The chapter is dedicated to loginwithya for the immense support! All my love goes out to you, my friend! ❤❤

And as for the rest of my beautiful earthly friends, please don't forget to VOTE and comment so that I know that you exist. :)
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Voicemail of 29th July' 2015

11:03 a.m.

"Good morning, Emma."

He was a little out of breath and there was distant chatter in the background so I was taking that he must have been out in the streets then.

"I'm sure you had an amazing birthday, at least I'd like to think that you did and I'm quite certain of my guesswork regarding you by now. Also in case you were wondering about the noises in the background then I'll let you know that I'm out and about in the bustling little city of Lincoln at the moment."

Ah so he was out on the roads then, I amusingly mused to myself. He wasn't the only one whose guesswork had gotten polished to a good degree.

"By now, love, I think it goes without saying what I'm doing roaming around the town before it's even noon."

He chuckled lightly and my lips started to curve upwards... Started though, because I instantly zipped them back down with full force, annoyed with my own self for daring to smile at his actions. No, no smiling.

"So yeah, I was stalking you. I say was because you've already gone back to your cosy flat. Though I will say that I was more than just happy to see you today,"

His ambiguous statement confused me. Why? What was so special about that day?

I racked my brain for any interesting or out-of-the-ordinary events that might have taken place the day following my birthday last year, but sadly I came up short. A frown appeared on my face and I sent a silent prayer upwards to not hear any more unsettling news. I was almost a hundred percent sure that I'd gladly chuck the phone at the wall with all my strength if such a case were to happen. Right now I had more than the safe amount of anger coursing through me and it was already hard enough to contain it without blowing apart at a certain someone sitting in the same house as me.

"See, thing is, Ems, that I've turned into quite a love-sick puppy and so I couldn't help myself but leave a gift for you on your birthday."

There was half bits amusement and half bits shyness in his tone but I took close to none note of that; I was too busy trying to keep a steady flow of oxygen in and out of my lungs since breathing had become just that bit more hard.

He couldn't. He wouldn't! Would he?

"Now don't take this the wrong way, love. I wasn't scouring through every shop in here, looking for that one perfect gift for you. No, not at all was it like that. What happened was more of an uh... destined event than anything else actually."

He chuckled nervously, making it obvious that he was afraid as to whether or not I would be considering him a nincompoop in the future. To be fair though, I wasn't that much far from thinking of him along the same lines.

"I was just minding my own business, strolling down the shopping street with a cup of freshly bought tea in my hand when this guy just came out of nowhere and crashed into me. Of course this resulted in the loss of my much beloved tea and I was just about to sing a string of profanities for the guy-"

This time, before I could scold myself again for feeling too much for him, I let out a hearty laugh - surprising my own self since I had been silent and brooding for so long. The surprise didn't however keep the smirk off my lips; he was too addicted to tea for his own good.

However then, I did manage to stop myself before I had almost muttered 'amazing dork' under my breath with the smirk still set on my face. Almost because the words were just there, right at the tip of my tongue and it was painfully constraining to know how easily I had slipped into the lost-loving-wife-role I had come to take upon myself.

"-when he started to apologise profusely; plus he had this absolutely horrified look on his face and then he was announcing how he just had to make this up to me by buying me another cup of tea. I swear, Ems, I think he loved the drink almost as much as I do!"

I found myself relaxing and settling into a more comfortable position on the bed as I held the phone against my ear with one hand and played with the hem of my shirt with the other. Truth be told, I was aware of how marvellously swiftly I was able to forget everything horrible about this situation and just be content with listening to him ramble on about his day. And frankly speaking, this truth was more terrifying than about half of all the revelations from the day so far.

"Anyways, back to the point. The guy then started to rake his pockets for money and kept on talking and apologising as he searched his wallet. Fortunately, as it turned out later on, there was no change in his wallet. So he turned on his heel and marched inside the nearest shop, which just so happened to be a jewellery store. I, being the shy little thing I am, followed suit."

He cleared his throat, doing his best to lay out the entire mysterious aura in conveying the story. I would have laughed had I not been busy scowling. Unfortunately, as he was soon to see, my suspicions were proving to be true.

He had done it, after all, hadn't he?

"While the guy explained to the cashier his urgent need for change, I took to looking around the shop. And that's when I spotted it, Ems. I found the most perfect little gift for you, perfectly befitting of our entire situation - a"

I scowled harder. A clover leaf charm bracelet, I grumbled.

"-a clover leaf charm bracelet,

"It was a beautiful and small little thing, really. A silver chain with just one shimmering clover leaf attached to it. The fact that the leaf was blue didn't help me steer away from it either. And what made it seem even more destined was the irony of it all, love. I mean, if I am one to say then our luck has been quite on the down low and yet here was one of the luckiest charms staring back at me in barely concealed mirth."

