Sight

Thirty.

-THEN-

MARIA

"All done?" Daniel asked as he turned around and walked towards me and I nodded giddily, "Oui." I smiled and tucked my phone away into my pocket, ignoring the resentment I felt for talking to my Grandma the way I did, and to my response he perked an eyebrow, "You speak French?" And I laughed, nodding, "I take classes at school." I smiled and he straightened up, "Hold on, I know nothing about you, please share. Where'd you grow up? Brooklyn?" He asked and I shook my head, "Oh, no, I'm not from around here." I gestured to the air around me and his eyebrows furrowed, "Oh?" He stepped closer and I blew out a slow breath, "I'm from Middleton. I'm here to get--" I broke off when I saw Daniel zone out, he looked like he was in pain or concentrating very hard on something behind me.

Confused I turned around and saw nothing but rubble and dirt, "Daniel?" I slowly asked and he blinked then looked back at me, "Yes?"

"Are you alright?" I raised my hand to touch his arm and he recoiled from my touch, and my fingers snapped inward, my heart dipping with the action, "Sorry, I'm sorry, damn it." He cussed and moved away from me, leaving me sitting on the bike, second guessing everything that happened this night.

"What happened? What did I say?" I asked and he pulled at his hair, it looked normal but you could see his fingertips turning reddish white as he tugged, hard.

"Nothing, you said nothing." He walked back to me, "You're from Middleton? Is that town very small?" He asked and I looked at him perplexed, "Quite small. Everyone knows everyone." I explained and he nodded, humming in response, in grunts and hums, "You're from Middleton." He said slowly, quietly, nodding ever so slightly, and I craned my neck to look at his face, "Daniel..." I trailed off and he looked at me, a new look taking over his eyes, "Why are you here? Isn't it in the middle of the semester?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I needed to get away." I whispered, looking into my lap, fighting back tears. He stepped closer to me then, his hand grazing my face, "It's alright, you don't need to tell me anything." He smiled, his eyes shining with affection.

"My sister killed herself." I said softly and Daniel's lips parted, "What was her name?" He asked and tears streamed down my face.

"Skye." Was all I said, and he pressed my up against his chest, hugging and holding me close, and it was then when I noticed his racing heart.

-NOW-

DANIEL

I walked through Middleton's park, noticing the leaves that seemed to be ever changing even when surrounded by the heat and humidity that stuck to your skin. It felt like another layer of sheen, unshakeable sweat was being added to your exterior, the worst part being that there was nothing you could do to rid yourself of the grimy, dirty, inexplicable discomfort, something like regret.

"I miss you." I whispered into the still air that carried nothing to no one, that carried nothing but realization that my words meant nothing as I stood in the one place which held a certain sacred memento of the only love I will ever experience.

If that was Skye or Maria, I was confused, my heart was conflicted with loves I will never obtain.

"Oi!" I turned around when the thick English accented voice pinpricked my ears, "It's bloody hot." He said as he shoved his hands into his leather jacket, I perked an eyebrow eyeing him, "Then take off that ghastly, cow printed monstrosity of a jacket." I huffed and he chuckled, shaking his head, letting his hair tickle his forehead and would cause any woman to swoon as the very aura of his presence, "I don't appreciate you taking numerous swings at my love, doesn't it simply adorn me?" He swiveled and grinned, winking at me and was accompanied by me rolling my eyes and turning away.