BAD CUPID

Created By: Snow Marisvega

Chapter 29

As we approached the gate, we could hear the thick chanking of rides moving, the shuddering of rails and tracks, and the screams of the passengers as they are whipped around.

The smell of hotdogs and popcorn is in the air and it reminded me of how long it had been since I had actually eaten those. There were too-loud music playing from God knows where, screams from people on the rollercoaster as if they were in a horror movie. The laughter of kids running filled everywhere, cheering as well could be heard. I looked to my left when I heard singing and smiled but my attention was grabbed by the sounds of bells. There were also kids crying either cause their parents didn't have enough money to get them candy or they were lost or they were actually evil kids who'd eat anyone who showed mercy. The sound of chugging machinery scared the crap out of me at first but I just shrugged it away. Feet running, either teenagers chasing their little devious siblings or people running from the invisible creature that was gonna devour them. The sound of people calling out to each other, corn and balloons popping, the sound of balls rolling. I sighed.

Isn't this life?

I could smell cigarettes and I hated that smell so bad. "Let's walk ahead" I said trying to get away from it. Henry said nothing and just walked with me a little faster than we did before. I could see a haunted house and there was no way in hell or heaven that I was gonna go in there. Ha. Nice try Satan.

To my left was a swinging pirate ship and I didn't even wanna know more cause I hate pirates. I mean, what is their deal? I stopped when I saw a spinning apple ride.

"Come on." I tapped his arm with a smile, he looked at me and where I was looking at.

"Seriously?"

I nodded, and pulled him along. There were people gathered and someone on the spinning apple ride.

"Seriously? This is what you like?" He gave me a confused look.

"Why not?"

"But you don't wanna do a haunted house?"

"I don't have a problem with a haunted house, I've just watched enough horror movies to know that sometimes it might not be just for bants, the clowns in there might actually be real killer clowns who would want to murder me. I know one thing for sure, and it's that I'm not always lucky in cases where I should be. And I also know that the devil doesn't really like me."

"Hmm, that's something I didn't know. I thought you and the devil were like siblings or something. Hell, twins even."

I scowled at him. "Fuck you."

He smiled.

The ride was spinning and the man on complete black attire announced something I had missed cause Henry was talking. He turned to the man on the spinning ride and threw a knife towards him. Everyone gasped in fear as the knife landed close to his head.

"Imagine he dies." I giggled.

"Then we'll run away." Henry replied.

The man continued throwing knifes at the man tied on it with an apple in his mouth. At every throw people gasped in fear, and even Henry flinched, while I watched with a smile. And at the fifth throw, it went straight into his mouth, and at the apple.

I blew a whistle with my mouth and clapped the same time as everyone.

"Can we go?"

"I wish he somehow missed and stabbed the man somewhere." I said with a giggle. "Let's go, that wasn't so much fun." I said, beaming. "I'm kidding, it was."

"Oh, it was."

I could sense sarcasm in his voice.

"Don't be sarcastic with me, Ashcroft. The thrill of knowing one wrong movement and that man could have been bleeding. Beautiful." I said.

"You are so weird."

"I hear that a lot, thanks."

I could spot slides, a climbing area which I wasn't also gonna go on, i mean I don't exactly have two working hands.

"Oh look, A fortune teller's tent. What are the odds?" He said as he pointed at it, his voice oozing with so much sarcasm. "Wanna go check that out and know your future." He asked and I nodded.

"Mmhmm, I actually do."

His smile vanished. "Dyl, I was actually being sarcastic"

"I know, but I'm not." I flashed him a smile and walked towards it. "Wait outside, I don't want you knowing what she's gonna say in case if it is something about me killing you."

"Good luck with trying." He said as he folded his arms. He already didn't plan on coming in.  I walked in and looked around the tent. Now, I am not here because I fancy them, I'm here because I'm curious on what she would say. There are a whole lot of games and it would be fun to just go along with it.

The tent looked middle eastern, or those were the decoration choice. There were drapes and rugs that were either green or purple, or gold, but they all still matched. There was a fragrance, that I assumed came from the scented candles lit around the tent. woman was black, her full Afro had a small, blue plastic butterfly hair pin, I'm assuming, in it. She was wearing a long blue dress with black drawings on it, her ten fingers all had rings on them and she had two blue needs around her neck.  I sat across her, and in our middle was a round table, and a long and purple tablecloth covered it. On the table were cards, a crystal ball, some stones. I looked back at the chair I was sitting on, it matched the drapes. There was a smaller table beside her that had a money box on it, but I pretended not to see it.

