Creative Writing Pieces

Val and Ollie

A/N: This was my final and independent piece for my class.

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She lay down in the middle of the empty street and propped her head up with her arms. She gave a small frown and closed her eyes.

I sat down next to her and crossed my legs. "What are you thinking about?" I asked her.

With her eyes still closed, she whispered, "Everything."

I lay down beside her and gazed up at the stars. She was always such a puzzle. I wanted to know of every little piece of her thoughts. I wanted to know what she was behind that decorative masquerade of hers. I wanted to know anything and everything, but she never let me in.

I saw a plane racing across the midnight sky. I turned my body to face her; my eyes scanned her still face and motionless body. "Val?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you like night so much?"

She slowly opened her eyes, her soft gaze wandering up to the sky. "There're so many reasons, Ollie."

I didn't hesitate. "I want to know."

Her eyes caught a short glimpse of me from her peripherals. "You're sure?"

I nodded.

She gazed back up into the twilight and took a deep breath before saying, "I love how dark it is; how invisible I can become in the void. Everyone is sleeping, so no one is badgering me or barking at me. I can be completely and utterly alone... I can't do that in the broad daylight."

I returned to lying on my back and crossed my arms behind my head. I felt my black t-shirt ride up a bit, exposing my lower abdomen. "But you're not alone."

"I know," she simply said.

We lay there for a while in silence. Even if that was one of the only times she had somewhat opened up to me before then, I was satisfied. It was rare for her to lower her walls, if even for a moment.

I was facing her again, and brushed her raven hair away from her face so I could see the familiar gunmetal gray eyes that haunted my dreams. She brushed her cheek into my touch and closed her eyes from the safe, gentle interaction.

"Val?" I whispered, my breathing steady and calm.

"Yeah, Ollie?" Her voice was a hush.

"Why do you want to escape the world so badly?"

Her eyes were open then, and they lowered when my question reached her mind. I saw her swallow and her stomach sink. She opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it.

I yearned to know, but I was patient with her. I waited for what seemed like an eternity before she sat up, her head hanging low. I sat up with her, not knowing what to do. Her hand found her face and she pressed it against her forehead. She gave a long exhale.

"Ollie, there's something I... Want to tell you..."

I cocked my head to the side, waiting for her to continue.

She removed her hand and gave a weak smile. "But first, do you wanna go for a drive?"

I furrowed my brows, but knew she'd tell me eventually, so I accepted the invitation.

After about half an hour of driving – although it felt like forever – she removed a hand from the steering wheel and turned the radio off. I heard her deeply exhale, and my eyes caught a glimpse of regret in her eyes.