US

+ p a r t t h r e e: 11 +

People always say absence makes the heart grow fonder.

People have always been full of shit.

I didn't stay when he left. I couldn't. Instead, I went back to Olly's hill. It was always so quiet and everytime I looked down, I could see him and Agnes waiting for me.

Was it weird that the reason I couldn't join them was because I wanted to stay with Jamie?

After he had left, I kept myself busy. Doing high school kids english homeworks with a little pay given back to me, working double shifts at the hospital and helping to paint the house when I could.

Holly complained, of course "You're relapsing, Skye. You barely leave your room and you won't even smile anymore"

I understood her. It felt like I was going through some horrible drug withdrawal. I didn't want to see anyone, or talk to anyone.

Not even Jamie.

I never picked his calls or read his texts. He always tried reaching out but I never tried reaching back.

At night, my night terrors got worse. They always woke Holly and Rob that I stopped sleeping in my room cause mine was closer to theirs and stayed in Jamie's with his football jacket pressed to my face.

His scent always made them lessen, but they never fully went away.

I kept dreaming Olly ran away from home and came to the Cullen's so we could go away together, but then he saw me and Jamie all happy and he ran back home and no matter how fast I ran, I couldn't get there in time to stop him.

I always woke up crying. My head would hurt and I'd feel tired.

So when I couldn't take it anymore, I called Jamie.

I didn't know what time it was but I knew he was an hour ahead of us. I didn't expect him to actually pick my call, but he did.

There was shuffling in the background and some grunts here and there, but his voice came through. He sounded like he just woke up "Finally, Skye. I thought you were avoiding me"

It felt like cold water had been poured over me and I calmed, gripping his jacket tighter to my body "You sound like you were sleeping"

I heard him chuckle "Cause I was baby, it's like three am right now. Shouldn't you be sleeping too?"

I can't sleep. I want you back home. "Yeah, I should"

There was another shuffling of sheets again, but I heard his voice clearer now. Like he was sitting up and fully awake "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Fuck, no. No, I wasn't okay.

"Yes"

He cursed "Skye, I know you'd never tell me if you were. I just—"

He paused again. I could bet he was doing that thing where he'd close his eyes so he could think of some other tactic to use with me before he spoke "Why don't you try smoking?"

"It's not the same" I was always alone seated outside. It felt really weird without him.

We both stayed quiet on the line for a while. His breathing was the one thing that kept me calm. I could imagine him next to me. Just laying there. Just breathing.

I knew I'd feel safe.

"How's college?" I needed him to keep talking again. I liked his voice.

"College sucks in it's own way. I can't believe you made me go so far away"

"It was a good school" I didn't want to argue with him. Tonight wasn't arguing time. Plus, I was sure I'd cry if we actually did that "Found any girls yet?"

There was radio silence on his side. I knew those words might have upset him. It was always very easy to get a reaction out of Jamie "I'm actually in a relationship with someone. Fortunately"

"If you got horny, you could—"

"My body only responds to you. Drop it. Besides, I can't really get girls if everytime they ask to see what's in my locket and I say the key is with the person I'm madly in love with"

"That's a very stupid thing to do"

"You made a stupid choice in dating a stupid guy, Skye"

A small smile came to my lips.

"When are we going to do this again? Talking on the phone? It really hurt when you wouldn't pick my calls before "

"I was busy"

"So am I but I made time. I'd always make time for you"

The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop myself "I never asked you to"

There was silence again and my chest hurt. Why did he always have to complain? Why couldn't he just ignore things? Why couldn't he just let things be how they were?

"Right. You never ask" Then there was a pause before he spoke "Are you happier? That I can finally let you be alone for a while?"

No, I wasn't "I'm sure you have class later today. I shouldn't have called"

"Fuck, that's not what I asked"

"Skye—!"

"Goodnight"

I hung up and put my phone on airplane mode.

Jamie's football jacket smelled of sweat, my nightmare sweats mostly but I was never going to wash it off. I wouldn't till he came home.

I scrolled through Jamie's pictures on my phone. He had always wanted us taking pictures together but I always skillfully ignored him.

Moving to my call recordings, I played the newest one.

Jamie's voice was the thing I heard "Finally Skye, I thought you were avoiding me"

I played it every night before I slept.

The nightmares went away.