Firecracker

Chapter 3

I pulled my hoodie over my head and tugged the sleeves down over my hands. It was dark outside and it was also freezing. I looked around at the abandoned playground and smiled at the memories I had here. This place was my thinking spot. This was the place that I came to when I needed space or when things got too much. I looked at the vacant swing on my right and sighed as it swung in the wind, the only sounds to be heard being the squeeking of the chains, that was always where Rye sat. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard loud voices , it sounded like a group of boys. I looked at the time on my phone. 12:04am . I got up and stretched my legs. I began making my way to the exit of the park because I didn't see the point in being here if there were going to be other people. The whole reason I liked this place was because it was quiet. I was about to begin the walk home when I heard a familiar voice. A voice that I knew so well. A voice that I hadn't heard in over 11 months. A voice that made my heart ache and my vision blur. I swung around and searched for the face that I knew so well. I saw 4 boys take my place near the swing set and I focused my eyes on one of them imperticular . Rye Beaumont. I froze, I wanted nothing more then to run up to him and tackle him with a hug, but I held myself back from doing so. He's living his dream now. He's better off without you, look how far he's come since you've been away. I turned around when I heard someone yell out
'Hey, you okay over there?' Whoever said it had a thick Essex accent.
I slowly turned to face the boys 'yeah I'm fine' I meekly replied.
'What's your name?' The one with black curly hair asked
'Um, Skylar' I quietly said.
'Wait sorry I didn't catch that..' The same guy said embarrassingly .
'Skylar , her name is Skylar ' Rye whispered, I'm surprised I heard him from here but I did.
The other boys gave him quizzical looks and I just stood there, like a deer caught in the headlights.
'I uh, I didn't know you were back' he stuttered.
'Well I mean I would have told you if you answered my text messages, or my calls, or my dms' I snapped
I heard him inhale a sharp breath of air before he nervously answered 'I see your still a little bit of a firecracker sky'
I lifted my eyes from the ground and stared into his chocolate brown orbs. My knees went weak and and my words caught in the back of my throat. He had a look of guilt on his face and he looked as though he could cry at any second. The other boys stood behind him, awkwardly trying not to make eye contact with us.
'It's been a while sky' he whispered , staring into my eyes making my heart flutter.
I wanted to make some snarky comment about how that's not my fault and how we could easily have stayed in contact if it wasn't for him but I didn't. I was too shocked to think of anything to say. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I looked over his shoulder at the other boys and then back at rye. He took the hint and introduced me to them.
'Oh uh Skylar this is Mikey, Andy and Brooklyn, my band mates' I knew I recognised them from somewhere.
'Boys this is Skylar, remember the *cough* the girl I told you about *cough*.
He talked about me? Heck I'm surprised he even remembered me. I looked back up at him and saw that his face was a crimson colour, he lowered his head and stared at the ground beneath us.
I felt raindrops hit my head and soon it was lashing rain. I wrapped my hoodie tighter around my body.
'I should get going,' I stuttered out with my teeth chattering together.
'Sky you know I'm not going to let you walk home in this weather, please just come back to the flat with us until it stops raining' he pleaded.
Since when does he care about me?.
'Um okay... But just until it stops raining' I said hesitantly.