Empire State of Mine

eighth

hello dearly beloved i'm sorry i haven't updated in ten months i love u all please don't kill me xoxo

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September 1st, 1991

Eleven hours.

That was how long Leighton had been waiting for Charlie to meet her at their annual tradition.

An hour more and it won't be annual. She huffed to herself, wrapping her jacket tighter around her.

Inside the complex mind of the average over-thinker, aka Leighton Carrie, numerous scenarios and happenings presented itself.

Maybe something happened with his mom.

She's been in a coma for four years, what were the odds of that happening?

Maybe he got into an accident.

His apartment is like fifteen blocks away, what could have kept him? A walking accident?

Maybe he's lost.

Alright Leighton, now you're just being an idiot.

She groaned in frustration, running her hand through her now nest-like mane.

You just don't want to state the obvious, do you?

"No, don't think that." She mumbled to herself.

He chickened out, Leighton. He isn't coming to meet you. It's been eleven hours. If that isn't a sign, then I don't know what is.

"Stop thinking. Stop thinking. Stop. No. Don't."

I can't believe you let yourself believe that he actually had feelings for you.

She started covering her ears, although what would that do when the voices she was avoiding were in her head?

He told me; he told me he had feelings for me. I know it. He wouldn't lie to me.

Oh, wouldn't he?

She sighed, not wanting to succumb to the narcissistic voice in her head. He's going to come. He's going to come. He's probably on his way up right now.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about that night. The memory she'd tossed and turned and repeated in her head to keep from forgetting it. She remembered every detail-every word, every quirk, every crease-every form of movement from that conversation.

"You don't have to respond to anything right now. It's just something I've been holding in for a long time-and what better time to tell you than at the prom, right?"

He didn't give her time to reply.

"Meet me on September 1st, same time, same place. Then I'll know your answer." He paused, his lips quirking up into a small smile, "If not, then we'll pretend like none of this ever happened, and we can go back to being best friends, all right?"

She didn't know what to do but nod. She knew she should have told him sooner. Now the truth was tugging at her heart, a mixture of guilt and longing.

He turned away, the kaleidoscopic lights cascading on his suit, and his hair, which was well kept at the beginning of the event, was now disheveled from the dancing and probable stressful hand running.

Okay stop thinking about that. Think about how you're going to tell him; you've pushed it back far enough.

"I'll tell him when he gets here." She said to herself. "No exceptio-"

A crash from behind her jolted her from her little bubble, and she turned to see two figures stumbling through the entrance. One with a bottle on his hand, the other in a jumble of tangled arms and hysterical laughing.

Just a couple of drunkees again. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the skyline, when she heard it.

"I-I was going to meet someone." One of the drunks tried to say, gurgling through his drink.

Leighton's breath hitched.

"What are you talking about?" The other said through fits of giggles. "I'm right here." She grabbed him and started kissing his neck.

She felt as if someone had knocked the wind out of her. She literally couldn't breathe. She was caught between wanting to run away, but not being able to.

Her vision was starting to blur, but she somehow managed to croak out the words, "I knew it."

A flash of recognition fazed behind Charles' eyes, and he blinked a few times to get her into focus.

"Y-Y-You came." He slurred.

She nodded-it was one of those moments where you were suddenly aware of everything around you, like you were seeing somebody else speaking your words-she felt tears stain her cheeks. "I came." She quickly wiped them off, and somehow found herself walking towards him. "But it was a huge mistake."

And with that, she was gone.

"Charlie," the girl beside her whispers as she tosses her hair. "What was that all about?"

Charles ignored her, leaning his head back on the wall, watching the familiar figure retreating into the darkness. He couldn't exactly place her in his head, but he knew this would be something he'd regret very much later.

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ok i'm sosososososososo sorry i don't have the feel of writing anymore but it'll get better i promise!!! (pls don't leave me)