Nilisha+P

 My Girl
Tick. Tick. Tick.

//“Shut up already,”// she thought to herself. She crawled up in the chair and stared at the year old magazines dustily set out on the table. //“Who has time to read that crap in a place like this?”// That’s all she has been hearing for the past week. But it didn’t matter. Time could pass, but he would be okay in the end. Right? It had to be. There was no other choice. Unless… no never mind, that’s crazy. They couldn’t do that to her… she just didn’t deserve it.

//“Think happy moments. It will be okay. Just. Breathe.”// Her memories. They make everything go away… but only for a moment. 1236719583

The Christmas tree glowed with multicolored lights wrapped messily around it. The ornaments hung with care and followed no logical pattern. Mom let us decorate the tree this year. She usually never does though. Her trees always have some theme of colors and the ornaments have their each special place. Not this year. Nik and I ran around the tree to finding empty spots to fill with lights. My parents stood in the door way and smiled.

“Wave to the camera kids!” My dad said as he took the camera around the room. “Daddy, it’s supposed to be candid or something like that!” He smiled.

The presents were stacked high and the family room was illuminated with Christmas decorations and the house smelled of freshly baked cookies. Christmas at home was always the best. Even though there was no snow outside, it felt like a real Christmas. The week before Christmas, my brother and I had made our “wish-lists for Santa.” I let my parents believe that I still had faith in Christmas, even though Nik ruined it about three years ago when he showed me the stash of presents in the sunroom.

My list had simple things like Barbie dolls and makeup kits. And in the middle of the list was “the bike.” I wanted that pink bike with the rainbow streamers hanging from the sides that I saw in Toys R’ Us only a few days before. My dad said maybe another time, and took my hand and proceeded to the check out line. I wanted that bike so badly; every girl on my street had a similar one. I knew I wasn’t going to get it, but it was worth a shot when I put it on the list.

Christmas morning my brother and I ran into my parent’s room. We woke them up and talked as a family for an hour- the usual weekend stuff. We eventually all got out of bed and ate our Sunday morning breakfast- pancakes, scrambled eggs, and an English muffin. After we all showered, my parents finally let us open gifts. Nik got more Pokemon cards, basketball gear, an indoor mini golf set, and a rubber band gun. I got the dolls I wanted, and the makeup and art kits. Then my dad came up behind me with a large box. I stared at him.

“NO WAY!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I didn’t even have to open it before I already knew what it was. I ran to my parents and gave them hugs that practically squeezed the life out of them. It was “the bike.” And holy crap was it pretty.

“Daddy, can we take it today?! I really want to learn!” He laughed, “Yes, as soon as you are done cleaning up we can go.”

I scrambled up and cleaned up all of the wrapping paper off the ground and got ready to go outside. I was finally going to learn how to ride my bike! He put me on the bike and slowly helped me along the sidewalk.

“Pedal a little faster, hun. You can do it.” I pedaled a little faster and he slowly let me go. The bike wobbled and I fell on the sidewalk and scraped my knee, my hand, and my elbow. I wanted to give up right then, but he wouldn’t let me. He picked me back up and said that I had to keep going on.

“C’mon, you can do it, a little faster.” I peddled and I finally got a hang of it after several falls.

My dad always told me I could do anything I wanted to. It didn’t matter the task- as long as I had determination I could do it. He was my hero, and I looked to him in every time of need. He always stayed so strong and collected, and I just hoped that someday I could have the courage he always possessed.

When we returned home, he bandaged me up and kissed every boo-boo. He couldn’t make the scrapes go away, but he made the pain and tears stop. He was good at those sorts of things. He always was. 1236719583user:nilishap-sbhs It was 9:00 and my bedtime. I showered and got ready for bed. I made my way to my bedroom and sat on my bed. I waited for him to come through my doors, for my every night tuck-in.

He walked in and sat and the edge of my bed. He pulled off the comforter and I crawled into my bed and he tucked the blanket around me so I couldn’t move. I would laugh and he would just sit there and smile at me. He would ask me how my day was, what I did, and if I did anything interesting and I would respond with my normal replies and just wait. It was my favorite part of everyday, and it didn’t matter how absolutely horrible my day was- those 2 minutes made everything go away.

And then he began…

I've got sunshine On a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May.

Well, I guess you'll say What can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, my girl. Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl.