"Welcome." She smiled at me.

I smiled back. "Thanks, so uh—"

"Pay first." She said, cutting me off. "It's not free, love." She said with a warm smile.

"Uh, okay." I put my hand into my pocket and took out a five dollar bill. "I'm sure this would do?" I gave it to her, but she just looked at it.

"I'll take ten dollars cause you're cute."

I frowned. "To tell me I'll be a serial killer? Well, damn." I looked back, looking for Henry so I could take his money.

I sighed.

"Okay, fine." I took out another five dollar bill and handed it to her. With a smile, she took my money and put it into her money box.

"Now," she sighed softly and turned back to me. "Shall we begin?"

I mentally snorted.

"Of course."

"Your hand." She said, her voice calm and soft.

Her left hand was stretched out to me, waiting for me to take it.

Well, Dylan. Time to hear the rubbish.

I gave her my hand.

The lady held my hand for a while, while looking at the crystal ball and then her brows knitted into a frown. 

"I see a love so pure, but dangerous."  spoke and i just arched my brow.

"Love, huh. From me or someone else?"

She nodded. "Yes, you."

I held back a laugh. "Right."

She let go off my hand and picked up the tarot cards on her table and began to shuffle them. "Let's see what the future has for you." She said and then a card fell off. "Oh, okay! The three of swords." She kept it on the table and I looked at the image of a love shape, having three knives in it. She shuffled again and another dropped. "Ahh!" She smiled and picked it up, putting it on the table. "The emperor. That's a good one."

"I mean, I can tell." I smiled. "It's the emperor." I said and she laughed.

"Annnd lastly," she said as she shuffled still and then another dropped on her lap and she just stared at it. She dropped the other cards, picked it up and dropped it beside the previous card, all lined up.

"Let's start with the three of swords." She said and looked at me, a finger on the card. "The three of swords depicts a sorrowful, a very sad experience. Maybe from the past, it might be death, or a lost relationship or something. A deep emotional sorrow." She said and I swallowed. "You are carrying so much pain, and I mean inside of you." She said, her brows knitting a bit as she looked at the card. "And these are intense emotions of pain, heartbreak, grief. And it seems," she looked at me. "You are not letting yourself to completely feel these emotions, for a cleansing."

I said nothing.

"You will need to let go for you to move forward, boy." She said. "But, you are going to experience so much more pain than you think later in life too, and it's gonna change you, for the worst."

I paused.

"Let yourself feel things. Don't hide it. Acknowledge those feelings. It doesn't make you weak, but stronger." She said, her eyes filled with concern, but she quickly pushed it away.

"Um, second card." She smiled as she picked it up. "The emperor."

"Hmm. What is this one? I become Ted Bundy?"

She laughed. "No."

"Good."

"You are authoritative. Dominating."

I smirked. "You got that right. A dominant bottom."

"You are confident, you can control your emotions, which brings us back to the first card, you are controlling it too much, you're not letting you feel things. And it says you radiate masculine energy." She said and looked at me with furrowed brows.

"Why you looking at me like that?"

"I'm trying to understand that part, but nothing. I'm sure it is referring to all i listed with you being dominant and shit."

"Are you allowed to curse?" I frowned.

"Why not?" she shrugged. "As I was saying,"

"Right. Right."

"You lead with a firm hand, always demand respect, and it says here that with careful planning, an organized approach and perseverance, there is no problem you can't face head on. So, keep doing what you do, and pursue all your life goals like the emperor." She said with a smile and dropped the card.

"Last but not the least,"

"Judgement." I muttered.

"This one isn't bad," she shrugged. "It just says your past will come back to haunt you."

"What?" I blinked.

"The things you've done in your past, certain people, they will come back, and all you have to do is reflect on the bad things you've done, so it make you a better person." She said with a small nod. "The judgment card is about how choices you've made in the past will affect your path and have an effect in your life, maybe tomorrow, maybe in five years, maybe in a decade." She shrugged. "So to move on, that past has to be let go too."

