and I savored it, letting the liquid slide down my throat, and it left a hot trail behind.I never liked coffee but today was an exception. This headache was going to kill me.I waited the whole night to tell the others, calling them to pick me up in my house on their way to school and now, I am deaf. The constant ringing in my ears as I watched a certain petite girl pace back and forth was dizzying.My hand shot out to halt her next step while I nursed my throbbing head.“Monic, please stop screeching your head off,” I begged my baby sister. She might be small but dang, her vocal chords were strong.Jake was past begging and sat there silently, sipping his tea like his beloved girlfriend was not about to bite my head off for telling her off.
Shit, shit, shit, shit.I’m late for English Lit. Mrs. Wolken will kill me.It was well after lunch and I guess I took more time than I realized in eating that delicious ice cream. Damn, it tasted amazing though.I rushed to class after slamming my locker shut. In the heat of getting there, I might have gotten too excited and banged the door open, creating a grand entrance for myself and earning a scowl from the teacher along with a scolding in front of the whole class.“Ms. Johnson!” Mrs. Wolken screeched in horror and I awkwardly winced at the sound. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people and screeching today?What day is it? Screech Casey’s ear off?I hung my head, a blush erupting from the attention I drew to myself.“Detention!”Now, in other schools, you have detention after school or during lunch. In my school, detention happens the second your teacher says you have it.I begrudgingly stepped
I adjusted the strap of my duffel bag on my shoulder before straightening up and tightened the ponytail I tied my hair in. I got off the bike and took the keys out of the ignition, slipping them into my bag.I was dressed in all black, a V-neck shirt that was loose enough to not constrict my movements and decent enough not to show any cleavage. There is no way in hell am I going to play dirty by exposing my boobs. That thought can go to hell.I made sure to leave all my personal things that has initials, ID cards basically anything that can link to my life outside fighting back at the house to make sure that whatever happens today, stays here and wouldn’t be knocking on my doorstep anytime soon.I took out my payphone and called Levy while walking to where the noises came from.“Hello?”“Don’t you ‘hello’ me, you big oaf! Get your ass here! Where the hell are you anyway?” I voiced my thoughts irrit
I stared at the steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of me. Both of my hands cupped them, trying to warm myself up. I was in the Jones’ residence because they offered me a place immediately after finding out that I practically lived alone in my own house.My phone dinged and I glanced at it, the notification lighting up the screen.Next match is in 2 days, 8:00pm. Don’t be late -LevI chewed on my inner cheek. I hate these kinds of moments where you and your thoughts were left alone. It causes me to overthink too much and builds up the suppressed regret for every choice I’ve made.A hand landed on my shoulder and I felt a thumb rubbing small circles on my shoulder blades. “What’s got you so tense?” Adam’s voice filled the kitchen as both of his hands landed on my shoulders and started massaging them skillfully.I sighed in content as I rolled my head back. That’s the spot. I thought happily as hi
The car had toppled over and had landed on its side. Casey was under me. I could feel the liquid that drenched my eyelids, preventing me from cracking my eyes open. I felt the pressure on my arm that laid under Casey's head to protect it from the jostling that happened as the car swerved and fell sideways. I couldn't feel my lower half either but from the movements that Casey made under me, I knew that I've successfully cocooned her.Through the blinding pain, I heard Casey's cries and screams over a faint hissing noise. Every movement she made that nudged any part of my body would flare a new set of pain that threatened to knock me out. But amidst the unbearable pain, I felt relief in my heart.My little sister was okay. She was alive. She was moving.That was all I needed.
