Song - Candy

Artist - Robbie Williams

I got to school the next day feeling tired, but I was uplifted in a way to find out that I had Art, which was part of the very few lessons in my timetable that I enjoyed. We were studying the art of graffiti and as part of the topic we were making our initials into graffiti cartoon characters. I was sat at the centre table, and I was getting to one of the trickier parts of my character, so I was focusing hard not to mess up.

"There," I said after a while.

Since my initials were J.C I had made my J look like a mushroom at the top and I had given it eyes and a mouth. I made my C curly at the ends to make it look fancy, and to top it off I added a little spray can peeking out one of the letters. I had finished my sketch and was pretty happy with the finished product. Now all the was left to do was paint it.

"For a guy who fails at all subjects involving the brain, you're actually quite good at art."

Victoria was peering over my shoulder and eyeing my work with an impressed look; she had put an apron on, but that still didn't stop her from getting her hands and the bottom part of her shirt covered in pencil lead smudges.

"Oh I'm sorry, you were so funny I forgot to laugh. And art does involve using your brain genius just the more creative side." I said

"Mmm hmm," she replied smirking.

"OK then Picasso, I'd like to see you do any better." I challenged.

"Fine," she said.

She picked up her work and placed it on my table, Victoria's initials were V.W, so she had creatively joined her V and W together and made swirly patterns at the edges. There were also flowers, love hearts and neatly drawn butterflies that filled her A3 page. I had to admit, even though it was a bit girly for my liking, she was good, but of course I wasn't going to admit that to her.

"Hmm, not bad," I said.

"You think?" She said resting her chin in her hands and eyeing her work with an unsatisfied expression. "Maybe I overdid it just a bit with the swirls."

"Nah, it may be a bit on the pink and prissy side for me but it's not half bad," I answered before turning back to my work. I sighed and tapped my finger on the table repeatedly; I was there for a while wondering which colour paint to use but in the end, I couldn't decide and I gave up. Slowly I slumped into my chair letting my eyes wander around.

Not only was art one of my favourite lessons but the classroom, in my opinion, was the most creative one in the school. Every inch of the walls was covered with colourful pictures and artwork mostly made by the kids at school, except a few who were famous paintings. There were many different types in the class for display, clay sculptures, self-portraits, cubisms, still life's and lots more.

The class always gave off that bubbly aura which was what made the art rooms so famous; it was a change from the common peach/cream walls of every other room in the school and a lot more lively. I always felt the least stress when I was in there than any other room.

Then, just as I was closing my eyes for a second to relax, I felt something hard but firm hit me in the middle of me head, and I almost had a heart attack.

"Hey! Get your mind out of the gutter; the class isn't over yet you know. Besides, I need you fully awake today so we can discuss some club ideas." Why was I not surprised to have looked up and found Victoria, an art book in hand, staring down at me.

I groaned and rubbed my head which was still throbbing from the pain she had just inflicted; she may not have looked it, but that girl could hit. "First, you didn't have to hit me that hard you know, and second, you're still on that?" I grumbled.

"Naturally. Anyway, you promised so no going back on your word," she stuck her tongue out playfully.

"OK OK, I'm not backing out or anything. I don't see the point in resisting anymore; you're only going to keep pestering me." I sighed.

"Exactly, then stop being so stubborn, what is it you're so afraid of anyway? Meeting new people? Talking to strangers? Cause frankly I don't see what all the fuss us about." She walked over and rested her head on my table while looking at me.

I couldn't put my finger on what I hated about the idea, because in all honesty the idea wasn't bad and it seemed like a great way to kill time at school, it was much more appealing than wandering around the hallways at break and lunch when I thought about it. Yeah, what was so bad about it?

"I just don't get why you're so persistent with this whole thing," I said rocking in my chair.

"Like a said before, I have my reason," she muttered. "If I could tell you I would, I don't like keeping secrets myself, but I just have to, so try to have faith in me." She was now staring up at me looking into my eyes. I turned my head downwards to look at her; her eyes showed her sincerity, and as I looked a little deeper, I could see a hint of depression in those distant sea blue eyes. Why was that?

"OK I'll try, but if it all goes wrong you're to blame," I smiled back at her, I didn't like Victoria's sad face, it didn't suit her personality. I never wanted to have to see that expression on her face again. Whatever the reason she had to make me create a club, I trusted it was a good one. After all, this was Victoria we were talking about; it couldn't have been that much of a big deal.

"Pinky promise?" She reached her hand up to me pouting a little.

"You're joking, right? How old are you eight?" I said mockingly.

