A girl, A boy, and a graveyard

Chinese Takeaway Box

Lucy POV
689 words

"Well this is.. nice." my smile, lopsided, as i surveyed my new home. A tattered rug, the mattress has surly seen far better days, and a tiny kitchen.
"Mh, yes very cozy. As if we live in a Chinese takeaway box. What an amazing investment this is Luce." The skull said cheerfully. I couldn't care less about what the skull wanted, a sense of pride enveloped me, i had packed most of my belongings, made it all the way to Tooting, travelled three flights of very sketchy stairs, and found my room. I'd say that's a huge accomplishment.

Or maybe i was just trying to distract myself from the fact i had left my only real family.

who am i kidding? They're aren't my actually family, not by blood or that would be weird. Gross because i would be related to George, which is something i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Horrific, because that meant i was related to Holly but still looked nothing as immaculate as she did.
Weird because i thought i had a crush on Lockwood.

Oh gosh, Lockwood. I had left him in that kitchen last night, all alone, after we kissed for the second time. I was so confused and it gave me a headache thinking about it, so i did the next best thing. Unpack everything.

-

4 months later, i was slumped on my new bed like usual, my neck aching from laying against the cold wall. My hands greasy from stuffing my face with burgers and fries. Bags lay under my eyes, clothes strung around the room, a shirt thrown over the skull in the jar to stop it from looking at me.
I liked this pattern, even though i don't necessarily think it was healthy.
I had a paper to be drafting up to send off to Rotwell's
about the case i went on that evening. The sky drew a salmon pink, the clouds fading into the background. I could hear the bustle of cars hurrying along to get home before the sun went down, Curfew bells rang out in the distance. All was quiet, in my little apartment. Especially with the skull being shut off. I had enjoyed the moment of peace away from its constant jabs, so much so i fell asleep, neck still painfully crooked against the wall.

I awoke to the sound of my door being knocked on. Groggily i opened my eyes, my mouth tasted like sleep and chip dipping sauce. My neck hurt and my back badly needed cracking. The knocking came again. I looked over at the door, i could see a shadow of some shoes under the door, the light from the hallway illuminating them. I stood up, throwing the takeaway box in the bin next to my desk, scratching at my back i walked to open the door, my hand on the cold handle, my eyes squinting, still adjusting to being awake. I opened the door and saw Lockwood stood there. His eyes desperately stared into mine, his left hand lifted in a fist ready to knock again. He wore a new suit, charcoal grey instead of his dark blues and blacks. He had had a haircut, the sides short, leaving the hair above his ears instead. His hair was swept to the side, falling ruefully over his brow. His left hand held a pile of clothes the woman down the corridor ironed for me. Black lacy panties folded neatly at the top of the pile.

Taking all of this in was a complete shock. My hand still stuck in motion of scratching at my back, my hair was matted and my clothes crumpled. But Lockwood, he looked so much better than when i had seen his last. His ruffled shirts and undone ties, his unkempt long black hair hung over his eyes. Now he was, cleaner, but that far away look still lived in those dark eyes, that anger still buried inside him. Right then though, he was smiling and suddenly it all seemed okay again. His smile made me believe I had never left my home.

"Hello Lucy."