"Um, yikes. Thanks?" I didn't know what to say, because I was not expecting her to say all these. I was expecting a "dead people are following you" type of shit.

"Give me your hand." She said, stretching out hers again. I took it and she took a deep breath and looked at the crystal balls.

"I see a love so beautiful, strong, but also dangerous." She said and my left brow cocked at her. "You are gonna experience a great happiness," She smiled, softly. "But, you are gonna be put through a lot of tests. It's gonna be a new chapter for you, and as beautiful as this love is, it's gonna leave you with a scar."

"Mmhmm. Um, yeah, uh, about this love thing, I don't know if you are reading my own card because I don't think I am a loving person." I pulled my hand back.

"For now you're not." She chuckled. "But you are already walking towards that door."

I grimaced. "I better go the other direction then."

"You'll find love and it's gonna be the best, the craziest and scariest feeling." She said. "Your love will then be tested in the future and you are the only one who can determine its fate." I rolled my eyes as she spoke. "You don't believe in love?" She asked with a smile.

"Nah." I shook my head. "Like I said earlier, It's not for me"

"It is for everybody, especially you." She paused and looked at that round thing in front of her again. "Three obsessions, the perfect choice , a gateway to happiness."

I frowned, confused. "What does that mean?" I blinked but she just smiled. "Wait, am I gonna have hot guys coming for me?" I grinned.

"Well,"

"Hold on," I smirked, and leaned closer. "Is one of them a mafia boss?" I gasped.

She gave me a disappointed look. "No, but you'll be running alright." She muttered.

I pouted. "Oh! What does that mean?"

"You will have to wait for the future." She replied.

"Seriously?"

"Goodbye, Dylan, your time is up." She said, smiling at me, and I gave her a look.

"How do you know my name?" I asked with a gulp.

"Three obsession, the perfect choice, a gateway to happiness" she repeated.

"What the hell does three perfect choice, an obsession and happiness gateway mean? And how in the world did you know my fucking name?" I asked, slowly freaking out.

She just smiled.

"Your boyfriend has been calling your name for a while now," she said and looked behind me, her smile bigger. I turned and looked to see henry, his head in but the rest of his body was outside.

"Seriously? How long do you plan on having your brain sprinkled with glitter?" He asked, frustrated.

I had forgotten he was outside.

"Oh." I blinked.

"Thank you for telling me my life is shitty and gonna be shittier." I told her.

"You do not have to worry about that. Anytime." She beamed.

I stood up as I rolled my eyes and turned to go.

"Your happiness lies in your palms, Dylan." She said. "Don't forget that."

I turned to her. "Thank you, Jesus." I said and walked out.

"Were you considering working for her already? You took forever." Henry complained as I got out.

"I wasn't even there for five minutes, jerk face." My voice came out a little high.

"Yes. Yes, you were."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"No. I wasn't."

"Shut up."

"You shut up." I pouted.

"So, what'd she say?"

"The usual. Rubbish."

"Something about you dying?" He asked with a smile, and I smacked the back of his head immediately.

"Fuck you."

"Nah. It doesn't work that way" he said as we walked and I just wanted to hit him.

"T-Thats not what I—"

"Rollercoaster?" He asked interrupting me. He always does this and makes me look like an idiot.

I looked away from him and at the rollercoaster at a distance.

"Yes." I grinned.

"Cute"

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes.

The place was so crowded and it was hard to pass with the amount of people here, it was like they multiplied while I was in that tent.

Henry held my hand instantly, I looked down at it and back at him.

"What are you-"

"There's no way you're getting lost." He said as he walked past the crowd with me. I finally realized that people didn't actually multiply, they were watching something and gathered, we couldn't see what and I didn't really care.

Everything was so bright, from the light poles to the benches to the garage cans to the t-shirts, or the employees who looked like this might not actually be the happiest place on earth.

Sad.

We had our sights set on the rollercoaster with its loop-de-lppps and cockscrew spins waiting for the carts. I was so excited and I couldn't wait to get on it, we were on the line and it slowly moved. After about five minutes of waiting, it was our turn and we got in. We sat next to each other, the brakes let go with its telltale clank and the carts shudder. The chains strain to pull us up the rise, lifting us higher and higher until we can see over the entire park.

