Rooming With The Enemy Alpha

7. Moving

(Aaron)

I spent the rest of the day with Liam. Later that night. my father called me to the study. Mom was already there, as well.

“Aaron, we will be leaving day after tomorrow. You can ask Mick and Liam to help you pack your things and Mick can drive you to school tomorrow. You can have your car with you at school. I also talked with your Principal Mr. Alexander. He said he would take care of everything else for you,” dad said with a soft look in my direction.

"I can stay here at the pack, dad," I said with a frown.

"I know, but it would be better for you to be closer to school. You didn't have to drive everyday. It will be easier that way."

"But dad... I don't want to leave here."

He sighed. "Your room is ready and you will be..."

Mom gave a look to dad. "You will be comfortable in your room. Aaron, honey, listen... Everything is going to be alright, or even if it is not, you have to, we have to go on."

"Mom, please."

"It is not Danielle's-" Mom started and then looked at me helplessly. I didn't know how she could always defend Danielle. After all that she had done.

"I don't want to talk about it or her, mom. Not now, not ever."

"Honey, listen..."

"Leave it, love. Let him be," dad said to mom and they both shared a look and mom sighed.

"Honey." Mom kissed me on my head. "Be safe. I promise it is going to be okay."

I didn't believe her promises. I didn't believe anything anymore.

When I fell on my bed, all I could think about was my sister, who was once vivacious and lively.

Daisy was the life of every party. And now...

Now that was... Only in a distant memory.

***

(Danielle)

I ran. I ran until rhe thoughts in my head was blurred.

When I reached my dorm, it was already dark. I stumbled in the dark and jumped on my bed, too tired to change into pajamas. I fell asleep after hours of turning in my bed.

It was dark. I was alone. Even though I knew I was dreaming, the fear that ran through my bone was beyond anything.

The street was dark and cold. Sinister whispers passed through broken walls and... Someone was running after me. I ran, but no

matter how fast I ran... They were faster. Quicker.

Always faster.

Of course. They had shifted. I still hadn't.

A hand grabbed my hair and dragged me back. Wild eyes looked into mine.

"Where are you going, little wolf?"

I screamed. And sat up.

My body was covered in sweat and I was shaking. I tried to breathe in and out and count to hundred, as my therapist had once taught me, but it was of no use. I could feel myself fainting... I closed my eyes and tried again.

Please, please no.

It had been a while since I had this nightmare.

When I could finally feel my hands and legs, I looked at my alarm clock and realized it was past eleven. I stretched in my bed, too tired to get up.

After a few hourse, I stood up and walked into the bathroom. After ten minutes, I walked out of the bathroom and screamed.

It was as if an earthquake had occurred in my room. My clothes were strewn across my bed.

The room had two big closets and I used the two, since I had no roommate. But now the second closet was locked? I never locked.

What the hell is going on here?

Also, I could see the beds were pulled apart. When I came in here, after what happened to Daisy, I had everything in the big room for two, all to myself. My grandmother made sure I was comfortable in my dorm room --she wanted to make sure I liked it here so that I would never go back.

The second desk was now neatly made with a laptop and some other essentials, while my things on them were carelessly thrown on my bed.

I heard someone pounding on my door and I opened to see Ms. Greene standing there, her face alarmed.

“This place is haunted." I said as I looked at Ms. Greene, our warden.

“No it is not haunted. Danielle, you have a new roommate.” She said as she looked at the mess in my room.

I looked at her, my eyes popping out of the socket. New roommate?

"But my grandmother... I-"

"I don't know anything about that, Danielle. You should talk with Principal Alexander."

“Still, some forewarning would have been nice,” I said sarcastically as I threw a vengeful look at the desk and my scattered things. Ms. Greene left with a small apologetic smile.

Whoever this roommate was, she was so going to be dead. I mean, this was too much, she should have asked me to come out and I should have emptied out the closet, but instead she threw them around as if they were garbage? How dare she!

No one should mess with me.

I am the boss here, new girl. I thought with a frown.

I walked over to the prepared bed of the girl and placed a few water balloons on it before placing the cover on top of it, making sure not to fill it too much--Sean and I bought the water baloon just in case.

After I was done, I sprinted towards the cafeteria outside the school campus. The cafeteria was just in a walking distance or in my case running distance. I panted as I stopped in front of the counter.

"Burger, pasta, two chicken nuggets, French fries and a coke,” I said to the boy behind the counter.

“Wait, Johnny, change it to a diet coke," I added hastily and this time he raised his eyebrows at me and shook his head.

“Hey what?” I glared at him and he chuckled.

