her love

03 : tremble

TRANSLATION WILL ALWAYS BE THERE

He isn't looking at me. He can't look at me. And I understand why.

"Nothing is or has been right, and I don't want to be here anymore, but then there are times when I think life's alright and that I'll be okay, and then something reminds me of how shit my life is and I break again."

He straightens his back and meets my eyes, "This wasn't my first try either."

I open my mouth to say something but then I notice his hands are trembling. Before I can react, he's speaking again.

"I realised I didn't want to feel like this anymore, but I didn't want to go to a shrink either. So I thought I'd talk to you, considering the fact that you do this sort of thing," he says quietly, his eyes cast downwards.

"I'm glad you came to me," I say softly, and I want to reach out and stop his shaking fingers, but I'm not sure if I can do that.

"Belle," he whispers and I meet his eyes," I'm scared of myself, and what I'm capable of doing."

Somehow, my mind isn't blank, like I thought it might be considering this is Kaden and how painful his struggles are. I've got a way to help him. He came to me of all people, and I can see that he's desperate, because otherwise he would never talk to me or anyone from school. He wants to be better, and I already know how many times he'll want to fall back down, but now that he's reached out to me, I don't think I'm going to let that happen.

I've got a way, and even though it might save him, it may or may not break me.

+++

Somehow, we've ended up at a small bakery café, which is pretty run-down. But it's cosy and minimalistic, and the heavenly aroma of freshly baked goods is worth it. And although it's pretty empty and the space is compact, it's very clean and cutely furnished. It feels more like a cottage, with it's wooden floorboards, cushioned stools, and small booths in the far back.

I'm not sure why Kaden walked in here when we were walking back from the park, but I followed him anyway and I'm glad I did because it's the kind of place I'd want to visit often. He's currently at the counter talking to a middle-aged lady.

She has the same golden-brown eyes he does, so I automatically assume she's a relative. Her hair is a soft shade of blonde though. She notices me standing awkwardly behind Kaden and gives me a tired but pretty smile.

"Bonjour belle fille," she greets me in a pure and thick French accent. I'm surprised that she already knows my name, and other than that I only understood 'bonjour'. I have never taken French so I have absolutely no idea what she could've said.

(A/N: ok idk french either most of the french will be from google translate lmao,, also i had no idea belle means beautiful omg aw,, also if u know french help me out whenever i mess up thx)

"Um, hello," I reply awkwardly, "you already know my name?"

Her eyes widen slightly, before she lets out a small laugh. Kaden sighs before offering me a small smile and saying, "She meant: Hello beautiful girl. Belle means beautiful in French."

"And it only makes sense why it would be your name," she says with a smile, her eyes scanning me from head to toe, "My, very bel indeed."

I see Kaden groan from embarrassment from the corner of my eye, but I can't help but blush and smile widely at the lady. "Thank you, you're quite beautiful yourself," I say.