The Phantom Queen [GirlXGirl]

Chapter 7: The Half-Moon Mess

SAGE

It was the chirping of the bird that woke me up from my deep sleep. Groaning at the warmth of the morning, I gradually opened one of my eyes to glance to my side, hoping that my dream was real. But I was stupid to think that I would see her sleeping next to me when I only found no one. Come to think of it, I'd been dreaming about someone who didn't have any face before and yet that person made me feel safe——like a guardian angel. And it was also dumb of me to even dreamt of it being Val who I just met yesterday. Not that I could blame myself because dreams are something out of control.

Maybe because I was thinking about those blue eyes of hers all day long to the extent that she had appeared in my dream. However, recalling about yesterday caused me to open my eyes wide as my head turned to the digital clock on my nightstand. It was still six in the morning and I had plenty of time before I get into the shower for school. And yet, I forced myself to climb out of the bed and then practically ran downstairs.

I heard a rustle in the kitchen so I headed straightway there to see my Mama preparing our breakfast. "Ma, is Mom already home? Is there any news about Ethan?"

My questions earned her attention from the waffle she was making as of now, then she shifted around to face her troubled daughter. "Oh love, you're up so early. Your Mom just went home an hour ago and she's sleeping right now. She was working all night until dawn."

I sat on the stool of our island counter, sighing at my mother's predicament. She had been working nonstop because of these missing people all over the town. She barely had time for herself so I really appreciated it when she had my camp party planned out despite her busy schedules.

"As for your friend, I'm sorry but he isn't found yet," Ma said to me, her voice was trying to comfort me. "But your Mom is doing her best, okay?"

"I know. She's overexerting herself, to be honest. I don't like it. I wish I can do something about all of these missing persons. It's fücking up——"

"Words, Sage. You should keep those in your mouth," Ma scolded me, thinking that it was going to be effective. "C'mon, eat your breakfast. You'll feel better and productive because you're gonna need it today."

Looking down at the plate of blueberry waffles she shoved towards me, I began to eat as my mind drifted to come up with a solution. And the best thing I could form was to convince my friends and make a search party for Ethan. Maybe I could invite Val, too, and ask her to partner up with me.

Holy cow, Val! You were always in my mind and you were also in my dream last night. How would you handle me now? This unexplainable connection I had with her was making me lame alright. I should probably make a statue of her in my room because I was already on the path of worshipping her greatness that I hadn't discovered yet in full which was weird if you were to ask me. I barely knew her and yet it felt like we already knew each other. I know, lame reason to start professing your undying love to a stranger but that was a fact that someone else wouldn't probably understand.

Once I arrived at school, almost everyone was talking about Ethan and he had already a picture frame in the lobby with a bunch of candles and flowers around it. I wanted to throw those things and screamed at the top of my lungs. They were already assuming that he was already dead, but I just decided not to make a scene. They could think whatever they want but I wasn't one to give up on my friend. I had made a pack with him that we would be soul sisters forever so I wouldn't give up on him.

A memory put a sad smile on my face as I halted in front of my locker. I couldn't imagine that I had enjoyed my ex-boyfriend's company after he had confessed his s****l preference to me. Before the first day of school, we had this glow-up conversation in my room while he was polishing the nails on my foot. I remembered how my Mom had barged in my room shocked at the sight of a guy wearing my dress with a bath towel on his head. Ethan and I had a good laugh that day and I deeply regretted convincing him yesterday to date this guy he met a week ago. I should have convinced him to attend my party instead and we were probably laughing here now.

"Hey, are you okay?" the voice I'd yearned to hear pulled me out of the trance.

And here she was‑‑my Val. The one who filled my dream with safety and qualm and she entered my life just yesterday with a bang. Turning to her, I forced a smile and bluntly checked her out. Unlike yesterday, Val's fashion today was street-chic inspired as she wore her oversized denim jacket over her white crop top and tattered black skinny jeans emphasizing the skin of her legs with black combat boots ready to kick the soul out of me. I was willing though, damn!!

"Hi, the weather is fine," I managed to reply, giving my best to sound enthusiastic as much as possible but ended up giving a stupid answer instead.

