The Boy Next Door – Episode 40

THE BOY NEXT DOOR
©️Authoress Adesewa
EPISODE FORTY

❤️ OLIVER❤️

I got tired of talking, so I placed my head on my laps.
I was secretly hoping for a miracle.
I felt someone tap my shoulder lightly, and I looked up.
I sat upright immediately I saw the doctor coming to meet us.

“Good evening, Mr Colston. I’m sorry to announce that we lost him” the doctor said.

I feel as if I’ve been crushed.
My heart feel so heavy and I just want to cry out in anguish.

Alexa placed her hand on my knee and she used the second hand to trace out circles on my palm.
I find the gesture strangely soothing.

“You need to go and see him” Alexa said.
Her words spur me into action and I found myself walking to my dad’s ward.

Mom was crying beside my dad’s corpse.
I wrapped my hands around her and I hugged her tightly.
She looks like she needs it.
I also need the comforting hug as well.

I pulled out of the hug and I stared at the man who is my hero.
I want to imprint his image into my head forever because this would be the last time I’d get to touch him before he is laid to rest eternally.

I’m going to miss him badly.
I have a lot of memories with him and I’d forever cherish those memories for as long as I live.

I know we don’t get to choose our parents, but even if I were to choose, then I’d gladly choose him over and over again.

I’m glad I had the chance to speak with him hours before he gave up the ghost.
I’d have been miserable if I didn’t have that chance to tell him my mind.
I’m really glad I listened to Alexa.
She has really been of help to me and I hope I’d be able to reciprocate someday.

💓 HUNTER💓

Peter’s death is really making me feel so sad.
His body has been taken to the morgue.
The boys and I are at Oliver’s house.
My mom and some of the other moms are also with Laura.

I don’t think anyone will sleep tonight because Peter’s death affect us all.
Peter was a great guy who is so selfless.
He has a lot of endearing qualities which I can’t even even start mentioning.

I can still recall a particular summer hangout we had.
It was more or less a family retreat for the Colston family, but I had been included because I was Oliver’s closest friend.

It was on that vacation that I learned how to fish.
We actually camped at a site close to a lake.
On our last day, I wanted to try swimming because Oliver knew how to swim.
I ended up almost drowning, and I’d probably have die in that water if not for the timely intervention of Peter who fishing on the other side of the lake.

He didn’t even have any idea about who he was helping until I was out of the water.
If not for the fact that he just have a heart of gold, I’d have died in the water.

I was only six years old when it happened but I’d forever remember the incident.

That experience made me aquaphobic.
I never learned how to swim because of how scared of drowning I was.

💭 TUESDAY 💭

❣️ ALEXA❣️

These past two days have been one of the saddest moment of my life.

Oliver has withdrawn into a shell.
Hunter and the rest of the boys are always at his place.

Oliver wasn’t in school yesterday, but I saw him briefly when I saw him in school today.

I fulfilled my promise to Ruby and I went to check on her at the hospital yesterday.
I heard she’d be discharged today.
I was the one who let her know about Peter’s death.

… and just when I thought I’ve seen it all, then something unimaginable occured.

✨ FLASHBACK✨

I had just come back from school yesterday, and aunt Kate made some casseroles for Oliver and his mom.
I was to deliver it to Oliver’s house.

I got there and I delivered it to Laura who thanked me half heartedly.
I don’t need anyone to tell me that she does not care about food at the moment.
I didn’t know how to comfort her so I went to Oliver’s room instead.

Oliver was laying down on his bed and he was staring blankly at nothing in particular.

“Oliver, please get up. You need to eat” I whispered softly.

“I’m not hungry” his voice was flat and it lacked emotions.

“I know you are not, but please just manage to eat” I said, worry crept into my voice.

“I Am Not Hungry” he said, raising his voice in anger.

“If you are acting like this, then how would you convince your mom not to worry?
I know how much you love your dad, but skipping meals is not going to bring him back”

“I’m sorry for shouting at you. I know I’m acting like a brat and I’m no fun right now” Oliver said.

“First, I’m not angry. I understand how you feel.
Second, you are not a brat and lastly, you’d always be fun to be with.
Now, get up and eat”

“Aye, madam” he said while giving me a mock bow.
I stifled the urge to laugh because he looks so funny right now.

Some of the boys came in while oliver was eating.
I exchanged pleasantries with them and Hunter was also there.

“Lizzy, come in” Landon said to someone who was standing outside.

The girl reluctantly entered the room and I gasped in awe.
I mean the girl look so gorgeous and she looks even more beautiful than the sleek models that usually adorn the cover of various classy magazines.

“Lizzy, meet my friends” he said to her and the girl flashed her pure white teeth at us.
Her smile froze when her eyes met my cousin.
I was definitely amused as I watched them.

“Have we met before?” that was the girl’s first statement as she moved to Hunter who was openly staring at her as well.

Now, I don’t want to miss this show.
Here is my cousin who is gaping at the girl in shock.
He shook his head and ignored Lizzy’s outstretched hand.

