Stray Heart

Cigarettes and coffee

Mike puts a cigarette in his mouth and goes to light it. I take it out of his mouth before he has the chance. He takes another from his packet and puts it in his mouth. I do the same. He raises his eyebrows at me.

'You know, this isn't a good game.' He laughs.

'Your health isn't a game my love, all these cigarettes and coffees can't be good for you, you live off them.' I say seriously and he looks guilty.

'You're right, but I've been on these things since I was 14, it's hard to just quit.' He sighs and I put a hand on his back.

'I know baby but you were there for me and now I'm going to be there for you. I'll do everything I can to help you ditch them, the coffee I can live with.' I explain and he smiles.

'Thank you babe. You are amazing.' He chuckles and I kiss him on the forehead.

(*A/N - Timings in this are completely ignored, the following happened a long time after when this is set but oh well.)

*Mike's POV - The next day*

Nicola and I are taking a walk into town at the moment. I'm holding her perfect hand, and listen to the words come out of her perfect mouth as I look into her perfect eyes. She's still wearing the ring I got her, I spent an hour and a half talking to Billie's Mum trying to figure out which one she'd like. I think we got the right one.

'You know what. Every day I think how lucky I am to have you.' I tell Nicola and she smiles.

'I don't know why you keep saying that, if anything I should be lucky to have you. You've done so much for me, especially after my Mum died.' She replies and I just shake my head.

'Nah.' I say modestly and I squeeze her hand, kissing her cheek as she blushes. I hear a crash and run around the corner to see what has happened, with Nicola running just behind me.

There's two cars, one crumpled up with a smashed windscreen. Wait, I know that car. Jason! I run to it and yank the door open with great force, pulling out my friend. He's covered in blood, most of it coming from his head. His eyes flutter open and shut.

'Talk to me buddy.' I whimper desperately as Nicola calls for an ambulance.

'See ya mate.' He croaks and I hold his head still.

'No, don't you talk like that. You're gonna make it bro.' I plea, but it's too late. I'm sitting in the middle of the road, covered in the blood of Jason Andrew Relva. His head gets heavy and he goes limp. 'Shit, no. No, no, no, no.' I sob. He was one of my best friends. Gone so young. Taken so early.

The ambulance arrives and they take him away on a stretcher. Nicola comes up and hugs me, I guess the roles have been reversed this time.

'I'm covered in blood babe.' I say, but she hugs me anyway.

'I'm so sorry.' She whispers and I try to stay strong. I can't do it. I break down, sobbing.

'It's just so hard y'know? It's like, gotta make a plan. Gotta do what's right. You can't run around in circles if you wanna build a life but I don't wanna make a plan for a day far away. While I'm young and while I'm able all I wanna do is -' I can't do it, I can't speak. The words wont come out.

'I know it's tough, but live life as you want to, you don't have to plan for the future. Just take each day as it comes.' She tries to console me but it's no use.

'That's exactly how Jason saw it, and look it him, he didn't have a plan, so he didn't leave a mark on the world, he didn't know what he wanted to do.' I reply, rifling my hair with my hand.