Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 19~

The bell rang for the start of Tuesday's lessons, and I collapsed into my seat. Already nauseas, but otherwise slightly energised, I prepared to zone out in class once again.

Until a chair slid out beside me.

I turned my head a little, eyelids low. A gasp left my lips as I recognised the figure, and I sat up, all feelings of fatigue and pain now gone.

"Mid?" I couldn't keep my smile away. However, the appearance of my girlfriend wiped it off for me.

Midnights looked terrible, to say the least. Eyes bloodshot, the left rimmed purple and green and both weighed down by deep bags. Her lips were dry and cracked, their usual plump, soft pink now dull, somehow.

She looked at me, then looked away, shaking her head. I had thought something like this might happen. I took a shaky breath and thought over my actions. I wasn't going to attempt to force her to talk. I wasn't going to harass her. I was going to be here for her, for whenever she needed. Easy enough.

"Midnights..." I whispered, resting my head on my hand, facing her.

The girl buried her face in her hands, continuing to ignore me.

"I'm here if you need me," I murmured softly, making sure she heard before I turned back to the wood of my desk.

On my left, Rep caught my eye. Her expression was a smorgasbord of concern, surprise, and curiosity.

Copying Midnights, I covered my face with my hands and forced down deep breaths.

Thankfully, Midnights and I had nearly a full day of subjects together, meaning I could keep an eye on her. I was worried, after all.

In the lesson after recess, science, our hands touched and Midnights flinched. I shattered inside, but breathed my way through the evening.

In the next lesson, something surprising happened. A folded piece of paper appeared on my desk, and I looked up to see Midnights a couple strides ahead, sitting down at her table.

I opened the note, and the message made my insides twist.

Hi Nine,

I'm sorry about how I've been towards you today, I'm actually super happy to see you, I just can't express it probably because my current mental state. If I don't talk to you, I really do apologise, I just can't seem to get the words out anymore. I flinched this morning too. More evidence, I guess.

Home has been really bad, but I'd prefer not to write anything down. As for you... you haven't been eating, Nine, and I can see it so clearly. You're missing your spark.

In conclusion, I just wanted to explain a couple things and I really do apologise.

From, Mid

My heart clenched. The letter was signed with a small wobbly heart, and a few wonky stars, which a week or two ago I might've teased her about.

I knew it was bad, how she managed to stay kind and thoughtful in such a state was so, so beyond me.

Something else was ringing bells in my head, and I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I read the note over a few times, the wording sinking deeper and deeper into my mind, hurting me further.

Then I realised. Can't seem to get the words out anymore. If I don't talk to you. No words. A flashback struck me. 'Different in the sense I haven't heard her voice in seven years.'

Poets. Midnights was... no.

That couldn't happen. It wouldn't. I'll ensure it doesn't. Midnights would not end up like her.

Voices snapped me from my thoughts.

"Yo why isn't she talking, that's so weird."

A group of boys seated at a table behind Midnights' were tossing balls of paper at the girl's head. She turned around and gave the boys a dirty look, before looking back with a roll of her tired eyes.

"Real mature," I muttered under my breath. High school really wasn't beating the standards and allegations.

Eventually they stopped, and the lesson moved forward peacefully. I kept one eye on the board, the other on my girlfriend.

—

I managed to locate Midnights as students poured out of classrooms for break, stepping away from the crowd and giving her a small wave.

She hesitated, but walked over, and I smiled. We stepped away from everyone and into an empty classroom, where I sat down on a desk.

To be honest, I was terrified. Never before had I been in a situation like this, I had no clue what to do, and making a wrong move or saying something unhelpful felt catastrophic.

"Uh... it's really good to see you again," I said quietly, face burning with nervousness.

Midnights nodded, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked hurt. Pure hurt was seeping into her expression, a vulnerability hidden away all day.

"I'm really sorry, Mid. I'm sorry I can't do more. You really are the sweetest person I've ever met, you don't deserve any of it," I tucked my legs up, feet on the edge of the desk.

The girl in front of me chewed her lip, giving me a slight nod.

"Just... I'm here for you. Always. Okay?"

Midnights nodded, and my eyes teared up slightly. Quickly wiping the water away, I took a shaky breath.

"I'm perfectly okay with any boundaries, or- I'm not sure, whatever helps make you feel more comfortable, seriously anything you need, I won't be offended," I assured her, my voice shaking slightly.

Midnights softened, and stepped a little closer.

I offered a gentle smile, and she held her hand out to me. Ever so slowly, I touched our fingers and curled mine around hers. I pulled her hand forward, maintaining eye contact. Then I pressed her knuckles to my lips, closing my eyes and lightly holding her there.

After a moment, she pulled back. I looked up, eyes watering even more and heart throbbing.

Midnights stepped closer, closer, and then collapsed into me, arms tight around my waist. Taken by surprise, my eyes went wide before settling in.

I mirrored the squeeze around me, the girl nuzzling into my neck.

A croaky, weak whisper just made it to my ears.

"Love you."

~~

Had Delicate in the back of writing the end of this chapter. Quite the tearjerker.