Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"Anna ," mom called out from the dining room but got an answer and it was the third time.

Sighing aloud Amy gets up from her seat" I'll fetch her mom," she stated by dragging her chair behind.

Before she could walk out she was interrupted by someone.

"I'll look for her ," Jackie recommended by removing himself from the chair.

Amy responded with a smile and sat back.

Taking a deep breath Jackie knocked at the door.

Again he knocked

Again and

Again.

But got no response. Moving forward he placed his palm around the knob and rotated to know that the room was not locked. Stepping with a little bit of hesitation he looked around but found no figure inside.

With a long sigh he stepped out and moved behind.

"She might be in the library, "he furrowed his eyebrows and walked towards the library and halted in between when he saw someone standing on the balcony.

"Anna,"he called out by standing at the entrance and got no response again.

He walked towards her and stood next to her.

.........................

I inhaled the scent which was close to me. I knew who it was. I turned towards my left to meet the brown sparkling eyes.

"What's wrong,"he asked softly, taking a step forward.

"Nothing,"I said meekly by plastering a fake smile on my face.

"Hey,"he raised an eyebrow at her "You are not that good at lying,"he told which made me to

lower by gaze and bite my bottom lip.

"How does he know that I am lying," I questioned myself mentally surprisingly.

I looked up at him when he took hold of my chin and made me meet his eyes again. He cupped my cheeks and moved a step closer.

"What's wrong. Tell me. I'm always there by your side to help,"

I turned and pointed towards the right where Jackie looked where I was pointing.

"It's my mother's ring," I whispered hesitantly because I was careless. I hope that he doesn't hear it but I knew that he heard it when I examined his gaze.

"May you get that ring to for me," I turned towards him cheerfully expecting him to say yes. "Please," I begged with puppy eyes.

He was continuously looking at the ring which was on the garage high roof. Without looking at me he rubbed the back of his neck which allowed the sun to shine over his arm.

"Ugh"he ran his fingers through his hair "hmm I'm afraid of heights,"he replied by not looking at me which made the smile on my face to du

disappear.

"But why? Come on. You are a tall lad," I appreciated cheerfully by nudging his shoulder.

"Even lad has fear,"

"Jackieee....Anna,"I shouted from downstairs.

"We are coming, "Jackie replied aloud and left without looking at me as I followed him.

That was the only ring which my mother always wore around her finger. The ring was removed from her finger when I saw her the last time. I didn't even get the chance of seeing my parent's funeral.

"Leave me ....," I shouted, struggling in his strong grip. I wiggled by kicking him but there was no use , the

hold around my waist only got tighter.

I tried to lean myself forward so my hand would be in mom's forever but he pulled me away from her. That every second of last touch I had her palm. I took a deep breath and moved forward trying to hold my mum's hand but the only thing which I got was her ring. I dug my finger into hers to make the hold stronger but it failed when that bastard pulled me back and my mum's ring was in my palms.

"Leave me ....you bastard," I screamed trying to get attention but I got no.

That person who was holding me dragged me towards a room. I didn't even glance at him because I didn't want to waste my time looking at them. Instead I turned to look at my dad who was lying on the ground.

His hands were cuffed and I could hear his whispers of my name.

He was trembling ,his head was bleeding and there were many bruises all over his body. He was spitting some blood out of his mouth and he looked up at me. It was when I realised that was the last time I would see them. They pulled me in and shut the door.

I couldn't eat because I can't think of losing my mum's ring. It was at the edge of the rooftop. What happens if it falls into the lake?

Ohhh god, nothing should happen like that.

I was lost in my thoughts where I didn't realise that everyone was looking at me. Amy nudged me and I looked up at Jackie whose eyes were captured in me. I don't know why I looked up at him immediately but he gave me some special feeling which gives me warmth and it definitely differs from others.

........................

"Hold it tight," Jackie shouted by holding the rope where he was gripping hard in one edge and Jon was holding around the other edge.

"Ooohhhh God,"he prayed and kept a step forward without glancing at his surroundings. The cold breeze blew over him which sent him chills and made him shiver with fear as well as the coolness.

"Come on...I'll get it and you can give it to Anna," Jon said, moving forward.

"Nope.....I want to take it by myself and tell her that I took it," he stated by emphasising on the word I.

"Alright. ....you tell her that you did," Jon replied by raising his eyebrows.

"I don't wanna lie," Jackie winked at Jon and scott down to reach towards the silver ring.

"Ohh come on bro. Let him do it for his girl" Bray smirked by leaning towards the balcony to see Jackie who was scotting on the rooftop of the back garage.

After ages of silence Jackie slowly got over the balcony wall and stood on his feet with the ring.

"Finally gotcha,"he smirked by looking at the ring and pushed it instantly in his jeans pocket and turned towards his right to face Jon.

"Thanks dude," he said and before he could turn to thank Bray he interrupted.

"Hey ....you are bleeding," Bray told softly by holding Jackie's left hand.

Jackie lifted his hand up and saw his wrist which was bleeding.

"I never felt that," he said, curling his eyebrows. Jon gave a shot to his head.

"Ouch..," Jackie cried like a kid and turned towards his brother.

"Wait ....I'll get the first aid kit in mum's room," Jon said, tapping his shoulder.