Chapter 1
My parents and I were in the living room of the cottage where we lived. Seated on sofas facing each other were my parents, both completely engrossed in the books they were reading. They were as still as a statue while I was running all round the house with my brown teddy bear in my hand.
For a second it felt as if all of it were true. However, I was brought back to reality by the banging on the door.
“Vianna dinner’s ready,” Reese shouted from the other side with her usual cheery voice.
“I’m not feeling well. I’ll eat later,” I replied promptly. Hearing my sore voice Reese came inside my room.
“Why, what happened?” she asked, concern marring her whole face.
“Just the seasonal fever I thin,” I brushed off.
Reese was not satisfied by my answer and stood there contemplating what to do.
“Really I’m fine Reese. Don’t worry,” I said with a stronger tone.
“I’ll be one call away if you need me,” she said, kissed the top of my forehead and left the room to leave me to my solitary.
Reese was probably one of the only few people in my life who I could trust. That was because she had been there with me for as long as I could remember. Both my parents had died when I was of a young age for which I could not remember much about them. At times memories used to resurface but as I grew older it seemed like a scene from a movie that I watched a long time back. As far as I could recall, my parents were book enthusiasts and they were very keen with their work. At times it seemed comical that those were the only memories that was left with me. Regardless, it was the bitter reality that did not accept any alternation.
After their departure Reese was the one who I landed with. Even though we were not related by blood and she was only a few years older than me, Reese acted like the guardian that I needed. She was always there by my side and looked after me like my own mother.
It was 8 at night but after a while my eyelids were as heavy as it could be. Hence, even before I knew I was deep in my slumber.
The next time when I opened my eyes it was early morning. The silhouette of the high rise buildings could be seen in the distance through my window. Birds were chirping and the weather was just prefect outside with the occasional breeze blowing. It was 6 in the morning and I got up to get going with the day with great enthusiasm.
“How are you feeling?” Reese asked as I emerged the kitchen.
“As normal as I could be,” I replied even though I was not. I knew that if I said I was not feeling well Reese would insist to stay at home. Given on any other day I would have considered that option without any reluctance. However, that day something as silly as a minor fever was not an excuse to stay inside. The opening ceremony for the annual basketball game would be held and I was in the team as the team captain. I had been looking forward to this day for months straight and would not miss it for anything.
“Okay, I know you want to go to school but make sure you call me if you need me to pick you up early. I’ll work from home today,” Reese winked at me. God! That woman could see right through me every single time. I grinned at her and nodded my head as a reply.
After approximately another minute my best friend called me saying that she was waiting outside my house. “They are here to pick me,” I said getting up from my sitting position. “Best of luck for the day sweetheart.” Reese beamed at me which made me realize that it was only a few more hours before it began.
I was completely overwhelmed by excitement. As I got out to see my friends, Nathan and Thea, they had the same energy.
“Vianna,” Nathan exclaimed.
“I knowww,” I shouted.
“Let’s just hope that nothing bad happens,” I said.
“Come on girl, don’t worry,” Thea put her hand on my shoulder.
“Everything will be alright,” she added confidently.
All three of us thought that we were at our utmost excitement level but when we entered school we were hyped up even more. As soon as we reached, our other friends joined in with us. Added to that the hallways were decorated and many of the students were already in the school’s jersey. Al in all, the whole atmosphere had a festive mood.
In school I had a considerable number of friends but it was only a few handful with whom I was really close. Thea, Nathan and I were in the same institution since kindergarten and were friends even then. Afterwards, when we came to Kinsley High we met Addison, Aiden and Finn and we all became the best of friends. From our group Thea, Nathan, Aiden and I somehow ended playing basketball in the school’s team too.
“When will the other schools come?” Aiden asked as we walked through hallway.
“Around 10 I guess,” Finn replied.
“I hope there are hot boys there,” Addison said out loud making me raise my eyebrows at her and laugh at the same time.
“So that you can ogle at them?” Aiden teased her just as our Principal’s voice came out of the speaker. All the people in the team and the prefects were called for a swift meeting.
“Finn please take care of Addi and make sure that you are with her at all times for she may get out of control,” Nathan joked. Addison squinted her eyes which made us all laugh harder.
All the others from our team and the prefects of our school gathered together within a short while. We were all given intricate instructions which took almost an hour to finish.
