Frozen Premonition

Two best friends meet up after being separated and everything begins smoothly, until one confesses, but something which neither of them expects is a horrific event which follows afterward.

Chapter One

 

Icefort, America

12:05-(Thursday, August 4^th 2011)

Indianna Mason

 

It all began on a warm summer’s eve… everything around me tantalizing my five senses: The breeze, although was almost the same as a gentle breath danced with the tree leaves and freshly cut grass, I took in a breath and almost instantly my nose twitched with the fresh pollen being carried away softly. The smell was one that you’d expect in the summer time, warm but pleasant… freshly mowed lawns, fully bloomed flowers, barbecues being started, even sun cream…  It was almost as if nothing could go wrong… that the world in which we lived and sometimes feared… had stopped, all in the wake of summer. I heard children laughing and playing in the distance, a few cars moving in the lazy afternoon traffic, lawnmowers, and my parents chatting in the beautiful modern garden… birds, a young man on the side of the road near my house with his earphones in to his iPod, playing dangerously loud Hip Hop music… too loud if you ask me! But it was all in the essence of summer. Everyone was pleasant to be around at this time of year, smiling, talking… laughing. It was all too beautiful to ignore and not get involved or even infected by the “happy” virus.

I could imagine the taste of the barbecue food as I took in another breath… smoky and just a tiny bit of sauce. Ice cream… vanilla and chocolate scooped into one large serving bowl. I knelt down in front of the plants which I had been tending to for my mother and touched a fragile petal of a deep red rose… it was luscious, so soft and velvety… my mother loved roses, they were her most favourite flower… our entire front garden’s flowerbeds were covered in rose bushes of different colours… she had the odd Freesia, (which was actually used to make her finest cosmetics sold throughout Icefort rather than look at.)

Icefort was a small community in America which had two main gates… one on the far North and the other on the far South… weird right? I’d been questioning this gate thing since I could talk. Why would our community need a gate, not to mention two? What exactly was it keeping out, or worse… in? My mother, quite a sceptical woman, had told me time and time again to “never venture beyond those gates” thus leading to my many questions… of course she never told me and neither did my father, they just gave eachother suspicious glances. 

It also didn't say much when the population only consisted of 2,486 people, including children. Of course, it didn't stop it from being insanely beautiful. What with its picturesque Town Hall in a flag square courtyard, lined with bluebell flower boarders and white marble balustrades, fencing it off from the rest of the town centre. Adjacent from the Town Hall and right in the middle of the courtyard was a circular hedge garden which had always been well looked after by the local gardening team. The building itself was made from a smooth grey coloured granite and was really clean, it had tall windows and the entire front entrance held stairs right along the front in four rows. The banisters were a sparkling gold and glistened in the sun, there were four large entrance doors which spun in the same clockwise direction, keeping a slow and steady rhythm.  Icefort doesn't do things by halves… everything was carefully planned and detailed, no flower went un-pruned, no car was left to gather dirt overnight (they all had their own covers). Needless to say that Icefort wasn’t like other cities in America, it was as though everyone had been programmed to act a certain way… I often thought there had to be a flaw somewhere, everything had a flaw right? I just had to dig to find out what it was. I could look up its history kept in the Acknowledgements section of the library, why it was in that area I didn't know.  Perhaps it was because every acknowledgement there had ever been, was in the past, like… really far back. Not one from the time I was born which was all the way back in nineteen ninety four. I’m talking the early eighteen hundreds… and every single year since except from nineteen ninety four to two thousand and twelve. Was that bizarre? I think so! I’m telling you something is definitely up with this “all too perfect” community.  

“Indianna, come into the conservatory a moment!”

My mothers’ voice trailed through the air like velvet. I said she was a sceptic but aside from that, she was rather timid. Elegant and beautiful, everyone always complemented her cosmetics and I was really lucky because I didn't have to buy my shampoos. I walked around the curving granite driveway toward the back of the house when I stopped, frozen in my tracks as a soot-black cat jumped down from the garage roof, right in my path. I stared at it silently pleading for it not to move, but it did… great, now I’ll have bad luck for the rest of this week!

I found my mum and dad sat on a beautiful white love seat with gold cushions surrounding them. My dad was reading the local newspaper silently and my mum was sipping her tea… herbal of course and out of a very expensive china cup complete with saucer. The cool and airy conservatory was just like any other. We had fake plants, two matching love seats and a frosted glass coffee table in the centre of the two but apart from that, nothing really. It was joined to our ridiculously large dining room with black and white interior décor, including the furnishings and even black and white portraits of me as a baby… professional of course. Everything was neat and in its place, a large glass dining table complete with six chairs stood proudly in the centre of the room but it was still light and spacious, there was a small mini-bar on the far wall to the right and two small fake trees opposite it on the left. Facing the conservatory’s double glass doors was an archway, painted white which led into the living room… also large, spacious, and airy!

I smiled at my mum now and asked. “What’s wrong?”

She placed her teacup and saucer down on the table without a sound and returned my smile as she stated without any hesitation. “You’re changing schools.”

Almost instantly I felt sick. We’d basically just moved here to Icefort from Nashville and even though it was roughly a two hour drive to my old school, I didn't mind… and up until now, I didn't think she minded either. I blurted out trying to hide my hysteria. “What? No!”

Eleanor Mason, age forty-three, light ash-blonde hair and aquamarine eyes… this was my mother, dressed in a white sundress and white flat sandals, the smell of her home made perfume tickling my nose. She raised her eyebrows now. “I beg your pardon? Indianna it has been decided by your father and I. You can’t keep driving back and forth to Nashville, it’s not safe. Not to mention the cost in petrol. I’ve booked us an appointment at Blackfort Crossing Academy… a prestigious boarding school.”

I interrupted her then. “Wait, a boarding school? But then that means that I have to stay there… forever! Do you want to get rid of me that badly?”

Seriously what had I done? Did I forget to take the rubbish bins out… again? Did I break something? My mother reached for her tea and took a sip right before she said softly. “Don’t exaggerate Indianna, you have holidays where you can leave campus and come home so it’s not forever. As for getting rid of you, why would we do that, you’re our only daughter? You’re precious to your father and I.”

