17 Stars

Chapter 7

Chloes POV

Sleepless nights are something I'm used to.

On good days I will get 4-5 hours which is pretty good. On a bad days it ranges from 2-3 hours. At least I don't have it as bad as people who can't even get a minute of sleep at night. I can't exactly get sleep when there is always a chance that I won't wake up with the sun tomorrow. I've tried sleeping pills once. All they do is make you feel like I'm in slow motion the next day. I look over at the clock. The glowing red numbers flash 3:58 am. I sigh and reach for my phone on my nightstand. Without thinking, I go into my contacts and call Josh. It rings a few times before he picks up. "Chloe, it's four in the morning, are you okay?" he says sleepily. "I'm sorry I woke you up," I say feeling guilty now. "It's fine, what's up? Can't sleep?" he says yawning. "Yep," I say frustrated. "You know what always used to help me fall asleep?" "What?" "A story," he says. "You're going to tell me a bedtime story," I say laughing quietly. "Yep and you're going to enjoy it," he said. "Once upon a time..." he begins to say but I interrupt him. "That's the most cliche beginning to a story," I say. "Hush, let me finish. As I was saying, once upon a time there was a girl. A stunning looking girl with a divine personality. Her hazel eyes could suck you in and you may never find your way out. They shone like sunlight meeting a perfectly polished countertop. Her brown hair flowed down her shoulders and back like fallen leaves in autumn. All of the boys in town prayed to have a chance with the girl who held such exquisite looks and traits. But none of them caught her eye. They all seemed the same to her. Until one day, one did. He was nothing compared to the girl, but something about the way he looked at her and spoke to her made her feel like a princess . Like she's the only girl in the world. They spent day and night together, talking about pointless topics, both obliviously and recklessly in love. Of course they had a few hiccups and obstacles in the way to their bright and happy future, what perfect couple doesn't? Through all of the fights, all of the "you won't last"s and "you're too young to know"s, they stuck together. Because together, they were an unstoppable force. A train going full speed toward the light at the end of the tunnel. They were a miracle." I'm almost sound asleep by the time he finishes but he slips in a few words before a fall into sleep. "Good night, Bambi,"

Josh's POV
When I heard Chloe's slow breathing on the other end of the line, I knew she was sound asleep.

"Goodnight Bambi,"

My heart flutters as the words whisper past my lips. I end the call and set my phone back on my nightstand. I swallow the lump in my throat from the memories of my father flooding into my mind. He was a writer/artist in his free time, when he wasn't away at work. He was marvelous. He could capture anyone through his writing and could attract millions of eyes with his exceptional drawings and paintings. He is the one who got me into the arts. I enjoyed writing, and I was told that I was fairly good at it, but drawings and painting and sculptures are what captured me the most. The way someones mind could create an idea and put it together for everyone to see is absolutely stupefying. Da Vinci, Picasso, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Monet: All connected to one thing. Art. A way the human soul can create and discover new ways to create and discover and create and discover and create and discover. It's absolutely, amazingly, stupendous. My mind flips back over to Chloe. She is a piece of art herself. The way she attracts me with her puzzling stubbornness. She's so strong. So strong. I just worry that one day she won't have strength. She won't have anything to fight for, to be hopeful for, to be strong for. And it terrifies me.
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Helllllo everyone! Sorry for a sort of short chapter, it's just a filler. I really dug deep for this one, I hope you love it. Love you all❤️❤️❤️ Vote, comment, and share with friends!
-Ava🌹