“I don’t think we’ve met before, but I have a feeling that I know you from somewhere” Hunter said.

“Now that’s absolutely ridiculous, Hunter” Landon said.
The girl suddenly screamed out in pain after Landon spoke.

I rushed to her as I was standing very close to her.
She calmed down after some time but her pretty eyes were filled with tears.
I still found the whole thing weird and I can’t put the memory off my mind.

+ + +

“Alexa, wait. Are you going home already” Kayla asked me.

“Yeah. I have to prepare myself mentally for tomorrow”

“Oh! The Court Case. I wish I could come, but mom is going to have my head cut off if I skip school” she said and I smile as I try to picture her mom cutting her head off.
I’ve actually met with her twice when we were having our rehearsals for the History Day Project.
The woman is sweet and I know Kayla got most of her dominant traits from her.

“Don’t worry. I’d tell you about it when I come on Thursday” I assured her.

I left her and I was about to walk out of the hallway when I heard someone calling my name.
I stopped walking and wait for the person to catch up with me.
It turns out to be Lizzy, the girl I met at Oliver’s house yesterday.

“Hi” she said, panting heavily.

“Hello” I replied.

“Will it be convenient for you if we talk for some minutes?” she asked politely.
No, it won’t.
I want to rest badly.

These were the response I was supposed to give her, but I found myself agreeing to talk with her.
We both head to an empty classroom.

“I am Elizabeth, but mostly people call me Lizzy. My mom and I just got here yesterday. I didn’t want to be bored at home so I pleaded with Landon to allow me to follow him when he was coming to Oliver’s house yesterday.
I have a feeling that I know that Hunter guy somewhere. Can you tell me about him?” Lizzy asked.

“Wait, where are you from and why are you here?”

“I’m from Texas and I can’t tell you why we moved here. It’s too personal. All I can tell you is that I’d be living here now” Lizzy said.

I wondered if I should trust her or not.
I guess I should trust her considering the fact that she is somehow related to Landon.

“Hunter is my cousin. I used to live in New York City until my parents died.
After their death, I came here to live with my uncle and his family.
Someone started a rumour about me killing my mother on the school blog.
Few days later, I saw some pictures which were taken on the day my mother died.
The poster was also trying to defame me.
The rumours on the blog were posted anonymously.

My cousin and the guy whose house you visited were hell bent on discovering the identity of the anonymous poster that they had to travel to Alabama which was the address gotten from the IP address of the anonymous poster.

The anonymous posts were made by a teacher who was on sabbatical.
I later got to know that the teacher had something against my family because my dad obviously didn’t know she had feelings for him and he ended up marrying my mom.

This sadistic teacher tormented Hunter and Oliver and they were traumatised by the time the cops found them.
As a result of the torture, my cousin lost some parts of his memories, and ever since he has woken up he has been calling me a name that is totally different from mine.

I was very curious when I saw the two of you acting funny yesterday.
Tell me, have you been here before? ” I asked her as I finished my narration.

“I’m sorry about what happened to you.
To answer your question, will it sound weird if I tell you that I honestly don’t know” Lizzy said.

“I don’t know what to say. You seem to know my cousin and I was watching everything closely.
Do you know what I found weird?
It is the fact that my cousin was shocked speechless when he heard you talk.
He didn’t give a damn when he saw you even though you are extremely beautiful. It was when you spoke that he seemed to have seen a ghost.
I think your voice reminds him of someone he knows or used to know.
Perchance, do you find his voice familiar?” I asked Lizzy who was listening intently to everything I was saying.

“Yes. I recognise the voice but I don’t know how I can recognise his voice when I’m just seeing him for the first time” Lizzy said.

“And you’re completely sure that you haven’t visited Arkansas before?” I asked just to be sure.

“That is the problem. I have never been here before, but I sometimes dream of this place.

In my dreams, I always see things through the eyes of a blonde teenage girl.
The girl is always in the company of a guy who looks like your cousin, and she also used to call him Hunter.

I recognise this school from my dreams and even that house I visited yesterday.
I felt severe pains when I heard Landon mention Hunter because it triggered the memories of my dreams.
I don’t know why I keep having those dreams or why I feel I know most of the people here” Lizzy said.
I wonder who the girl in her dream is.

“Do you have any idea about the name of the girl in your dreams?” I asked.

“Yes, her name is Dana” she said.

Oh no!
How is it possible for her to be having dreams about another person, or does it mean she is Dana?
No, it can’t possibly be her.
The guys would have recognised her if she’s the one.

“Have you seen this Dana since y ou got here yesterday? ” I asked.

“No, she is already dead” she said sadly.
What?
How did she know?

“How did you know that she is dead?”

“I saw her die in a plane crash” she said, and for the very first time in my life, I, Alexandra Smith actually fainted.

TBC.

Is Lizzy the same person as Dana?
By the way, we are going to court in my next episode.
You won’t want to miss it.

Love you all❤️❤️❤️
©️Authoress Adesewa✍️✍️