Right if I was that precious then why send me away? I fiddled with the skull zipper on my black jacket looking at the snow white shag carpet underneath my black converse. Just then my father turned the pages to the newspaper, breaking the silence and I looked over at him with only my eyes, pleading with him to say something. My mother caught me doing so and placed her cup gently again as she sighed softly. “There’s no use looking at your father, he agrees with me. Now go and freshen up for dinner it’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”

Before leaving I hesitated not wanting to believe what I’d just heard. Why a boarding school of all the schools in Icefort? Were there even schools in Icefort? I murmured as I made my way inside the dining room. “It’s so not fair.” But of course there was no response from them because to them it was fair.

The living room kept up the elegance of the house with its rich beige walls and white shag carpet (not the same one). A long corner sofa rested just an inch from the back wall to the left facing a set of stainless steel spiral stairs. Above the sofa hung a lengthy rectangular picture of a stunning sunset and orangey waters, complete with a fishing port. Sitting comfortably in the corner was a ridiculously large oak T.V cabinet and hidden behind two smooth doors was our LCD HD T.V. Which is where it often stayed, because in our household, T.V wasn’t something we did often. Almost next to the cabinet was the huge bay window which stood proudly as head of the room, its views were stunning as it looked over the driveway where I had just been, moments before. Across the quiet road the pavement was lined with palm trees and adjacent to it was a green hedge, which ran as far as the eye could see, up the road. On the other side of the hedge was a beautiful white sandy beach, with aquamarine coloured waters, that could only be described as stunningly tranquil. I often went there to clear my head and pretty much always ended up at the same spot. The beach was never too crowded, nor too quiet… it was, as you guessed, perfect but sometimes I wanted to be alone, so without really thinking about it, I let my feet do all the work. That’s when I’d find myself at the other side of the beach, not far from the bridge that connected Icefort to the rest of the world. It was about a week after our move, naturally I was still upset from losing my friends and local hang-outs in Nashville on the weekends. I’d trekked the length of the beach southwards and stopped as soon as I noticed there was nowhere else to walk except water. The bridge was held up by arches that sank beneath the sea. 

As I’d sighed and headed back up north, something caught my eye. On the other side of the bridge, facing east, was a collection of large rocks… being quite the curious person, I had decided to climb them and that’s when I found it… a waterfall, situated behind the rocks as I’d climbed down the other side… almost invisible. That’s where I found myself now and then, on my little adventures and mind-clearings. It seemed unbelievable, but it was there. It was just a few metres down, in sort of like a lagoon… its own separate little world.  

I made my way up the spiralling staircase now, my hand trailing the steel banister, it was cold to touch, but in the heat it was welcomed. Ignoring the open-plan landing which over-looked the living and dining room, I headed for my bedroom. The large oak door with brass handles was rather heavy to open but once inside, it was a different world, beautiful French furniture from the mirrored wardrobes which made the back wall, to the dressing table which held home-made perfumes, moisturisers, a brush, a hairdryer, straighteners, and my white make-up case, sat opposite the large window. I even had a four-poster bed with satin curtains in black to match my bedspread… not to mention about a thousand pillows! I opened my wardrobe doors, the sunshine bouncing off the mirror to make beautiful coloured spectrums across my black and white walls. All of my clothes had been carefully designed by me, but made by one of my Aunts back in Nashville. I may have this elegant house and elegant parents but I was far from elegant. 

I was into punk/rock, wore my naturally ash-blonde hair down passed my shoulders (of course it had black dye on the top and the natural colour beneath). It held various choppy layers and a side fringe that swept to the left and fell into my eye. Most girls were envious because of its length and colour… but more obsessed with the fact that it was perfectly straight. I had told them it was GHD that made it that way and the wind, which had it fall to its style, genetics made the colour so really there wasn’t anything to be envious of. A look you could master yourself to be honest. I had my ears pierced in threes and at the top of my left ear, which my mother had refused to at first but gave in around my seventeenth birthday. She did put a block on me looking anything but “normal” when they had their friends over… in both Nashville and here. They weren't embarrassed by me but my mum often thought it was a “rebellious phase” I was going through. Not likely though considering I had been this way since I was thirteen. When I finally graduated from school I wanted to become a teen clothes designer, mainly because the fashion industry was ridiculous and most of the clothes for my chosen style were horrible. My black converse I had bought plain, but once I’d gotten them back home I’d took out my design pens and drew different designs on them, and stuck little badges to them stating my class in society. Now they looked epic! I’d had compliments about my drawings and clothes at school back in Nashville, resulting in requests being thrown at me for making theirs. I’d made it clear that I couldn’t make clothes yet, but that I designed my own and one day would become a famous Punk/Gothic/ emo clothes designer, maybe even opening my own shop. Could I still have that dream here in Icefort?

I walked to a door just next to my bedroom door and went inside… it was my very own en suit with pristine bathroom furniture in white porcelain (aside from the shower, which was stainless steel and held behind a frosted glass cubical). I stripped from my clothes and put them into the laundry basket as I checked myself in the mirrored mirror. My face had collected dirt from gardening, my mascara seemed to have had a mind of its own during the time in the sun and was now underneath my eyes, my eyeliner was no longer visible, and my lips looked really red. I did have a pale complexion but that was normal for me due to my anaemia and it made my aquamarine eyes stand out, another thing most girls back in Nashville envied. They always told me how pretty I was but I figured I was just plain and quite boring to look at… against their model height and sun-kissed skin, perfect figures which drew male attention and stunning looks. I always thought of myself as the “outcast” of the school, even though it seemed on the outside I was quite popular… but inside I felt lonely. I only had a selected few friends back in Nashville, which took me some time to trust and open up to them, but in the end it was worth it because now… I’ve never felt a pining more strong in my entire life just to see them again.

