The Shadows of Memory Lane (Book 2) [Gxg]

Chapter 1

Linda POV.

They say gay guys are the best friends a girl could ever find. But the idiot I got stuck with is a pain in my rear end.

"Shut up Sam!"

"Please Li, just help me out with him."

I scowled, "I told you not to call me that," I said through gritted teeth.

"Sorry sorry," he mumbled.

"But please Linda, you don't even like him," Sam muttered.

"He isn't gay."

"And you aren't straight, technicalities," he waved his hands around in the air.

"I am STRAIGHT!"

"Okay okay, but those discreet glances you give girls don't go unnoticed by me," he said, "Straight as a circle."

"You aren't making the situation any better for yourself."

"Urgh, Linda... I just... I've liked him for a year now. I want to at least kiss him, I think... I think I actually might love this one."

"Firstly you've liked him for about a month, secondly that is exactly what you said about Lucas, Paul and Adam."

"Blake's different," Sam defended.

"Fine. God... Gods," I correct myself on instinct, "I'll dump him and put in a good word about you."

"Thank you!"

I huffed and walked towards the washroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. Short brown hair, or as she used to describe it, a swirl of bronze, gold and silver. I'd cut it short after she'd died. My purply grey orbs were tired. There was more grey than purple now. Everything about them screaming fatigue. My defined collar bone was tattooed with wings and a heart and crossbones, below them were the words, 'life tied my love down but death set my love free'. I wasn't going to regret it. I knew that for sure. It was a beautiful piece of work. I'd designed it myself. Once I'd finished high school, I'd joined a fine arts school. I couldn't leave the memories behind, however painful they were, so I stayed in L.A. But I moved into the dorms.

My roommate had been a senior last year, while I was a freshman so now she's moved out. And let me tell you, Gods was I thankful. She was always so perky and annoying. And she always had her boyfriend around, who would probably flirt with a fire hydrant. Once that bleach blonde mess of a person was out of my room, I finally had some space to breathe. Without her 'optimistic aura' disrupting my depressing one. The scent of her candles still slightly lingered in the air even after break, so I'd sprayed the whole place with some lavender-scented deodorant.

I splashed some water on my face- not bothering about the make up cause I didn't have any on. I just fixed my hair and walked out. I had an idiot to dump.

I found him in one of the corridors on the way to my next class. He was leaning against the wall, talking to his friends.

I ran my hand through my hair and groaned. He didn't look that bad or anything... just a little cliché. I mean, come on? Blonde hair, blue eyes. Jock structure. Greek God type much? Blergh!

"Listen Blake."

He turned towards me and unmasked his pearly white teeth.

"Linda!"

He came to hug me, his eyes twinkling.

"Um no sorry," I pushed him away.

He looked momentarily confused.

"We need to talk. I'm breaking up with you. It's not you it's me." I said as if I've said it a thousand times before, rolling my eyes.

"Wait what? No Linda wait. Please. Why?"

"Blake you into guys? Because I think I might have just the right one for you."

Blake stepped back and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What...?"

"See my dear gay friend Sam, seems to be really into you... would you consider it?"

Blake ran a hand through his hair, "Umm..." and he ran, his group close behind him.

I sighed, well I did try... you can't blame me. I just don't really care about anything.

I calmly walked into my art history class. The teacher walked in right after me, a tall brunette woman... blue eyes and a kind smile. She was pretty cute.... young too, probably just passed out of college. Crap... no what am I saying? I shook my head and plopped myself down on my seat.

She walked towards the whiteboard and started off with her lesson.

I blew off the usual gang of flirts who followed me around everywhere. I'm pretty sure half of them don't even take this class and that the other half don't take fine arts at all... their probably from another college in my university.
"Hey Linda... would you like to..."

"Are you new?"

"Yeah umm," he scratched his head, "Why?"

"Are you even in this class."

He blushed, "Umm, no..."

"Then why are you in my face?"

Okay... I'm not usually this mean... if I was, I wouldn't have a bunch of guys following me around everywhere. But I was just frustrated today. I don't know why. As usual... I'm going to blame it on Sam. That idiot.

"Woahh calm down feisty," Kyle said, sitting down next to me.

I allowed myself to smile, "Hey Ky."

Kyle was a nice guy. He was one of my exes... naturally, but we parted on good terms. He caught me crying one day... 'that day'. The 3rd year anniversary of her dying. I'd deconstructed my walls just for that night, crying into the folds of his t-shirt. He'd comforted me and we'd both come to a mutual understanding that 'this' wouldn't work. He had another girlfriend now... Jean...they were pretty cute together. She was really pretty... flaming red hair and these piercing green eyes. But her personality contrasted her appearance. She was timid and quiet, and was only crazy when she was with her closest friends.

"What got your panties in a twist?"

"Sam," I grumbled.

"Oh come on, tell me the truth, I'm your best friend."

"I don't know... I've just been annoyed since this morning. I honestly don't know why."

"Okay... let's get your mind out of your stress, lets go to Starbucks after school."

"That sounds amazing."

He smirked, "Yeah I know I'm awesome."

I just rolled my eyes and transferred my attention to my pretty (cough) teacher's relentless lecture.

Someone suddenly slammed the door open. Well this... this caught my attention. I mean loud noises tend to attract everyone's attention... obviously... right? But it wasn't the noise. It wasn't my ears that were affected. Nope... not at all... it was my eyes.

Memory #1: On the first day of school, Haley would always be extremely excited for some reason. So when they were younger she used to run up to Linda's house and ring the doorbell repeatedly until she opened and she would grab her hand and would run to the bus stand, leaving Linda's parents smiling at both of them and Linda, with eyes scrunched up, utterly annoyed because Haley was making run.