She rolled her eyes at me, "just do it."

"Ok," I said as I locked pinkies with her.

"Pinky promise." We both said in unison.

"There, that wasn't so hard." She smiled as if to say "thank you.

Unfortunately, our little moment was interrupted when we both heard a "You two lovebirds over there, Josh and Victoria, less looking into each other's eyes more drawing." It was our art teacher.

"Yes, Miss!" Victoria blushed, and I laughed as we quickly went back to our workplaces. A low level of laughter could be heard afterwards which just made Victoria go even redder.

A minute later, I found a note on my table that read 'Meet me after class, oh and NO COMPLAINING XX :) Victoria.'

I sighed for like the umpteenth time that day. The new girl on the second day of her arrival had somehow dragged me into creating a club with her. "So, this is the new beginning she spoke of." I chuckled to myself.

***

After class, Victoria practically dragged me through the corridors.

"Hey, calm down! I said I was going to do this club thing, so you can stop pulling me now, and people are staring at us. Hey, are you listening!?" I said trying to keep up with her as Victoria sped down the hallway.

"I heard you, I just want you to hurry up, we don't have much time." She continued running down the path and dragging me along with her.

"Well, could you slow down just a bit, you've been pulling me this whole time." I huffed.

She soon came to a stop (to my relief). "Sorry," she began "I guess I got a bit ahead of myself there." She let out a nervous giggle.

"I don't know; I guess I just really want to see you happy. Ever since I got here, you've been so kind to me, and I've only ever seen you smile at me, all the other times I could barely see your face and even when I did you never looked really happy. I want to see you smile more often and to be comfortable with everyone like you are with me. Look, Josh, you're my friend, and I want you to laugh, not feel like you have to make yourself invisible all the time." She said.

I found myself staring at her. Victoria, unlike most people who had walked into my life, actually seemed to care about my well-being and my feelings and although we had only known each other a few days, I already felt much closer to her than any of my former friends.

"Eww, that must have sounded cheesy, and lovey-dovey didn't it?" She blushed after a while.

"Hmm. Yeah, just a bit. But I think the sweetness of it made up for the cheesiness." I smiled back at her.

"I'm glad," she whispered while self-consciously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You know, you are something else," I said eventually.

She slowly turned to face me and smiled. "If only you knew the half of it."

***

We soon reached the dining hall (which was packed full of kids from all years) and plonked our buts in whatever seats were available. Victoria went and grabbed a sandwich from the sandwich stall (I didn't get one because I didn't have any money on me).

I was quite self-conscience though, I rarely ever went to the dining hall because it was awkward eating lunch alone, and when I did try eating lunch by myself, it felt like everyone was staring at me like all eyes were on me. It creeped me out, and I kept glancing around awkwardly. In the end, I just stopped going to the hall altogether.

Anyway, Victoria and I found a table in the far right corner where there weren't many people. (I made sure of that). Victoria took a huge bite of her sandwich and chewed it greedily.

As I watched her, I found myself daydreaming and slowly thoughts about her crept into my mind. Thoughts that my mind had dismissed when I first saw her. Who was Victoria really? I mean, I dreamt about her and she just happened to transfer to my school, no way was that just a coincidence, right? And her choosing to befriend me of all the people, she chose the invisible, disliked loner in the class to hang out with, was there some reason for that?

As I continued to look at her more, I found myself staring into her eyes and that same feeling popped up inside me. That feeling that she was fading and I suddenly remembered those words, the ones from my dream.

"Would you take that chance, that chance at a new beginning?"

What exactly did that mean I wondered? There was a lot I didn't know about Victoria and a lot I wanted to discover. She had become a friend of mine in a matter of days, and we were already talking like we knew each other for a long time. I didn't want to face the possibility that she may not be real, not after all that had happened. No, I couldn't accept it.

***

Thump.... Thump... Thump. It was my heart.

Without warning, I was painfully aware of the beating of my own heart.

Thump... Thump... Thump.

Rapidly, I clutched my chest, my hand desperately clawing at the area where I could feel the vibrations. They hit me, hard and fast, jerking me in my seat each time. It was like the rest of the dining hall had vanished.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I suddenly found myself swaying back and forth, and there was an immense pain in my chest. Time seemed to have slowed down, and the background noises all soon faded leaving only the sound of pounding against my chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"What is this, what's going on." I thought. "Victoria?" My eyelids grew heavy, and I shut them.

Thump. Thump. Thump...Silence...

I couldn't feel my heart beat anymore...