Annette Brown with her strange stories and epic wardrobe (designed by me), Sara Tate with her don’t-care personality and Jared Stone who had clawed his way into my life without me even knowing… He’d been “observing” me for quite a while, he’d said, and was pleasantly amused by my “quirky” ways. Jared and I had become getting really close, and the term friends didn't seem to match us anymore. He’d told me that I’d always made him laugh, even before we began talking but he’d wanted to talk to me since our first year. On days when Annette and Sara were studying, Jared and I would just hang, laughing, people called us inseparable. Wherever Jared was, I was and wherever I was, Jared was… sometimes he’d lead, sometimes I’d lead… whenever one of us was without the other, people would find it strange. I’d even settled in to driving him to and from school.

As I stepped into the shower and let the water gush over me, I thought about Jared more. I hadn’t even realised in the two years we’d gotten to know one another that I would ever miss him this much, let alone at all and now I couldn’t even see him at school… I blinked away my tears angrily; I’d never see any of them again.

Blackfort Crossing Academy, that’d be my life now. Annette would probably find someone else to giggle with and pass notes to in English, Sara would probably find someone else to copy homework from in a hurry on the morning it was due and Jared would… Jared would… probably find someone else to take my place in his life permanently. Driving him to and from school, catching a movie and game arcades at the weekend, studying at someone else’s house, laughing with, putting flowers in their hair, embracing… I hadn’t even realised how intimate we’d become over the years and hadn’t flinched because it had become normal. Perhaps he wouldn’t even miss me… I’d been here in Icefort for two months and hadn’t heard a word from him… Annette had called, text, e-mailed over and over, as had Sara but Jared… he hadn’t even text me. Perhaps he’d moved on already. I mean since I told the three of them of my move to Icefort, Jared had been the only one to cut school because the day after telling them and I’d gone to pick him up, the door didn't fly open with that excitement like always, but his mother told me he was sick. He’d not been in school since.

I shut off the water and stepped out onto the black bathroom rug, wrapping my white dressing gown around me and leaving my hair to drip, soaking through its thin material. I suppose he wasn’t the only one that could have made the effort, I could have text him, or called or e-mailed… there were social networks out there but I’d not been on mine in about… well, since moving here. Back in my bedroom I glanced at my laptop on the desk, piled with school work and my cellphone. I leaned on the bathroom door and thought for a moment… I could call him now but then would he even answer once he saw it was me? This is ridiculous; I should be able to call my best friend without hesitating. I stormed over to the phone and yanked it up off the desk, scrolling to his name. More hesitation as I just looked… would he refuse my call? Perhaps he’d outgrown me, I mean we were always in eachothers pockets, never leaving one another alone… to be honest his isolating me was out of his character. I pressed the green phone and it dialled out his cellphone number. It rang for four times before a familiar, deep voice answered. “Hello?”

I couldn’t hold back my tears as I blurted out, the hurt obvious in my tone. “What the hell is your problem, Jared!?”

There was a silence that could have been called awkward but I was too livid for it to be made awkward. His tone seemed sad and apologetic, but angry and as hurt as mine. “I don’t have one, Indianna! You’re the one who began a new life in Icefort and didn't even bother to say goodbye to me.”

That wasn’t my fault; surely he wasn’t angry at me for something which was out of my control. Also, he was the one who didn't come over to say goodbye on the day we left. He must have known I was busy packing… Sara and Annette sure did because they came. I scoffed angrily. “I said goodbye Jared…” He interrupted me angrily, almost shouting.

“Not to me you didn't.”

“Jared you could have come to see us off with Annette and Sara, they offered you a ride, they told me. You refused.” I said quietly. There was another moments silence before he spoke, a different emotion in his tone as he sighed.

“I’m sorry Indi, I acted like an idiot. I’m paying for it now though, right? I have the guilt of not saying goodbye to you every day, I pick up my cellphone and even have your name up on screen, but I couldn’t even begin to express how I felt. In the end I just gave up trying. I know I’ve not attended school which is stupid seen as I’d see you there, but I just know we wouldn’t be going to hang out later like we’d normal do because you have to get back before nightfall.”

I had sat on my bed during his talk and looked out of my window. I felt really guilty… I had no idea he felt like that. I sighed and gave a sad laugh. “I guess we’re both to blame, I didn't want this call to be like this. Jared, they’re pulling me out of school and sending me to one here.” The words were out before I could stop them and to be honest his reaction shocked me as I heard a loud thump and then he spoke, quietly and angry.

“So not only did they take my free time with you, but now they’re taking you away from me completely. No, I need to see you. Can you get away? It’s urgent.” 

I thought for a moment before looking at the alarm clock on my nightstand, twelve-forty-five. Fifteen minutes had passed and I only had five minutes till dinner. “I can’t right now, I’m having dinner in five minutes.”

Another silence, until he said softly. “I don’t want this done over the phone or texts or e-mails, will you try for me? Maybe after dinner, surely they’ll let you come to Nashville for a few hours before nightfall? Please come.”

His plea made me feel really warm, I was thankful that he hadn’t outgrown me. I swallowed before hearing my mum call up the stairs about dinner. “My mum’s calling me; I’ll text you when I’m on my way. Just let me know where in your reply. I’ll definitely try.”

With a small goodbye, we hung up and once I was dressed, made my way downstairs.

 

The table had been set already and my dad was putting some buttered rolls on to a white linen cloth. I took my seat and waited patiently until we were all sat down eating, to ask. My mum came in then with a serving dish and placed it beside the rolls and a jug of fresh orange. She glanced at me and asked softly. “Do you like your new shampoo?” I reached for a roll, which was still warm and set it on the side of my black, leather placemat, holding my white, china plate. 

I nodded with a smile. The serving dish held a lovely colourful pasta and salad, with stainless steel serving ladles and as my dad brought in the red wine for them both, they took their seats, my mum opposite me, and my dad at the head of the table.  We had been eating in silence for ten minutes, the sound of cutlery clinking on the plates… the silence was driving me crazy, and so I took the opportunity to ask them. I took a drink of my juice and set it back down before I coughed a little. “Mum, Dad, I was hoping that maybe I could go and meet up with Jared after dinner?”

My mum took a drink of wine and my dad finished his mouthful before he asked softly. “Where would you be meeting him exactly?”