The annual basketball tournament was held each year by different school, this year by ours. Teams from different institutions were to come for the week long tournament. That day was just the traditional introduction for it while the actual tournament would be held a month from then.
After the detailed instructions about everything we all went inside the court to see that many others teams had already come all of whom were seated in an organised manner.
“No joke but I actually think I’m going to faint because of the hormones rushing inside me,” Thea, who was standing beside me, said which cracked me up.
Our school’s boys and girls team stood beside each other by the fringe. The program began and as a tradition all the other teams were called one by one and were asked to stand in an organised way.
Our keen eyes were put to work as we took in all the faces of whom we would be playing against.
“I’m sure Addi is looking at that one by the side right now,” Thea whispered to me.
“Which one?”
“From Fords, straight dark brown hair, by the door,” Thea described. I was able to distinguish him almost instantly.
“I would not be surprised if Addi stalked him by now,” I chuckled.
“That intense face is something though,” Thea said making me laugh silently.
All the teams were introduced by calling out the names of the players one by one. It was the part when we all began to become restless for it took almost 2 hours to finish the arduous work. Though by the end the program became banal, it marked the beginning of the tournament which was all that mattered.
None of the classes were held that day due to the prolonged program and we were allowed to leave school as the program ceased.
“You guys wanna come to my place?” Finn asked as we were leaving the school grounds. It was only after noon for which we all agreed to go to Finn’s bungalow. I called Reese to let her know that I was going. However, when she did not answer I texted her instead so that she would not worry about my delay.
“It would have been better if I had joined the team all those years back,” Finn complained as we were entering his bungalow.
“You know you’re not much of an athlete,” Aiden pointed out.
“Yeah, but it’s better than hearing Addison’s rants about how tall a boy is,” he continued. We all burst out laughing, all except Addison who was giving Finn a death glare.
“I do not rant all the time,” she huffed.
“Sure you do not rant all the time, but the amount you do is still excessive for me to bear,” Finn joked.
“Finn do you think that I’m blind and did not see you look at others the whole time?” Addi joined in.
“At least I keep it all to myself,” he stated.
“Oh poor Finn,” Addi joked and playfully pinched his cheek.
“But did you guys see that one boy from Fords?” Addi began again.
“Don’t start on him again,” said Finn. “Come on even you said that he was hot,” Addison countered.
“Who? Jason?” Nathan asked.
“Yeah,” Addi replied with dreamy eyes.
“Jason who turned 18 and lives with his mother. Only child and has a good dressing sense,” Finn stated all at once.
“I’m assuming that it was not you who did the research,” I joked.
We spent the afternoon at Finn’s place and had lunch there as well. Later, Nathan dropped me at my place during the evening.
I opened the door and got inside the house which was dead silent at that time. “Reese I’m home,” I called but the silence perpetuated. “Reese?” I called again but there was no answer. Usually Reese puts on music when she works but the pin drop silence at that time was horrifying. I went upstairs to see if she was in her room which was odd because she was never in her room if it was not during her bedtime.
I knocked on her door and there was no answer. I opened my phone to see if she had called or texted but there was nothing in there either. However, there was one thing that caught my eye. Reese had not seen the text I had sent her in the morning before I went to Finn’s house. Nevertheless, I went to my room and kept my bag before I went downstairs in the kitchen to fetch a bottle of water.
It was at that time when I saw it.
All the blood rushed from my face and I began to feel cold at that instant. Reese was there lying on the ground with blood all around her head.
I called an ambulance immediately which appeared within the next few minutes. Reese was taken to the hospital where the doctor began her check up. I had accompanied her of course but for the latter part of the night I could not recall most of what had happened.
The fever that I had augmented and my headache intensified by every passing minute.
There were vague memories of the doctor saying that it was not an accident but an attempted hit that was intentionally made on her. I remembered seeing my friends’ faces and the look of horror they possessed. Regardless, of what had happened I was speculating that it was all a nightmare that I had just seen.
I was aware that I was sleeping at that point. I could feel my eyes closed and hear the faint whisper of someone talking. Maybe it was Reese talking in the distance, maybe it was all just a ridiculous dream and when I opened my eyes I would be in my room under my blankets, maybe the day of the opening ceremony did not take place at all for as long as I could recall it was all a blurred vision in the back of my head.
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