Lost Kids (a.i.)

twenty six

I may have forever in time, but I don't have time for regret.

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I expected an awkward vibe to run through the walls of the old house, but it wasn't there. Everyone was cheerful and cuddly. They came up and embraced me at random moments, even after telling me I was an uncomfortable chilling temperature. John even joined in on the hugging trend. It was the third time Luke hugged me that day, that asked what was going on.

He backed away a few feet looking at me with a nervous grin and wiping his palms on his jeans. His blue eyes searched for an excuse in the kitchen, but nothing popped into his mind. "I have to go." He mumbled, before whirling around and running up the stairs.

"Luke, wait!" I call out, reaching my hand out to him, but he slipped between my finger tips. I look down sad at my feet and go back to the kitchen where I had been making dinner for the five boys.

It was then that Michael appeared in the kitchen. His hair was a more faded from the bright dye, he noticed it too. "I want you too choose my next hair color." He states, sitting on a stool near the stove.

"All right, you're gonna have to give me some time to think." I stay concentrated on the cooking meal.

"How long?" He inches closer, his nose scrunching up at the smell of food.

"Not sure, I'd back away a little, if I were you. Don't want that hair to burn from the stove." I chuckle softly, throwing in another vegetable to the pan. He backs off immediately.

"So, what if I dyed your hair?" He throws the idea out into the naked open, picking up a stand of my long waves.

"My hair?" I look up, curious raising my eyebrow, he drops the hair.

"Yeah, wouldn't it look cool blue?" His eyes light up in amazement as he imagines the blue color on my head.

"Maybe." I hum, picking the pan off the stove and turn it off. Fixing five plates of food, I set them down on the table. "Boys, dinner!" I call up to the others, all of them rushing to spots at the table.

"It's great, Wen!" Calum tells me with a smile already stuffed with the food.

"Thank you." I nod and play with my hands. Turning to John, who say to my left. "When do you leave?"

"Bright and early tomorrow." He half grins, sad to be leave me, who he had lost for three years.

"You'll contact us, right?" I reassure myself, for I didn't want to lose him again either.

"Yeah! Of course, next year I should bring Mark. Maybe, I could even visit on your birthday." My brother begins to get excited, talking faster and making plans.

"I'd love that." A warm blush creeps on my cheeks as I feel Ashton's hand brush mine. Our eyes dart towards each other like magnets, but the spilt instantly once Michael speaks up.

"I was talking to Wen earlier about dying my hair. Wouldn't she look great with blue?" He asks the table, who all glance at me, tilting their heads to see the image with blue hair.

"Yeah, I could totally see it." Luke nods, continuing to munch on his veggies.

"Me too." John and Calum say in unison, which erupts a few laughs from the boys.

"No." Ashton declares straightly, shaking his head and looking back to the others.

"Why not?" Michael adds in like a begging puppy. He eyebrows knit together.

"Look at it now," he picks up one of the long soft waves that hang from my head. "See how's it's soft, shiny and well... not damaged?"

"Let me remind you, I am dead so it probably won't affect how my hair looks in texture." I raise my eyebrow, waiting for his answer, but he's speechless. It's not everyday you get fired done with the comeback 'I'm dead'.