Chapter Two

David went out of AP Physics and AP Literature after two hours. Alana still was on his mind. Okay, she did something to me, he thought, smiling slightly. “Hey David!” called Kira. “Over here!”

David shrugged and grinned, walking over to the Asian girl. Tamara sat beside Kira and David sat on Tamara’s other side. “So, where’s Alana?” asked Tamara, tucking strands of her auburn hair behind her ear.

“She said she had to go somewhere. I don’t know where she went,” admitted David, settling his books down. “So, we have two breaks during the day? Recess and lunch?”

“Yeah, it’s fun,” said Josh, settling beside Kira. “I’m Josh Martin.”

“David,” he replied. He saw Josh speaking to Alana during Homeroom, so he thought that they were pretty close. “Um, you guys, what exactly happened to Alana? She just seems too mysterious.”

Kira, Tamara and Josh glanced between each other before standing up and leading him to a secluded place. “You really want to know what happened to Alana?” asked Josh. David nodded.

“Okay…” Kira sighed. “Alana used to be our best friend. She was a wonderful girl, smart, beautiful and really sweet. One thing that caused her imperfection was for the fact that she didn’t want to have a boyfriend. That’s what ‘turned off’ most of the guys.”

“Right,” said David, wrinkling his brow slightly. “Go on.”

“Alana had a brother, his name was Michael. He looks like you, well, you resemble him a bit,” remarked Tamara. “Mike and Alana were close, if you didn’t know they were twins, you’d say that Alana and Mike were together. Well, two years ago, exactly two years ago… Mike died.”

“Oh crap…” muttered David. “That hurts.”

“Hell yeah, especially for Alana. After that, she kept her distance, even from us. She took time off school, tried to become who she was before, but she couldn’t. After a year, she kept a mask on. She became different. Mike was Alana’s best friend. He defended her with their mother. Alana used to be a singer, you know. After Mike was gone… She quit.” Kira sighed again.

“Everybody tried making Alana feel better, hoping they’d be the ones to actually replace Mike, y’know?” said Josh. “Mike was great; he was one of my best friends. After everything that happened to Alana, I’m surprised she’s still here.”

“She’s a strong one,” murmured Tamara. “She’s really a great friend… It’s just sad that all these stuff happened to her.”

David kept silent. That’s why she’s such a mystery, he pondered. I have to make her talk… I know I can.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Alana drove back to school, tears still staining her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly. Sorry Mike… Alana thought miserably. I know you never wanted to see me like this.

She parked her car and stepped out, sitting by the oak tree where she, Mike and their really good friends sat. She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. “Hey Alana,” she heard a voice say softly. She opened her eyes and saw all her old friends and David.

“Um, hi,” said Alana, looking down glumly. Kira and Tamara sat down on both her sides whilst David and Josh sat across her.

“Are you okay? Last year you didn’t exactly disappear during your morning classes, dear,” said Kira kindly. Alana said nothing, staring down at the grass intensely.

“Alana, we’re worried about you,” said Tamara softly. “Come on… we’re your friends… We just want to know what’s going on with you.”

“I mean, Michael wouldn’t—”

“Don’t talk about him!” said Alana sharply, staring at Josh as if he struck a knife down her side. Josh was taken aback, his brows wrinkling in hurt. “Sorry, Martin, but I really don’t wanna talk about him. Not now, not ever.”

“You’re gonna have to, Alana, don’t hide him!” threatened Josh. Alana stood up, fighting back tears. “What are you gonna do? Run away like always? God, Alana, he’s dead! Don’t pretend he’s alive somewhere!”

Alana glared at him, the tears welling up in her eyes madly. “Gee, thanks for doing that, Josh,” she whispered and let the tears flow down her cheeks. She turned around and ran away, not turning back to give them a second glance.

“Bloody hell, Josh, what was that?” asked Tamara in frustration, burying her face in Kira’s shoulder. Kira sighed and glared at Josh.

“We were close to getting her back and you pushed her away again,” she groaned, leaning her head on Tamara’s. Josh glanced guiltily at them.

“Sorry, guys,” he muttered. “It just… slipped.”

“Words like those don’t slip… You were bottling that in,” said David, finally speaking up. Josh glanced down guiltily.

“I know, I just… miss the old Alana,” he said softly. “I miss her loads.”

“So do we,” said Tamara, “but that doesn’t mean we get to explode on her. She lost Mike, Josh. Mike was her everything.”

“Not necessarily her everything, but technically,” said Kira. “This is actually the first time she cried in front of us after a long time.”

The four kept silent and stared off into space. From a distance, Alana watched and this time, she let the tears keep falling.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Alana quietly walked to her class, eyes expressing nothing. People walked past her, some wanted to console her yet others just walked past. She wished she was invisible, but stuff like that never really happened. She entered the classroom and sat at the back. Even if she kept her mask on, she couldn’t help but look back at what Josh had said.

