{Rome}
ship: halsey x reader
genre: fluff
trigger warnings: n/a
word count: 689
ﻬ ﻬ ﻬ
I took a deep breath in the mirror and tucked some hair behind my ear for one last time.
He didn't like it when I wore high heels because when I was taller than him. Perks of the two of us being small I guess.
But today, for the first time, I pulled my favourite pair on, taking them from the bottom of the box, where they had been the last six months.
The soles felt cold against my feet but I settled into them pretty quickly and they slowly started to feel familiar again. I sighed, with relief, that they still fit me.
I grabbed my phone and pushed the earphones into my ears, pushing play on Halsey's album "Badlands"
He never understood her. I guess she was too intelligent for him.
I turned the key in the lock of my front door and slowly walked down the sidewalk towards the small town, where the café sat that I was going to meet you in.
I was nervous. I hadn't been with someone for a while. I had forgotten that were was more to love than heartbreak. In fact, heartbreak is all I've ever known.
I took deep breaths in and out, trying to calm myself down. You'll be okay Ashley, it's gonna be okay.
I pushed open the café door, expecting to be the first to arrive. I was extremely surprised to find you sitting in the corner with a book in between your hands, your fingers gently gripping the pages, trying to stop you from jumping inside the story.
I walked over to you and shyly said "hello." You jump up, bookmarking your page, and you hug me for a moment before pulling out a chair opposite you and helping me in.
I gave you the most grateful smile I could muster. It was a kind, almost beautiful, gesture.
You ask me what I wanted. Would I like coffee, tea? I had a think and asked for an Americano. I offered to pay but you gently push the money back towards me and tell me that you're going to pay it.
I thank you and lean back comfortably into my chair. The nerves were still there, floating all around inside me like dead fish floating on water.
I bit my lip and picked at the corner of a napkin, gently ripping a piece off it and ripping it into smaller pieces and then repeating the same feat.
You chuck as you come back with my coffee "The devil makes work for idle hands" you tell me wisely.
I give a smile and take the cup, thanking you once again.
You ask me how I am, how's my day, how's my dog. You throw your head back laughing, like a little kid, when I tell you about how my dog is terrified of pigeons. You say I'm funny and I find myself thinking about how he never found me funny at all.
I ask you similar and you tell me about your friends and your latest trip away, down to the countryside. I listened intently and quietly sipped on my coffee.
Afterwards, we left and now, we're talking about records and our favourite artists. I bring up Halsey, my favourite, and I tell you about all my vinyls and CDs and merch of hers I own. You chuckle and tell me you've never met a girl who had as many Halsey records and I do.
Somewhere between the café and the river, we slip each other's hands together, intertwining ourselves. You're warm. I'm a little cold.
We didn't see much down by the river so we headed down the block to the car.
I almost brought him up when the smell of cigarettes hits my nostrils.
You didn't even notice that. You stay talking. We're on the topic of movies now and you're asking me what my family watches every Christmas.
I wanna talk about that with you.
I don't wanna talk about him.
For once, what's past is past.