"Not you though," she murmured, leaning closer and wiped off a single tear on my cheek which I hadn't noticed was there in the first place. "Tell me, love, what's bothering you?"

Holy shít! She called me 'love' and she was questioning me what was wrong? She was giving me a safari in my stomach. Couldn't she be more perfect in my mind?

"Umm, it's just that I'm worried about Ethan, you know, the guy who's still missing right now. He's a close friend of mine."

Val frowned, pulling the strap of her backpack around her shoulder out of habit. "I'm so sorry about him. But for the record, I have this feeling that he's alive out there. I don't know him personally but I can assure you that he'll be alright."

"You think so?"

"I know so," she responded with a small smile, then she suddenly pulled me into her arms that I nearly stumbled on my feet. "And I think you need a hug, Sage."

I stiffened for a moment before I collected myself and fixed my hands together on her back, embracing her in return. Welcoming the warmth of her embrace, I rested the side of my head on her shoulder and inhaled her scent. Val smelled like the morning dew —— fresh and pure I could fall asleep inside her arms so easily.

However, she was the one that pulled away first, bringing an arm-length space between us. Her hands were on my arms, giving me comfort while mine were on her hips enough to create intimacy‑‑ friendly intimacy I think. It wasn't my fault that she was only wearing a crop top and my hands were literally touching her smooth skin.

"Th-Thanks, I really needed that," I said, almost in a whisper but internally, I was freaking out of my wits.

Val locked her eyes with mine and right then, everything around us zoomed out. Then she bit her lower lip and looked like she was hesitating about something. "It's probably not the right time to give you your birthday present I'd just bought yesterday."

That put a genuine smile on my face. "Present? Val, you didn't have to. Gosh, you're so sweet, do you even know that?"

The blue-eyed chic chuckled softly. "No, I'm not particularly sweet with everyone actually. I don't know what is but I was thinking that I should give you a present for a start. To start a relationship with you officially."

"What kind of relationship?" I blurted out before I could even stop myself.

Val gazed at me in amusement as I embarrassed myself out of nowhere. She then tucked the loose hair on my face behind my ear and stepped closer a bit. "What kind of relationship do you want with me, Sage?"

My cheeks heated up at her question and I mentally cursed at myself for being crappy awkward. The proximity between us wasn't helping with these feelings on my chest so I paced away in coyness. "I-I don't know. Maybe we can start getting to know each other. Ah, let me have your present already, will you?"

Val seemed in awe at my response so she immediately fished out something out of her pocket. "It's not much but I made the wristband myself, then I bought the pendant from a little shop."

As I glanced down at the accessories in her hand, I couldn't help but smile broadly, seeing an ethnic bracelet with a silver half-moon attached to it. "What are you saying? This is pretty and you personally made it for me. This is too much."

"Here, let me put it on you," she said, lifting my right hand and fastened the bracelet around my wrist without any difficulty. "I hope it makes you feel better somehow. Happy Birthday, Sage."

I tried to suppress these overwhelming emotions but Val had this magnetic effect she had in me so I wasn't thinking when I embraced her again. "Thanks! I love it, Val."

Unfortunately, the school bell rang, breaking our moment and I didn't have any choice but to let her go. Val gestured her hand as she pointed over her shoulder to tell me that she also needed to go. "I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you later," I replied, and then we went to our separate ways. I just wished that I could fast forward the time and see her again in the last class. Maybe I would see her during the lunch break. Shoot! I just remembered that I had to invite her to host a search party for Ethan after school. But I was too occupied with how she was making me feel that it made me forget my objective for today.

Dangling the pendant in my wrist, I pondered if there was another half of it as I recalled the dream I had this morning. The Val in my reverie had told me that she was my other half and it kinda freaked me out that it was correlating with my reality right now.

Not to mention, I knew that we were flirting just a while ago. Even an innocent kitten could tell that. And that also convinced me that she could also sense this connection we had for each other.

Well, I hoped so. Or else, it was going to be one-sided.

........

"No! You're not going to go there in the woods," Gwen exclaimed after I had asked her to come with me to host a search party for Ethan. We were currently on lunch break but I hadn't seen Val yet to my dismay. The day wasn't ending yet and I was missing her already. Holy Zeus! I was pretty devoted to her.

