16 Feet Under

chapter 7 / Sophie's pov

About a week and two days (216 hours) have passed since Maya and Finn asked us to move in with them , But hey who's counting? My childhood room is derelict and abandoned. The once white walls streaming with bright and bold posters are now patchless in areas at the blue-tacks wake.

Dad piles my suitcases into the back of my car while I go check on how ready Ben is next door. I'm still not fully confident in my driving ability, however I can make it to an apartment half an hour away in one piece (hopefully). I waltzed up the small path to Ben's family's house before I noticed him pulling along two large suitcases. Bens like me in that sense he doesn't overbuy he is minimalist with his stuff. I can already imagine the lay out of those suitcases:

Suitcase 1:

Clothes

Any other sentimental objects he owns

Suitcase 2:

Books

"Ready to go? You can follow my car if you need." I tell him making him jump. I search his melancholy face, finding his eyes that are light angles surrounded by his darken thoughts, "Hey you okay?" I ask the obvious.

"Yeah I'm fine and that.."

"Don't lie to me Ben, what's wrong?" He gives me a small smile that's tinged with sadness as his face begins to crumple. I am quick to run to his side and pull his fulling body towards mine, his heart pounds against my chest while he sinks to his knees, pulling me down with him. We always fall down together. "What's wrong?" i repeat getting more worried and then pulling him closer to my chest, his tears creating a swimming pool on my shirt.

"I was their glue." he chokes out, "they're going to fall apart without me there." My insides wretch at his words he's referring to his parents and their divorce / non - divorce situation. I'm surprised at the overpowering pain that hits me like a tidal wave from just seeing him in this state.

"Look at me Ben were going to be okay they love each other and people who love each other always find their way back to each other"

His enchanting green eyes look back up to me, completely casting a spell on mine as they pour the same energy back into him . "Just like us." His small voice shakes pain laced in every syllable.

I just hold him and keep him ashore.

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The lay out of the apartment is pretty simple the kitchen and lounging area area are at the front of the house , Mayas and Finns shared master room next to that , Clays bedroom then mine and Bens at the top of the house each room have a huge glass window that showcase the city in all its glory. I unpacked about an hour ago and have just been enjoying the early night view just before the darkness casts over the sky and bright lights from the buildings illuminate it. Is it bad that the thing I'm most excited about moving in is the view? Probably a little bit.

An ear splitting crash blasts out from Ben's room while I race to the room next door to investigate it.

He looks physically shaken by the loud noise "I dropped my suitcase." he chuckles bending down to collect some of the books that have spewed out.

"I can tell." I reach down to help him, my fingers brushing against his until they pick up a book that's far too familiar hardback copy of pride and prejudice. I open up the book and the sense of nostalgia hits me in a flash, my eyes filling with tears that threaten to spew out. The markings and notes from our fifteen year old self's meet my eyes. Every time we would reread the book we would annotate it in a different colour red , green , purple and blue pen to uphold our thoughts while reading each line.