"Wow" I smiled as I looked down at the people. They looked so much like ants from this height and I wanted to step on them. If only if I was a god

"What scary thing are you thinking about?" Henry asked with a frown.

I looked back at him. "Nothing."

"You have an evil smile on, which means something's going on in your head."

I was about to respond but barely did before the ground came rushing towards us. Just as it seems like we were about to drive into the asphalt z, the carts sharply turned to the right and then to the left. It happens so fast, all I could make out was a blur of colors. I quickly took Henry's hand and squeezed.

Green, blue and red stream past me as blinding speed. All I can hear are the screams all around me, I didn't even realize that I was screaming as well but I did enjoy the feeling and soon started laughing. I looked at henry and his eyes became really small, he was also screaming but not as loud as mine. Another turn and then I see it, the loop-de-loops and the world turns upside down for a moment, then becomes a kaleidoscope, colors swing around, destroying all sense of up or down. Even as it slowly stops, I could barely see, everything was spinning and it made my stomach knot. As it ends, I let out a heavy sigh and look at henry who was also breathing heavily with a grin, some of the passengers looked really excited while others looked like they were never gonna try this again and some looked like they were blaming themselves for eating what they ate before getting on.

Henry and I got down and I almost fell, but he caught me and we instantly started laughing.

"That. Was. Awesome" I said with a laugh.

"It really was." He laughed as well.

"I don't think I have really seen you smile like this, all thanks to," I twirled and pointed at myself. "Me."

His smile slowly disappeared. "Shut up."

"Wanna...go again?"

"Are you shitting me?"

"Come on! Pleaseeeee. Just one more" I pouted, my hands clasped together in a pleading way.

"One."

"Just one." I smiled.

••

"You said one more and we went two times extra."

I giggled. "You enjoyed it."

"I didn't."

"Oh, that's true. You puked."

"Shut up."

I laughed.

"You owe me."

I snorted. "I'm hanging out with your arrogant ass, that's enough."

"I hate you."

I smiled at him. "Mutual feeling."

We stopped walking immediately, and both stood still.

"I smell..."

"Cotton candy." I finished up for him with a big smile.

"I was gonna say Burger."

"Yeah, no." I shook my head. "Cotton candy." I pointed to my right where it was, with kids and some teenagers getting it.

"Burger." He pointed to the left and I saw the Burger truck

"Cotton candy first, then we go get your burger."

"No. Burger first then you can have that pink cloud."

"No," I shook my head. "I have my needs, Henry. Don't you care about my needs?"

"Does that include being chained to a chair by christian while on the second BDSM treat?"

"W—"I couldn't find the words, what was he even talking about? "Wait, what?"

"No? Ah. Burger it is." He said and dragged me while walking to the left, to his burger, while I was still dumbfounded.

"No. We are getting cotton candy first, Ass crotch!"

He gave me a stoic look, and I placed my hands on my waist, looking back at him and holding my ground.

Anyways, we got the burger first and here we were looking for somewhere to sit while walking. I was eating my cotton candy while he was eating his stupid burger.

"I hate you."

"Its mutual, love." He said with a smile.

"Why didn't you get cotton candy for yourself?"

"Why would I?" He snorted.

"Cause everyone loves it"

"No. Not everyone. I hate it" he shook his head and I gasped.

"That's impossible. Cotton candy is a saint and everyone worships it"

"Nicki Minaj is the queen of rap but you don't see a crown on her head everyday do you?" He asked with a furrowed brow as he took another bite from his burger.

"That is different."

"It's not." He shook his head. "Same thing."

"Shut up." I scowled at him.

He laughed and I got confused "What?"

"You say shut up a lot."

"I don't like the sound of your voice, and besides you say it a lot too. I think I started saying it because of you even."

"That's not true."

"It is!"

"Shut up."

"See!"

He rolled my eyes, and we sat in silence.

"So,"

"So?"

"You...wanna talk about it?"

"About what?" I inquired.

"Isaac."

My heart skipped a beat as I turned to look at him.

"H—How do you know that name?"

"Um, half the school heard you talk about him. And yeah, I'm sorry about your brother." He said with all sincerity and I could see a little bit of sadness in his eyes. But I was not bothered about that, I was more confused about what he said. What did he mean by half of the school knows?.

"H-Hold up. What do you mean half of the school knows?"

