Angelina was having a normal day at home. She had just finished her homework and was chatting with her best friend Lana on the phone. They were talking about the latest episode of their favorite show, and laughing at the jokes and plot twists.
“So, what do you think will happen next?” Angelina asked, holding the phone to her ear.
“I don’t know, but I hope they finally get together. They’re so cute!” Lana gushed.
“I know, right? They have so much chemistry. I ship them so hard!” Angelina agreed.
They continued to talk for a few more minutes, until Angelina heard a strange noise in the background.
“Hey, what was that?” she asked.
“What was what?” Lana asked.
“That sound. It sounded like a scream or something.” Angelina said.
Lana paused for a second, then said, “Oh, that. It’s nothing. Just some kids playing outside.”
“Are you sure? It sounded pretty loud.” Angelina said.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Don’t worry about it.” Lana said.
She felt a bit uneasy, but she decided to trust her friend. She said, “Okay, if you say so.” They resumed their conversation, but Angelina noticed that Lana sounded a bit distracted and nervous, voice laced with confusion and anxiety. She wondered if something was wrong.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Lana said.
“You sound a bit off. Is everything okay at home?” Angelina said.
Lana hesitated for a moment, then said, “Yeah, everything’s fine. It’s just… I have to go.”
“What? Why? What’s going on?” Angelina asked.
Lana sounded panicked as she said, “I can’t explain right now. I just have to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Wait, Lana, don’t hang up!” Angelina said.
But it was too late. Lana had already hung up the phone.
Angelina stared at the phone in confusion and worry. She wondered what had happened to make Lana act so weird. She hoped she was okay. She decided to call her back, but she got no answer. She tried texting her, but she got no reply. She tried calling her parents, but they didn’t pick up either.
She felt a surge of fear and anxiety. She wondered if something bad had happened to Lana and her family. She wondered if she should call the police or go to their house.
She decided to go to their house. She changed out of the track pants she was in, and ran out of her room. She shouted to her parents and brother that she needed a drop to Lana’s home.. She expected them to answer or ask where she was going, but she heard nothing. She thought they were busy or didn’t hear her. She ran down the stairs and headed for the door. She opened it and stepped outside.
She stopped in shock as she saw the scene before her eyes.
The street was empty and silent. There were no cars, no people, no signs of life. The houses looked abandoned and dark. The sky was gray and cloudy.
It was like the world had ended.
Angelina felt a chill run down her spine. She wondered what had happened to everyone. She wondered where they had gone.
She wondered if she was alone.
She ran back inside and searched for her family. She checked every room, every closet, every corner.
But they weren’t there.
Her parents’ bedroom was empty and cold. Their bed was neatly made and their clothes were neatly folded in their drawers. Their phones and wallets were on their nightstands, where they always were.
Her brother’s bedroom was empty and messy. His bed was unmade and his clothes were scattered on the floor. His gaming console and controller were on his desk, as if he had just dropped them.
Angelina felt tears sting her eyes as she realized that they had disappeared without a trace. She wondered where they had gone and why they had left her behind.
She wondered if she would ever see them again.
She felt a wave of loneliness and despair wash over her. She felt like she had lost everything. She felt a teardrop roll off her face.
Angelina wiped her tears and tried to calm down. She told herself that this couldn’t be real. There had to be an explanation for this. There had to be someone who could help her.
She decided to go outside and look for other people. Maybe they were hiding somewhere, or maybe they had gone to another place. Maybe they were waiting for her to find them.
She grabbed her bike and helmet and ran out of the door. She hoped that her family and friends would be back by the time she returned.
She rode her bike around the town, looking for any signs of life. She checked every street, every park, every store. She called out for anyone who could hear her. She hoped that someone would answer her.
But no one did.
The town was empty and silent. There were no cars, no people, no animals. There were no lights, no sounds, no movements. There was nothing.
It was like the world had ended.
Angelina felt a chill run down her spine. She wondered what had happened to everyone. She wondered if she was the only one left.
She felt a surge of fear and loneliness. She felt like she had lost everything. She rode her bike faster and faster, hoping to find something, anything, that would make sense of this madness.
She rode for hours, until the sun started to set. She realized that she had to find a place to stay for the night. She didn’t want to go back to her empty house, but she didn’t know where else to go.
She decided to go to the school. Maybe there would be someone there, or maybe there would be some clues or resources that could help her.
She rode her bike to the school, which was not far from her house. She parked her bike near the entrance and walked inside.
The school was empty and dark. There were no teachers, no students, no staff. There were no books, no papers, no computers. There were no posters, no banners, no trophies.
It was like the school had never existed.