"Why not? I'd already invited a few of his friends so it's not like it's going to be dangerous."

"You don't know that. If something happens, it would be your responsibility, Sage. Can you handle another person missing just because you think hosting a search party is a good idea?"

"She's right," Cayde said as he put his arm around my shoulder to comfort me. "Someone actually died, Sage. Let the authorities handle this, okay? I'm sure your Mom doesn't want you there in the woods risking your safety. She already has enough on her plate. Don't make it more difficult for her."

I sighed, knowing he was partly right. "But I can't do nothing. Ethan is out there, probably dying from whatever shít who had taken him. If only I didn't push him to go out with that guy——that guy they found dead on the side of the road, if only I just let him come to my camp party instead, this wouldn't happen at all. It's my damn fault!"

"It's not your fault," Gwen cooed, holding my hand tenderly.

My eyes shifted to her but she was staring back at Cayde in an unusual way but eventually, she brought her focus back to me. Sometimes, I felt like they were hiding something from me——things they only both knew but never cared to share with me. I noticed those stuff most of the time just like how Cayde was so quiet today I even caught him zoning out in one of our classes. However, I never bothered to ask. If my best friends really wanted me to know, they wouldn't even hesitate to tell me. I wasn't the kind of person who forces my friends to tell their secrets anyway.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Val entered the cafeteria with her brother along with Esther. I heard her brother's name is Vance and they were the Irvine twins. With just a snap of fingers, they were already popular as they were the new hype of the school. I couldn't blame everyone though because they were really interesting but again, this was a small town so almost everybody knows almost everybody. So new faces were sort of trending until they get tired of talking about them.

When Val met my eyes, we both smiled at each other but Cayde suddenly blocked my sight while Gwen also noticed the little exchange Val and I had.

"I told you not to associate yourself with those transferees."

I looked at Gwen annoyed. "I don't understand. Since when did you become so critical about someone else? I'm just being friendly here."

"You don't even know them."

I rolled my eyes at Cayde's statement. "Of course, what do you expect? They are new here."

"Oh no, I disagree," Bren suddenly jumped into our conversation while sitting next to Gwen. "I just found out that they originally resided here——I mean, their old families."

That got me hooked as I leaned my body towards him. "What do you mean?"

Bren bent closer over the table and my best friends looked curious too. "Well, my Dad is working in the town office, right? And he mentioned over the breakfast that one of the oldest families of Stormhill came back and donated a sum of money to the town. And this old family I'm talking about is the one who owns the entire Olcan Hill."

"You mean the freaking Olcan Hill which is a private property since the beginning of the universe?" I exclaimed in disbelief.

Bren nodded. "Yeah, and those Irvine twins are descendants of that family. So technically, they aren't new here, darling."

"The more reason you shouldn't get along with them, Sage."

I scowled at Gwen once again. "Why not? I can be friends with whoever I want. That's my decision to make."

She let out a tired groan. "Sage, trust me with this, alright?"

"Oh hush everyone, look who's moving fast right now," Bren interjected between us, c*****g his head over my shoulder.

Whirling around, I saw Primrose was already talking to Val, probably asking her to tryout into their cheerleading squad. I sort of forgotten about our deal last night since I was more concerned about Ethan and crazy thinking about the blue-eyed girl.

Primrose looked like she was doing a good job as they were casually talking and smiling at each other. And when she turned in my direction, she gave me a subtle smirk, silently telling me that she was winning. It was rare for me to be mad about something gibberish but I felt so angry right now just thinking about Val getting along with those cheerleaders who had bad blood against me for whatever reason.

That was Val's decision to make though. I was just stupid to stir a deal with Primrose anyway.

And I was too consumed glaring at the cheerleader captain that I hadn't noticed that Val was arching her brow at me in curiosity. Well, she should know that I was against Primrose and I was being selfish right now. Dammît! Maybe Gwen and Cayde were right about not getting close to the Irvine. Because Val was already messing up my logic and reason.

And I had no idea what to do anymore. I didn't know why almost everything was against me today.

And it was making me insane already.

........