Every Forty Seconds

Chapter eight

"Come on," Lainey says, tugging on my sleeve. Ever so gently, she wipes her hand on my cheek, smearing the tears. She kisses the place where they were and pulls me with her as she stands up.

"I want to show you something," she continues. We walk through the darkness, crossing roads and turning corners. It takes a while, a winging- non-stop road. It feels as if we've been walking forever, a labyrinth in our town of Freyport when she stops moving. I come to a standstill next to her. I look around, and see we're in an underground tunnel. It's almost pitch black. I can hear a constant dripping sound, coming from somewhere that is almost close, and slightly make out the distinctions between the dirty, discoloured bricks of the walls. A switch flicks, and the sky starts to light up.

"You gave me a galaxy," Lainey whispers, "so I give you one back." Suddenly, and all at once, the skye becomes an endless universe. Covered in rows upon rows of dazzling stars. I laugh, a sort of laugh that just escapes you when you feel in awe of something. Not only do the stars show, but planets start to form in the background. Jupiter, mars, saturn. And some i'm not even sure really exist. Under the light of these stars, I grab her by the waist. Pulling her towards me, I crash my lips against hers. After a few seconds, she tilts her head back and laughs and I laugh too. It's beautiful, and everything I've ever wanted. She's beautiful, and everything I've ever wanted.

Lainey pulls away from me, and lays her jacket on the floor. Dust clouds around us, but quickly disperses. I put my own jacket next to hers, and we lay back together. Her head rests against my chest, rising and falling slightly as I take each breath. My head is fluttering now. Yet despite this, I feel more comfortable than ever. I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her towards me. Like I've seen in the movies. I was never much of a romantic, but Lainey has triggered something in me. And now I can't stop thinking about how much more I could do for her, and how happy I have to make her. I want to make her as happy as she's made me. Plato once said that everyone has a companion star. I remember this now, thinking about the diamonds that have transformed this dark, dingy tunnel into something astounding. So, here we lay, in silence, staring up at sky, safe from the near-autumn wind. And I realise that, "I don't need a star companion,".

"What?" Lainey says. I turn bright red, my cheeks heating up. I hadn't meant to say it aloud. I explain plato's theory to her.

"And I don't need a star, because my companion is already by my side," I finish, taking her hand in mine. She smiles at me, but it feels off.

"What's wrong?" I ask, and she shakes her head and kisses me. Suddenly, I forget the question I had asked. I forget the stars and the planets around me, and I kiss her back.

***

Without opening my eyes, I know I'm not at home. I know this because I can hear the sound of water falling into more water, and I can feel someone pressed up against me as I lay on this floor. It's weird, I know i'm not at home yet I feel full of comfort and love. I feel better than ever, and I know i'm not at that place where I call home. But more than that, I can feel a vibrating against my cheek. And I can hear the buzzing of it, the sound of it hitting the ground over and over again as the feeling brings it up and gravity yanks it down. Sleepily, I reach out a hand and pull it from the coat I lay on. I press the answer button.

"Hello?" I mumble.

"Oh, thank God!" my mother says, and the relief seems to bounce off the satalite and back to me.

"What's wrong, mom?" I ask.

"Nothing, sweetie, you just didn't come home last night and I was worried." I almost laugh. It's not like she's noticed before. I hang up, flinging the phone so it lands on Lainey's coat. She's snuggles further against me, making a small noise in the back of her throat before she looks up at me.

"Morning, sunshine," I say, laughing. She giggles slightly, probably at the cheesiness of what I'd just said. I look at the time. School started an hour ago. I curse under my breath.

"Lain, we have to go. It's time for school."

"Noooo," she whines loudly, pouting slightly.

"C'mon," I say, offering my hand. She grabs it and I pull her up. Side by side, we walk to school. On the way, she opens her bag and pulls out lipstick, a hairbrush and a mascara wand. As we make our way there, she fixes herself up.

I, on the other hand, watch her.