1[Nothing less than a red balloon] Chapter one Happiness 2
The night was early, but very bright, besides the fact that the clouds hid the sun, due mainly to the down poor of rain that was sure to come. Megan sat quietly on a grassy dock over the ocean. The red balloon floated beside her, held to the ground by her hand.3
“Megan.”4
“Jordan, you came.” Megan said not moving from her spot on the dock, “I thought you had bailed.” The red balloon she was holding blew swiftly in the breeze. 5
“We have to talk.” Jordan said sternly. Megan still didn’t move. She only sat there, looking out over the ocean at the blank city. Jordan walked slowly up behind her and stared at her dark figure. The sun was blocked by clouds and the sky looked like wheat. Jordan could sense that Megan was out of hope. Jordan crouched down and pulled a Megan’s hood. Long brown curls fell out all around her shoulders.6
“Don’t touch me.” She cried suddenly aware of what was happening. She pulled at her hood violently, like she was having a seizure. Jordan grabbed her wrists and put his face close to hers.7
“Your life is not over.” He said to her intensely. Megan had fear in her eyes. This was nothing new for her. Her green brown eyes were always filled with fear; Jordan had never seen them happy. 8
Megan looked over at the balloon in her hand. She had to protect it, save it. “I have to get home.” She said trying to get up, but Jordan stopped her.9
“You can’t keep running, or staying silent like you always do. I know you Megan Camp! You don’t think anyone does, but I do! And I can see right through you sometimes.” Jordan said trying to get her attention.10
“I have nothing to hide.” Megan said pulling away and standing up. But that wasn’t true. Megan had tons to hide, and she hid herself as well. From the sun, from the moon, from the world. She hid constantly from everyone and everything. Megan was never taught differently. 11
“Let me walk you home.” Jordan said grabbing her hand. Megan pulled away.12
“Haphephobia.” She said putting her hands in her sweater pockets. 13
“I forgot…” Jordan said. “Want me to hold that?” he asked reaching for the balloon.14
“No.” Megan said gripping her red balloon tighter. That was the only thing left, the only thing she had to remember now. Megan let a tear drop down to the ground. As soon as it hit the dead grass it began to pour with rain. “I dreamed this.” Megan whispered looking up to the dark wet sky.15
“You still have dreams?” Jordan asked as they crossed a baron street. Megan nodded and looked toward a small café. A man walked out with his hands in his jean pockets and hi leaned down to tie his shoe.16
“I dreamed that too.” She said flatly. Jordan stopped walking and so did Megan, at the exact same time.17
“I don’t believe you.” Jordan said staring crossly at her. “If you dreamed that, then tell me what happens next.”18
Megan just looked up at him and sighed. “I have nothing to prove to you.” Jordan rolled his eyes and followed Megan as she walked swiftly on. Jordan loved her, but couldn’t stand her sometimes. All he wanted to do was be near Megan, be with Megan, be the only one for Megan, but with all her fears and phobias, her creepiness, it made it hard for Jordan to see into her.19
“I’m sorry.” Jordan said catching up to her side. They turned down Megan’s street and she walked faster. “Why are you so eager to get home?” he asked blindly.20
“My mom needs me okay!” she yelled as she ran. Jordan ran after her. “Megan!” he called over and over. Her long wet hair flew behind her as she continued running with speed. Jordan stopped, it was no use. Running in the rain could cause him to slip. One more pain in Megan’s life wouldn’t work. He walked slowly on as he thought.21
Megan’s mood swings were nothing new to him. She would be fine one minute, then someone would say something, anything to her and she would be totally different. She didn’t have a disease or anything; she just didn’t know anything different. Jordan really couldn’t see through Megan, he just wanted her attention. Jordan would never give up on her and that Megan knew. Did she want to get rid of him? Jordan wasn’t sure if that was the answer.22
“She loves me I know it.” He said smiling to himself. Was he crazy? Maybe… He continued on through the rain. “I wish I had an umbrella.” He whispered. Jordan couldn’t keep Megan out of his thoughts though, she was always there. 23
Megan had soft green brown eyes like a cat, and she bites like one too. [Once In grade school Jordan tried to borrow a crayon from Megan, she bit him on the face. Jordan still has the scar.] She has silky long brown hair down to her waist with a bouncy curl. Jordan likes to pull the curls at the end to make them boing. Usually it’s the only thing that makes Megan semi happy. She never smiles on the outside, but Jordan knows she is on the inside. She I about 5’5 tall with shoes on and has a figure like a model. Jordan always told her that one day she could choose modeling as her career; she only stares at him blankly each time.24
Overall, Megan was a pretty girl, but she never embraced it. She hid behind sweaters and hoods so she was rarely noticed. Megan has low self-esteem, I’m pretty sure you’ve noticed by now, but that wasn’t her fault either. Her mom always leaving the house and leaving Megan responsible for hously chores, and watching her little sister, her dad being a business man and staying in his office the whole day, and then on his days off staying in his home office. Megan never got much attention, so she never tried to get any more anywhere. 25
Jordan liked giving Megan attention; he wanted her to be open to him, to feel safe and comfortable with him. So far he had made little progress. But that’s what Megan was; a work in progress. Jordan knew if he kept making her feel special, she would truly see that she was. Even if everyone around her told her she wasn’t, Jordan would still say she was because he knew she was.26
Life was hard for Megan though, whenever she needed something for school she would leave a note to for her mom on her bed of what she needed. When Megan came home from school either money would be there for her to get it, or everything she needed would already be there. If she needed new clothes she would just ask her mom in a text for new ones, her mom would go out and pick her clothes for her from some name brand store. Megan would basically wear whatever because without someone to help her pick, she would never be able to make a decision. 27
Megan was a genius in school. She always brought home straight A’s except in Spanish where she brought a B+ occasionally. She would place her report card on the fridge every time without praise in return. Don’t get me wrong, her parents loved Megan, they just didn’t know how to show it exactly. They just…28
And now with what happened, Megan’s behavior had just gotten worse. Her phobias had returned stronger than ever, her fears were embraced, she was even lonelier and Jordan was determined to help Megan through this. He was glad he was coming over to help with dinner at her house tonight. 29
But her smile. Jordan had seen one smile on Megan’s beautiful face. At Megan’s 12th birthday party her parents had actually taken the time off to throw her a surprise birthday party. 5 Of her friends were there and Megan got a big piñata and a new pair of ice skates [a hobby that Megan embraced]. She smiled, but without showing teeth, for about 3 seconds. The happiest Jordan had ever seen her in her life so far. 17 years of living a smile less life, and Megan didn’t care.30
Jordan wondered who could possibly go so long without smiling, without being happy. When Jordan tried to be depressed, it never worked out just right. He couldn’t keep sad for very long, he actually couldn’t keep any emotion very long except Happiness. Maybe it was just how his life was; too good to be true. Nothing really bad had happened to him, so he couldn’t relate to Megan. Maybe that just how some things were in life.31
Adding your comment:
