Stay || c.h. *completed & editing*

Chapter 2.

Dear Laurie,

I decided to finally let Calum have a chance. He's the boy that seems to be wanting to stalk me everyday since I've been sitting on the park bench. I know you don't want me being lonely, but how could I not?

He actually seems quite nice. I want to be able to open up and talk to him, to let someone in and let them know how I feel and fill this empty space that's been consuming me inside and out ever since you left.

But I know that no one will ever be able to fill that empty space because no one could ever replace you.

I remember when we were younger and we would sit in the backyard and make flower crowns with the dandelions. I loved how the yellow went into constrast with our red hair. I was looking through pictures and I saw a picture of us in our dandelion crowns in our little floral dresses. No one seems to understand how much I would give to go back and relive that day, that moment that the picture was taken.

I'm still missing you terribly.

Ellie

9:18 and once again Calum jogged up and joined me at the park bench.

It's been about a week now since I asked him why he was so set on trying to talk to me. I still didn't talk to him much, just enough to answer the questions he asked as simply as possible. I didn't want to let him in yet I wanted to just cry out to someone already.

"Hey Ellie," he grinned as he sat next to me and I gave him a small half smile in return. He's picked up on the same nickname that everyone calls me.

"What kind of adventurous conversation are you up for today?" he asked, slightly out of breath from jogging. I merely shrugged in response.

"You know, I'm starting to wonder if you're borderline mute," he said, smirking playfully. I gave him another shrug in response.

"Say something," he pressed.

"What do you want me to say?" I said quietly.

"It speaks!" Calum exclaimed, laughing and getting us a weird look from a few people walking by. I smacked him upside the head for bringing so much attention to us.

"Ow, what was that for?" he groaned.

"Everyone is staring at us," I mumbled.

"Do you want to go somewhere else? Where there aren't as many people?" he asked me.

I hesitated for a moment. I didn't fully trust Calum. I mean, he seemed nice enough but I knew hardly anything about him. Although the idea of being away from so many people seemed nice, and I know that Laurel would want me to be moving on.

I nodded slowly, and he stood and took my hand, walking with me down the trail of the park.

Many people looked at our hands together skeptically. Everyone knew who I was, I knew that for sure. But I don't think anyone really knew who Calum was. I didn't even know who Calum was.

But it gave them no right to judge.

I walked with Calum until the trail led us down to a little beach, which had no one there since it was still midmorning and wasn't that warm out yet.

Calum let go of my hand and walked backwards in front of me. The wind was whipping my red hair all around me and Calum's own dark hair was going crazy as well. He was smiling at me as he walked further back on the sand, kicking his shoes off and reaching down to pull his socks off.

"Ah, that's better," he said, flopping down on the sand and laying out, closing his eyes. It was really sunny out today and the ocean was beautiful. Laurie and I would always come out here and sit in the sand, go swimming and mess around. My heart ached at the memory.