Angelina felt a pang of nostalgia and sadness. She remembered all the good times she had at the school, all the friends she made, all the things she learned. Hell, even the most boring of lectures were nostalgic.
She missed them all.
She walked through the hallways, looking for a place to rest. She checked every classroom, every office, every locker room.
But they were all empty.
She felt a wave of frustration and despair. She wondered if she would ever find anyone or anything that could help her.
She wondered if she would ever get out of this nightmare.
She walked until she reached the auditorium, where they had their plays and assemblies. She decided to stay there for the night. She thought it would be safer and more comfortable than anywhere else.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
She stopped in shock as she saw something that made her heart skip a beat.
A boy.
He was sitting on the stage, holding a guitar in his hands. He had short hazel hair hair and blue eyes that shone in the dim light. He was wearing a leather jacket and jeans that made him look cool and rebellious.
He looked up as he heard her enter. He stared at her with surprise and curiosity.
She asked him, “Who are you?”
Angelina felt a shock of disbelief and fear. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She couldn’t believe he was here. He was the last person she wanted to see.
She felt a surge of anger and disgust. She hated him for being here, for being alive, for being the only other one left.
She hated him for saying he loved her.
She felt a flicker of sadness and guilt. She wished he wasn’t here, that he wasn’t alone, that he wasn’t the only one left.
She wished he hadn’t said he loved her.
She felt a pang of confusion and curiosity. She wondered how he got here, why he was here, what he was doing here.
She felt a lot of things, but she didn’t show any of them. She kept her face blank and cold, her eyes hard and sharp, her voice low and clear.
She decided to run away from him, hoping he wouldn’t follow her. She decided to pretend that she didn’t care about him, that she didn’t need him, that she didn’t want him.
She decided to lie one more time.
She took a deep breath and said,
“I don’t know you.”
She turned around and ran out of the auditorium, leaving him behind. She hoped that he would stay there, that he would leave her alone, that he would forget about her.
But he didn’t.
He dropped his guitar and ran after her, calling out her name. He said,
“Angelina, wait! Don’t go! I need to talk to you!”
He chased her through the hallways, trying to catch up with her. He wondered why she was running away from him, why she was acting so cold, why she was lying to him.
He wondered if she hated him.
He felt a wave of fear and regret. He feared that he had lost her forever, that he had ruined everything, that he had made a mistake.
He wanted to say he loved her.
He felt a lot of things, but he didn’t show any of them. He kept his face determined and brave, his eyes bright and sincere, his voice loud and clear.
He decided to catch up with her, hoping she would talk to him. He decided to show her that he cared about her, that he needed her, that he wanted her.
Angelina ran as fast as she could, but Ashton was faster. He caught up with her at the end of the hallway, where the exit door was. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, making her face him. She tried to break free from his grip, but he held her firmly. She looked at him with fear and anger, and shouted, “Let me go! Leave me alone!”
He looked at her with desperation and love, and said, “No! I can’t let you go! I can’t leave you alone! I need you!”
She shook her head and said, “No! I don’t want you! What do you want from me?
He nodded and said, “Yes! I need you! I… I want you! I like you!” They stared at each other for a moment, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. They felt a storm of emotions raging inside them, tearing them apart. They felt a lot of things, but they didn’t know what to do with them. They were silent for a while, until Angelina broke the silence.
She said, “Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you saying this?”
Ashton took a deep breath and said, “Because it’s true. Because I’ve always felt this way. Because I can’t hide it anymore.”
Angelina felt a shock of disbelief and confusion. She said, “What? What do you mean? How can you say that? How can you feel that?”
Ashton felt a surge of courage and honesty. He said, “I mean it. I mean every word. I’ve always loved you, Angelina. Ever since I met you.” Angelina felt a pang of doubt and curiosity. She said, “Really? Since when? Since when did you love me?”
Ashton felt a flicker of nostalgia and sadness. He said, “Since the first day of school. Since the first time I saw you.”
He remembered that day in all its glory. He remembered how she walked into the first grade classroom shyly, her teal hoodie covering her beautiful strawberry blonde hair. He remembered how she had looked at him with her gorgeous green eyes and smiled at him with her sweet pink lips.
He remembered how he had felt his heart skip a beat and his breath catch in his throat. He said, “You were so beautiful, so smart, so funny. You were everything I ever wanted. You were everything I ever dreamed of.”
Angelina felt a wave of surprise and flattery. She said, “Really? You thought that? You dreamed that? Dang…”
Ashton nodded and said, “Yes. Yes, I did. And I still do.” He moved closer to her and said, “You’re still beautiful, still smart, still funny. You’re still everything I ever want. You’re still everything I ever dream of.” He reached for her face and said, “You’re still the one I love.”
