The Moth

Chapter Nine: Days In Color// Lyon

Chapter Nine: Days In Color// Lyon

Sometimes people come into your life and you barely see them as anything special. They're not particularly loud, or dramatic, or moody. They just sort of are. And sometimes that's the worst thing.

No, scratch that.

That's the best thing. When you look at someone you never quite noticed at first, and see all their colors and how they flourished in front of you when you gave them a chance.

He came into my life like that. Wasn't anyone special at the beginning, really.

A friend of a friend, I think. Jennifer...Jennie had brought him along to keep me company when I was third-wheeling for her and her boyfriend. I didn't mind, really. I just didn't know I wouldn't be third-wheeling alone.

Halfway through the movie, I found myself sitting alone, beside a boy I only knew by face. Of course, I pretended not to notice and I think he did the same. Then the movie ended, they still weren't back, and we were sitting three minutes into the credits scrolling in the dark.

I groaned internally.

Ugh. This is why you don't go with people you barely know to see movies you don't even like. Even if it's out of pity. Or because you had nothing better to do at home and homework wasn't an option. Or an inability to say no.

So I sat there, swinging my legs and not quite sure what to do with myself. Maybe if he left first, I could just go on home without talking to a single soul.

He stretched, yawning. I felt his eyes on me.

"...The movie's over, y'know."

I pursed my lips, feeling the heat rush up my cheeks. Go, dammit.

"Please don't ignore me, I barely know this place."

I blinked in surprise and turned to him, looking at him properly for the first time. Deep brown eyes framed with big black glasses, and a wavy mop of sandy hair on his head. His nose turned upwards a bit, ending with a tinge of pink. Freckles were spattered across the bridge of his nose and over his cheeks, a slight dimple in his chin. He pouted at me.

"Help out a guy, will ya?"

I sighed. "Fine." I shifted in my seat to face him. "What do you want?"

"Helping me find my way home would be a nice start," he said, leaning back. "Say, what's your name?"

I frowned. "Why does it matter? I'll help you home."

"Aye, don't be like that."

I sighed, getting up and stretching, my hands on my hips. He turned and made his way towards the exit and I followed suit. We didn't talk again until we reached the doorway. He held the door open for me and watched me walk out.

"Hmm...your name's Cecily, right?"

I scowled. "No."

"Sarah?"

I shook my head, taking the lead. If I got him near the school, I was sure he'd find his way home from there.

"...If you're not going to answer me, I'll just call you Cinderella."

I rolled my eyes. "It literally doesn't even matter. I don't even know you. What does it matter what my name is?"

I really needed to stop letting people talk me into doing things with them when they had a habit of running off.

Or really, I needed to get a life.

Or maybe the motivation to actually get work done and go the heck to sleep.

"Ok, Cinderella."

I pursed my lips. "Stop calling me that Lyon."

"Eh?!" He stopped walking to look at me. "How do you know my name?"

"Because I listen when people talk." I glanced at him.

"That's not fair...fine, just tell me your name and I'll leave you alone."

No you won't.  

"Cecilia."

He stayed silent for a couple blessed minutes.

"....I was close though, Cecily."

"Cecilia."

"But Cecily could be your — "

"No. You said you'd stop bothering me if I told you my name. I told you. Now hush."

He let out a small sigh. "But why don't you wanna talk to me?"

"No reason... I just want to go home."

"Oh. Okay."

He stayed unnervingly silent as we crossed the street and I glanced over, just to make sure he was still with me. He had his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, looking at the sky above us.

"You could just leave me here then. I'll find my own way home..."

The school was coming up in the distance. It would take another ten minutes before we reached it.

"Aye, you sure?"

"Yeah. Yeah sure. If I don't end up at home...I'll just go die in the Alaskan wilderness. Don't worry about me."

I groaned. "You don't know your way home."

He nodded at me vigorously. "I do!"

I blinked. "Oh okay. Bye. Good luck."

I turned and left without another look back, trying to ignore the small gnawing feeling in my stomach tell me I'd just left a poor stranger out in the middle of the street.

He's grown. He'll find his way home.

I took a wrong turn and got lost that day.

Karma.

*********************

A/N: We finally found out the girl's name! :) And who's this new character? What do you think of him?

And this is the last time period, I promise. There's three:

Present Day (older Noel) & Rooftops (while Noel is in college);  both of these are told by Noel himself.

And then Days in Color, told by Cecilia to Noel. But we get to hear it straight from the Moth herself! :) 

That's why I have the chapters labelled to avoid confusion. Hope it helps. 

Happy Thursday! Let me know your thoughts! ;) Cheers! 

-Autumn