Beautiful Apparation (Tony Perry FF)

twenty-four

Hannah is leaving, for good. As soon as the shop opened she made the announcement to everyone. All reactions are the same, except for mine. I'm kind of pissed because I jinxed myself. Oliver is taking her away back to the UK. Okay, now I sound a bit dramatic.

I'm supportive of course, but I know this is going to effect me a ton. It will be different. I'm no fan of adjusting to a whole new routine when I was so comfortable with the one I had before. Is it just me?

"I promise I'll visit you guys whenever I get the chance," She speaks with tears in her eyes. It kills me to see her like this, especially since I'm so used to seeing her smile and laugh.

"Don't you dare cry,"Jeff warns. "Otherwise I'll start crying, and we don't want to flood the shop, now do we?"

That makes us all laugh. The depressing vibe is gone, for now. It's not like she's leaving tonight. In a month to be exact she'll be on her way back to the UK. All that means is that we have to make this month a memorable one. For Hannah especially.

Lynn is already talking about a going away party which sounds awesome. We'd have to make it amazing. I want to invite the P-T-V guys for sure, but nothing is certain yet.

"Oliver is coming soon with the band," Hannah says wiping her glossy eyes. "One of the guys wants a tattoo. Would you like to do the honors Lynn?"

"Sure. Never tattooed someone famous before," She winks.

With that, everything carries on as usual. Corey's still being distant and it bothers me. It feels like ages ago when that incident happened at the bar. Maybe I'll surprise him at the joint he sings at. He can't keep me from doing that.

I tap his shoulder before he can walk off. He turns and gives a weak smile.

"What's up?" He asks.

"Do you want to grab lunch together? I'm starving," I lie.

"Uh- I actually need to go to a doctor's appointment."

"For what?" I test. "You should tell him to fix your lying ability."

He sighs, "Okay you got me."

"So what, you don't wanna be friends anymore?" If that's the case he should've said something earlier, not keep me waiting.

"It's not that, I'm seeing someone now."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"You and I sorta had a thing."

It may sound bitchy of me but I laugh, hard. When he remains silent, I contain myself.

"Well whatever that 'thing' was, let's drop it and remain friends. Still want to get that lunch with me?"

"Sure."

>>>

Danielle's home. I'm hesitant about visiting her, but have no choice to. Especially, when she shows up to my front doorstep herself.

"Hey," She gets out weakly.

Her eyes are bloodshot, and hair wavy, in tangles. She smiles a weak one. I don't know how else to explain her but natural. She looks better than she did in the hospital, that's for sure. You could tell she's been through a lot, and I admire her for that. She's a fighter.