I played with one of my stray pasta shells, not looking at him and said quietly. “Nashville probably, he doesn't know where Icefort is so it’d be easier for me to just drive up there.”

As my dad was about to protest my mum spoke, her elbows resting on the table and her chin in her hands. “Go, just be back before nightfall, and call us when you get there.”

Startled at not having to plead I smiled and then my dad said, along with me, looking as confused as I was. “Really, you’re serious?”

My mum gave small sigh, saying. “She won’t see him much once she’s in Blackfort and they didn't say goodbye before we left, I assume there is much to be said that can’t be broken over the phone. Isn’t that right?” She asked me directly, giving me a wink.

I don’t know why but I felt the heat seeping into my cheeks as I averted my gaze and stuffed some pasta into my mouth. My mum had always liked Jared, despite his appearance being equal to my own. Jared had that kind of charm, he always made everyone laugh and nobody could help it because, he was infectiously funny.

Jared had a couple of ear piercings in his right ear, one on the cuff and one on the lobe. His silver cuff earring attached to the skull hoop he had in his lobe on a delicate chain. He had a left eyebrow piercing… not a shocking one, it really complemented his face. He had obviously matured over the past two years, his once smooth facial skin, turning rough with shaving now. He looked more masculine, having lost his first-year student baby-like face. I hadn’t even noticed the changes really until recently, our hugs always got tighter, and his scent became one of aftershave and deodorant. 

Physically he wasn’t all “built-up” like the jocks or athlete nerds… he was really small in weight and body, but that didn't mean he didn't exercise at least once a week. He enjoyed skateboarding more than anything. During the competitions which he sometimes hosted, I would go for support and he would often lend me his sweaters, so I didn't get cold. Thinking back now, even though they were too big for me and even him, he always looked great in them. Once he’d asked me to design him an outfit… I always thought he was joking and to this day, I hadn’t done, which I now regretted. My mum got up then and gathered up the plates, I stood up to help but she halted me by saying lightly. “No, no, we've got these, you hurry up and meet Jared, it’ll be getting dark soon, and you probably have lots of things to discuss.”

I smiled and leaning over the table, I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and my dad too before bolting up the stairs, shouting excitedly. “Thank you!” It was whilst I was in my room, gathering my bag that I got a rather unique idea… I threw my bag quickly on the bed and brought out my sketch pad. Normally when I have these ideas, it didn't take me long to make a rough sketch of what I had in mind. So I drew it… hopefully he wasn’t joking because even I’d wear it. Once it was done, I checked my phone for the time… one-thirty-two. It had taken me ten minutes to draw which wasn’t too bad. I put the pad back into my bag and collected my car keys from the dresser drawer. 

After sorting out my hair and eyeliner and mascara, I made my way out of the front door, yelling a quick “see you later!” to my mum and dad, who responded cheerfully. 

Chapter Two

One Moment

Icefort, America

13:40-(Thursday, August 4th 2011)

Indianna-

My car was a Suzuki Jimny in a stunning sea blue, it had two doors but seated four adult… perfect for Annette, Sara, Jared and me, and an open top. Jared always called shotgun and poor Annette didn't even know what it meant when you called it. I often had punk/rock blaring out of my stereo and whilst Annette and Sara sat in the back singing quietly, Jared and I didn't really care and practically screamed the lyrics, raving. It would have been dangerous, had the roads been busy but, more often than not, we took our drives at night, not to mention that my particular car was an “off road” vehicle anyway. When it was just Jared and me, we would usually drive recklessly off-road and get my car completely filthy. Annette always said that a car is supposed to be on road only, Sara didn't really like that sort of thing so stayed with Annette. Sometimes, we’d even end up as far as Warren Dunes State Park… which was roughly an eight hour drive. We were just crazy like that and my mum and dad knew I was safe because I was with Jared. We’d watch the sunset and then stargaze at night, camp and then be up early to watch the sunrise. We’d giggle making up silly stories about the constellations and Jared had even gone far enough to name one “Indi” but when I’d asked him why, he didn't say anything. I may bring that up when we meet.

I’d been driving for nearly two hours now and Nashville was in sight, all of a sudden I felt my stomach flutter. I was meeting him at RiverGate Mall in Goodlettsville which wasn’t too far. I really didn't know what I would say when we met up… I know “hi” seemed obvious but it was forcing that “hi” out which I’d have problems with. The flutters only got worse as I parked my car and retrieved my bag from the back seat. I made my way to the entrance and sure enough, there he was. Leaning his back on the wall and using his foot to stand his skateboard on end. He had his black beanie hat on and I could see the trails of his hair kissing the nape of his neck, a pair of black trousers which were too big in the leg and held chains lining each of the pockets, he had one of his many sweaters on, this one was black too, with a skull and crossbone on it… my favourite I’d told him and of course to top it off his black converse, earrings in the right place, two crosses around his neck, one silver, the other black and held on by a black beaded chain and a sliver ring with a black band on his middle finger, left hand. I’d bought him that ring for his sixteenth birthday as a symbol of our friendship… it seemed so long ago now. As I made my final steps to close the gap, he raised his head, pulled out the earphones letting them drop around his shoulders and smiled, making my heart leap into my throat. I couldn’t speak but even before I could he’d pulled me into an embrace, squeezing me tightly. He towered over me and as his arms tightened around my neck, he whispered softly. 

“I’ve missed you.” 

I didn't even realise how much I’d missed him until my eyes began to sting with fresh tears. How had we become this close without me realising it? I closed my arms around his back tightly and choked out. “I missed you more.”

On saying that his hold got tighter still and yet it didn't hurt, he let out a breath and pulled back a little. He laughed softly, wiping away my tears with the back of his sleeve. “I’m really flattered you missed me enough to cry, but please don’t. We've not got much time and I really want to talk with you. Let’s get something to drink inside.”

He took my hand gently, surprising me but even though his hand was really big compared to mine, it was rather smooth and pretty cold for this sort of weather. I followed behind him silently, comfortable with him leading the way through a noisy crowd. We passed a number of shops before getting to the food court and that’s when his hand tightened around mine, not wanting me to do my usual and get separated from him with the amount of people forming messy lines.

