Fifteen-year-old me underestimated the damage that indie boy could do. The damage that relationship could have. The lifelong pain it would cause. The ten year break I would take from our hometown.
Sam Fender. A name that still to this day, as a twen...
Me and Phoebe were currently in the middle of our lunch. It was so lovely to see her again after a year, we both hadn't stopped smiling.
"So you haven't actually told me why you are taking a month-long break you know?" Pheebs speaks up over her food.
"Surely I have," I say, knowing full well I hadn't.
"Last I know you were writing and selling your songs and then you're telling me you are going on a break but no why" She shrugs.
"Just got that I was working myself a bit too hard like you said so I took a break from it all" I explain.
"It all? Even writing?" She questions.
"Yeah, that is the main part of it" I slightly joke.
"Bella since I met you you haven't stopped writing. You're always making notes in your mind, phone, notebooks, or on anything you can find at the time" She says with a deadpan look.
"Pheebs drop it. It's just a month" I say and before she can even reply we hear someone saying my name.
I look up to be met with the eyes of his mother's eyes.
"Arabella," she says, coming over to the table.
"Shirley," I say, giving a small smile hiding my shock.
"Oh come here give me a hug, I haven't seen you in years darlin," She says as I step up from the table to greet her open arms.
"Yeah. It's lovely to see you. Sit down for a moment" I say, playing it off.
"Oh Phoebe I hadn't even noticed you pet," She says, placing a hand on Phoebe's hand.
"It's quite alright Shirl" Phoebe replies, laughing it off.
"Now Arabella how come your back in town? We all thought you left your Newcastle ways behind you" Shirley asks.
"I got a break from work and I thought I'd pay my grandparents a visit back here and come back to my Newcastle ways" I laugh.
"Oh, it's so lovely to see you. It's been too long. Now I've got to get going got two hungry boys back home. We'll have to catch up over a cuppa soon pet" She says, tapping my leg before getting up to leave.
Me and Phoebe say a quick goodbye before I realise her words. Two boys. He's here as well. We are both in the same place at the same time after ten years.
"How ya feeling Bella," Phoebe asks as she stacks our plates together.
I down the glass of wine next to me in reply.
"I'm guessing you noticed the 'two boys'" She says.
"Yep. Ten years really isn't enough. Anyway flower shopping time" I say, grabbing my things and going over to the counter to pay for my things.
I zone out as I swipe my card.
I look up as I put my last bag in the boot of my car, seeing him approaching the car. His messy blonde hair. His outfit was his typical white top, black jeans, messy adidas, and of course that damned flannel shirt.
"What are you doing here?" I say, slamming the boot door.
"So you're leaving Shields I hear" His voice speaks over my shoulder as I approach my car door.
"Aye got a writing offer in London. Gotta take the chances you get right? That's what you said to me" I say, replaying his words in my head.
"Running away doesn't fix things you know" He whispers, in the dark night.
I turn around to face him, the moon somehow illuminating his face perfectly.
"No but not having the possibility of seeing you every day does. Not being the same sixteen-year-old who cried her eyes out over you breaking my heart. Not having to hear about all your new flings, relationships or crushes fixes it all" I say, always being honest with him before going to grab the handle of the car door.
"Rose I never stopped loving you," He says from behind me as I open the door.
I wince at his nickname for me and his words. I choose to ignore them and get in the car. I put the keys in the car and start to reverse.
I look up and see his memorising blue eyes watching me driving away.
I silently hope that I never see him or this town again for a long time.
I'm brought back to reality as I see us approaching the flower shop.
"And she's back again. You okay Bella?" She asks, linking arms with me.
"Yeah just reminiscing on the years we did this every day," I say, looking at the flowers and smelling them.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
I decided to post a picture on instagram of my day with Phoebe after being quiet for so long.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Wait liked by who? My eyes must be playing tricks on me. I click on the likes to see a matter of fact it was him that had liked the post. But I knew better than to look through his account, instead I threw my phone to the bottom of the bed.
Suddenly I was that fifteen-year-old girl again who had that rush because he'd liked her post.
----
happy new year my loves! here's a little (late) christmas and new year gift from me. I'm so excited to share more of this book with you this year. love you all - ash x