"You kinda—screamed it out in the library and everyone present heard."

My eyes widen. What?

"About his death and you saying your dad....you know?" He shrugged a little.  Don't you remember?"

I shook my head, still frozen.

"Wait! How hard did you hit your head?"

"Pretty hard. I-I don't remember much about that day." I replied. "I just know I fell."

"Oh," he looked worried. "It will all come back eventually."

"How could I not remember?"

"Maybe a concussion."

"But,"

"Chill, Juliet."

I glared at him. "I will kill you."

He moved closer to me and I leaned back a bit, my eyes wide. "With what?"

"M-Move back." I pushed him backwards. "I don't like you." I said and began to walk away.

"Dylan, hold on. You don't wanna walk and fall and have the other hand broken." He said with a laugh.

"Bad joke, asshole."

"Mmhmm." He appeared beside me; and we both walked together.

"So, are you gonna be in school on Monday?"

"Hopefully," I sighed. "I kinda miss school."

"You have lots of notes to catch up on."

"Jax brings them home and helps me," I told him and then my phone began to ring. I took it out if my side pocket. Jaxton?

I didn't answer because I didn't want to answer questions and believe it or not , I was having fun with this Fucktard and I hate that, but I love it.

Jaxton wouldn't stop calling and then a beep, I had to answer his texts at least. I didn't want Jaxton freaking out cause I wasn't home or asking whom I was with. He was sounding so much like a worried. young father. He was at his meeting, wasn't he? I had to tell him not to come home and I was fine and when I was done, I put my phone on silent and into my pocket it went.

"Done?"

"Yup."

"You tell him you with me?" He asked with a smile.

"Ew, no way in hell I'm doing that."

"Yeah, I'm glad you didn't. Don't want anyone knowing I hang out with you."

"I want ice cream." I sighed. I was almost done with my cotton candy.

"Well, go buy some."

"Bitch, I can't walk around in my condition"

"Your arm is hurt, not your leg, stupid." He retorted.

"You are supposed to look after me!" I was about to fold my arms but oh well, i couldn't. Damn it.

"Yeah, but I am not your slave."

"It's the same thing."

"It's different!"

"Same."

He sighed heavily. "Come on." He said and walked towards the ice cream truck.

"Wait up!" I giggled and ran after him.

"Listen I—" A kid ran past me with speed while giggling, and I smiled at the blonde probably five year old girl

"Heather get back here!" A boy shouted from behind me and bumped into me with full force, hitting me with his shoulder as I stumbled forward.

Once his shoulder forcefully pushed my back as he ran, I instantly felt hands at my back push me with the same amount of force and I suddenly tried to catch my breath. While I tried to stop myself from falling to the ground, I saw myself suddenly falling down the school library stairs with speed. Relieving the fear.

I fell on the floor with a little grunt , it did hurt a little but I couldn't ignore the flashes that I had just seen in my head. It felt like I was falling down the stairs again, and my heart started racing, the fear came back.

I couldn't breathe.

"Shit, Dyl." I could hear Henry's voice but I could barely focus, I could barely recognise where I was. "Hey." His voice was closer this time, he held my arm and I flinched, a gasp escaping my lips.

He looked concerned. "Dyl, hey, are you okay?" He asked, his face clouded with worry. "Are you okay? Are you injured?"

"I'm -"

"Shit bro, I am so sorry." The same boy apologized while holding his sister, he looked about two or three years younger than i was.

"You pushed him?" Henry asked with an angry frown.

"Its fine, It w-was a crowdy place and I—" before I could finish, Henry was up and glaring at the boy.

"I'm sorry." the boy apologised, fear in his voice.

"Henry, just let him go." I said as I got up and walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Next time, you watch were you're going or I'll rip your eyes out since you're not using them." Henry said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry, I pushed your boyfriend down please let me go." The boy begged, he was shaking with fear and if I didn't feel scared and confused with what I saw right now, I would be laughing.

"Henry, he didn't mean to." I said firmly, people were starting to stare and whisper.

Henry gave the boy a small nod. "Sorry, just....watch your way next time when you're running." He said and came back to me.

"He didn't mean to, I mean this is a park, it is crowded."

"You are not invisible. He just wasn't using his eyes."

"Still. Don't go bursting with flames. Breathe and calm down."