I smiled and gave him a hug. He kissed me on my forehead, got up and closed the lights. “I love you,” he told me every night. “I love you too Daddy.” 1236719583user:nilishap-sbhs This time was different. She sat on the edge of his bed, watching the incessant beeping coming from the heart rate monitor. The smell of sanitizer filled the room and the hysterical crying started from down the hall. This was no place for any eleven year old girl to be.

Beep. Beep. Beep. His icy cold hand grabbed hers and he stared at her for a while. My family members stood around and just silently watched with tears rolling down their cheeks. Her mother placed her hand on her shoulder and told her it was time to go. //“This couldn’t be happening. Why me? He wasn’t supposed leave. He promised it would all go away. HE PROMISED.”// A few minutes went by, and she stared and felt the salty drops slowly making their way down. She waited for something, anything. “I’ve got sunshine, on a cloudy day…”



[|voicethread for committed :)] “You know it a shame that your parents couldn’t make it tonight. I would have really loved to share your impeccable taste with them,” Haley said with a smile as she looked down to her engagement ring. Chase chuckled hesitantly. They walked together hand in hand out of their engagement hall and out to the streets.

“Ha, well, they send their love. Dad is so close to closing a deal in London. His priorities are a little out of order, but he means well.” “Well, I really enjoyed myself this evening. You know what was my favorite part? “If you say drunken Peyton’s speech, I’m getting pre-nup.” Haley laughed. “No! My favorite part was when Nathan was making his speech and I looked up at you and you had the most wonderful smile on your face.” They both smiled and looked into each others eyes.

“You know Chase, it really makes me happy that you are finally okay with Nathan.” “Me being upset about you and Nathan is yesterday’s news. There might be a textbook of history between you guys, but the future is all Chase and Haley.”

Haley then remembered seeing her sister and her former love of 12 years talking to each other at her engagement party. Of course she loved Chase but seeing Nathan and Peyton giggling and laughing like a couple in love killed her. Peyton was always taking things from her when they were little. Her shoes, clothes, her boys. She tried to get over it, but that part of her always remained in her head. She loved Chase and only Chase. At least, that’s what she tried to convince herself of.

“I think it’s about time that we head upstairs and have some much needed Haley and Chase time…” Haley winked. “I think you are absolutely right…” Chase winked back.

Suddenly headlights turned on from behind them, they turned around and they squinted their eyes to see who was and saw a man standing in front of the vehicle. In a blink of an eye, there were two shots, and the couple fell to the floor.

Peyton and Nathan unlocked their door and welcomed themselves inside. They were supposed to meet Chase and Haley up for last minute dress and tux fittings. They were after all the best man and the maid of honor. “Hello? Chase? Haley? You know what Peyton likes to see when she walks in. Pants. Pants on everyone,” she said as she opened the door with closed eyes. She slowly opened them when she didn’t hear a reply. Nathan walked around the apartment and found the red rose petals leading to the bed. It was set up with red romantic decorations everywhere and it was ready for the soon to be husband and wife. “Oh, I didn’t know Chase was a romantic,” he said jokingly. He called out for the couple again. No reply. He looked down at the front door and saw the pile of mail lying on the floor. “//That’s// w//eird,”// he thought.

Peyton walked over to the answering machine and there was one new message. She pressed the playback button. “Hello, this is the Springfield Police Department calling for Haley Scott and Chase Sawyer. I am informing you that your cars have been brought in for obstructing a street cleaner…” Peyton pressed the delete button. “I guess they never came home,” Nathan said. “Then where the hell are they?”

Nathan heard the TV from the living room. He walked in and saw the news turned on. “7 COUPLES MISSING IN ONE MONTH. 4 FOUND DEAD,” the TV flashed. “Haley, come in here!” She walked in and heard the story. She ran to the computer and did a quick lookup of all 7 couples. “Nathan, all 7 of them visited the same ring shop.” “Yeah but what does that prove? How can we show that it means something? It could just be a coincidence.” “There’s only one way.” “You mean, pretend to be a couple and visit the ring shop and see if something happens?” “Exactly.”

Hours passed and Haley’s eyes slowly opened and she tried to figure out where she was. She felt the cold hard cement pressing on her chest. Her hands were tied behind her back and her feet tied too. Everything was moving about her, she blinked many time to regain her vision. “Chase? Honey? Where are you? Are you okay?” “I’m right here. I’m fine. Are you okay? “I’m fine. Where are we?”

A voice boomed around them. They frantically searched to see where it was coming from. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to see if this man and this woman were truly meant to be.”

