Broken Halves
The music was blaring. Anything would do; anything to drown it out.
Lost in the noise, Bella’s thoughts wandered. Her eyes drifted across the room, scanning past the towers of CDs, the desk piled high with overdue homework and assignments and wardrobe with mirror doors. Something was odd. Her arm leant over her body to pause the music, still not taking her eyes off the mirror door. “Please don’t…” she whispered, so quiet it could have been a thought. Bella lifted herself silently off the bed; she pulled herself almost through the air making sure to glide and make no sudden movements or sounds as she ventured towards the wardrobe; the wardrobe which she once shared.
Each door of the closet had a full length mirror with the edges rounded and closed in with swirling wooden patterns. The entire thing and a vibe of age and stories. Everything about the colossal wooden box was symmetrical. Every feature, every carving, every handle, every nook and cranny was the same. The right hand side had belonged to Bella for as long as she could remember, the left wasn't owned by anyone. Not any more. That’s the only thing that made the two halves different: one had a secret.
Bella continued to stare, past her reflection, eye boring straight into the wood. She was waiting. Waiting for the noise she hated. The noise that came when everything was utterly silent. Just like now.
‘Knock. Knock. Knock.’
Bella sank down onto the floor. Whimpering in her mind and crying in her heart, yet still unable to make a sound.
‘KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.’
“Hey Bella, sorry but…”
Bella jumped up and back, covering her face to try and hide her tears which burst out the same way as her bedroom door and let out the most shrill, piercing, terrified scream. “Erm... Sorry Bella. I never meant to scare you.” It was Jake, ripped-at-the-knees jeans, over sized band shirts with hair like a troll doll; Jake as scruffy as ever.
“Yeah yeah fine.” She tried to smile and briskly wiped away the tears with the backs of her hands.
“Awh, come here,” Jake said gently. Bella felt the embrace of her only true friend left wrap around her. It was like the protective bubble she so desperately needed. “I just came over to check on you. You weren’t at school and haven’t replied to any texts or calls…” He stated, pulling away. Bella felt to questions brewing on top, “And your mum says you’ve not left your room at all today either.” Bella looked at his eyes quickly; they were always so full of concern these days, after what happened that night. She turned around silently, retreating to her bed and sat crossed-legged, fidgeting with the covers for a moment. “Just a bad day. That’s all.”
“You not gonna tell me anymore?” Jake asked sitting next to her. He turned his head around, looking for any clues and then spotted something which made him frown. “Where is it?” He inquired with a raised voice.
“Where’s what?” Bella mumbled.
“The picture, it’s gone.” Jake stared at the space on her bedside table.
“Oh that.” Bella walked over to the window where several folders and books stood upright, like attentive soldiers, including a charcoal black picture frame. “I put it here.” She said bluntly, handing the frame to Jake. “I’ve been dreaming and thinking about her a lot recently and I wanted it out o the way.”
Jake stroked the person on the left carefully, as if he was reaching back in time. “Well it is coming up to one year.” He said with a voice that only seemed to be half focused on the conversation, the other half was thinking about something else.
“I’ve been thinking about that night too.” With those words, Bella pulled a dark cloud over the two teenagers. The atmosphere hung heavily and there was a flash flood of memories. They wallowed in the past for a few minutes, something which Bella could not face. “It wasn’t your fault,” Jake said eventually.
“She was my sister!” Bella shot back, with red hot eyes that Jake could feel. “Not to mention she saved your life once!” She sneered.
“Hey! I care okay!” Jake shot straight up to level with her, “I just need to move on with my life. You do too.”
Bella groaned and tousled her hair. The fiery red curls framed her face beautifully, but her green eyes lost their glow the night her heart broke in two.
So... Any thoughts at all? Anything you'd change or that I could work on? I really want to do well in English so any advice would be great. Obviously if it's shit then tell me also. I mean that in all seriousness. The second part should be up either the morrow or Monday. :) Thank you if you've read it!xxx
