The Stars In Your Eyes ✩ Tim Shepard

The Lark's Call

I shiver the second I step out of the steamy shower. It's purpose of trying to burn away the memories of this evening have been ultimately unsuccessful. Ricky, his eyes blazing and his lips set on mine will be forever etched in my memory - a permanent reminder that where ever I go, I'll always be surrounded by greasers.

I feel the urge to curl up into a ball and cry and even though I don't doesn't mean I don't really want to.

Tonight was just a reminder. I might be leaving in a few weeks, but I'll never be rid of this place. Not of Tim Shepard or Ricky Kallan. Not of my sister's drama or my Mom and my loveless relationships.

I don't know at what point during Ricky's passionate kiss I realized these things, but at some point I did. God, everything is just so awful... so confusing.

Now I've got two gang leaders gunning for me, two incredibly gruesome men who any girl in their right mind would be wise not to cross. Yet here I am...

The feeling of Ricky's hand still lingers on my skin despite the scolding water pouring over me just seconds ago. I can feel his touch on my wrist as if he's still in front of me. And the tingles of his lips leave traces on mine, like a wild heartbeat.

My fingertips lightly brush my lips but the sensation remains all the same. From my lips my fingers tease their way around the corners of my mouth and down my neck to behind my ear, following the trail his lips took hours ago.

I pull a towel around me, walking out of my bathroom before flopping onto my mattress.

Everything seems to just be swirling around my head in one, big glaring mess. I sigh. I hate it. I hate it all-

Tap!

Tap!

The sound is so familiar and frightening all the same that my head snaps up and my stomach sinks.

Maybe I imagined it?

Tap, Tap!

Faster this time.

I could just pretend I'm not home. After all the blinds are closed, but that doesn't stop the faint glow from my lamp probably showing outside. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

I don't even have time to sit up before the window is already rolled up and a body is clambering into my room. I don't move. Even though I should, I don't.

Tim looks down at me, the concern engraved into the lines of his face slowly ebbing into confusion and relief. Without a word, he sits on the bed beside me, facing away so as not to look at my bare legs and shoulders. I'm shocked at his modest approach.

"We thought something bad happened to you." He explains solemnly, hands clasped together in his lap. His words sound scripted as if he's reading someone else's work off an index card.

"We?" I force myself up into a seated position, my eyes locking on the back of his skull.

Tim nods. "Me and Mira..." His voice trails away and I catch him playing with his fingers before he opens his mouth to speak again. "Well, and Whales... Curly, and Angie too even though she won't admit it."

I can't help but smile a bit, but it falters when Tim sighs, "I went to see you at the dinner once your shift ended. You wasn't there and Mira said you hadn't been in all night. I-" He chokes, "I was worried you... nevermind."

Shaking his head, Tim clears his throat, "I-"

Before he can finish, I wrap my arms around his waist from behind and rest my cheek against his shoulder. My head spins.

Too much has happened today for my head not to be spinning. Ricky, the impending war, and now Tim. Suddenly my eyes are brimmed with tears. For some reason, his concern for me is making me emotional.