Once we were inside our favourite café and had sat down, a plate of fries was put in front of Jared as a “complimentary” gesture, we both ordered the same… a vanilla and chocolate coffee special, I took one of his fries and asked amused.

“You came here on your skateboard?”

He hadn’t really taken his eyes off me and watching me now, he brushed my fringe aside, revealing a black sweatband on his wrist. His eyes glistened. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of a car.” I giggled and then questioned as he grabbed the tomato sauce and put a blob on his plate. “I thought you were taking lessons?” He stopped midway with a fork full of fries and after a moment, he set the fork down and leaned back in his seat.

We were in a private booth and quite secluded which is how we liked it. The café was pretty busy, with couples, elders, students, singletons… all ordering and talking loudly. It was a friendly café and the décor was beautiful warm colours. The counter was more like a bar in a pub; it had pumps but filled with milkshakes. A small T.V hung over it displaying some music channel, there were a few fake plants and all the tables which were in the open were square and oak with a deep scarlet cloth, a menu, salt and pepper grinders, vinegar, and the sauces, brown and red. The chairs matched the oak work but had comfortable cushions to sit on. All booths were oak and the only gap there was, was to walk in through. It was really cosy. A twenty something waitress with blonde hair, tied into a ponytail arrived with our drinks and slipped a small piece of paper in front of Jared, smiling with a flirtatious grin. He merely even glanced at her though, which surprised me because this waitress, whose name-tag said “ELAINA” in block capitals, wasn’t exactly an ugly girl. I quickly changed this opinion of her though, when she quite forcefully placed my coffee down, allowing it to threaten an overspill. With a rather disgusting wink in Jared’s direction and a glare in mine, Elaina left. I just kept my eyes on her in amusement as she watched him from the bar, giggling to myself at an idea I had just encountered. I brought my attention back to Jared who was now looking at the paper and almost instantly screwed it up into a tight ball. “What’s wrong Jared?”

He sighed and leaned forward as he rested his chin in his hand, observing me… I was so used to him doing that for some reason… it wouldn’t be Jared if he didn't have this weird thing about him. After a while he spoke quietly. “Another phone number… geez, you would think if these girls saw me with you, they’d leave me alone, but it seems you’re a babe magnet.”

I giggled again, had he just seriously said that? What single guy, in his right mind would turn down someone as gorgeous as Elaina? “You sound rather disappointed for someone who just got a phone number from a hot waitress, why not give her a call?”

For a moment I thought I saw another emotion in his eyes, a mix between anger and hurt… probably. He confirmed it though when he answered my question off-hand. “There’s a really good reason why I won’t just call some random girl, Indi. Besides, I don’t know her and I’m not even interested in her so it wouldn’t be fair. Not when there’s someone…”

“Excuse me?” We were suddenly interrupted in our deep conversation by Elaina. It was Jared who spoke first and it didn't seem like he was happy with her intrusion.

“Can’t you see we’re talking?”

Elaina smiled her flirtatious smile again and kept her interest in Jared the entire time. There was a strange smell coming from her I noticed… a rather musty but somehow, intoxicating smell. She spoke again, with an annoying laugh as she leaned over slightly revealing a little more cleavage. “Oh sorry but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. You are single right?”

I looked toward Jared, hoping that he’d give a positive response to her but he hesitated and I could see the sweat forming on his brow. He glanced in my direction and our eyes met, I knew he wanted my help but what could I do? Elaina looked over at me then and glared as she asked me directly. “You’re not his girlfriend that much is obvious… I mean look at you to him…” 

Before I could stand up for myself, Jared seemed to have snapped out of his hesitation and even though his tone was quite, I knew angry Jared almost too well. “Who the hell do you think you are? Don’t you dare talk to her like that! As if I’d be interested in someone like you, the word desperate doesn't suit you. What kind of girl approaches a guy with his girlfriend?”

Girlfriend, wait… what? Had he just said that? There was lying and then there was making a situation worse. This could head into a direction in which could indicate danger. As if reading my mind, Elaina quietly spoke, not believing him. “Ok then maybe you should give me that image, because I don’t see what you could see in someone like her.”

I could feel everything inside me turn to jelly… what on earth had Jared done? He smiled but it wasn’t the happy and gentle one he flashed at me... it was different, somewhat cruel. “You don’t have to see what I see in her, the important thing that will only ever matter to me is what I see in her and if you really insist on an image… then let me oblige.” 

Before I could even breathe, he leaned over the table, put his hands on either side of my face, and claimed my mouth. My hands went to both of his wrists to originally stop him but… as his mouth glided over mine, in a perfect gentle kiss I couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling I got. That moment was soon disappeared when he removed himself, exited the booth, and pulled me to my feet ready to leave but not before he had one last word.

“You’ll do well next time not to drive away customers… consider this my complaint to your manager.”

I stopped walking as he’d pulled me along with him and said quietly. “Jared perhaps that’s a little too steep, I mean I wasn’t offended rea…”

“I was, you may not care about what people say about you Indi, but I can’t sit idly by and watch them insult you.” With that he pulled me out of the café and into the crowded mall. I really couldn’t see his problem in this. 

He looked up and down the mall as if wondering where to go to next. As we began walking up towards the arcades I noticed that he seemed really angry, I wonder if it was because he was forced to kiss me… alright I wouldn’t say forced, I mean he could have refused because now this was so completely awkward! I needed to say something, anything off the subject… “Oh hey, I almost…”

“What is it now!?” Jared interrupted me with that one harsh phrase and I suddenly withdrew, physically curling up inside myself. I had never seen him like this before. I pulled my hand away harshly and stopped walking as I yelled at him.

“Geez Jared if it was going to turn you into a complete a*****e, maybe you should have thought twice about your ridiculous actions!” He looked at me really shocked, probably thinking that I wouldn’t be stupid enough to yell in the middle of a crowded mall, but I wasn’t going to be blamed for his actions. He stepped toward me, a remorseful look on his face. “Indi I…” 

I interrupted him harshly, forgetting the fact that we had several pairs of eyes on us now and had started a group of teenagers whispering. “While we’re on the subject why did you do it anyway, it’s obvious you didn't want to do it? We had nothing to prove to anyone. You completely lost yourself in there Jared, and you scared me… I don’t know you anymore!” 

