All of my 5sos work

Dandelion: II

It had been years since I had been so high, since the weight beneath me diminished. There hasn't been a time when I felt like myself truly, only partially. That's because I left part of myself with him, with Ashton.

Swaying my legs back and forth on the uncomfortable seat I glanced out of the circular window, watching the clouds beneath us remain stationary like cotton, squinting as the sun flares greeted my eyes. Turning away from the window my parents sat with me, chatting about the joyous moment we'd all been waiting for, the chance to go home. It had been difficult being away for so long, two years is a questionable amount of time to be away from those you care for, especially in his case with the rising success he's encountered. 

My mind still pondered over the two of us, what we actually were or even are now. I'd seen his tour pictures, read his updates but never had the chance to be seen or heard in the sea of words that consumed his spare time. The thought of him not remembering me makes me want to float away, be captured by the soft gust of wind and not bother returning, technically I've already done that but now the gust has floated me back to where I belong. 

Various announcements were made during the night whilst those around me slept, sleep was a luxury at this point I couldn't afford. I typed many letters to make words into sentences of what I wanted to say to him if I saw him, if. Yet with every sentence I produced I hated the words, they sounded fake, they weren't genuine and they weren't me. 

Two years can change a person. I am not the small little delicate Dandelion I used to be, I grew up. My florets are stronger, they can't be blown off by a gentle breeze like they once could be. Independence became second nature, my life had no set routine once I turned 18, I just dreamt of the days when we played in the forest, laughing at our youth and the innocence we once owned, sometimes I longed to go back to for a matter of minutes. 

Feeling a tap on my shoulder I slowly opened my eyes, outside the sky had awakened to greet us on our arrival back home, my real home. It wasn't long after that the ground was beneath us and we could leave, as soon as we were released from the bird I felt alive, I felt free. 

Passing all the familiar scenery I observed familiarities and differences, trying to pinpoint if the cafes had changed their designs, the colour schemes in the past 24 months. Whether houses had planted flowers to brighten up their overall appearance, if children I once saw had matured or were experimenting with style, whether he would pass us by. 

Seeing our house felt unreal. Part of me was convinced it'd be burnt to the ground, or completely different. But no, my house was the same as ever, it looked slightly aged and in need of care but besides the small details my home was intact. 

We settled back into our lives quickly, except leaving the house worried me. I didn't want to leave with expectations that would soon fall short so I waited, I waited until I felt the breeze through my window to make my move. 

It was 2:49am. My window always remained open, even if it was partially. A small chill went through me causing goosebumps and a slight shiver to wake me up. It took me a moment to wake up but once I did, I was certain it was the right time. 

My feet led me there without my mind being fully sure I was going in the right place, the stars shined brightly over the lake as I walked by, clouded by words that tried to form coherent sentences. A wave of nostalgia came over me as I felt the crisp leaves crunch beneath my feet, a stronger flurry of air flew through my hair, tickling the back of my neck as I walked further. 

Dandelions grew around, half of them still in perfect condition whereas others had been half used, trampled on or discarded on the ground, used. I pictured the day when I waved the florets float, the amount of happiness in my girlish laugh, how he couldn't resist joining in. Yet now, here I stand at nearly 3 in the morning on my own, in the cold because it felt right.  

Continuing through the grass passing some of the bizarre trees I was anxious to climb I went further into the forest, to my favourite area. Once I arrived my chest tightened as I pictured the two of us stood there, the trees swaying creating a calming sound as I told him I had to leave. I remember being thankful that it was windy that day, as if it wasn't I'm certain he would've heard my heart shatter. 

My brain refused to allow my feet to take me further, leaving me stood twelve steps away from where I wanted to tell him the truth, tell him how I truly felt. Small pools began to fill the surface of my eyes and I tried blinking them away with little luck. turning around I allowed them to fall knowing it was too dark for them to be visible plus no one was around. 

That's what I had believed. That was when I heard his voice. 

"Dandelion?" It sounded a mixture of shocked and upset, hesitantly I moved my body to face the voice, keeping my eyes fixated on the leaves that I was crunching on. 

Rustling indicated him moving closer and slowly I lifted my head, silence was all around us, he was guaranteed to hear my heartbeat accelerating. Catching him in the dark his face became more clear to me, my words hitched in my throat as I took in all his details, how he hasn't changed. Stubble was forming around his apprehensive smile, those hazel eyes that still held the excitement like a child on Christmas morning. 

"Hi." Words failed me in this moment, I couldn't process his presence, I never thought of seeing him like this again. 

Suddenly my mind casted back 13 years ago, when we first explored the forest and I was nervous but he held my hand the whole time. Anxiety washed over me as we both stood there, neither being the one to speak up first. Fiddling with the hem of my pyjama top I shuffled my feet, unable to think of something fitting to actually say. 

"When, when did you get back?" He struggled to make out a sentence without mumbling but to hear his voice made me warm up inside. 

I lifted my eyes up and tried to make eye contact with him, it was something I craved without realising after all this time. Moving my hands away from my sides I held them together, he kept his eyes to the side not wanting to move as I remained quiet. 

"About three weeks ago." I mumbled but I knew he could hear, the way his head tilted ever so slightly. Part of me wondered if he was disappointed that I didn't see him sooner, or that he could be thankful that I was out of the scene. "How have you been?" My words became muddled as I felt a tense atmosphere surrounding the two of us. 

"I've been doing great." A small laugh escaped him, reducing the tension that built up. "The band is touring all over the world," Smiling I focused on his face, how he too was no longer frowning or had a neutral expression, but before he spoke again I could see him processing something causing his smile to wither. "But I've missed my Dandelion." His eyes connected with mine in that second, I let out a dry laugh being unsure how to take things in. 

He took a few steps closer towards me, his face as close as the day we said goodbye. "I have been watching your videos online, seeing all the posts." Pride radiated in my tone, "I couldn't have been more proud of you," I placed my hand on his cheek before continuing, a gentle smile appearing across his face as he placed his hand on top of mine. "you didn't need me, you didn't need luck. You had it all, you're more capable than you can imagine." He laced his fingers into mine, lowering my other hand from his cheek feeling that well known spark ignite. 

"I'll always need you Dandelion." Everything happened in an instant, the wind picked up around us causing my teeth to chatter but then it disappeared. The warm sensation ran through me, circulating from his lips on mine. "My wish finally came true," He said as I held me close, stopping the shiver returning in his absence. "my Dandelion came home."