Midnight ☆ L.H (au)

thirteen

5:14 pm - ANASTASIA BYNES

It's not an uncommon sight: New York's streets are always teeming with people, all rushing to go somewhere. But today, the endless flow of people feels even more suffocating than usual, like a tidal wave of noise and motion that threatens to consume me whole.

I can hear my heart beating in my ears as I make my way through the crowded streets, the sound of car horns and sirens mingling with the deafening buzz of the crowd. I try to stay focused, to keep my thoughts from being swept away by the sea of humanity around me, but it's difficult.

Calum's abundance of text messages feel like a lifeline in this sea of endless noise and motion. I had been begging him to talk to me since I left the boxing ring with Luke. I pull out my phone and start to reply. My thumbs tapping away at the keyboard as I try to capture the chaos around me.

"Yes," I text back quickly, without even looking up. "But this city is overwhelming."

As soon as I hit send, my phone chimes again with another text message from him. This time, he's asking about my day, but I'm too deep in my own thoughts to really focus on the conversation.

I haven't talked to Luke in 4 days since Ryan died. I used a good chunk of my paycheck to buy my flight to Oregon, meaning I only had enough for rent now. The plane was scheduled to leave at 9am tomorrow, right in time for Thanksgiving rush.

The way Calum had successfully ignored all the events prior to Ryan's death rubbed me the wrong way. He never explained how or why he was at the boxing ring with Luke, how they knew each other, or why I should stay away from Luke. 

I kept my head down as I walked, my mind racing with thoughts of Luke and Calum, the city, and what my future holds. Will I always be consumed by this sea of humanity, or will I one day find a way to break free?

My body collides with someone in front of me, my phone clattering to the floor, and I gasp loudly. "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry.

"Anastasia?" A husky voice asks and my head snaps up. There, before me, stands a brunette. He's taller than me by a good few inches, his arms extending out in front of him as he stares at me. His dark brown hair, long enough to touch the base of his neck, is curled at the edges, with a few messy strands falling into his eyes. His face is lined with a slight smile, and his eyes—a deep, rich blue—are narrowed as he looks down at me. There's a small scar above one eyebrow, which only adds to the intrigue that surrounds him.

Despite the tough exterior, there's something almost gentle in his gaze, and I find myself drawn to it.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

I watch closely as the boy leans down to retrieve my fallen phone, eyes locked on his every move. The light from the evening sun highlights the golden hue of his hair and the loose curls falling onto his forehead. A warm smile spreads across his face as he hands over my cell phone, fingers brushing against mine in the exchange. "Thomas. From Biology...Senior year?"

It clicks in my head and I smile up at him, taking my phone from his hands. "Oh! Yes"

"I look pretty different, so I don't blame you for being confused."

I nod, feeling a warm rush of nostalgia wash over me. "It's so good to see you again."

"It's so good to see you too! I was just thinking about you the other day..." He looks away to hide the blush creeping up on his face. I uncomfortably shift my feet and let out a nervous laugh.

When he introduces himself, I'm filled with a sense of nostalgia, a yearning to relive those old memories. I want to talk about old times, our shared experiences, and our hopes and dreams. But as I see him smile, I can't help but feel a tinge of regret. I don't know if he remembers how close we were in high school or how much I loved being around him before Calum came around. But before I can express my feelings, he cuts in, and the moment is lost forever. "Hey, I'm meeting up with some buddies late tonight to grab a drink at a bar. We were wondering if you wanted to join us?"