I didn't get him sometimes, he was my best friend, but I barely knew him at all. I just couldn’t understand why he would give into something like that so easily. I figured I should let him try to explain himself, so I waited.

“Don’t say that please. I’m still me it’s just… lately… I don’t know alright, things have been different without you around! I can’t function anymore, I barely have enough energy to get up and go to school…”

“That’s ridiculously cheesy; I’m only your best friend… I’m hardly a vital organ in your body.” I interrupted him with sarcastic glare. I couldn’t believe he was making this sound so… so…

“You have absolutely no f*****g idea, do you?! Indianna I’m suffering, everyone has noticed, even Annette has noticed and she’s oblivious to anything. My Mom is worried because I’m not eating, when I need to sleep I can’t, when I need to study you’re all I think…” I stopped him then fearing his next words… I wasn’t ready to hear those yet… Jared was my best friend.

“Don’t… don’t say things that can’t be unsaid Jared. You’re already messed up about kissing me…”

“When the hell did I say that!? Did it ever occur to you even once that I might of perhaps wanted to do it? Do you ever consider for even a smidgen that I might not want the role of being just your best friend anymore?”

That hurt… far more than it should have done but it cut me too deep. The things he was saying were just so… not Jared. He’d never once given me… I thought about everything since our meeting then… everything of how he had pushed to be involved in my life… always been there for me whenever I was in trouble… always smiled, was always so kind and cheerful… where had that Jared gone? I couldn’t think of what to say and so just said the only words I could find…

“Jared please, don’t I really can’t deal with this sort of thing right now.” Jared shook his head and caught my hand as I’d begun to turn away. I hadn’t even realised I’d wanted to run… to run far away from him making this terribly harder for me. I couldn’t handle confessions well and when I was met with one, I avoided it… or at least tried to. 

I just hadn’t expected one coming from Jared. “D****t listen to me. For years you've been avoiding this issue but surely you've seen it. Everyone else has, god, even your parents know! I seriously am not satisfied with being labelled as your best friend anymore! Do you know how badly cut-up I am?” 

I tried to pull my hand free; I didn't want to see his expectant face, that hopeful look in his eyes. I couldn’t just easily turn him down like I could the others… Jared was… Jared was fragile. “I don’t want to hear this, please just stop talking. You’ll move on, in a matter of months, maybe even weeks and forget about me. You’ll probably even meet someone who is far more…”

“Don’t you dare, try putting that kind of marker on me; I’m nothing like those other guys.” I closed my eyes for a moment trying to wish myself anywhere but here, standing near the escalators… I needed to disappear. Just then I felt him rather close to me, gentle arms came around me and embraced me. His tone became softer, smoother. “I don’t want to see you cry. I never meant it to be like this. I wanted to tell you in a better way, a more relaxed way. I know you hate these kinds of things, but I thought maybe perhaps… you might… is there even the slightest part of you that feels the same?” 

And there was the question I really hated and didn't want to hear… much less answer. I couldn’t do it, not to Jared… my heart screamed “yes” but… everything would be so different and then what happened if the relationship broke down because we “rushed” into it, what then? Could we go back to being best friends? Could we go back to being any form of friends? We’d hurt eachother, it’d get to the point, even if it was years down the line, that we could barely tolerate being in the same room together. I wouldn’t just lose him from the relationship, I’d lose him completely and I couldn’t risk that… not even for this. He meant just too damn much to me. I pulled away, unable to look him in the eyes; I didn't want to see that look… that painful, heartbreaking look of deceit in those beautiful cloudy-grey eyes. I watched the floor because it felt safer. My tone came out rather weak when I began to speak… I barely recognised it.

 "Jared I am begging you, please… please… don’t feel those feelings for me. I can’t…” I trailed off, my emotions becoming so visible that I hated myself. I couldn’t go on like this for much longer. 

He spoke then, taking me by the shoulders and asked me quietly. “Then look me in the eye and tell me properly. I want you to tell me directly, that you don’t feel the same way.”

My head never left the floor; I was somewhat dazed in my thoughts… I had to be harsh, I had to destroy him, crush him... I took a deep breath, swallowed hard and brought my eyes to his… “I… I don’t feel anything but friendship for you Jared.” 

Everything after that seemed to happen in slow motion… his hands fell from my shoulders and as he moistened his lips and closed his eyes, a single tear fell. The people around us rushed by but they appeared blurred, as if we were in our own separate world. His eyes opened then and he cleared his throat. “Then I guess the only thing left for me to say is… I will never stop loving you Indianna.” 

With that he walked round me and began to walk away… I didn't know what to do, everything inside of me became broken, as though nothing was holding me together anymore and I sank to my knees. I wanted to run after him… I wanted to rewind this entire day and start again… I wanted… I wanted… without even thinking about it, I got up quickly and gave chase in the direction he had gone. People moaned at me as I pushed passed them, but I didn't care… my heart was beating rapidly screaming his name… all I could think to myself was… since when did I come to love my best friend? I was incredibly confused… I’d never felt this way in my life, why complicate things? Jared! Jared!

I finally found the entrance and hoped that I’d find him but as I burst out of the doors, nearly falling… he was nowhere to be seen… not even when I scanned the parking lot. As I slumped on the wall I cursed myself for having been so stupid. Why did I have to have these fears of loving someone and trusting them to love me back? It wasn’t genetic, because my parents were so happy and displayed their affection often to one another… many couples I’d seen did the same… so why was it just me? I was so incredibly messed up! Giving up, I decided to walk back to my car, drive home and possibly cry and lose heaps of sleep. That wasn’t the case though…

I noticed something lying on the ground which hadn’t captured my attention at first. I squatted down to retrieve it and felt completely heartbroken. One of his chains lay still in my hand now… one that had also been a present from me. He must have taken it off in anger and flung it… but even in a situation like this… he wouldn’t have. It was then the spots of blood trails made themselves known and on inspecting the chain again, against the blackness of the cross, I saw blood, I shot back up and re-scanned the parking lot but all was eerily quiet for a busy mall. Jared! On seeing nothing, I thrust the chain into my jacket pocket and stalked the small distance to my car. I opened the door but as I was about to climb in, a strange feeling washed over me and had me venture to the other side of the vehicle… that was when my hand flew to my mouth, holding back a scream. It was as though everything around me didn't exist anymore… I sank to the concrete, scrunching my eyes and begging it all to be one nasty, horrible dream but I realised upon opening them for the fourth time that… it wasn’t. It was real… horrifyingly real.

