The Stars In Your Eyes ✩ Tim Shepard

The Night Shift

The sun hurts my eyes as it peaks in my open window. I groan, relaxing into the warm depths of my sheets and of—

Reality falls on me like a shit ton of bricks as my eyes break open. Beside me, the bed is empty, absent of him. I look around, desperate to find a note or trace of him left somewhere in my room. But the only thing there to remind me of him is the drawing of palm trees stuck to my wall.

I can't help but grab it as I get out of bed.

I don't know how long he's been gone, but I know it must have been a while. My stomach drops with sickness. Is this how he felt when I up and left him?

I wonder because something in me knows his absence is more than surface level. He's gone. Gone. As in not coming back. As in doesn't want to see me.

My eyes burn, my skin heating with tingles at the realization as I pull the covers closer to my naked body, smeared with the invisable lines of his last touches. Last kisses.

Suddenly, that ache is back, pulsing in my sternum like a burn. Is this how it feels to have your heart ripped out of your chest? Cause if it is, please lord, let me say I'm sorry.

Curly~

"This is a terrible idea," Angela scoffs, her arms folded over her chest.

I look over at her, noting the irritation sketched in her features as she glares through the window of Angelo's Diner at the girl inside.

She looks back at me, "You know Tim's gonna be pissed when he finds out we came here. He wanted us to leave her alone," She hesitates, "For good."

There's a certain somber in her tone as if she feels bad or something. But I know she doesn't. I know she's never liked Connie, but that doesn't mean she can't at least be on my side for once.

I shake my head. "Whatever, Angel. Come with me or don't, I don't care." I push myself off the lamp post, shoving my hands in my pockets before jogging across the road.

From behind me, I hear a light scoff, but when I get to the door and glance back, I find my sister looking displeased with me before shuffling back into the darkness of the alleys behind her. I sigh.

The rumble's set for midnight. It's ten fourty seven. In the alleys lies the rest of the gang in waiting for when the time is right and somewhere drifting through the city streets is my older brother. I know what he's doing– why he's not occupied himself with the company of his own gang.

He's trying to keep himself from going back to her. And the only thing that is keeping him is the impending threat of the rumble.

I look inside. Connie looks... sad, for lack of better words. Defeated, her shoulders sagging, posture weak while she serves her customers on slow feet. Poor girl. I recognize the look all too well. It's the same one Tim wore after Connie walked out on him the morning after. Only now the roles are flipped.

Connie's stuck here, and Tim's off mopping.

Gathering my barring, I shove the door open, wincing when the bell chimes above my head.

"Be right with you, sugar!" Mira calls from a table nearby, her southern draw creeping through the air.

I nod, smiling at her as I make my way towards the bar. Connie smiles grimly at her two customers, filling something in on her notepad before handing the ticket in the window. She dusts her hands on her apron, sighing as she spins around. She freezes when she sees me.

I slide onto a bar stool, smiling as I cross my arms on the countertop.

"Whatta you want, Shepard?" Connie asks, the sound of my last name sounding bitter on her tongue, but I know it's not me she's irritated with.

Sucking my teeth, I pluck a menu off the counter and scan over it, dragging out my time by sliding my finger down the items. Connie rolls her eyes, as hugged around her torso. After a solid minute, I look back up at her.

"I don't have any money."

She smiles. Finally. A fragment of the old girl I remember.

I can't help but laugh as well.

Connie steps away, returning moments later with a glass of ice water she knows I won't drink. But for her sake, I take a sip anyway before leaning forward, "How are you?"

She's tired. Half out of it. The shrug she sends me is proof enough of that. Connie looks up at me, irises bubbling with the question I know she'll never ask.

I shake my head, "He's been gone almost all day," I confess, "We're heading out soon. I just–," I hesitate.

Connie's angry with him. That much is obvious. She's hurt. Thinking they were finally on good terms again only for Tim to leave her in the dust. I recognize the hopelessness, which is what makes me feel for her.

"–I wanted to see you before we left." I finish, looking up at her, "Maybe you could–?"

"No." Connie cuts me off, straightening her posture. "I don't wanna talk to him– I don't even wanna see his face, Curly."

"What he's doing is stupid," I say, "Connie– The River King... facing them is stupid, it's-... He's going to get himself killed."

"Tim made his decision." She hesitates. "And I made mine..."

"Connie..."

"–Curly."

My shoulders deflate and I sigh, standing up, "Thanks for the drink, Connie." I look her sadly in the eye. Pausing before I add, "Edge of the rail track. Midnight. In case you rethink your 'decision'... y'know, where you first met."

I leave her with that, refusing to look back. For Tim's sake, I hope she shows. But I know she won't. Internationally, I know this night will go just as bad as I think it will...

Jogging back across the road into the alley, I find that my older brother has finally arrived. He's standing talking to Angela, looking stoic and hard with his fists in his jacket pockets.

"Where've you been?" Tim glares at me coldly.

"I–," I glance at Angela, fearing she may have said something but the look on her face is pure. "Had to take a leak."

My brother shoots me a side eye, but he moves on without interrogating me further. Around us, the gang comes done from their posts on the fire escapes and shadows, grouping around Tim as they look up at him. But he looks passed them all, gaze glowing into the night.

"Let's roll out, boys."

ya'll never knew you needed
a curly pov until now!
idc what u say I feel like it was really
necessary to better understand
how those around tim and connie
are affected by their relationship.
idk, it was just a thought and it's the best i
can come up with while struggling to
write a good ending for you guys,
especally when the threat of getting doxed
is on the line, lol.
i love u guys!
please keep reading even if i'm slow

–Kassie Ve