“Nothing, Danielle."

"Shut up, Johnny. Don't be rude." I said as I walked to a chair when I was greeted by an irritating voice.

When my order arrived, I finished the entire meal and then left the place with a smile.

I went to the cookie corner.

“Hey Bets, can I get the cookies?” I asked and she smiled as she pulled out my usual Sunday order and I paid her. I worked for an hour, helping her clean the ovens and trays, and arrange the cookies before I walked out with a bye to her.

"Have a nice day, Danielle." She cheerfully said as I walked away. I loved spending time here, with the heavenly smell of cookies baking, and Betsie's cheerful laughter ringing everywhere.

I walked to my car, placed the cookie basket safely on the back seat and started the engine.

When I stopped the car in the parking lot of the white painted building with light blue shade, my heart beat went faster and I could almost hear them banging..

“Please God, bring her back to life.” I prayed, as I did every Sunday. I closed my hand over my heart. It was hard for me to do, to visit Daisy and see her like this..m

But Daisy was an unforgettable person in my past, she was once my everything. Even now... She was my only hope in all these hopelessness.

I picked the cookie basket and chocolates and slowly walked towards the hospital building. It stood there big and brooding. The stench of chlorine and medicine assailed my nostrils. I no longer hated that smell, it had become a part in my life, an undeniable part.

It was Daisy's home. This was where my best friend lived.

“Hey Danielle,” the receptionist greeted me with a warm smile. I waved to her as I strolled along the long, lifeless corridor.

My eyes scanned every passing room and door. I stopped in front of the children section and slightly opened the door.

“Maria, it is Danie…” I heard a little girl yelling on top of her lungs. I smiled brightly.

“Come in,” Maria, the head nurse waved me inside.

“Wat yo goth for me?” Little Tom hugged my neck. I kissed him and showed him his favorite cookie. He looked at Maria for permission.

"You spoil them."

"They must be spoiled," I said.

“What for me?” Delilah asked with a cute little pout.

“Your favorite oat cookie, just for my little princess,” I handed her the cookie and she smiled, showing her missed teeth.

Another little girl crawled towards me and picked the cookie by herself. She then smiled at me. My heart fell in the floor. She was such a beautiful thing, only that darling couldn’t talk. She was in speech therapy, and she was learning, little by little.

“Say thanks, Allis,” I said.

“Thas,” she tried, looking doubtful and I smiled encouragingly. Her mom smiled at me, a silent thank you in her eyes.

I was a different Dani here. I wasn’t that same notorious troublemaker here. These kids had shown me compassion and kindness beyond anyone ever had.

Every one of the children here had various problems, but they were fighting and so was my Daisy.

“I am going to see Daisy, no one’s there, right?” I asked to Maria. She nodded. Her eyes were sad as they reached mine.

“Bye guys, you can share the remaining cookies." I waved at the kids and then walked towards the familiar room.

My heart beat went wild when I opened the door.

“I shouldn’t have let you go out that night, I should have closed you inside my room!” I said, as I entered inside.

She didn’t respond and I knew she wouldn’t. It was always like this, I would talk and she would simply listen. I knew she was hearing me, even when she couldn’t respond.

I grasped her hands in mine; they were warm and soft, but lifeless. Her hands were thin and dry. It was exactly opposite to that manicured hand I knew once, once before one and half years.

“It’s too long, come back, Daise. I want you to take care of me, to defend me, to fight with me, fight for me. I am so tired taking care of myself," I said as a small tear rolled down my cheeks.

The pain was intense. It was always this painful whenever I come here, but still I came, because she was my lifeline, my best friend, my confidante, my soul sister. We were inseparable once.

“School was fun, oh wait, no way it could be fun with Aaron. He is... He hates me for you, Daisy. Maybe he will trust me when you wake up and tell him how much of an ass he was.” I added smiling with tears in my eyes. But Daisy had been a cheerful person and she always hated it when I cried. So I wiped my eyes and started telling her about everything.

“I got myself a new roommate and you would think finally I had a company, but nope, I didn’t like it one bit,” I continued, clutching her hand in mine.

“Her beats are steady whenever you come, they’re not so hollow. I feel like she likes listening to you,” Milan, Daisy’s nurse told me with a smile before she walked out. I spent another hour with her.

“I will come and see you next Sunday, okay?” I said as I kissed her forehead.

I wanted so bad to see her blue eyes. Her smile that lifted me up whenever I was down. I was so down, and she was not doing anything.

“Why goddess?” I poked myself. “Why not me? Why her?”

But no one answered me and I knew no one would.

___