All You Had To Do Was Stay // Tree of Love

Chapter 1

4 years later, January 4th.

Shay's POV

I woke up to the sound of the alarm next to my bed. It's 6 AM. Dammit, i just got back from London two days ago. I barely sleep last night, jet lag hit me right in the face. And i'm pretty sure that it is currently lunch time in London.

"Shannon, wake up! You have to go to school today!" I hear my mom's voice calling from outside the door.

"Mmmh", I answered her, eyes closed.

I spent the weekend just laying around, watching the television, trying so hard to fix my bed time again. But the thing is that i'm not ready to go back to school yet. And its Monday, the day that everyone's hating on.

I stayed still, laying in my bed. My soul hasn't gathered yet.

"Shannon Zoey, if you don't get up now i will drag your ass to the bathroom!" My mom yells again.

"Okay okay i'm trying!" I usually don't get this lazy. It is just because of the effects of the jet lagged. Plus, its been 6 months that I haven't been attending school.

With the best of me, i finally opened my eyes and get up on my feet. Neatly tucking the corners of my bed sheet into the headboard and went to the bathroom. Its my senior year but I don't get the nerve of it. Well considering that I've wasted the first 6 months in London though.

I turn on the shower and wait for the water to get warm. It took 20 minutes for me to get showered. After that i go out from the bathroom to dry my hair. After I dry my hair, I picked up a clothes. I was thinking to wear a better clothes but no one will ever get their attention for me. They'll probably not going to realise that I'm back. Or even know when i left. So I picked up a white sweatshirt, and a dark washed jeans. It is January now, still cold enough here. Well, I must say that London will be colder right now.

By the time I finished getting ready, its almost 7. I should go to the bus stop at 7.30. I quickly brushed my hair and put up some powder to my face. I barely wear makeup because i could careless about my appearance. After that I quickly run downstairs to the kitchen. My mom was making a breakfast. The smell of pancakes making me hungry.

"So you finally decided to go to school", she said while putting two pieces of pancakes to my plate as I sit down to the bar stool.

"Well I'm not planning to. I could be fall asleep in the class." I said, pouring the maple syrup and then eat my pancakes.

"No, don't do that. Just enjoy your day. Don't overthink it, you just got back from London. Don't let anyone break the walls that you've built up for the last 6 months. And of course, don't let anyone get into you easily. Its only like 5 months until you graduate, I think you could do this, honey." My Mom said.

That's when the reality hit me. My stomach is particularly drop. Suddenly I lost my appetite. I have to go back to the place where my worst nightmare was happened. Back to the place that basically made me go to London. That place.

That place was called School.

I stayed still, my mouth opened, my eyes wide. My breath getting faster. And I think my mom realize what happened.

"Shannon, you okay?" She interrupted my thoughts. "Breathe honey, breathe with me", she instructed me.

"Wesley! Come here fast!" She called Wes, her boyfriend which is I'm surely think that is soon to be my stepdad. Well I thought that they were already married while I was in London. But no, they haven't. But the thing was that I don't even care. No one could ever replace my dad.

"What?! What happened?!" Wes come to the kitchen, panicked sounds in his voice. "Did she get her anxiety back?"

No, its not my anxiety. If it is then I will be crying by now and trying so hard to breathe. But its not anxiety attack. Its just that I forgot that I have to go back to school. It's been 6 months old that I haven't seen the faces that makes me weak.

"Shannon?" Wes voice interrupted my thoughts.

"I-Uh I'm okay." I told him.

"Are you sure honey?" My mom asked me.

"Yeah I'm sure. Its just that I forgot the reason why I went to London. But now I'm cool." I said it for real. My mom gave me a sympathetic smile, Wes patting my back.

"Do you still want to go to school?" My mom asked me.

No. I'm not ready.

"Umm. Yeah." I said, "but if I don't feel comfortable or tired can I skip school for like 2 days?" I added.

"Well for starters, I'll give you that just in case." She said.

"Thanks mom I love ya!" I surely have the best mom ever. Well, not really the best mom. If you know the story behind her, you'll hate her for life. But when it comes to this, she's the best.

"Do you want me to drive you to school?" Wes asked me.

"Nah thanks. I will just get the bus." I said, smiling to him as he nodded.

As I wanted to finished my breakfast, I realized that I dropped my fork. That's sounds stupid. By the time i finished off my breakfast, I put on my boots, grabbed my backpack and coat and went outside after waving mom and Wes a goodbye and giving them a kiss on the cheek.

"Be careful! Have fun on your first day. Call me if you need anything!" My mom shouted from the front door. I just give her a thumbs up and waved again. With the nerve on my stomach I walk to the bus stop. I have no idea what will happen in school, will it get better than the last time?

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So here's the 1st chapter! (Short I know). Hope you enjoy this!

Xx Mel.