RavenMcBride
i’m a teenage aspiring author, i’ve been writing for as long as i can remember. so yeah :)
RavenMcBride
i’m a teenage aspiring author, i’ve been writing for as long as i can remember. so yeah :)
i’m a teenage aspiring author, i’ve been writing for as long as i can remember. so yeah :)
i’m a teenage aspiring author, i’ve been writing for as long as i can remember. so yeah :)
“I’m sick of it!” Isla cried, slamming her fists on the table. Thalia briefly stopped pacing to glance at Isla, and felt guilt tear through her heart. “All the lies, the secrets, I’m sick of it!” Isla gritted her teeth as oceans swam in her eyes, betraying the mask she was trying to keep on.
“Isla,” Thalia began, but was cut off quickly by Isla’s shaky voice.
“Don’t you dare “Isla” me, Thalia Lynn.” Isla looked at Thalia with a fury Thalia had never seen before. She stepped backwards, away from Isla, feelings as though bullets were ripping through her.
“Isla, I did it for your own good. Your safety!” Thalia raised her voice, but she wasn’t angry. She couldn’t possibly be angry at Isla, especially after all Thalia had done to her. She didn’t deserve it.
Isla slammed her fists on the table again. “Oh please! For my own safety? My goddamn safety is more important to you than trust? Than us?” Isla gestured between them, at the growing space that was occupying the room. Thalia wanted to step out and touch her, comfort her, but she swallowed the urge. Isla didn’t need comforting. She needed answers.
“Thalia,” Isla whispered, her voice icy and distant. “Tell me who you really are.” Isla had been staring at the floor, but in that moment she looked up and in that moment Thalia was filled with a longing for this girl stronger than she’d ever felt before. She nearly lunged forward but stopped herself, knowing she had approximately five minutes to explain before Isla exploded and Thalia would have ruined everything she’d ever had with her. So she took a deep breath, and began.
“It all started a few years ago, maybe three or four.” She took a deep breath again and averted her gaze. She couldn’t stand to look at Isla’s deep blue, nearly black, eyes, looking at her like she was a stranger. “I didn’t know you yet.” Thalia began pacing. Isla stayed glued to the floor, her knuckles white she was gripping the table so hard. “You were a stranger to me. So anyways, I was walking along the main road leading to my house. I had just gotten ice cream and was in a relatively good mood. Attacks on our city had been scarce the past few months, and I was glad I didn’t have to worry about the fear or anxiety of merely existing.
“But as I was enjoying my ice cream, I heard it. The first bomb that started the World War III.” Thalia’s breath caught in her throat and her eyes began to well with tears, remembering the day in detail. “It was far away. Everyone around me froze. We were paralyzed in fear, wondering if it was just bomb testing that got out of hand, or if it was really happening. I mean, you didn’t live here yet, but the bomb threats had gotten worse and three or four attacks had even happened. Nothing bad, very few casualties, but attacks nonetheless. Before I fully realized what was happening, a small grenade was thrown into the middle of the street. And within a few seconds I was blown backwards.”
Thalia turned to face Iris and pulled up her short, showing an ugly red scar leading across her stomach. “I nearly died that day. That was when I decided I needed to save people. I knew plenty of people had died the same way I nearly did, and I wasn’t going to stand for it. Less than a month later, when I was out of the hospital, I was contacted by Evangeline. Or Lina, that’s what we call her.” Thalia glanced up at Iris, who was still stone faced.
“And?”
Thalia stopped pacing, inching slightly closer to Iris. “And, well, Evangeline recruited me. To save the city and all. From the bombs.” Iris’ mouth dropped open and tears filled her eyes once more. Thalia winced at the sight but managed to hold herself back. Until Iris broke down and sobbed over the table, and Thalia closed the distance between them, bringing Iris into her arms.
Iris looked up at Thalia, and suddenly they were kissing, and the hole that was beginning to form in Thalia’s heart was closed. She felt Iris’ heartbeat against her own and sighed.