"Sorry," he sighed. "Are you okay?"

I looked away and back at him. "Mmhmm." I nodded.

He scanned my face again and shook his head "No, you're not, you are lying"

How does he do that? No one can read through my lies maybe I'm just paranoid now.

"Talk to me, what's wrong?"

"It's just.....when he um, when he pushed me," I paused. "I felt, I felt hands at my back," I said as I touched my back. "I felt s-someone push me with the same amount of force he did, and I had like a uh, like a....like a flash and I saw myself fall down the stairs." I paused. "The school stairs."

Henry 's brows slowly knitted into a frown. "You mean someone..."

"I don't know." I shook my head. "It was just—maybe it was nothing." I gave a nervous chuckle. "I just...." I was starting to feel uneasy.

Henry placed both hands on my shoulders calmly. "Dylan, if you felt someone push you and saw you at the school stairs, then this only means something, you're slowly remembering."

"What?"

"It's not nothing! You saw a flash, and that happens when someone looses a part of their memory." He said softly. "Dylan, I think...."

Don't say it.

"I think someone pushed you down the stairs," He said while staring at me "-intentionally." he added.

I just stared.

"What?"

What did he mean someone intentionally pushed me? Why would anyone want to push me down the stairs when I haven't even set them on fire? Who could have want to do that? Why? Whose hands did I feel? Who fucking pushed me?

"Why would anyone do that?" I looked up at him. "I...I don't have any enemies in s-school? I mean I do but like, why would....what-" I could feel my heart thudding in my chest, my feet tingled. I tried to catch my breath as I looked down at my feet, my vision started to get disfigured as I looked around.

I felt the hands on my back again. Repeating that image and feeling over and over again.

I took a long, slow deep breath as all the voices of everyone in the park got louder and startled me, I looked around.

"Dylan, what's going on?"

What if I had died? Like brains splattered on the ground?

The image repeated in my head. First the feeling of the hands on my back, then the fear, then the stairs.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm. My legs felt weak and I couldn't breath, I was hyperventilating.

All I could think of was what would have happened if I didn't live to see another day? My mom. My friends. Just because someone was holding a grudge on me. A shithead actually pushed me down the fucking stairs.

"D-Dyl, are you okay?" Henry asked, with a concerned look. "You're turning pale"

"N-No. I'm..I'm fine. I just-" I could barely keep my balance, I grabbed his shirt tightly once I felt like i was going to fall to avoid falling.

"Hey! Hey, hey. Shit. Okay, um, let's get you somewhere to sit." He said as looked around and helped me to a bench.

I sat on it.

"Why are they trying to....to get rid of me? I-I can't.. I-"

Henry said something, but I barely heard.

"What?" I managed to ask while trying to take in air, it was as if the world didn't have enough air anymore to spare. I felt nauseous, sweaty and couldn't stop shaking.

"You need to breathe, Dyl." Henry repeated, while kneeing in front of me and cupping my cheeks. "You need to breathe."

"What do you think I am fucking trying to do?" I asked him.

"Is he okay?" An unfamiliar voice asked.

"Yeah," I replied while nodding continuously, and then Henry held my hands. "I'm scared." I muttered.

Henry lifted my chin up to make me look at him and I could feel the tears threatening to fall out of my eyes. I didn't know what was wrong with me, was mother nature tired of me? Did she also want to get rid of me?

"What's happening to me?"

"I think you are having a panic attack." He said softly, holding my hands and squeezing them tight, I looked away from our hands and at him, he was a little blurry.

"Henry! A-Am I going blind?"

"Dyl, breathe slowly okay."

"I-I can't" I yelled as I shook my head, my heart pounding and threatening to beat out of my chest. "I can't!" I repeated.

"Okay, let's do it together, okay?"

"No." I cried.

"Just trust me." He said and I could hear voices around us. "Can you all give him space and get the fuck back!" Henry yelled and footsteps were heard, not one or five. Lots.

"Henry"

"Come on. In. Out."

I didn't know why I trusted him this much. Why I was confiding in the one boy I was supposed to hate?

"In and then out, okay? Let's do it together." he said and held my hands. We began doing it but my mind was elsewhere, thinking about so many things.

There were voices around us, people asking questions about me, I felt like I was started to get a headache. Would anyone try to kill me?