The lights suddenly came on, and they looked around them. They saw both a man and a woman sitting in chairs with at least twenty wires hooked up to them. Metal bands were strapped to their foreheads. They looked around them, breathing hard; Peyton and Chase looked up at the man and woman’s faces and gasped. “Holy shit, they’re dead.”

“Honey are you ready to buy my ring?” Haley said jokingly on the way to the ring shop. “Oh cut it out, this is fake.” He opened the door for her and they walked in the shop together. “Oh hello! How can I help you today?” The salesman greeted them with a friendly smile. His blond hair gleamed in the light and his deep blue eyes scanned the couple up and down. There was something about him. Haley and Nathan weren’t sure, but they exchanged glances and shrugged it off.

//“That guy looks really creepy,”// Nathan thought to himself.

“We are getting engaged and we are looking for a ring,” Nathan said. “Anything in particular?” asked the salesman. “Anything my //pumpkin// wants.” Nathan’s throat tightened up. “Oh thanks //sugar lips,//” Haley laughed. They browsed around and asked questions to at least look interested. Then they finally thanked the salesman and walked out of the store. “Now what?” Nathan asked. “Now, we wait,” Haley replied.

Haley and Jimmy looked around them. They were strapped to the same chairs with the same wires. They were directly across from each other and they were both bolted down. The same man walked in. this time he had a metallic mask covering his face. He began to talk to the couple. “The art of abduction is quite difficult. However, it’s easier when the couple is together. You know, its saves time.” He rolled out a metal tray with a device on top. “What the hell is that?” Haley asked. “This is a lie detector test. It’s fairly harmless and not complicated at all. In fact, when you get right down to it, it’s quite simple. All it does is listen to your heart.” He reached behind him and grabbed two huge metal clamps with wires attached and clamped them on to each couples chair. “I guess you expect us to believe that those are harmless as well,” Chase said nervously.” He replied seriously, “No, this is electricity. This //will// hurt.” “Is this how you get your kicks? Torturing innocent people?” Haley asked. He looked up at her, “This isn’t torture. I’m doing you a favor. Not everyone is meant to be married. Countless couples rush into headlong marriages with ignorant responsibilities to the burden of truth that comes with that level of commitment.” He took Haley’s hand and she tried to push him away. “Those that belong together have no secrets,” he continued. He started the machine and said, “Let’s begin with an easy question, shall we? Chase, have you ever cheated on your fiancée before?” Chase looked back and forth from the mysterious man to his soon to be wife. Sweat dripped from his face. “No,” he replied. The man pushed a button and a sudden rush of electricity hit. To Haley. Chase stood up and screamed, “HALEY! I’M THE ONE THAT LIED! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO HURT ME!” The man walked to Chase. “Lies don’t hurt you. Lies hurt the ones you love.” The electric rush stopped and Haley and Chase looked at each other, panting. “It was a mistake, I swear. She was crazy.” “I know, I believe you. It’s okay.” The man wound up the electricity machine and said it was now the brides turn. “I wonder how many things she is hiding…” “Please don’t do this,” she begged. “You should be pleading me to continue. If only someone had taken the time to do this before I got married.” “Did you hook her up to one of your machines? Something tells me she didn’t walk out of here.” “I honored her Chase; cherished her. That’s something I promised to her when I took my wedding vows. And how does she reward me? With one lie after another. She never knew it but...” he said with a sigh, “I could smell him on her.” Haley looked at him with disgust. “So you killed her?” “You see, the heart and the mouth are not always on the same page,” he said creepily. “Now Haley, have you ever cheated on your fiancée?” “No.” He pressed the button. No shock. “Good girl. Next question. Is Chase the only man you are in love with?” “Haley don’t answer him. You’re only going to give him satisfaction,” Chase exclaimed. A sudden rush of electricity went through him. Haley screamed. The man replied, “This is not the time for you to be listening to your fiancée. Now I’m going to ask you again. Is Chase the only man you are in love with?” She looked up at him, frightened. She looked from the man to Chase and then back again. “Yes,” she replied. She wanted to believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, but she couldn't. The shock then hit Chase and lasted for about 10 seconds. Haley began to cry. Chase looked at her disappointed with sweat and tears coming down his face. “Some people weren’t meant to be.” The man ripped off his mask to reveal his blonde hair and deep blue eyes. that same weird feeling came again. He reached for the gun behind him and aimed it at the couple. “And some just don’t know how to be committed…”