He let out a small laugh.

"So I knew then and there that I just had to buy it... and buy it I did. Followed by leaving the gift at your doorstep later on that day when I was sure San wasn't home - wouldn't have wanted to get myself caught by your sister, now would have I?"

He sighed contently for a second. I on the other hand, was anything but content.

I remembered that day perfectly well. It was Sandra who had come back home later in the evening with a small gift bag in hand, saying she had found the thing in front of our door. I also remembered San's teasing about me having found a new secret admirer as well as my own happy squeals when I finally had opened the small box in which the bracelet was secured in.

Sighing, I bowed down my head. I loved the bracelet, really loved it. And here was yet another thing I held dear whose dimensions had now been ruined into something a lot more confusing and depressing.

"Now, back to why I was more than just happy to see you today."

I knew without even listening what his confession was then.

"You were wearing the bracelet, love. And not just wearing it, you were showing it off to that cashier girl, Ruby.

"And I must say, Ems, you had me smiling like a fool when I saw you gushing on and on about how absolutely wonderful you thought the gift was. I was actually quite proud of myself to be honest."

Of course I had been gushing to Ruby. Like I said, I loved the bracelet. And yes, loved past tense. I wasn't too sure of my feelings for the said piece of jewellery anymore. The sentiments weren't of hatred, that much I knew, but more of a bittersweet note to it.

I laughed with mirth at this. That was practically my life currently - a delectable yet distasteful mixture of bittersweet things and memories.

"Well, I've gotto go now, Ems. Have a good day.

"Love you."
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Lyrics of song "Scarecrow" by Alex and Sierra:

[Alex:]
I'm standin' still without you
In the emptiest of fields
I wish that I could say what's on my mind

[Sierra:]
The straw that fills your heart
So you never have to feel
You say that you just need a little time

[Alex:]
Days like these I bury my
My each and every word
And hide them underneath these lonely trees

[Sierra:]
The harvest moon is wicked
I know that you've been hurt
I swear I'm here for good I'll never leave

[Alex:]
This is where it starts tonight
[Sierra:]
If you open up your heart tonight

[Both:]
You're staring out the window
And I'm out here in the street
You stand there like a scarecrow
And I'm begging you to speak
You used to be my solid ground
Now I'm drowning in the sea
And I just want to believe in you and me
I just want to believe in you and me

(Heeya! Heey! Heeya! Heey)

[Sierra:]
You used to be so full of life
Not just an empty shell
You're out there all alone I wonder why

[Alex:]
The pieces keep on falling out
And I pick them up myself
But I'd let you steal the buttons from my eyes

[Alex:]
Oh, this is where it starts tonight
[Sierra:]
If you open up your heart tonight

[Both:]
You're staring out the window
And I'm out here in the street
You stand there like a scarecrow
And I'm begging you to speak
You used to be my solid ground
Now I'm drowning in the sea
And I just want to believe in you and me
Yeah, I just want to believe in you and me

(Heeya! Heey! Heeya! Heey)
(Heeya! Heey! Heeya! Heey)

[Sierra:]
You said you'd open up for me
[Alex:]
Well nothing's what it seems to be
[Sierra:]
How can I make you feel again
[Alex:]
Only you can make me real again

[Both:]
You're staring out the window
And I'm out here in the street
You stand there like a scarecrow
And I'm begging you to speak
You used to be my solid ground
Now I'm drowning in the sea
I just want to believe in you and me
I just want to believe in you and me

[Both:]
You're staring out the window
I'm out here in the street
You stand there like a scarecrow
I'm begging you to speak
You used to be my solid ground
Now I'm drowning in the sea
And I just want to believe in you and me
Yeah, I just want to believe in you and me

(Heeya! Heey! Heeya! Heey)

[Both:]
You're staring out the window
I'm out here in the street
You stand there like a scarecrow
And I just want to believe in you and me
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ONLY FOUR MORE CHAPTERS TO GO NOW, BABES! YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT! ONLY FOUR MORE!!! :D :D

On a less urgent note, as some of you may already know, I finally got my Alevels result last Thursday on the 11th. To say that I was scared on my way to get it would be a HUGE understatement. But I won't bore you all with the details of how my journey went, here's my result:

*drum rolls*

Psychology - A*
Biology - A*
Physics - B
Chemistry - B

Now... let's just say that I'm still celebrating even though it's been four days now. *sighs in content* ^_^

Share this story for the remaining four chapters, comment and vote!

Much much muuuuccch LOVE, ❤❤❤
-zainab.