counting down | vikklan

Chapter 15

Vik
we are deeply lost at the edge of somewhere but my god isn't it just beautiful?

It's been a month, a month since I have last talked to Jerome and Mitch. Jerome's out of the hospital, which is fan - fucking - tasic for us. But it means that this has also been a month with no answers. We haven't gotten any closer to figuring out what is going on in the world and it's starting to piss me off.

Lachlan is more distant as well and it's upsetting. I love and care for him deeply but we've all been so stressed that we can't do shit but be stressed out.

I chuckle to myself, sketching an outline of a drawing in my notebook paper. "Wish we could turn back time."

Another line, another sketch into a drawing that has no meaning. "To the good ol' days, when our momma sang us to sleep."

I watched my hand dance across the paper, not really knowing what I was drawing, all I knew was that I wanted to draw. "But now we're stressed out."

"Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young, how come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from?"

I look up, seeing my mom lean against the doorframe that entered my bedroom. "Oh hey,"

"Hey Vikky." She smiled, walking over and sitting on the foot on my bed. "I wasn't actually sure if those were the right lyrics, I winged it."

I shook my head, smiling. "Those were right. What's up?"

"Just wanted to see what was up with ny little star, I called you down for dinner about 20 minutes ago and you never responded." She scoots next to me, eyes on the drawing.

"I've been lost in my thoughts, sorry- What's for dinner?"

"Spaghetti because it's easy and I didn't feel like cooking."

I nod, setting my pencil down and looking at her. Her face seems sunken in, and she looks older than she actually is. I started to notice this after Dad left and she had to get a job and take care of me. She must be as stressed as I am. God, why must there be so much stress?

"Hey Vik?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay? I imagine you would be out with Lachlan or hanging with Mitch and Jerome. Is something wrong?"

I nod, biting the inside of my cheek. "Something is wrong."

She wrapped her arm around me, running a hand through my hair. "What's wrong?"

"Everything. I'm stressed. The world seems to put everything on me and school is a thing. It's my last year and I was thinking about going back to England for school but Lachlan is here and I'm not sure if I could do long distance."

She hummed softly, nodding. "Are you sure that's what you want dear? It's a good choice, but what about your friends?"

"That's what's holding me back. I want to stay with them, but at the same time I want to roam the world."

"I think it's time for my little star to shine. Don't roam in the dark."

I nod, glancing towards the direction of my window.

"Hey Mom?"

"Hm?"

"Can I call Lachlan?"

She let go of me as she nodded, handing me my phone and leaving the room. I quietly pressed Lachlan's contact named and waited for the dial tone.