There he lay in a pool of dark crimson… his beautiful eyes closed, his beanie hat was gone and his hair was sticking to his head from the blood… his face… his beautiful pale features were all scored, like a piece of clay… my mind was swimming with overwhelming anxiety and my heart began to beat irregular beats… the world around me spun, so fast that I had to hold the floor. I couldn’t breathe… I wanted to call for help but the words never came…

**************

“Hey, are you alright?” I glanced up from Jared’s cold, lifeless body to some eyes… familiar eyes, Jared’s eyes. I looked around and realised we were back in the café… all my surroundings were the same as before… Jared… but… wait…

I blinked, trying to clear my head of what had just happened… I felt sick and I had a major headache… it was as though someone had swung something heavy against my skull, countless times. On opening my eyes again, I feared I would go back to seeing him dead in his own blood, but sure enough he was sat across me… alive and smiling, with a hint of worry on his face. I figured I couldn’t tell him what had just happened but I had to give him a convincing answer… however much confused I was. “I… guess so.”

Was he convinced? I couldn’t gather any thoughts together… what the hell had happened? Had I dozed off? I couldn’t have… "You guess so? Is my company these days that bad? I was in the middle of talking to you and you looked… spaced out.” 

Spaced out? I never space out… or at least I’ve never spaced out and had an outcome like that before… what exactly was that anyway? If I hadn’t dozed off… then it wasn’t a dream… wait… “These days, what do you mean, we haven’t seen or spoken to eachother in two months because of my move to Icefort, that’s why we’re meeting up now… isn’t it?”

I couldn’t help the tone of my voice; it seemed desperate… if not confused. Jared laughed and then frowned as though he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. He spoke, his tone indicating I was either crazy or… just having a laugh.

“Icefort what are you…? I fear, my dear friend that caffeine is seriously becoming a dangerous sustenance for you. I shall have to lower your intake to…”

“Icefort, it’s a place two hours away from Nashville… I moved there with my folks two months ago… we fell out because of it and didn't speak until now.” I’d stood up trying to make my point seem more exaggerated but this time… the look of worry in his eyes became really serious.

“Indi… your parents died two months ago.”

No… what? That wasn’t right! It couldn’t have been right because I had just spoken to them this morning… we’d had dinner… they’d told me I’d be off to a boarding school called Blackfort Crossing… right? I wasn’t crazy… was I? Something was definitely wrong… “But…”

“Come on, I think we should get you home.” I let him take my arm gently and guide me out of the café and into the crowded mall… just like before. Yet something was really off… something didn't feel right. I was incredibly light-headed which caused me to lose my balance and fall into Jared. Everything was spinning around me and I felt claustrophobic… this was really strange. As he half-carried me out of the mall, he continued softly. “I had planned on telling you something today, but you managed to throw everything out of balance. I suppose it’ll keep until you’re better.” 

What did he mean? I tried to ask him but my words wouldn’t come out… all I could hope was that this was all just a terrible, disastrous dream and that both my parents and Jared would be perfectly healthy and alright once I’d had a sleep.

Chapter Three

Back a Step

Nashville- Thursday 4^th August (2011)

03:00

Jared Stone

“Don’t say that please. I’m still me it’s just… lately… I don’t know alright, things have been different without you around! I can’t function anymore, I barely have enough energy to get up and go to school…”

“That’s ridiculously cheesy; I’m only your best friend… I’m hardly a vital organ in your body.”

“You have absolutely no f*****g idea, do you?! Indianna I’m suffering, everyone has noticed, even Annette has noticed and she’s oblivious to anything. My Mom is worried because I’m not eating, when I need to sleep I can’t, when I need to study you’re all I think…”

I was standing in the mall with Indianna… everything seemed real around us… I hadn’t realised it was a dream at first until someone walked right through me, as though I wasn’t there. It also had that strange cloudy atmosphere.

“Don’t… don’t say things that can’t be unsaid Jared. You’re already messed up about kissing me…”

“When the hell did I say that!? Did it ever occur to you even once that I might of perhaps wanted to do it? Do you ever consider for even a smidgen that I might not want the role of being just your best friend anymore?”

This seemed awfully familiar… I’d done this already hadn’t I? It felt somewhat like da JA vu. I had seen that look… I’m sure of it, that hurtful, heartbreaking look, in her eyes. Clearly she hadn’t expected me, her best friend to give her a confession like that. As far as I knew, every confession she’d ever received had been either rejected or avoided… but there had been something about the look in her eyes then… she didn't want to have to reject me… but I knew, deep down that she would… for our friendship’s sake. I’d just needed her to confirm it… properly.

“Jared I am begging you, please… please… don’t feel those feelings for me. I can’t…”

“Then look me in the eye and tell me properly. I want you to tell me directly, that you don’t feel the same way.”

“I… I don’t feel anything but friendship for you Jared.”

Yes… I knew she would say it but it still hurt. My love for Indianna ran deeper than I’d first thought… even at seventeen I knew I was in love with her. I’d kept this feeling in my heart for almost two years… the only change in them was… they’d gotten stronger.

“Then I guess the only thing left for me to say is… I will never stop loving you Indianna.”

The moment after that seemed a little hazy and as I’d walked away… leaving her behind so that she wouldn’t feel pity for me after seeing that… tear. Perhaps it came because I knew she’d put our friendship first. I actually didn't know what I’d expected from her but… that hadn’t been it entirely. Lost deep in my thoughts I’d never seen it coming… out of nowhere a hooded figure just walked up toward me, put his arm on my left side, as he’d inserted a blade into my right...

