The imagine contest winners are...

*DRUM ROLL*

1) @blissfully
2) @dabookbabe

Congratulations!!! (Please read the A/N at the end for your imagine info)

Thank you all for participating. I wish I could've chosen more but sadly I couldn't.

There were some of you who had amazing answers for either one of the questions. And I enjoyed reading all of your creative answers too!!

QOTD

Chapter |28|

Numb.

That's what I felt as I stared blankly at the white ceiling.

I was lying on the bed, unmoving. My eyes had given up all their tears so I couldn't cry even if I wanted to. I don't know how much time it had been since I lay like this.

From what I knew, I had been brought back by Andrew who had watched me run to the cemetery in the pouring rain. I didn't ask him what he was doing back so early or why he decided to chase me down.

In fact, I didn't say a word to anyone at all.

My throat was parched but I refused to drink water. I just lay in bed, staring up at the White ceiling, thinking of how stupid I was.

How much of an idiot I was because I let myself believe Alicia and Lacey's words. How foolish I was that I let them trample me with their words.

I had let them make me think that I was better off dead and that was unacceptable. I wasn't better off dead and I knew that.

No one was better off dead.

Life wasn't supposed to be wasted like that. It wasn't a game because you couldn't just throw away the board if you were losing.

When I'd woken up, it was dark. I'd just felt a stinging pain on my forehead where there was a thick bandage preventing my wound to bleed.

A wound that I'd let Alicia and Lacey cause without even touching me. They didn't need to. I did their work for them, myself.

I lay there for hours, until I convinced myself to get up. I had locked the door of my room since I didn't want anyone to come in. I didn't want anyone to see me like that.

It took all of my physical and mental strength for me to part from the bed. I staggered my way to the door. I didn't bother to look at the mirror because I knew I would be looking half dead.

I struggled my way out of the room where I could hear shouts from downstairs. Slowly, I descended the stairs, step by step.

I was a bit thankful that the weight of my belts was not being burdensome since I wasn't wearing them.

The shouts belonged to Andrew and Daniel.

"....not Carrie. You can't just blame people for that," Daniel yelled at an enraged Andrew.

Both of them were focussed on each other so much so that they didn't see me as I managed to descend the last step.

What were they fighting for?

"Blame people? Lacey is a bitch. She changed you Daniel! Why can't you open your eyes and realise how much she changed you for the worse?" He yelled back.

"She hasn-"

"Save it. Why do you think our friendship tore apart? It's because of her!" Andrew cut him off.

"You kidding me? You stopped talking to me after Carrie's death and how is she responsible for that?" Daniel defended.

"Because she made you miss her funeral. Because she fucking made you miss my sister's funeral! That was when I needed you the most Dan!" Andrew yelled but his voice broke.

I froze. His sister's funeral.

Daniel's expression was one of shock. His mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish. He stood there speechless, staring at his best friend.

"Drew, why did you want me to be some your sister?"

"Its b-because I've never had a sibling before so I wanted to experience it."

I stumbled back. My breath becoming ragged.

"Andrew?" I spoke, making him turn his head towards me.

"Hmm?"

"You know everything about me. I've told you all the things. Do I know everything about you?"

I shook my head to get rid of these thoughts. Not again, please. It was too soon.

I tripped as I tried to back away, making the glass bowl fall down as my hand tried to catch something for support.

The crash made both Andrew and Daniel's head snap towards me. Their eyes widened as they realised that I'd overheard their conversation.

Both of them stepped forward, but I immediately backed away, flinching as one of the glass piece tore my skin.

"D-Don't," I stuttered as they made a move towards me. My breathing was hard and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake the hurt I was feeling.

I was his sister's replacement. He was always looking for his sister in me.

Time stood still and both the boys had pain painted in their eyes but I was too busy struggling with my head to decide what kind of pain it was.

I scrambled up, shaking my head vigorously, trying to shake all the negative thoughts away from my mind. If I stayed here any longer, I would do something unacceptable like lashing out on Andrew.

I knew my head was messing with me. That's what vulnerability did to a person. Every single thought turned against you, pulling you into a heap of misunderstanding and hurt.

And I couldn't let myself believe what my head was trying to convince me of without hearing what Andrew had to say.

For that, I needed to get out of here.

With all the strength I had, I climbed the stairs and paced into my room. I rummaged my cupboards for the necessities and grabbed my bag.

Stuffing in my wallet and a change of clothes, I quickly descended the stairs. My hand was still bleeding so I tore the lower part of the shirt I was wearing and wrapped it around my hand.

The last thing I wanted was to ask Daniel to dress my wound.

I quickly made my way to the door but a hand grabbed my arm, making me halt. 

I turned around to see Andrew standing there with a pleading expression. I shut my eyes as the voices in my head increased.

You're just a replacement.

"Please let me exp-" he started but I cut him off.

"Andrew, let go," I said, opening my eyes. "Listen, I really don't want to misunderstand you before hearing your side of the story so just let me go. Because if I stay, I will end up hurting everyone around me."

"No. Please don't go. You'll not see me today, I promise. Not even tomorrow if you want or the whole week. Just stay," he nearly begged and I found my resolve breaking.

No. I need to get out of here.

I forced my arms out of Andrew's grasp, surprising him. I took his moment of surprise and quickly opened the door, getting out.

I shut the door and ran to my car. Before anyone could catch up to me, I got in and backed my car away.