I pulled up at the spot where I dropped Casey off earlier and got out of the car. I jogged to the front door where Casey stood, one of her friends hanging a few feet behind her with what looked like my sister's purse in her hands.I locked eyes with Casey and she started walking. I couldn't read her expression as she looked straight ahead and power walked towards me. I slowed down, ready to spread my arms to give her a hug, but she stepped past me and walked towards the car instead. I turned to look at her back as she continued walking before turning back to her friend, handing me Casey's stuff.Casey's friend gave me a look and shook her head, tipping me off on how bad it went. As I took Casey's bag from her and ran after my little sister who was already walking towards the car, I watched the drag in her steps, as if they were the heav
"Yeah, just drop by any time you feel like it, Bryant. I've got no plans tonight so I'll probably be home. I'll text you my address." General Reeves said through the phone."Thank you, General. I'll call you when I'm on my way there." I spoke into the phone before hanging up.It's been a few days since I last heard from Dom. If our fight the other day didn't happen, I wouldn't have thought much about his silence since we weren't the kind of friends who had to talk to each other every day to stay close but how we left things off the last time we met made me worried.I checked his social media account to see if he was active or had made any posts lately but found nothing that eased my worries. Maybe I was too hard on him..But wha
I shut the front door and locked it before taking off my shoes. Casey was laying sprawled on the living room couch in her pajamas, covered by a layer of blanket. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, head resting on a pillow propped up against the armrest and hands holding a spoon and an ice cream tub. The TV was playing one of the episodes of 'Salvation' on Netflix.When she heard me stroll into the living room, she raised her head and craned her neck to look at me. "You're home early," she commented, looking at the time displayed on her phone screen.It was only 6 p.m. so technically it was early. After staying for a few hours in the park, watching the sunset together, I told Maddy what I was planning and she understandingly agreed without any objections or complaints. I was lucky to have a supportive and understanding girlfriend.
I tilted my head up with my eyes closed, trying to just absorb the fresh air and let it cool my insides and help me relax.I opened my eyes and watched as the wind shook the branches of the tree we were sitting under. Fall was already here and winter was just right around the corner, approaching fast. The branches were already balding, giving it a bare look, making the tree seem almost naked without its green. The leaves that managed to stay on the branches had already turned colors, pulling different shades of orange, yellow and sometimes even a beautiful bright red. The sight made by the tree branches reaching out and creating a web right above us, mapping across the space between us and the sky, was entrancing, at least to me. I could never get enough of it.The sun was nowhere to be seen today, hidden behind some clouds. The air aro
"Leaving?" Casey asked me as she stirred her cereal and milk in a bowl for breakfast."Yeah, I'll be back by 10 p.m. tonight." I told her over the jiggle of my keys as I pocketed them. "Do you have any plans today?"Casey shook her head, "Get home as late as you'd like, I'm not a kid, I'll be alright. I'll just be chilling inside, binge watching netflix and enjoying my ice cream."I didn't want to argue with her about going home later. It was more for my peace of mind than anything else. For the past year, I've tried very hard to never let Casey be alone. Especially in an empty house late at night. Of course she didn't understand where my worries and anxiety was coming from but that's alright. I'll do the worrying and being the anxious one, she can live in blissful ignorance that comes
"You haven't forgotten what day tomorrow is, right?" Casey asked me while she dumped her things on the foot of her bed.I plopped on my bed beside hers and rubbed my eyes tiredly. I hummed in response to her question, laying my arm over my eyes to block the light streaming in through the window by my bed.When she didn't continue speaking, I raised my arm slightly and took a peek at her.Casey stood over me, staring me down with her hands propped on her hips."You totally forgot what tomorrow is, didn't you?" She asked again.I grunted in annoyance, prompting her to stop speaking in circles and just get to the point.I felt a slap l
I rang the doorbell and waited for a few minutes for Dom to answer it and let me in.I had the urge to look around to check if anyone was watching me while I was waiting but I didn't want to tip off the people watching if there were any. I didn't want to give them further reason to suspect that I was hiding something.Because I was, and they're not supposed to know that.It was a Saturday afternoon and it was way too shiny than I'd like it to be. The sun was beating down my back and it was starting to get uncomfortable, so I knocked on the door to rush Dom."Coming! Hold your bloody horses!" Dom cursed from behind the door as the door jiggled and swung open. Dom stepped aside once he saw it was me and let me in. "You're here."
We stepped into the restaurant and told them we had made a reservation under Johnson.A waiter led us to a table where a man in a collared shirt sat, talking into his phone.When he saw us approaching, he waved and said a few words into the phone before hanging up and stashing the device away, smiling widely at my parents."I thought you stood me up!" He joked, standing from his seat to warmly greet my parents with hugs.Dad slightly turned his body to let the man see Casey and I clearly."This is Bryant, my oldest." I smiled as Dad made the introductions, stepping forward and offering my hand.He took my hand and shook it firmly. H