"It's not working." I yelled and before I knew it, I felt lips against mine. His lips. I was thunderstruck, he was kissing me. In public. Everything went oddly quiet and it was like I was feeding from him, my breath slowly returned to normal and I wasn't gasping for it, I began to calm down and my vision was back. He tasted like heaven right now.

One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. Four Mississippi. Five Mississippi.

He stopped, I slowly opened my eyes and I could see him. Wait, was I having a panic attack or was I horny?

"W-What was that for?"

"I saw it in a movie. It helps" he smiled. "It got you back"

"Kissing....me?"

"It breaks your flow of thoughts and triggers which is leading to your panic attack." He said. "So when I kissed you, your thoughts and attention shifted."

I blinked awkwardly. "T-Thanks. Sorry for that." I took in a deep breath. "I just...I lost my shit."

The next thing we heard was clapping, I looked around and there were people watching as if we had been performing a romeo and Juliet scene and the people here smiled. I blushed a bit but I looked at them like they were stupid.

I just fucking had a panic attack and you guys are clapping? Fuck the world.

"You guys are clapping?" I looked at them in disgust and they slowly stopped. "Seriously? I'm...almost dying, and y'all are clapping cause he kissed me." I stood up immediately. "Do you think this is some Snow White shit? You—"

"I'm so sorry." Henry said as he stood up, he quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me away with him.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves!!" I shouted at them.

"Stop making trouble."

"They were clapping!"

"Can you walk?" He asked, looking at me.

"Yeah. I think so. Legs are a bit weak, but I'm good."

Henry instantly stopped and picked me up from the ground bridal style before I even knew it. I gasped and my hands went around him.

"What do you think you are doing? Put me the fuck down!" I whisper yelled and tried to free myself from his hold.

"Shut up princess" he said with a smile and I found myself keeping shut.

"Don't tell me to—"

Wait-
Huh?

He carried me away and I just hid my now red face in his chest as he walked.

"They're so cute" I heard a girl say and another girl giggled.

Does everyone just ship two boys?

He unlocked his car and gently placed me in the passenger's seat.

"You know you didn't have to carry me."

"You had a panic attack, I had to." He said as he fixed my seatbelt as if I couldn't. He gently closed the car door and walked over to the driver's seat. "Home?"

"No." I shook my head. "Let's go some place else."

He nodded and started the car, driving away. "It's gonna be okay. We'll find out who pushed you and deal with whoever it was. I promise."

I looked at him. "We?"

He looked back at me. "We."

I didn't want to believe this jock, but ninety percent of me already did. He was willing to help me find the asshole who could have murdered me.

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay." He muttered.

***

Henry and I went to get smoothies at a place called;

HEAVEN ON EARTH
smoothie shop

How do these people come up with these names anyways? That wasn't my problem right now. My head was full, my brain was going through hundred questions at once. I was thinking about the person who pushed me down the stairs and trying to guess who it was. But also, I was thinking about the kiss that had calmed my panic attack. Shit. My life was not a book but oh boy, if it ever was, then I wanted to know the ending so bad.

For some reason, I had lived a stydia moment. He said he kissed me to calm me down and it worked, but I wanted to lowkey kiss him again. He had the softest lips and they tasted good.

He tasted good.

We'd been sitting here for more than ten minutes, no one said a word to the other except when the waiter came and Henry asked me what I wanted. He had ordered a raspberry-beet smoothie and I had ordered a strawberry milkshake.

This place was nice, it was cozy, it was warm and relaxing and there weren't much people in it right now. There was an old song playing through the speakers, it sounded so much like something from the eighties, a christian song from the eighties cause I could hear the name 'Jesus' and something about 'taking the wheel'?

"You okay?"

I looked up from my delicious looking milkshake that begged me to taste it, and at him.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay."

He arched his brow at me and just stared.

"What?"

"You're an awful liar."

He saw right through me, again.

I wasn't an awful liar, he was just good at reading me for some reason.

"What am I supposed to say, Henry?" I sighed. "I had a panic attack in front of about a hundred people."

"They were not up to a hundred."

"Regardless. It was embarrassing gasping for breath."

Henry chuckled. "Everyone gets panic attacks."

"Then they know it's embarrassing when it happens in public."