Iris looked at her feet. “You had to go through this, for four years, alone?”
Thalia shrugged, then said, “Yeah, I guess, but at least you’re safe.” Iris smiled.
HANNAH
The smell of coffee hung in the air, making my head throb. “Avery, how come you chose THIS coffee shop? You know how sensitive my headaches are.” I touched my hand to my forehead tenderly, wincing at the pain.
“Shit, I’m so sorry Hannah! I totally forgot.” Avery gave me her “sorry” face, with her upturned eyebrows and sad puppy eyes, but I could tell she didn’t mean it. I sighed and glanced towards the door.
“It’s alright. Get me a black coffee, will you? I’m gonna step outside.” Avery nodded and bounced on her heels excitedly. Avery was a fall fanatic, and her favorite coffee shop just announced the official release of their pumpkin spiced lattes. I opened the door and breathed in deeply as the cool autumn air hit my face, relaxing my muscles and easing my headache. I looked out at the foggy afternoon, taking in the scenery and everyone around me. There weren’t many people out yet, since it was before five and most everyone was at work. I hoped Avery would hurry up, because I was really craving some coffee.
AVERY
I was waiting in line for my coffee, eyes darting around excitedly. I loved autumn and cold weather and Halloween and everything, and I mean everything, fall related. I dragged Hannah along for the ride but honestly didn’t expect her to stay except for the reward of caffeine at the end. I was just about to go outside to tell Hannah we could come back later since the line was too long when I spotted her.
Her, in question, was the most beautiful woman of all time.
Zendaya.
Let me tell you, I LOVED that woman. She was my idol. And to see her in a small coffee shop in northern Minnesota? Practically impossible. When I first saw her, I did a double take. I must’ve been seeing things. Zendaya didn’t even live near here. But no, it was definitely her. It was surprising, though, because she was wearing absolutely no makeup and joggers. But she was still gorgeous. I frantically texted Hannah that Zendaya, yes, THE Zendaya, was in the coffee shop right behind her. I took out a coupon, the first thing I could find in my backpack, and cautiously approached Zendaya with the Little Caesar’s coupons and a dying pen in my hand.
“Um, hi, are you Zendaya?” I asked, like a total dumbass. Zendaya looked me up and down and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“No, I’m sorry. Not Zendaya.” Now it was my turn to look her up and down. I knew what I saw, and what I saw was Zendaya, in the flesh.
“Really? Cause you look a whole lot like her.” The meekness in my voice was gone, replaced by annoyance. She just had to sign the coupon and move on. It wasn’t that hard!
“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Not-Zendaya said dryly.
“Well, what’s your name? You’re cute.” I slid a bit closer to her, and she leaned away. I frowned and then, when she didn’t respond, rolled my eyes. “C’ mon,” I groaned. “Just sign the damn coupon!” I yelled that last part a lot louder than I meant to, and everyone was looking at me and Not-Zendaya. “Sorry,” I muttered, shrinking away from Not-Zendaya. I went to go pay for Hannah and my coffee and quickly dashed out the door.
HANNAH
“God, that took you long enough,” I grumbled, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Dude, I shit you not I just saw Zendaya. She refused to admit it was her!” Avery was rambling on and on but I tuned her out. This wasn’t the first time this happened. Once, she was totally convinced she saw Zac Efron in a run down gas station in the middle of Georgia. I shut that down real quick.
“Avery, come on, let it-“ My sentence was cut short by Zendaya walking out of the damn coffee shop. After both Avery and I ogling at Zenday for a few seconds, all I manage is a weak “Oh.”
After that, Avery wouldn’t let it go. All she could say was “I told you so,” and all I could say was “whatever.” We never saw Not-Zendaya ever again, but Avery did eventually get Real-Zendaya’s autograph, and she was fine with that. To this day we both wonder if Not-Zendaya was honestly Real-Zendaya.