after all these years ↠ fillie

{four; Heaton's Brew}

Millie's pov

♕

As the elevator door opens I can see Paige standing there with her arms wide open. Getting ready to pull me into a hug.

When she pulls me into a hug, I can see a tear rolling down her cheek as she begins to say,

"Millie! I-I've missed y-you, and you c-cut your hair!" She says, slurring and stuttering her words as the tears flood her face.

I began crying too, happy that I didn't have to be afraid to be touched, happy that for once in my life, I am safe in someone's arms.

We hug each other for what seems like forever, then she leads me to her apartment, holding my hand.

I look at the door - 6F

She opens the door, revealing her well-decorated living room that was adjacent to a small kitchen with marble counters. There are fairy lights draped along the walls, countless picture frames hanging, and a few inspirational quotes written in the available spaces of the lilac walls.

I walk closer to the picture frames and observe them closely.

I smile as I pick up a circle wooden frame with a tattered photo of me and Paige.

I was much younger then. I remember that day vividly.

It was a hot night in the middle of July. Paige and I had waited for mother and father to fall asleep, drunk off their asses.

"Paige! We have to go to the photo booth!" I exclaimed, pushing her towards the booth in the crowded carnival.

"Alright, alright! We can go. There is just enough money for us to take some photos, but hurry up. Someone might beat us to it!" Paige agreed, taking my hand and running with me towards the photo booth.

Fortunately, it was empty. We drew the red curtain and stepped inside the retro, old fashioned photo booth. With the last of the money we had saved up since January, we inserted the bills in the money slot. On the side of the slot was a hook that kept a chord with a button attached at the end of it. I took it off of the hook so fast, I hit Paige with it.

"How dare you?" Paige retorted, jokingly, a red mark forming on her face.

"I'm sorry! Come on sis, we have to take the photos now. Forget the red mark!" I said, pressing the button already.

Click

...
Click

...

Click

...

Click

"Millie... Millie...MILLIE!" Paige calls out to me. "You are dazing off."

I sigh and turned to paige.

I hope for more days like that.

"Sorry Paige. I just... remember that day. Thank you for that. You really helped me and made me happy." I say to her. She smiles and rubs my back.

We looked at each other, basking in the moment that we are finally together again. Then, my stomach growls. We laugh.

I forgot I was hungry.

"Oh my. I am so terrible. I didn't think of feeding you. Come, come, let's get you a snack. There is a local coffee shop just around the block." Paige says, worry coloring her words.

She grabs her purse from the white sofa in the living room and leads me out of her apartment. I drop my duffle bag on the floor. Yet, I still clutch my phone.

Walking with Paige to a local coffee shop made me remember our adventures together back home. In this moment, i forget about my exhaustion, my misery, my journey, my reason to run away, the mystery boy. Instead, I focus on Paige and I, together, right now.

I felt the cool breeze on my face as we walked around the block to the coffee shop I had seen when I walked into townㅡHeaton's Brew, the lights inside now lit and the door wide open.

A man stood outside, writing on a chalkboard. He looks up.

"Morning Paige! You're up earlier than usual and you brought your... sister?" The man greeted Paige warmly.

"Yes, this is my sister. Good morning to you Pete! I presume Natalia is inside?"

My sister asks the man.

He nods and turns back to the chalkboard.

We walk into the coffee shop, the smell of vanilla and baked goods filling my nose.

Multiple people greeted Paige. She is a walking celebrity on Cornwallis. Paige tells me to sit wherever I want so she can order. I look around, a bit nervous to be around so many strangers all by myself, but I reassure myself that everything will be okay.

Everyone in here knows Paige, they won't hurt you.

I sit by the large glass window of Heaton's Brew, the block lettering of the logo, blocking my full view of the now lively street.

I realize, as I sit alone in this coffeeshop, waiting for my sister, that I am finally free. 

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this is more of just a filler chapter :) the next chapter is half written and finn may or may not be coming in next chap ;)

*thank you helena for helping me write this fic*

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