"What scared you?"

I looked away. "The usual stuff."

"Dyl," he sighed. "Can you stop trying to lie cause I can see right through you." He smirked.

I groaned. "Okay, fine."

"I'm listening."

"The thought of someone trying to get rid of me? It just...." Brings back bad memories. "....i-it's crazy"

"We'll find out who it is, okay? I made you a promise and I'm gonna keep it." he smiled and took a sip from his smoothie through the straw. "Won't you have yours? Cause I might j-"

"Don't even dare." I cut him off before he finished what I knew he was gonna say.

He let out a short laugh that lasted a few seconds and made me shiver, they were so godlike. Jesus.

I've never really heard him laugh as much as he did today.

Keep laughing, please. Just keep being this happy you.

I took a sip from my milkshake and I let out a little gasp with bulged eyes. "Oh my God" This tasted so fucking nice, it has this taste that leads to this feeling of satisfaction and it's so good, it's like I got blessed and I cannot even explain how tasty this was. It was so fucking good.

"Good, eh?"

"The best! I haven't had a milkshake this good in forever."

He grinned, showing his white perky teeth. "He makes the best milkshakes and smoothies."

"Jesus. How come I've never been here?"

He laughed. "Well I don't know, do you even go out?"

"Sometimes. Majority of the time." I nodded.

He just smiled. "You don't go out, do you?"

"No." I said and he laughed.

"I want your milkshake." he said trying to reach for it, I slapped his hand away.

"As dirty as that sounds, don't even dare!" I glared at him, pulling my baby towards me and he laughed.

And boy was he cute.

***

"We're at your fancy house." He smiled at me. I knew he was trying to make me feel better but I wasn't. If there was one thing I could do well, it was to pretend and that was what I was doing.

"Thanks for the ride, dirt bag."

"You're welcome shitbag. Now get out"

"I hope you know that we aren't just gonna be friends cause of this right?" I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"You don't need to tell me. We're gonna go back to ignoring ourselves."

I snorted. "Yeah, right. You're always creepy-staring at me."

"W-What? That's not true. You're ugly."

"Pfft. Liar."

"Bitch. Get the fuck out"

I chuckled. "Later, loser" I said and got out.

"Hey." He called and I looked back at him. "Don't think too much about it, okay?"

"Mmhmm," I answered softly even though I was lying.

"And you owe me twenty buck."

"Fuck off." I said and slammed his car door shut, making him laugh.

I walked to my door and as I opened it, I looked back, he had a smile on his face. He waved and reversed before driving away and once he did. My smile vanished.

"One day people will come for you the way you've come for a lot of us here, and put that fear in you, and when that happens, you'll remember this moment, when I told you that you will always be haunted by this past of yours."

I could hear that taunting voice as I walked into my house, locking the door.

"We should get rid of people like you"

I let out a heavy sigh and turned, I stopped in my tracks once I saw mom come down the stairs.

"Hey. sweetie."

"Hi."

"Where'd you go? I came home some minutes ago and you weren't here. I called your phone but you didn't answer."

"Sorry, phone was on silent." I said with a fake smile as I made my way towards the stairs.

"Are you okay?"

I stopped and looked to her. I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her.

"Hey, w-whats wrong?" She hugged me back.

"I love you." I muttered.

"Dylan. Is something wrong?"

"No." I shook my head, flashing her a smile. "Watched a stupid movie today with Henry and I got emotional."

"Aw. Did the protagonist's mom die?"

"You are something else," I chuckled lightly. "I'll be in my room" I said and walked up the stairs and to my room. I left her presence because I felt like I was being choked by the tears. I walked into my room and closed the door gently, made my way to the bed and sat on it.

I thought of it again as I closed my eyes.

The feeling.

The force push.

The fall down the stairs.

The push was definitely intensional. It was not a mistake or a bump.

"You think we would just forgive you?"

"I hope you die."

I buried my face in between my legs and the tears fell, I just stared at nothing.

What if I cracked something and didn't make it?

I was totally zoned out when I heard Jax call my name and I swiftly looked up.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"You're not," he said as he gently closed the door and walked over to me, sitting beside me. "What happened?"

I sniffed.

I slowly titled my head to look at him. "Jaxton, I-I didn't trip down the stairs"

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.

"I was pushed"