The Sound of Your Beating Heart

2

There we were again. That exact same beach. It had already been a few weeks since I first met you. Although your hair was longer then.

You cut it. Your dad said something about you looking like a girly boy and he hated that. So you cut your hair. You only left the two pieces on the front part of your face longer than the rest of your hair because you loved tying them up into braids. The way you would decorate them with some ugly ass pins you would steal from gift shops at the bay areas. You used to say "It could be a fashion trend someday. Who knows." Then you'd show them off.

We layed on our backs as your dusty blue radio played some random crap I had never heard before. Some band called Weezer and Foo Fighters. You also really liked Queen. You even had posters of them even though they were American bands. Not gonna lie you got me into Foo Fighters.

Puffing the cigarettes we lit up earlier that night. You suddenly jerked up your head and rested your body to where you could get a full view of me. "What are you thinking about." There you go again observing me. It was like you were one part of me I never knew about. Freaks me the hell out.

I let the smoke escape my lips before I would answer you. "Do you think we could get out of here?" Your eyes widened when I said that. I remembered it clearly. The way the light from your cigarette made your eye color pop. They shinned like emeralds. You'd make fun of me if I ever told you that in person. I regret not telling you now.

You closed your eyes and placed your cigarette back to your lips and puffed in the intoxicating smoke into your lungs before releasing it back out. Then you layed carefully back down and admired to few stars we could see. "I believe we can. If we try hard enough." Silence rose upon us. We didn't speak for minutes- although they felt like hours. The sound of music coming from your radio and the sound of waves crashing onto the sand were the only things we could hear. Suddenly your busted up phone began to rang. You took your phone in hand with your chipped teal nail polish that you forgot to take off from days before and answered.

I could tell exactly who it was. Your shitty ass father. A man who never deserved to have a person like you in his life. A man who should die an unbearable death.

"Yeah fine i'll go get you some more booze jesus.." You snapped your flip phone and slammed it onto the sand. "More fucking alcohol?" "What do you think.. Fucking asshole didn't even ask me if I was okay or why I was out so late. The first thing I heard was "Use that money of yours that you stole from me and buy me more alcohol." Your face grew red from anger. That's one thing I found funny about you. You were so pale that it was easy to see the red hues take over your pale skin.

"I'll be back-" Before you even got up I took your hand in mine and stopped you. "I'm going too- i'm not about to let you walk around at night by yourself." You scoffed at me. It had just been a few weeks of knowing you but I already grew protective of you. I mean your the first person who didn't view me as different. Your acknowledged that I was different from you. "Pfft you my bodyguard or something?" You flashed your sweetest smile. Back then I wouldn't have gone crazy for it because I was to oblivious but now..I wish I could see it all the time.

"Or something." I shrugged and got my jacket from the floor, your radio in hand and my pack of cigarettes. I dusted off my black jeans and walked beside you. Crazy to think how long ago that was. Can't believe i'm almost 30 already. And your still 22.
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The crowded streets of our town were humid. The feeling of strangers body heat in this heat wave was unbearable. Even though it was chilly out I was burning up. But you- you weren't with your black tank top that smelled like cheap cigars. And your long jean shorts with the same pair of shoes you wear everyday. You had a collection of bracelets you would always wear. Probably stolen ones.

A braided black and white one I got from the aquarium that I gave to you, another braided one but it was solid white with a star fish pendent on it and lastly one we matched together with. A dark teal one that had mask from a Yaksha in the Chinese mythology. (Obviously this is made up.) You picked it out bc it matched my hair color. Such a stupid reason. Mine was a very bright teal one that had wings on it. "Wear it everyday so I can watch over you." You laughed and said just kidding right after.

We came across a well lit mini mart and grabbed some booze. The cool freezer air cooled us down. "ahh that feels nice." You said as sweat ran down your face then onto your neck. I tied my hair back with a hair tie that shouldn't even be functional. It's hanging on by a thread. "Fuck why can't my house have air conditioning like this." I spoke as I embraced the cool air that was practically hugging my body. "Cause we live in this hell hole." You closed the freezer door with a case of beer in one hand.

The sound of our sneakers clashed with the tiles of the mini mart. The guy didn't even ask for IDs which was cool. I guess.. We dreaded going back out and just braced for it.

You took a beer from the casing and drank it all the way to your house. Your porch light was our only source of light at the time. The house was dark- only the living room shinned bright with the TV light. Of course it was your fuck up of a dad.

I handed you your radio and you struggled to open your door. I don't know why you didn't just place the beers down but you've always been a little slow for your own good. So I opened it for you. You smiled at me and punched me lightly on my shoulder. "Thanks for walking me back home, my bodyguard." You giggled like you always do. It's such a rich and addicting thing to hear. You could make people drunk from just hearing it. "Your welcome ven.." I rolled my eyes and motioned you inside. "Remember call me if he does some dumb shit again." The only response I got from you was an eye roll and you headed inside.

It scared me everytime you went back home. Because it could've been the last time I would see you alive with him inside.

You never did call me.