Ignite the Stars

Echoes Of Yesterday

In a quiet town, under the rose gold and yellow-orange sky, laughter filled the empty streets as two kids ran and laughed, careful as to not drop their bags. They had just finished tagging a brick wall on a gas station, now they are running before they get caught. Different colored paints stain their chucks and clothes, some dried, other spots still wet.
They ran and ran to their go to spot, the one spot no one has ever found, deep in the Forest, a small clearing, surrounded by trees and flowers and the occasional creatures; they had built a small shack. 'Home away from home' they called it. Decorated all cozy, nothing you'd expect from them based on appearance alone. One dressed alternative, all black and covered in chains. The other, a skater; DC shoes and Dickie pants paired with a black, sleeveless crop top and black beanie.
Inside the shack is warm and inviting, simple too. Pillows and blankets on a wide window sill, bean bags, a small table, a mini fridge and bookshelves, only one being used for books, the others storage; everything neutral and earthy tones with little touch of warm tones. They designed it this way if anyone did find it, they wouldn't suspect that's where they run off to when finding trouble.
"Man it's always fun to go out for a night run" one laughed out, a pair of DC shoes opening up the door.
"Hey hey hey!" The other called out, following inside right behind. "Lex, stop kicking the door open, we don't have enough money to replace it!"
"You're such a worry-bug Oli, relax. It'll be perfectly fine." Alex shrugged and tossed the bag on the floor.
"Hey, watch it! You could've gotten some paint on the floor." Oliver rushed to the bag, putting it in the basket they have all their 'mischief' equipment, then hiding the basket in the closet.
"You worry too much, you should totally take a chill pill." Alex said while pulling out some Polaroids from her bag, and going to sit on one of the bean bags, pulling out a small basket filled with paper scraps and stickers and glue. She then got out a worn out and dingy notebook that she turned into a scrapbook.
Oliver grabbed them both sodas from the mini fridge, then sat in the bean bag next to Alex. He pulled out his phone and played one of their favorite songs. Alex looked up at him with a smile, showing him their new page with the pictures she took of him tagging the wall and their finished piece.
I know it ain't much, but I enjoyed today!" She said with a huge smile across her face.
Oliver smiled, a light bit of blush brushed by his freckled cheeks, making them a little rosy-pink. "I did too" he said, his heterochromia eyes soft and big looking at her bright hazel eyes. He enjoyed seeing her so happy, and knowing that he was the cause of her happiness made it all the better.
That night, they talked for hours, eventually cuddling by a window, looking up at all the stars and constellations.
"Do you think wishing on stars actually works, Oli?" Alex asked, her raspy voice now soft as she falls in and out of sleep on top of Oliver's Chest.
"I'm sure if you wish hard enough, and truly believe, it may just come true." He answered in a soft coo, playing with her curly hair as she tiredly giggled.
"You always say the most goofy, corny things." She sighs. "That's what I love most about you."
He felt his heart flutter with those words as his cheeks grew pink. He replayed those words over and over again in his head all night, falling asleep with a small smile and his sleeping beauty right in his arms. He always did enjoy nights like this, wishing upon a twinkling star that every night could be like this.

Oliver and Alex were walking home one day, laughing and joking around as usual, but Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Alex. He had tried to shake off the feeling until they got to her street. She started to slow down, her huge happy smile now a small forced one and her usually loud raspy voice quiet.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Oliver asks, coming to a stop, looking at her with concern.
"Yeah, just forgot to tell you something sorta important." She started, her eyes never once making contact with him. Her head fell, her eyes staring at the ground, both her hands gripping her backpack sleeves so hard her knuckles turned white. "My dad thinks it's best we move to another state. One that's not so quiet, and one with 'better influences'" she quotes him, her voice breaking from her struggle to hold back her tears.
Oliver knew it was a jab at him, her dad never liked him. He never knew why. Her mom adored him, so it felt weird that he didn't like him, but he never brought it up. Without any words, he pulled Alex into a tight embrace. At that moment Alex couldn't hold back any more. She sob right into Oliver's chest hugging him tight, wishing to not let him go.
"When do you leave?" He asked, looking down at her to try and make eye contact, brushing his thumb across her cheek to wipe a tear away.
"First thing tomorrow morning, when Dad wakes up" she sniffled.
Oliver wore a soft smile and spoke quietly, "so we'll have tonight to make it our best yeah?"
For the first time that day, she made eye contact with Oliver. She sniffed before smiling, "yeah, yeah I guess we do."
"Are you all packed? If not, I can help out."
"Yeah, I'm packed up. Just need to drop off my bag. I'll be right out." Alex says, genuinely smiling now, and skips to her house. Once there, Oliver waits outside for her, not wanting to risk running into her dad.

