(Bloody Eyes)
•••••
Melanie pov
My eyes snap open, only to find the ceiling of my room. Everything is still dark. I wake up in the middle of the night. The clock on my nightstand shows 1.30 AM.
I glance to my side. The bed is cold. Where is Vaughn? Iremember him telling me earlier that he was going to drop by Austin's place and that I should go to bed without waiting for him.
Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I wonder if he texted me to inform me about his whereabouts. But unfortunately, there is no text from him, and worry starts to stir inside me. All sorts of bad thoughts run through my head. It's unusual for him to leave me until this late, especially since the incident with the lunatic breaking into my house.
What could have possibly happened to Vaughn? Didhe , get into an accident? |
I shake my head wildly. Why do I have to fill my mind with unnecessary thoughts? Be positive, Melanie. Maybe his phone battery is dead while he still has some matters to settle. It's crazy that when you fall in love, you start to , worry about your significant other too much.
Feeling thirsty, I get up from the bed and head to the kitchen to get some water. A small chuckle leaves my lips as I glance down at the sèxy peach chemise I'm wearing. Vaughn has indeed made me want to wear a different kind of sleepwear.
While I'm walking down the hallway, the sound of the front door being opened catches my attention. My pulse quickens as I'm hoping it's Vaughn, and relief washes over me when I see him entering the foyer.
But then, my heart almost stops as I notice the state he's in. He looks like a wreck. He looks... worn out. His hair is dishevelled, his shirt tangled. He seems to have no energy at all, like a shell without spirit. That's so not him, who usually makes people cower just by sensing, his powerful aura.
However, all of those things I'm witnessing are nothing compared to the expression on his face. He looks so devastated. Like he's lost. So very very lost. I rush to him, panic starting to build up inside me.
"Vaughn..." I whisper, causing him to look at me. And when he does, I can't even breathe.
His amber eyes, which used to be piercing, are now bloodshot. Red. I can't even make out what's inside them because I've never seen anything like it. But one thing for sure is that they hold so much pain.
"Oh baby, what happened?" I ask. Even my voice is shaking due to my worry for him. "What's wrong?"
But he doesn't answer. Not a single word. He just stands there, and I'm not even sure that he's looking at me because he's just staring blankly.
I can't think of anything else other than to hug him, and so I do, trying to comfort him. His body is warm, like usual, but so stiff and limp in my arms. It's like I'm hugging an object. Unalive. Soulless.
My heart beats rapidly against my chest.
What happened, Vaughn?
The rest of the night is spent without any sleep. Vaughn keeps tossing on the bed, restless. And I keep wondering what's wrong.
There's no point in asking him anymore because every time I did, he didn't even give me a clear answer.
'Nothing. I just had a bad day'.
That's it. That's the only answer I've got.
He turns his body to the other side, his back facing me. I sigh and lean closer to him before wrapping my arms around his torso, my hands on his chest. Trying to calm my own heartbeat, I press my face against his back, smelling his signature scent which always makes me calm. Then I close my eyes, forcing myself to sleep. Despite many thoughts consuming my mind, my body seems unable to fight the tiredness from yesterday's activities that I fall asleep a moment later.
~~~~
I wake up to the alarm sound from the clock on my nightstand. Groaning, I smack it off and straighten myself up. When I open my eyes, I'm surprised to find that Vaughn is nowhere in sight. I just woke up late because I kept worrying about him last night. And now he's already gone. How could that guy wake up so fast? f Ireach for my phone and check my messages. There's a text from him that says: j I'm leaving early. A desperate sigh escapes my lips. Something is terribly wrong. Until yesterday afternoon, everything was fine.
But now, I'm worried sick about him.
What actually happened in Austin's place?
Vaughn has just left me with so many questions in my head. There was no goodnight kiss last night. No cuddling before bed as usual. Not even a simple 'Hi' in the morning. | still remember the last time he gave me a peck on my lips before he left for college while I was still a sleepyhead.
I scoff in disbelief and rake my fingers through my hair, surprised to find that my hand is shaking.
What is happening?
~~~~~~~
Every step I make as I walk along the corridor of my campus feels heavy. Earlier in my class, I couldn't concentrate on what the lecturer was saying because my mind was still occupied with what could have happened to Vaughn.
He still hasn't contacted me again after his last text this morning, but I can understand that. As far as I remember, his schedule for Wednesday is pretty hectic.
I guess that we can talk later at home. We have plenty of time.
I come to a sudden halt when I find something pretty shocking. I blink, wondering if there's something wrong with my sight.
There further down the corridor, in front of the dance club rehearsal room, Vaughn stands, talking to a girl.
And he looks agitated, shouting. The girl looks furious, like she's about to kick his a$s.
Before they can notice my existence, I quickly turn around the corner and hide, leaning back against the wall. But I'm still close enough to hear their loud voices.
"Go away, Vaughn!" the girl yells, clearly irritated. "I told you, I don't know where she is." She scoffs. "Funny how you asked me, when in fact, you should be the one telling us. What have you done to her, Vaughn?"
My heart is racing inside my chest. What did I hear just now?
He's looking for her. Camila. I peek behind the wall, and my heart freezes in place as
I take a glance at how frantic he is. How devastated he is. How lost he looks. How his eyes reflect his pain, his longing for her, his determination to find her. And slowly, the reality comes crashing down on me.