“No, no! I don’t love you! What do you mean?! Are you crazy?!”
“Yes, I am. Crazy for you!”
|•|•|•|
“NO!”
Angelina woke up from her bad dream with a start. She gasped and sat up, clutching her chest. She looked around, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
She was in her bedroom, in her own house, in her own town. She saw her familiar furniture, her cozy bed, her colorful posters. She smelled her favorite perfume, her fresh laundry, her mom’s baking. She heard nothing but silence. She realized that it was all a dream. A horrible, terrible, nightmare.
She felt a wave of relief and gratitude wash over her. She thanked God that it was not real. That none of it had happened.
She thanked God that everyone was still here. That everyone was still alive.
She thanked God that she was not alone.
She got out of bed and walked to the window, hoping to see the moon and the stars. She wanted to calm herself down and forget about the dream.
She opened the curtains and looked outside.
It was a typical midnight, it seemed.
Angelina heard a familiar voice calling her name. She looked up and saw her brother Leo standing at the door, rubbing his eyes. He had short blond hair and green eyes, just like her. He was wearing his pajamas and holding his teddy bear.
He said, “Angie, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Angelina felt a surge of relief and joy. She realized that her brother was still here, that he was still alive.
She realized that she was not alone.
She ran to him and hugged him tightly, feeling his warmth and heartbeat. She said, “Leo, you’re here! You’re okay!”
Leo hugged her back, feeling her tears and trembling. He said, “Of course I’m here. Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Angelina pulled away and looked at him with wonder and gratitude. She said, “I had a bad dream, Leo. A very bad dream. Everyone was gone, Leo. Everyone but me.”
Leo looked at her with concern and confusion. He said, “What do you mean, everyone was gone? Where did they go?”
Angelina shook her head and said, “I don’t know, Leo. I don’t know. They just disappeared, Leo. They just disappeared.”
Leo frowned and said, “That’s silly, people don’t just disappear. They’re still here, Angie. They’re still here.”
“Mom and Dad are in their room, snoring really loudly.”
He pointed to the window and said, “Look, there’s the moon and stars. They’re shining for us.”
He smiled and said, “See, Angie? Everything’s fine. Everything’s normal. It was just a bad dream.”
“Right… thanks Leo.”
“No problem!” he yawned. “Night-night!”
He walked out of her room, feeling confused and worried about his sister.
|•|•|•|
Ashton tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep. He kept thinking about Angelina, the girl he had a crush on since the first day of school. He wondered what she was doing right now, if she ever thought about him, if she liked him back. He wished he had the courage to tell her how he felt, but he was too shy and afraid of rejection.
He reached for his phone and opened his gallery. He scrolled through the photos he had taken with Angelina, admiring her smile, her eyes, her hair. He felt a surge of warmth in his chest and a smile on his lips. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the door open and his little brother Jayden walk in from the bathroom.
“Hey, bro, what are you doing up so late?” Jayden asked, flicking on the light.
Ashton quickly hid his phone under his pillow and pretended to be asleep. “Huh? What? I was just…sleeping,” he mumbled.
Jayden raised an eyebrow and walked over to his bed. He snatched the phone from under the pillow and looked at the screen. His eyes widened as he saw the photos of the two. He grinned and nudged Ashton. “So, this is why you can’t sleep, huh? You like Leo’s sister!”
Ashton felt his face turn red and tried to grab his phone back. “Give that back! It’s none of your business!”
Jayden dodged his hand and held the phone out of reach. “Oh, come on, don’t be shy. I think you two would make a cute couple. She’s smart, funny, and nice. And you’re…well, you’re my brother, so I guess you’re not that bad.”
Ashton groaned and buried his head under the covers. “Please, just leave me alone. And don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”
Jayden chuckled and said to him. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But you should really go for it, bro.”
“I dunno how!” Ash burst out.
He suddenly realized the next step of his cunning scheme to make them tie the knot. It was as if the idea came to him out of nowhere. “I can offer you some assistance if you wish.”
Ash chuckled. “How did you even learn such big words?”
“Mrs. Jones taught me!”
“That’s cool. Thanks. But… what if she doesn’t like me back?”
“Angie told me this thing once. Life is too short to waste on what-ifs. Trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
Ashton peeked out from under the covers and looked at Jayden with a mix of gratitude and annoyance. “Thanks for the advice, but can you please just go away and let me sleep?”
Jayden smiled and handed him back his phone. “Fine, fine, I’ll leave you alone. But think about what I said, okay? And don’t forget to delete those photos before mom sees them.”
He winked and walked out of the room, turning off the light. Ashton sighed and put his phone on the nightstand. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Angelina.
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