AN:

Now let's continue the journey :)

***

I wake up with heavy breaths, sweats all over my body. The room is still dark. Sitting up, I glance at the clock on my nightstand.

00:30 AM.

I'd been tossing in my sleep because I had a bad dream. It felt so real, about getting caught by the lunatic.

Shaking my head, I get up from my bed. It's useless to try to sleep again, because I know that I won't be able to. I don't know when this nightmare will stop. It once did when Vaughn was here.

After putting on a warm sweater, I walk out of my room and head to the foyer. I open the front door, feeling the cold night wind blowing against my skin.

Why am I still waiting for him to come home like this?

It's not like he's going to come back, Melanie.

I stare at the front gate, and something makes me frown. My heart almost stops as I catch a glimpse of shadows behind it. I almost scream, but then the figure starts to become clearer when it steps under the street light.

"Ma'am, is everything alright?" An officer steps closer toward the gate of my house. I see another one approaching beside him.

A sigh of relief leaves my lips. They are apparently the securities from the housing complex, guarding my house.

"We've been ordered to tighten the security around your house since the incident back then, so there's no need to worry," one of them says, concern in his voice. "We're conducting patrols. And we do this every night. We're keeping in touch with the cops as well."

That's really good to hear. "Thank you," I say, grateful that I can at least still feel safe in my own house. "I'm just...waiting for someone, actually."

The officer nods in understanding before getting back into his position. Feeling the air getting even colder and finally thinking that I might catch a cold if I don't get back inside, I close the door and lean back against it.

Blowing a sigh, I stare blankly at my house. My mind plays with me as I imagine Vaughn holding my hand and pulling me into a tight hug at times like this, making me feel safe in his arms.

But I know that it's not going to happen. It's just a fraction of my imagination, which happens to miss him.

The bus stops in front of me, and I step into it. I've decided not to bring my car to college this morning. I need a change, a refreshment, or I might just go crazy.

Recalling the incident the last time I didn't bring my car, I promise myself that I'll get home before dark and that I will stick into the crowd.

The ride to college feels quiet. Silent. Or maybe, it's just me blocking the world around me. I stare out the bus window, leaning my head against the glass. I wonder if I'll ever find him. Who knows? He might be walking down the street now. I'm hoping that I'll bump into him, when I suddenly realize how stupid my wish is. After all, he left me.

What am I going to do if I meet him again? Maybe I'll slap him. Hit him. Tell him that I hate him. Curse him.

Or just crying my eyes out. Relieved that he's okay. Breathing. Standing before me.

As I close my eyes, those questions keep popping into my head, and I find it hard to breathe again.

Why are you doing this to me, Vaughn?

Why...?

Sitting here by myself in the bleacher feels absurd. I watch as the football team conduct their afternoon practice. The coach yells, the guys divided into two teams, attacking their opponents and trying to have control of the ball.

Some of the substitute players standing at the edge of the field keep glancing in my direction. They might be thinking that I'm crazy for hoping that I'll see Vaughn here, whereas they've also tried everything to find him. I'm the girl who is left behind, anyway, unable to move on. I guess that's just how people see me nowadays.

It's 6 PM when they finally finish their practice. I watch as the guys talk to the coach before leaving to the locker room, one by one. Until there's no one left in the field.

Sighing, I get up from my seat, preparing to leave. Just as I step down from the bleacher, rain starts to pour down.

Great. I don't have my umbrella with me right now. I guess that I'm just going to walk in the rain. It doesn't seem so bad.

I feel numb as I walk toward the gate of my campus. The bus stop is still quite a long walk from here, so I have no choice but to keep going. Everything feels fine, until I find my teeth chattering because of the coldness pouring down on me. The rain starts to fall even harder, and I wrap my arms around my body, as if it can make me feel less cold.

While I'm keeping my eyes on the pavement ahead of me -- which is getting more blurry as the rain is getting worse -- the sound of car honk startles me to the core.

A car stops beside me. The window of the passenger's seat is then rolled down, and I see Austin behind the wheel.

"Melanie!" he shouts. "What are you doing? Get inside."

My brain is still processing the information while my body is too numb to do what he told me. Is he trying to give me a ride?

"N-no, it's okay--" I stutter while the coldness on my body is getting unbearable.

"Just get inside my car!" he shouts again. "I'll drive you home."

From the look on his face, I know that he'll keep following me until I get inside his car, so I do what he said.

I open his car door and flop myself on the passenger seat beside him, making his car soaking wet. Then he presses the gas and drives me to my house.

During the ride, none of us is able to speak. I don't know what to say to him, and I guess that he's struggling to find the right words to speak to me. I just keep silent, still wrapping my arms around my drenching body.

Once we arrive at my house, the car pulls in. Silence creeps for a while before I finally say, "Thanks for driving me home." I genuinely appreciate his kindness. My hand is reaching the doorknob when he suddenly calls me.

"Melanie," he says, and when I turn my head toward him, I can see the guilt and sympathy on his face. "I'm sorry for what happens to Vaughn. I know that I owe you some explanation, but I just don't think that it's in my capacity to tell you."

I've realized that Austin knows what's going on, because Vaughn visited his house that day when he came home late. But I also know that Austin won't tell me anything. I asked him once, and I got no answer.

Even Vaughn wouldn't tell me.

And suddenly, I feel like the pain I've been trying to bear is exploding out of my chest. "I know," I whisper, not objecting his sentence at all.

"It's just..." I finally choke, unable to hold it anymore. "I wish he wouldn't just leave like this. I know that it must be hard for him, but I wish he could--" My sobs break, and as they're getting worse, it's even harder for me to talk.

I wish he could be honest with me. If he can't love me anymore...

Austin keeps silent, watching me as I break down. I'm so ashamed that I'm doing this in front of him, but my tears just won't stop flowing. They stream down my cheeks now, unstoppable, as I think about Vaughn.

"I know that I shouldn't wait for him anymore. But even after all that he's done to me, I can't stop worrying about him." My heart hurts so bad every time I wonder if he's okay or not. It's like a striking pain hits my chest as I know that he's in pain.

I can't stop my cries even if I want to.

And right here, I pour it all out to the only person who knows what's going on between us.

***

AN:
The next chapter will be the revelation. Stay tuned :)