Somehow I’d managed to stalk my way over to Indianna’s car… but feeling as though I was being strangled, I ripped off whatever was restraining my neck… my chain. I then collapsed to the concrete… the only thing clear in my mind was Indi’s face.

I awoke gasping for air; the sweat tickled my neck as it trailed slowly. I turned slightly to check the time on my digital “Jack” clock from The Nightmare before Christmas, three in the morning, seriously? I’d barely been asleep for more than two hours… I groaned and threw myself back against my pillow, putting my arm across my eyes. That dream was intense… I suppose I would have weird dreams considering I’d be seeing Indianna in a few hours. After the death of her parents, she hadn’t really wanted to do anything, but I’d pushed her to come out this weekend and just have fun with me. I didn't expect anything too heavy like we’d used to, just to take her mind off of a few things. Vicious rumours had been circling the school about how her parents had died, and maybe because she’d survived the house fire she’d felt incredibly guilty. Annette and Sara had taken to just ‘letting on’ to her now but if you were asking me personally, I’d say that they were avoiding her, because she was still hanging out with me. You see, the four of us had ventured off to the beach and were having a lot of fun, until I had literally startled the three of them after taking a sharp breath right after zoning out for a few minutes. Believing in my mind that I could trust them… ok not so much Indianna (because I trusted her completely), but Annette and Sara… I’d told them what had happened.

I’d been making eye contact with Indianna whilst Annette and Sara had been busy talking about ‘boys’ at school, and we’d just smirked at one another. It was one of those moments where we could reach eachothers thoughts, those ‘they’re at it again’ kind of thoughts. At that moment they’d asked her if she was interested in anyone in our class… or school and after blinking a few times, she looked at them giving them only one reply, which I’ll never forget. ‘Not particularly, besides my attention is far too occupied with Jared.’ Annette and Sara just sighed with boredom, mainly because they knew how Indianna and I were, so as they began to speak again Indianna’s eyes fell back on me with a gentle smile and I held her eyes again but this time, I’d taken her hand in mine and that’s when it happened… the vision of her and her family burning to death, in their quiet home.

Needless to say I’d never been so scared in my entire life and on that evening, instead of sleeping, I snuck out of my own home and dashed the few streets to her house… which had already set ablaze.

“Indianna!”

I’d called out to her in a panic but before I could run to her, I felt a pair of arms hastily slip under my own, holding me back. The calm black night lit up with few street lamps and the blue flashing from the fire engines, their sirens blaring loudly, so loudly that I covered my ears as I partly stood, watching her house burn. It wasn’t long before I knew what I’d had to do, and as I’d managed to heave myself free from the arms which held me back, I dashed inside… not once thinking about my own safety. My vision was limited due to the blackness of the smoke not to mention the heat escaping from the violent flames. I placed my forearm in front of my eyes and called to her once again, coughing fiercely.

“Indianna, where are you!?”

It had been pretty easy finding the staircase, because I knew her house like the back of my hand and so on finding it, I half walked, half crawled up them… my only destination was Indianna’s bedroom. It hadn’t been until I’d reached the top step that I heard powerful coughing… however that was coming from Indianna’s parents’ room. I’d figured that I couldn’t just leave them if they were alive, so on getting to their door; I placed my hand on the metal door knob, burning it severely but that didn't stop me. I banged harshly as I called out, desperately. “Eleanor, Paul, can you hear me? I can’t seem to open the door. Can you climb out of the window?”

It was Paul’s tone I heard calling back to me, however it was strained and choking. “Jared… we’re trapped… the firemen are attempting to… break the window from… outside. Please just get Indianna out! I don’t think… they know yet.”

I felt like I’d been given a really cruel choice… I knew that if Indianna knew that I’d been given the chance to save her parents, she’d hate me (but she’d actually comforted me instead once I’d told her later that evening.) “I can’t just…”

Eleanor had spoken then… pleadingly.“Jared, please save our daughter! You’re all she can rely on now, don’t let her die!”

At that moment tears threatened to fall and as I glanced up the hallway to where Indianna’s bedroom door held her damaged name-plate, ‘keep out’ and ‘caution’ stickers and rock group posters there seemed to be no contest. Bringing my attention back to the other door, I gently placed my injured hand on it and whispered softly.“I’m sorry.”

I made a break for Indianna’s door and with one swift jump-kick; it flew open as a thick cloud of black smoke flooded out into the hallway. I fell to my knees but crawled into her bedroom and yelled as my voice broke. “Indianna!”

I scanned her room trying to focus my stinging eyes… but couldn’t see her and it wasn’t until a small cry came from her wardrobe that I stumbled toward it and flung it open… finding her lying amongst boxes and clothes. Her appearance had me feeling weak, I could hardly see her naturally pale skin thanks to the soot and blood which now replaced it, and even her clothes were ruined. As a terrifying scream filtered through the house, I snapped out of my daze upon seeing her like this and gathered her into my arms… making my way out of the house.

Thinking back to that night now, I shuddered as a tear trailed toward my ear. I don’t think I’d ever forget that moment. I’d been labelled a hero, but I wasn’t anything of the sort. I failed in saving three lives that night… but it was a blessing that I’d managed to keep Indianna by my side. Eleanor and Paul had been like my own parents… they were my second mum and dad and Indianna must have know how I’d felt because she’d never once blamed me or hated me for it… just comforted me, knowing how hard it must have been to make that choice. It hadn’t been a hard choice though… and I’d even told her that, hoping that she’d hate me a little. I should have tried harder, although, a fireman that night had told me that, if I had of tried to save Indianna’s parents that night, Indianna would have suffocated to death, with lack of oxygen. On hearing that, Indianna had taken my injured hand (that hadn’t been treated yet because I was too worried about Indianna) in hers and told me softly. “I owe you my life Jared, thank you.” Turning my hand over, she placed a soft kiss onto the burn and then added. “Go and get your hand treated.” 

 

Author's Note

I'm not great at my grammar and such, my spelling is alright I think... however, I don't mind what you say, as long as you're honest but gentle haha.