The Bright Side

Chapter 15 - Part 2

TRISTAN

Autumn hit Seaford with full force, there's a tightly drawn curtain of rain hanging from the sky, ending the play that has been skating at East Coast all summer. Although, I could go back to the schoolyard again, too, now that Matt and I are talking again. If there wasn't the rain. I look out the window and scan the sky for the tiniest opening, the smallest stripe of blue, a promise of summer's last rebellion, but for today there's nothing.

"So, what are you going to do with that day off of yours?" Rory asks. "Or rather, what's left of it."

It's twelve already, other than usual I've slept in and while Rory is already fully dressed in his hilarious uniform, I'm still in my pyjamas. We are sitting in the kitchen and share a weird kind of meal that consist of marmalade toast, left over noodles with tuna sauce and mixed pickles, because no one felt the responsibility to go shopping this week.

"Umm, Matt wanted to swing by when he's off work." Which could be any minute now, or in

an hour. If there's one thing Matt is not, it's anything close to punctual.

"Really? Your boyfriend's out of town for like five days and you're already hooking up with

another guy?"

"First of all, shithead, it's been six days." The longest six days of my life. And also the shortest. I've been working like a dick the whole week – we all have. Two of our staff have called in sick. Today is the first day since Sky left that I have a day off. We just couldn't afford it. I think I've earned myself some guy time. Which brings me back to the discussion.

"And second of all, just because I'm queer doesn't mean that..." I stab my bread knife in his direction.

"Jesus Christ! I was just kidding!"

"What am I supposed to do? Swap him for girl friends?"

"Kidding! I was just kidding!" Rory cries out. "Good Lord. You're sensitive. Time for Sky to come back, eh?"

"Oh, yes." Now that I'm not distracted by work there's only Sky in my head. Sky. Sky. Sky. I woke up and looked at his sketch on my wall and my insides squirmed. Sky. My eyes found the Nintendo on the floor and my heart raced. Sky. I got up and walked down the stairs, which he had also used multiple times and his name pulsed through my veins. Sky. Pathetic. Weird. And also, incredibly nice.

I grab my mobile from the windowsill and send Sky a short text.

'One week anniversary! <3'

"Can I have the rest of the noodles?" Rory gestures to the pot between us.

"Knock yourself out." They tasted great yesterday – he really is getting better at cooking – but they're not quite what I desire for breakfast. "I'll stick to the toast and pickled onions."

He grabs his fork and gets started on the noodles and it takes Sky to answer until Rory has transferred the last noodle into his mouth.

'1. When's your birthday again? You're going to be twelve, right? And 2. Technically, that's tomorrow, it was 0:58 o'clock when you kissed me. <3'

"Hah!" So, he's trying to play it canny.

'Everything that happens before you go to sleep accounts for the day before.'

"Are you texting Sky?" Rory asks.

"Mh-hm." I nod with my eyes glued to the screen. Come on, Sky, answer!

"And? On a scale from zero – totally weirded out, to ten – completely laid back, where are you standing with this whole relationship thing right now?"