Alex heads upstairs, putting her bag into a box along with her last minute things. She grabs an empty backpack so when they go to the hangout spot, she could pack up some of her things there. She was about to leave her room but as soon as she turned to leave, she was surprised by her dad, who was blocking the door.
It was silent for a moment, the look on his face stern as she tried to stand her ground, but deep down she wanted to coward away. He broke the silence, his breath reeking of that ugly, disgusting, toxicity called alcohol.
"What the hell is that little fag doing outside? Just standing there like some retard" his voice matched his expression as he spoke.
"We're going to hang out for a bit tonight, before we leave" she said, not making eye contact with him, her head down and timid like a dog with its tail between its legs.
"And who the fuck told you that's okay?" He started to undo his belt. "Over here thinking you're all grown and shit-"
Alex stumbled on her words, tears forming in her eyes. She wanted to stand up for herself, but instead she was crying and trembling.
"Use your fuckin words. You did when you told me you wanted to go run off with that little fag!" He slashed his belt, a loud whip sound filled the room as Alex silently cried.
"HAROLD! We talked about this!" Alex's mom walks in, shielding her from her dad.
"Mom don't-" Alex said quietly enough for her mom to hear her, until she got interrupted.
"Don't forget your place, women. Now get out of my way before you get hurt as well." He slurred in anger.
Her mom stood her ground. "No. Do whatever you want to me, but don't hurt my baby." She turned her head to Alex, and with pleading eyes, she motioned for Alex to go.
Deep down Alex didn't want to go. She wanted to be the one to save her mom instead, but every time she tired, she had gotten too scared of her father. How couldn't she be scared? A big man that towers over her, drunk and angry at every little thing that doesn't go his way and instead of dealing with it in a normal healthy way, he takes it out on others; whether it be objects near him or the people he claims to love whenever he's sober.
Without another thought, Alex grabbed her empty bag and darted for the door, leaving her mom with that monster. Running out the house, tears in her eyes and not looking back. Due to the tears she tried to wipe away, she ran right into Oliver, causing them to fall over.
"Woah, hey, is everything alright?" He asked, sitting up with her clinging to his chest, once again her tears staining his shirt. He helped her up on her feet, giving her another hug as he rubbed her back.
"Let's just go," she sniffled.

Back at their shack, Alex opens up a bottle of booze she stole at a gas store. They were saving it for a special occasion, and technically it was now a special occasion. She poured some out in two red cups and handed one to Oliver.
"To our last night together, until our paths meet again" Oliver said with a somber smile. They cheered to it, clinking the plastic cups before chugging it. Oliver felt it right away, his face blushed red all the way to his ears and his whole torso warming up fast.
"Is it hot in here?" He chuckled, fanning himself a bit.
Alex felt the effect after a little bit, pouring herself a bit more, then offering the rest to Oliver. He nodded, taking the rest from the bottle itself. Oliver felt hotter, removing his shirt so he was just in his pants and tank top. The night continued like that for an hour, them giggling and drinking.
"Hold up, I got one more thing I wanna try with you." Alex said with a small giggle. Her wide smile showing her gap that she gets insecure about, but that Oliver thinks it makes her look cuter.
She comes back to the window with a small wooden box. She opens it up where the lid faces Oliver, and the way he sits, leaning against the wall, he can't see what she's taking her time prepping.
"Check it, Aaron, your co-worker, he gave me this shit one time. It was when I was tryna find you after..." she trailed off, not wanting to finish her story. She pulls out a lighter from her shorts pocket, and lights up the rolled up paper before handing it to Oliver. "I want you to have the first hit."
"Weed?" He asked, a little nervous. He slowly put the rolled up paper to his lips, inhaling deeply. Before he could exhale, he coughed it all out.
Alex giggles. "Careful there. It's your first time, take it slow" she grabs the paper from him, "like this." She demonstrates to him how fast he should take it.
She hands it back to him, opening the window a little bit and lighting a candle. They continued to drink and get high, sharing their favorite memories of the goofy things they've done with each other.
Midnight hits, their giggle fit has calmed down, and they're both drunk, high and relaxed. They start talking about deeper topics. Alex laid on Oliver's bare chest, he had gotten hotter the more he drank. Oliver used one arm to support his head, and the other arm wrapped around Alex's waist.
"I guess wishing upon stars doesn't actually work" Alex said as she looked out at the night sky.
"Maybe you've got to wish for smaller things for them to work their magic" Oliver spoke in a hushed tone.
"Have you ever wished upon a star, Oli?"
"All the time."
"What is it that you wish for?" She now looks up at Oliver, as he smiles softly, taking his time to figure out which wish to tell her.
"Sometimes I wish for the courage to tell you how I feel."
"What do you mean?" She now sits on top of his lap, both knees on either side of him, her hands on his toned chest and her hazel eyes looking down at his one sky blue, one chocolate brown eyes.
He takes a moment, admiring her. It may have been the weed and alcohol talking, or the fact that he won't see her for a long time, but he poured his heart out as rain started to fall. "Since the moment you accidentally knocked me off my skateboard, I knew I wanted you by my side. At first I thought as friends. But as we became close friends, I realized I wanted something more. But this whole time I've been too afraid. Afraid to tell you because I didn't want to risk losing you at all. I had rather have you as only a friend than anything more if it meant you'd stay by my side."
Alex was stunned to speak at first, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed red. "Oh Oliver.." her heart wounded more so for the fact he told her that just hours before she had to leave him.
"I'm just glad we get to spend your last few hours in this town together." He smiled that same somber smile from before.
Alex felt her eyes swell with tears. She leaned in close to Oliver, catching his soft lips in a gentle kiss as a tear fell down her cheek once her eyes closed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, his arms wrapped around her waist as their kiss deepened. The more passionate it got, the more they were fueled with desire and lust.
An hour or so pass, and they are back to how they were before; Alex laying on Oliver's bare chest, him holding her close. The only difference being less clothes and a blanket to cover them.
"Truly an unforgettable night now" Alex cooed, a soft smile on her face as she rested her eyes. Not yet asleep, but close to falling asleep.
As Oliver cuddled Alex, he finally said the three words he had been wanting to tell her for years.
"I love you, Alex."
Silence.
She heard, but to Oliver's knowledge, she was fast asleep.