Roxy's Short Stories

Forever Too Late

A/N: Another shortie. This one is based off the lyrics of the song 'What Hurts The Most' by Rascal Flatts. I hope you like it (:

PS: It has been edited (especially the ending) since the HSH version (:

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Forever Too Late

          Change is always happening. It can drag on and take millenniums, or it can take a few seconds. It’s all around us and is the essence of our world. In many ways, change can be what hurts the most. It can give us unwanted reality checks, uncover deeply hidden emotions and it can also cause the best of people to snap. Other times, change is for the better and picks life up for you. 

          The problem with change is that once it’s happened, it’s forever too late to go back.

*~*~*~*~*~*

          “Joe, I need you to know something,” Keira says, wearing the same serious expression that she has been for the last few months. In silent agreement to her telling me, I turn to face her, gaining eye-contact with her hazel eyes. She shakes her head in refusal and begins to walk forwards again, pointing in the direction of our hill, One Tree Hill.

          “Let me guess,” I tease. Stopping walking, I place my hands on her shoulders and turn her to face me. Looking down at her, I ask, “You love me?” I crack a wide grin and nudge my best friend with my shoulder. A mix of emotions flash through her face at my words, all mixed together, making it impossible for me to tell what they are. The only two that I can place my finger on are amusement combined with her now usual straight-face. “No? Okay. I can take a hint.”

          I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes with a small, fake smile tugging at the corners of her lips, clearly trying to keep the mood at least slightly cheerful. She fails, and I let my smile droop down, realising that whatever she wants to tell me is important and probably not a happy thing. We turn to face forwards again and walk towards One Tree Hill in silence. The whole time, the only thought that I have running through my head is a consistent stream of, ‘Please don’t be moving, please don’t be moving’.

          Finally my eyes are greeted by the sight of a single tree, decorated with the same white flowers that are scattered around the flat top of the hill, carried down by the wind. We trudge up the side of the small hill and as per tradition, sit ourselves down at the base of the tree, leaning our backs against the rough, gray bark.

          Absentmindedly, my fingers trace along our etchings that we’ve carved into the tree over the years. 

          ‘Joe is awesome, but Keira is even awesome-r.’ 

          'One Tree Hill Forever.’ 

          ‘Joe + Keira = Best friends forever.’ 

          'J and K. Best friends.’

          ‘Keira is awesome, but Joe’s cooler.’

          I smile to myself, reminiscing all the times that we’ve been here and climbed the tree, played two person tag and hide-and-seek, escaped from any problems or hectic happenings at home, or, like today, we came to talk.

          Staring out at the empty fields in front of us, Keira exhales deeply. “Today is my last day.” My mood that had been calmed simply by being on this hill goes out the window as my head instantly snaps to face her, but she simply stares ahead, avoiding my eyes.