Without thinking about anything, I pressed down on the accelerator and started my way to the only place where I knew no one could find me.

****

An hour later, I sat on the driver's seat with my head on the steering wheel. Lifting it up, I took a deep breath as I took in the house in front of me.

Lost memories resurfaced in my mind and a small, barely noticeable smile made its way on to my face.

Nothing much from the outside had changed. The house was the same light brown coloured with dark slanting roof and lush green bushes liking the path to the door of the house.

I got out of the car, picking up the necessities and slowly walked towards the building. Each step carved a new memory in my head.

I momentarily forgot all the troubled I'd ever faced as I slowly neared the door. Taking a deep breath I knocked on the front door, trying to remember the last time I'd come here.

Four years back? Or was it five?

I've had a lot of happy memories stuck to this house.

The door in front of me creaked open, introducing an old woman with a spatula covered in batter in her hand.

She was old yet beautiful. Her pale white skin marred by wrinkles still didn't prevent the warmth radiating off this lady. Her hair had a few greying strands while the majority were white as snow.

"Hello, how may I help you?" The woman asked and I couldn't help but let my smile escape from where it was hiding.

"Do I look that homeless, Gran?" I asked, chuckling.

The woman froze for a moment. Her eyes widening a bit as she looked at me carefully. "S-Skylar?"

I grinned at her, all my worries forgotten. "Who else calls you Gran? Don't tell me you let that teaser Tony steal my name for you," I feigned hurt as I looked at my grandmother.

"It is you! Oh my darling, no wonder I couldn't recognise you. You look like a trampled cat who bathed in garbage. Come on in, Fred would love to see his grand daughter!" She said, ushering me in.

I laughed as I heard her ramble on and on. She was one talkative woman.

Grace Ilsa Jones, wife of Fredrick Thomas Jones, was a beautiful woman who had an equally beautiful child who I used to call mom. Gran and Gramp were my only grandparents.

The ones on my paternal side had passed away even before I could meet them. When mom passed away and dad remarried, a lot of things had happened.

Gramp used to be the CEO of the company my dad controls and owns. Dad told me that since Gramp was filled with grief upon mom's death, he had handed over the company to him.

Which is the main reason why I couldn't grasp what Mr. Henderson had told me.

Shaking off my thoughts, I followed Gran as she ushered me into a washroom and give me some spare clothes to wear.

Mom's old clothes, to be exact.

I don't know why but whenever I stepped foot in this house, I became a giddy girl. Maybe it was the aura my grandparents carried but whatever it was, I was happy to get a diversion from my sad life.
***
"Hey, Gran?" I spoke as I sat with my head in her lap. She gently stroked my now clean hair as we sat in the living room cushion.

"Hmm?"

"Why do such mean people exist?" I questioned her. Even though it was a pretty stupid one, I couldn't help but ask, feeling like a kid once again laying their in my grandma's lap.

I'd told her why I was in a horrible state when I knocked on the door earlier. She wanted to grab her pan and go beat Alicia and Lacey but I stopped her.

I had to stop her because I knew she wouldn't hesitate beating the shit out of everyone who troubled me. Even my dad.

"Honey, there is no exact answer to that. Some people are mean because they want to hide their insecurities while some just get pleasure by pushing people around," she answered and I frowned.

Alicia was so not insecure. Even if she was, her insecurities weren't big enough to make her conscious.

"But the-" I started but Gran cut me off.

"Shh. Don't stress about it much. Just go to sleep. You look drained and there are huge bags under your eyes. Rest up and we'll talk in the morning," Gran said, making me close my eyes and snuggle into her.

I wish life was always this peaceful. It's not, though. Which is why sometimes we need to fight for this peace with everything we have.

Alicia had made sure that I wouldn't get even a little bit of peace in my life since the time she entered my life. Her grudge towards me was crossing boundaries that shouldn't be crossed by anyone at all.

Maybe that's the reason why her aggressiveness towards me was increasing each passing moment. She knew she had power over me and she was making full use of it.

But that's the thing with power. If given too much, it creates an illusion of superiority and control which blinds the person to an extent that he/ she forgets that the subject of control can grow too.

Maybe because Alicia has had power over me for so long, that she forgot who I could really be. Who knew that she would cross her limits to such an extent that she'd awaken the hidden Skylar Jones.

She has forgotten that a river cuts through stones not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

And now she unknowingly might've forced Skylar awake. The same Skylar that held her head high and her heart strong.
*****

Hey Guys! Another update?

How was it?

Im sorry if it seemed a bit rushed. I just wanted to update it so I wrote as fast as I could. I'll edit it soon!

It's my third update in a week. Woah! Anyways, anticipate the next few updates because you may see Penny for the last time *hint hint*

Anyways, vote and comment! Love you all❤️❤️

FOR THE WINNERS:

Kindly answer these:-

1) Who do you want your imagine with?
2) What stage of a relationship do you want me to portray?
(For example, the first meeting, already in a relationship, first date...etc)
3) Tell me your personality in five words.
4) Do you want the guy mentioned in question 1) to be how he is now (I.e famous) or just a normal one?
5) Give THREE of your favourites. (Can be anything from food to places to outfits)
6) How do I send your imagine. There could be two options-
a) I email it to you
b) I publish it as a separate part of this story for everyone to see.

7) Please tell me your name😅 or your preferred one.

It might take some time for me to write the imagines so please bear with me. You can PM me your answers or just comment them here...

THANKS!