When are you gonna give up from running away, Alana? Asked the voice inside her head. Alana had enough trouble trying to keep up her façade. The voice inside her head made her feel worse.

What are you gonna do? Run away like always? Josh’s voice echoed inside her head, slicing her apart. Alana couldn’t take it. She stood up suddenly and sped out of the room. Eventually she felt herself bump into someone, and felt strong arms wrap around her.

“Shh, are you okay, Alana?” she heard a voice ask. It was David, the one person that reminded her so vividly of her sweet brother. Alana shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t think you needed to hear what Josh said.”

Tears cascaded down Alana’s cheeks and sobs racked her body. It was amazing and strange how people found Alana, the girl with a brick wall protecting her heart, the girl forever keeping the mask on, crying on the new kid’s shoulder.

“Lana?” Kira rushed up to the two. “Hey sweetie, come here.”

Alana moved her body to Kira and finally just lost it. She couldn’t stop crying. “Kira, h-he’s really gone… Two years of wishing he’d come back, he’s gone!” she sobbed.

“Come on, come on,” said Kira softly, reaching out to hold Alana’s hand. “Dave, we have to take her somewhere. Tara’s waiting for me near Geography; we’ll get her then take Alana somewhere.”

“And where do you think you three are going?” asked a stern voice. They turned their heads and saw Mr. Washington, the man with no sympathy. Although he had none, he still softened whenever he saw Alana.

“Sir, we have to take Alana out. All she’s been doing today is crying,” said Kira immediately. Mr. Washington’s stern look softened immediately. He glanced at Alana’s tear-stained cheeks and shaking body.

“Alright, go get her out. Who else are you taking with you, not a whole class, I expect.”

“We’re taking one of her close friends with us, sir,” said David. He knew how to adjust to situations like this.

“I see. Go on, before the poor girl cries her last tears.” Mr. Washington walked away quickly, rubbing his eyes as he did. Alana sighed, her hair falling into her beautiful eyes. David instinctively reached out and tucked them behind her ear.

“Let’s go get Tara. This girl either needs tea or coffee. Kira, you grab Tara and I’ll go with Alana to get my car, okay?” instructed David. Kira nodded in agreement and set off. David glanced at Alana, who was staring off into nothing. “Alana, come here, let’s get my car, alright?”

“Okay,” she said in a small voice, seeming very distant. He took her hand, which she didn’t pull back, and went out the doors to his Porsche. Yes, what a rich boy.

“Are you better now?” he asked, glancing into her sweet eyes. They still were slightly glassy from all the tears, but nevertheless she put back the mask she once wore.

“Yeah, a bit,” she said honestly, glancing at their hands. David opened his car, and Alana carefully slid into the passenger seat.

“Alana,” began David, “I… I hope you’ll be healed soon.”

He gave her a small smile and wiped away the tears from her eyes. “You’re a nice girl, okay? Everyone deserves to be happy, including people like that Gregory Brighton.”

“I was happy when he was here. Michael, my twin brother, died exactly two years ago.” Alana stared off into nowhere, her voice distant. “He loved me very much. We were really close. No matter what happened, he’d always be the one who had the heart to forgive me. All the things I’ve been doing made him disappointed, I bet. I don’t deserve a brother like him.”

“Of course you do. From what I’ve heard, you are wonderful. You get good grades, you make people laugh, you make people feel better about themselves and they said you sing very well.”

“I don’t sing anymore,” said Alana sharply. She took a deep breath and mumbled an apology. “I used to be like that. I’m not anymore.”

“We’re here,” said Tamara breathlessly, approaching them quickly and hugging Alana immediately. “Sweetie, are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you,” answered Alana quietly. Tamara hugged Alana tightly. “Thanks, Tara.”

“You’re welcome. Now come on, I’m craving for ice cream. You really need a pint, Lana dearest,” said Tamara teasingly, finally making a smile come out from Alana.

Whoa, did I just smile? Maybe it’s because I finally opened up, Alana thought. “Okay, I want cookie dough, though,” said Alana. The four rapidly sped off, looking for the best place to eat ice cream.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Thanks to the following:

White Demon13: Thanks so much for reviewing! I tried making it longer; honestly, I hope it’s long enough! :) cravingsanity

Elena: Thank you for the long review, dear! I’m glad you like my story! I hope I can get more reviews from you and from everyone else! Just as long as you keep reading! Thanks! Cravingsanity x

Starlightxmagic: Hey! LOL, I like the name Alana but here I couldn’t think of any other name… LOL:) Thanks for reviewing! I really appreciate it. Cravingsanity