When I next opened my eyes, I found out I was still alive and could still see the dining hall, though the images were extremely hazy and kept moving about like the hall of mirrors in a funfair. They cut through the air, the whispers and conversations of the students muffled and distorted. I twisted my head this way and that, but I couldn't see anyone. Where were they?

"Anybody... Please..."

I reached my arm out in a feeble attempt at a cry for help, but it soon became apparent no one was coming to save me. I was alone.

My vision soon became hazy, and the image of the dining hall eventually completely disappeared. All I was able to see was the shadowy, ominous gloom surrounding me. I exhaled and inhaled raggedly and deeply, relieved that there was at least still air to keep me alive. Where was I? My eyelids became heavy again and despite using all the remaining strength I could muster they fell halfway across my eyes making it harder to see.

I could remember how petrified I was. I was on my own, left to fend for myself. Just another poor soul that earth wouldn't remember if I vanished from existence. If I was to die in such a wretched place, would anyone even mourn me, or care in the slightest? I became scarily aware of my insignificance to the world.

The chilly air was numbing, and I soon could feel no pain in my bones, just cold. The feeling of coldness, sadness, loneliness, fear, all eating away at my body bit by bit, yet I still could feel no pain. Would it even matter if I died? The earth would still go on; no one would care. I could finally be free of everything, mum, school, life. If I died, it would all just vanish, and I would be free from my problems. Suddenly, dying cold and alone seemed a lot more appealing than going back and having to face what awaited me back on earth. I could just drift off, letting the cold numb the pain away.

I was pretty convinced I was going to die, it didn't occur to me to figure out how it had happened in the first place. One minute I was talking with my first friend and the next, on the brink of death. But I wasn't thinking straight; I just wanted it all to be over.

After what felt like minutes though it could have been hours after the whole world shut me out, I was still suspended in the middle of nowhere. But sometime after I was left in the dark, I saw something start to form out of the murkiness, two new scenes. I forgot about death for a moment, if these were able to appear someone else had to be with me as well, I wasn't completely alone, the world hadn't forgotten me.

The scenes were quite distorted, and I couldn't see much while my eyes were half closed but I still had a faint idea what was happening in each one.

In the first image there was a boy and a girl I think, they were both crying Niagara fall onto each other. Wrapped in each other's warm embrace, they sobbed their hearts out. They were near what looked like a busy road or high street, and I could see people passing them but not one person even acknowledging that they were there, they didn't seem to notice them at all. Eventually, the girl's body started to fade out of existence as her soul made what looked like fireflies as it evaporated into thin air and the boy was left weeping on the pavement.

The second was a mother and her son; they were both lying, sleeping on the streets. I assumed they were beggars because they dressed like them and looked like they hadn't taken a shower in months. People passed by but ignored their cries for help, then unexpectantly the scene fast forwarded to some time later. The mother looked weary and frail and the boy was as thin as a pencil, there was a blizzard outside, and the streets were cover in pure white snow. Neither the boy or the mother were moving, their eyes were closed, and they showed no signs of opening again.

After both of the scenes had ended they cracked and shattered like glass, praying me in shards of glass crystals which closely resembled diamonds as they tumbled down below into the black abyss.

"Which do you choose?" said a voice from somewhere. It was deep and sounded like one of high-ranking or importance; it's words echoing all around me, ringing in my ears like a bell.

"Who-" I began.

"You must choose!" The voice boomed."Your life as it is, or your life as it was."

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain go through my head making me jerk as I cried out in agony, fear etched across my face I clutched my forehead, but that didn't stop another sharp stabbing feeling hitting me right in the same spot as the first, then another and another, it was endless. It was like a volcano had erupted in my mind, and I didn't know how to stop it. Soon my head was pounding, the world started to spin again.

"I have set out before you two path's Josh, one of happiness and one of despair. One of life, one of death. It is up to you to choose the destiny that you want." The voice whispered slightly."You have until midnight today to give me your answer, if you don't have one by then, by default you choose your life as it was, that path of despair, death. I have given you two choices now it's up to you to choose the right one. Joshua Carter!" The voice shouted, practically breaking my eardrums.

"But wait- I. What is this all about!?" I shouted inside my head in confusion over an intense headache I was having.

"I have said all I need to...Now go!" The voice echoed leaving its words etched into my mind.

The pain in my head had grown to an immense level, and I felt like I was about to black out. Unable to take it any longer, I screamed out in agony, my head pounding as I felt like I was about to throw up...

.....Keep Reading for the next chapter

Chapter 6.2: Decisions, Decisions (part two).