LOCKWOOD: EPISODE 1

 

All language translations are from Google translate and Is not meant to offend anybody. 

Picture credit: Unsplash 

    

NOA POV❤️

Lockwood was just a small town with people... People who go about their daily activities. You wake up, go to work or school, come home, eat and then sleep. Lockwood was boring but you know what was more boring? ME.

My whole life I've been sheltered by my family mostly because they believe I'm fragile and need monitoring. There are reasons for this but I still think it is absolutely ridiculous. I had a heart problem at the age of 6. My mum  and dad were close to having a heart attack when they found out about it. The doctor said I had very slim chances of survival and I needed a heart transplant urgently. Mum was depressed most of the time. And dad? He buried himself in work to forget about it. I on the other hand thought I was going to die...until I did get a heart transplant.

Luckily we found a doner and that's how I survived, ever since then my parents have been keeping a close watch on me in case it ever comes back because the doctor says there's  a slim chance it might come back. Mum didn't care about the word "slim". She kept me on a tight lock.

This is why I was very surprised when she said I could go to summer camp at the age of twelve. I was elated and that was the best thing that ever happened to me because that is where I met Claire Parker. Claire was the only one who didn't see me as a weirdo despite being the most popular girl in her school. Our friendship started when she gave me a box of cookies when I was crying by the creek after Kayla Mitch tripped me at lunch. I smiled at her and she smiled back and that was how we became friends.

Soon enough we were in 11th grade and mum decided I could stop being homeschooled. She enrolled me into Lockwood High School and that is the school Claire goes to, she was so excited when I told her I was going to be attending there. There was one problem. Claire was popular but I didn't like the popularity because I preferred staying in the background. I asked Claire to keep our friendship a secret because I didn't want anyone knowing about me and, to be honest, I didn't like her circle. She understood because this was the first time I would be surrounded by people and to be honest I didn't want to associate. I just wanted it to be Claire and me, just the two of us.

At school, Claire and I didn't know each other but outside school we were the best of friends. We spent every evening with each other and she told me something that made me so happy. We were eating burgers when she said it.

"Noa… I can only ever be my true self when I'm with you. You know that, right?"

I nodded and she smiled. Those were the happy times we were living in bliss, just the two of us. Until claire had a boyfriend, Khalil hernandez.

 12th grade

The time I spent with Claire became slimmer because of her relationship, but I couldn't blame her. She was happy and it was the perfect combination; schools football captain and cheerleader captain together. The most important was Khalil treated her right. She would always come to me gushing about him but I just couldn't help but hate the guy you know.

Claire was always on and on about him when we were together. Mostly all our time together was spent taking about Khalil and his stupid blue eyes. All in all, I enjoyed all my times with Claire even if the topics were mostly about Khalil.

Some months into 12th grade Claire started acting weird. Her smile wasn't there anymore and her eyes were duller. It was as if she was scared of something and whenever we would talk she looked anxious. She would try to mask it but I noticed. And she didn't look that happy with khalil again in school. Infact she acted as if the mere sight of him repulsed her and whenever I would look at Khalil he would look so unhappy. I'm a very observant person and that's why I notice these stuff easily. It was as if they were trying to make a failing relationship work.

It was valentines day and Max Cornwell was throwing a party. Claire was excited to go and she asked me to help her choose a dress when she came by my place.

"Red or green?" she asked with a beam on her face 

"Red. It's more classy and it has you all over it"  I said while looking at the book I was reading.

"Yeah, you're right," she said taking the book away from me and tossing it aside. I snarled at her for that and she just laughed.

"I don't even get why you're so excited for this. I've been noticing you and blue eyes, and you don't look so happy with him anymore." Claire frowned as I said this. I looked remorseful because I had just hurt her feelings. "I'm sorry Claire," I said.

"No, it's fine... But Noa, it's honestly not khalil's fault..I'm just dealing with some stuff," she said rubbing her fingers together.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" I said touching her shoulder and she smiled.

"Yeah, I do. I promise I'll tell you..but not now ok? She said.

"Ok," I replied.

 After Claire got ready I escorted her out of the house and she said her goodbyes to mum.

 "Oh! Claire. You're leaving?" Mum said.

" Yes, Mrs martinez," Claire said and smiled.

"I'll see her off, mum," I said, smiling.

Outside, while Claire entered her car, she looked straight at me and said what we usually say to each other when we want to part ways.

" I love you Noa. See you tomorrow?" she said.

"Yeah. Love you too. Have fun," I said  and she drove off. I didn't know why it felt weird saying I love you to her now. It never felt weird before but somehow it did now. I shifted the thought aside and went inside…. 

 1:00am

Later in the morning I came out for a glass of water but what I saw made me worried. Mum was crying with her phone in her hand.

"Mum… Is everything okay?" I said.

Mum looked so worried when she looked at me like there's something she wanted to say but couldn't.

"Sweetheart, it's about claire," she said.

"What about Claire?" I said getting worried and rushing down the stairs.

" Sweetheart, promise me you'll be calm."

" WHAT ABOUT CLAIRE MUM?" I said my tone getting higher and my heart beating faster.

" Claire is… She's dead." 

My whole world spinned around me and before I knew it, a tear slipped down my cheek and I was shaking my head vigorously while mumbling the word "no"  and cluching my heart…. breathing heavily.

"Mija," mum said in the background holding me but it sounded like a blur. Everything sounded like a blur. All I could hear when I fell into unconsciousness were three words...

CLAIRE IS DEAD.

To be continued...