Chapter 4, Alice's past.
-Amber's point of view-
After school, Joel and I toured around the school campus, letting him familiarize with the surrounding classrooms, etc. After the so called 'tour', we sat down on a bench in the sky gardens, enjoying a nice cup of coffee. When we were done, he insisted on walking me home, and I had no other choice but to give in to him. He was the one supplying with topics to talk on, for what seemed to make time fly. I was really grateful that he did that, or else it'll be very awkward on the way home. I was glad that we had a chance to talk, even though it was only for a good 10 minutes.
After leaving me at my doorstep, he walked out of my gates, waving as he exited the entrance of my house. My mother opened the door slowly, and then dragged me in, closing the door behind her. Her face had a playful smirk. "Who's that guy? He's sure a good catch! Why didn't you bring him in?" Those questions she asked, one after another. "Mum,.." I said, dragging my sentence, placing my hand on hers. "First of all, he's a new student in my class, and I don't have any feelings for him. Anyway, I was just showing him around the school, and he insisted on walking me home," I said dully. "Well, you should've brought him in for tea, or something," my mother said, disappointed.
Later on during dusk, there was the familiar tapping rhythm on my balcony door. I drew my curtains partially open, and there she was, glowing faintly in the semi-darkness. I opened the sliding door slowly, and a strong gust of wind smacked my face, catching me off-guard. "It's too cold and windy outside, why not come in?" I asked, peering out into the darkness. "What if your parents come in?" Alice asked, shuddering. "They'll usually knock. Anyway if they do, you can just hide behind the bed," She just smiled faintly.
The room was silent for the long time, and Alice broke the silence first. "That guy, Joel, wasn't it?" She asked with a frown, as if trying to remember. "How did you know about Joel?" I asked, alarmed, facing her, my eyes widening.
-Alice's point of view-
"How did you know about Joel?" That question rang in my head. I sat on her bed, thinking hard. Truth was. I was watching her, ever since the day we met in the cave, by the beach. Usually she would be sitting on her bed or something, facing the sliding door, waiting for me to come. But for these few days, she'd do her schoolwork, after which crawl into her bed and fall asleep. I got curious and followed her to school today. Everyone seemed so consumed with that new guy. Amber didn't really seem interested in him, or bothered at the most, although he was quite good looking. It was only after school, when they were alone together, was when I could feel her change of mind, that this guy, she would want to be with.
"I..I.." I stammered, thinking of something to say, something that she'd believe in. She looked at me questioningly, but didn't rush me. "I heard of him, from my friend in your school," I blurted out, after thinking it would be something she would believe in.
-Amber's point of view-
I sat still thinking. Alice had a friend in my school? How did she even know which school I go to? It was a private school, after all. Did she follow me there? Or, or maybe, I had already told her that, but I forgot.I'm always rather forgetful, and I hated it. "Say, I didn't know you had goldfishes," Alice said, peering into my goldfish bowl. She suddenly tensed up, staring at the goldfish bowl. She took a step backwards, turned around and ran, her eyes wide with horror.
-Alice's point of view-
What came over me-was horrifying. Looking into the goldfish bowl, I saw myself in the distant, struggling to stay afloat. I was thrashing about, but it was of no use. Water got into my eyes, and it stung. My arms and legs ached, and I was going under. I didn't want to die, I thought, furiously trying to push the water away from me in vain. Amber is still waiting for me to return, I thought. I didn't want to leave her, wait, anyone, without saying a single goodbye. The water didn't help, making me heavier to stay afloat. Gravity didn't help, either, pulling me down. I mustn't.. Leave..Amber, I thought, sobbing. And I fell into the darkness, dreaming. Dreaming of Amber, the look on her face, when she found out I left her. And all along, my body was sinking..Sinking..
When I woke up from my state of unconsciousness, I was dripping wet. 'I'm alive?' I thought. Then I realised that was sitting on a small sandy island, big enough to fit me and a small coconut tree. That was when I saw what was floating in front of me-my body. Lifeless, as it is, it drifted along the current, like a rag doll. I clasped my hand over my mouth, and cried in pain.
That memory, which had been engraved in my heart ever since.
My back was pressed on the wall, my eyes still wide from terror. I started shaking my head, tears flowing out. "No..no, no, no.. NOOOOOO!!" I cried out in grief. I saw Amber's eyes, full of worry and concern on her innocent-looking face, Her hand, reached out to me, unsure what to do.