Thread: Cold & True (Ava & ForeverMischievous)

A girl and a boy. Practically raised side by side. Went to elementary school, middle school, and high school together. Playing hide and seek between their front lawns. Laughter ringing through the air and time spent at the park with one another. At the age of fifteen love was struck. Almost like fate. She loved him. How could she not? He was her first everything. First Valentine. First kiss. The first person she gave her body to. The first guy she loved. They seemed inseparable. Both voted, most likely to be wed. Even after high school it was made official. Their engagement proposed for the world to see. Rarely could you see Gabriella Eloise de Beaumont without the smile she was known for and if there was anyone who could wipe away her fears and doubts, it was the love of her life Marcus Anthon Knudsen. They were perfect. They were in love. In it's purest and rare form. On a dark storming night the ebony haired girl sat waiting in her home for her fiance to arrive for a movie night. Deep piercing green eyes gazing out of the front window as sheets of rain began pouring. Thank heavens Marcus had left before the rainfall, but when she tried to call him, she had no luck getting a signal. Fear has long since set in. Her mind conjuring various scenarios that could have been played out. He was a smart man. Maybe he pulled over to wait the storm out. Marcus had gone to get her some ice cream when she laughed and sincerely told him that she could live without it. Yet there was a reason he was the love of her life. He left to get her the triple caramel chunk ice cream she craved. Slender manicured fingers tangled themselves in her long black locks as she plopped herself on the sofa. Spring Hills wasn't a big place. Almost everyone knew one another and if anything happened, she would know. Right? Gabby was prepared with her tank top and yoga shorts for a fun night of drinking, food, and movies with her favorite person in the world. Out of nervousness the fingers of her left hand fiddled with the locket nestled in the valley of her modest C cup breasts. The precious jewelry being the first gift Marcus ever got her. She kissed it for luck and then the diamond in her engagement ring caught her eyes. She had lit the fire beneath the mantle. Originally for marshmallows, but now, as the lights flickered on and off, it served an even greater purpose. Upon the sofa she waited. The storm lasting most of the night. The young twenty year old girl with the slender build to her perfectly proportional body had passed out upon the sofa with a throw blanket over her and her phone gripped in her hand. A knock sounded upon her front door and woke the young woman. With a yawn she stretched her arms above her head and walked her bare feet over to the front door where she peeked out of the peep hole. The sight of the police had her heart racing. The chain on the door, and the other two locks were undone and the door swung open to reveal the frightened look upon her face. What's wrong? She asked. It was not the news she had expected. Rather than news of her fiance. It was equally grave. Her best friend Jenna had been killed in the night. A statement was given that the last time she saw Jenna was yesterday morning when they went out for a jog. When the police left she cried hard and was still panicking. Marcus never made it home. She made every phone call possible to see if anyone knew where he was. The store was just a few blocks and an intersection away. It would have only taken ten minutes to get back at most. His car was no where to be found and on the day of Jenna's funeral, she felt alone. Sudden outbursts of tears and a bout of depression. Yet she managed to put herself together after a little over a year. She still held onto the ring and the locket. She had dated here and there, but nothing ever clicked. She was on a few meds now. Nothing too serious, but they helped dull the pain. Back to school she went and got a degree in nursing. A career that would eat away at time and give her little time to think. Even three years later the questions still haunted her. She had moved away from Spring Hill a year after the incidents, but after two and half she moved back to their home. She needed it. It felt almost nice to be back in Spring Hill. Having caught up with a few friends, she was still the homey laid back girl she once was, but without the person who made her smile. while she wore one, rarely was it genuine. She would head to the park at sunset where her and Marcus use to go as kids. It was her first time going back there in several years. Parents were taking their children home for dinner and Gabby was getting a seat upon the swings. It was to be a chilly evening she so dawned her blue sweater dress and a pair of two inch heeled boots that went up to her knees. A scarf draped about her neck and a matching blue beanie upon her head to keep her ears warm. It wasn't long before night was upon the little town. With Gabriella's house being down the street she was in no rush. The street light reflecting off of the gold locket that hung about her neck. She was now twenty-five and still in a silent rut. She had two weeks off. This was her vacation time, but she was having difficulties enjoying herself. The swings seemed almost therapeutic. As she gently swayed back and forth. Only fond memories flooded her mind. She smiled slightly. Remembering how Marcus use to chase her around the park. How they almost got caught doing it in her bedroom, causing Marcus to hide naked beneath her bed. They lived a crazy life. How she would feign being too tired to make it up the stairs so that he would carry her to bed in his arms. She knew he wasn't dead. He couldn't be. Often she found herself wondering where he went. Was it something she did? Memories and questions continued to plague her mind as she idly swung alone in the park.