Always and Forever

THE Jacket

I had woken up in the hospital yet again. It was dark outside. I turned my head towards the clock to see the time. But something more important had caught my eye. On looking at the couch, I saw three familiar faces.

Trevor was in the middle, one hand over Samantha's shoulder and the other across Ashlyn's waist.

My hand almost automatically went up, my fingers running through my hair, like I did whenever I was nervous or ecstatic or both, like I was right now. It was a habit I had always regretted whenever I got them curled.
They felt greasy, undernourished, downright ugly and even lifeless.

With some difficulty, I got up and made me way towards the bathroom. My own reflection in the mirror frightened me. I looked like a homeless vagabond whose hobby is to abduct cute, little kids. Damn.

Not wanting to scare my friends, I fixed my hair and washed my face, thankfully looking more human now.
As soon as I got out of there, a "BOO!" was heard. I agree, it doesn't sound scary now, but at 4:05am in a dark room that had pin-drop silence, it knocked the living daylight out of me.

"CAN YOU NOT GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK EVERY TIME I MEET YOU?!" I yelled.

Trevor, with mischievous smile, simply said, "Darling, I can only try."

Unfortunately, my scream had woken up Sam and Ash too, which only meant one thing.

GROUP HUG!

"I missed you guys so much", I said as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"We missed you too. NOT." Said Trevor which earned him a punch on the shoulder.

"Kate, don't hit him." Spoke the overprotective sister.

"Oh really? Why not? Give me one reason Sam?"

"Cause he got you a gift." chimed in Ashlyn.

"Did he now? Well, where is it? Let me see!" I said, intrigued.

"Okay. Okay. Calm down Poo-Bear. Do me a favor and grab that backpack for me"

Had this been any another day I would've smacked his throat for calling me that. But, I needed something to cheer me up. I needed something, anything to take my mind off things. Frankly, I think I needed them.

So, with that thought in my mind and a smile on my face, I handed him the bag kept on the sofa.

"Open it." Ash said softly and turned to face Trevor. I expected her to say something to him, but she just stared.

It felt like one of those moments where me and Ryan could have an entire conversation with just our eyes.

Trevor held her hand, and nodded slightly, almost as if he was assuring her that it'll be okay. He did the same thing with Samantha, and all three of them looked at me, in anticipation.

I opened the chain of the bag. It had a strangely masculine jacket inside. Had Trevor's choice in clothing become that bad? I took it out, and the first thing that hit me was it's overwhelming scent.

It smelled of old memories and new beginnings. My olfactory receptors went into a frenzy, my head was flooded with flashbacks. The only thing common in all of them was Ryan. I mean, why wouldn't it be?

It wasn't a jacket. It was the jacket. Ryan's Leather Jacket.

"Coach was emptying his locker yesterday. That's when my eyes fell on it and I knew you'd go to the moon and back to have it. So I thought I should save it and gi----" I cut him short.
"Thanks Trevor. It's an amazing gift." I said blandly, with a faux smile. I gave him a small hug, and as soon as I was retreating, he pulled me in closer.

"I've known you all my life Katherine. I know when you're lying and when you're telling the truth. I know when you're genuinely happy and when you're faking it. You don't need to act all tough, especially not in front of me." He whispered. The hand that was earlier on my back, was now tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes boring into mine. I couldn't help but look away.

"Also, you need to take a bath. You stink."

"Bitch." I mumbled, struggling to get out of his grasp. Even after fracturing his arm, that boy had strength.

"Let me go, Trevor." I said, this time sternly. Without any fuss, his hands loosened and I escaped. His guilty eyes and pouted lips told me he regretted the gift.

"It wasn't his idea Kate. It was ours. We thought you'll like it." Sam and Ash pointing towards each other.

"I do."

"Then?" Challenged Trevor.
"It's. It's just... Uh...You won't get it"
"Try me."
"It's not the goodbye that hurts. It's the flashbacks that follow." My barely-audible voice cracking with every word.
"Oh, perry. Come here."

This time I did, without holding back. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck, sobbing uncontrollably while he held me and my shattered heart together.

Samantha and Ash joined in from both the sides, forming a crying-quadrilateral.

If that ever became a thing, the world should know who started it. I mentally laughed at that thought.

But it vanished the second I closed my eyes, as the memories replayed themselves.
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A/N
Thank you guys for being so patient. Major plot twists coming soon in the next chapter so hang on

I'll try to upload as fast as I can and yeah, if you like it, VOTEE and COMMENT!
Love you guys oh so much,
~M