Eight-O-Eight (8:08)

Chapter One

I keep my pace up, running as fast as I can. I fight for air for my desperate lungs. As I inhale and exhale sharply, I let out a laugh as I look back to at Angus who is running and laughing right behind me. I am so close to the goal, and I’m not going to let him win. I push the ground with my feet faster and faster, trying to ignore the pain in the calves. I focus on the goal.

My hands find the handbars at the end of cliff and my whole body leans on the bar, stopping me from the speed. For awhile, I stay in that position to recover my lungs with fresh air. Shortly, Angus crashes onto the bars the same way I did. We breath harshly for air; on the same rhythm. I look down at how high above from the ocean we are, listening to the sound of the waves crashing onto the rocks at the bottom. This is what I love so much about this place: the ocean. I start smiling, then I am laughing. “I won.” I tease him. He rolls his eyes, turns around and leans back on the bars with his arms still resting back.

“Whatever”, he breathes out.

In front of me, I watch the sun setting on the horizon. The pinkish-purple sky makes the ocean look like it could be a painting. Looking at the view makes me smile and forget about the bad things in the world. I feel peace. I want to stay here and watch for as long as I want, but I know the sun will disappear on the horizon sooner or later and it will be dark.

“Okay, Shay.” Angus says after awhile of silence and loud breathing, “What’s wrong?” He’s always been a good friend to me, and he always knows when something or someone is bothering me. But I decide to fake it and act all confused.

I force a laugh, “What are you talking about? I’m fi—”

“You run whenever you’re upset or stressed.” He squints. Here comes his brain. “You want to feel good about yourself whenever you feel like you’re nothing. Just like now that you beat me to a race. Feels nice doesn’t it?” Silence. He is right. Something is bothering me and I am upset about it. The only reason why I wanted to race him was to feel to good about myself when I feel like crap. “Is it Daniel?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I say quickly. My body is tensed and my vision becomes blurry with tears. Don’t cry. I try to focus on sunset again, but now the sky turns to a darker shade of purple. I fight the tears away.

“Really? Cause I think that’s what you need to do. You need to talk about it. Before this, you haven’t spoken or called me for two weeks.” There goes the silence again. I don’t know what to say to him. I really do not want to talk about Daniel, but I know that I have to for my own sake. At least to Angus. I owe him that since I haven’t told him the whole story. “Talk to me, Shay.”

So I do.

We walk down the hill and to the beach to walk by the shore. I tell him the whole story about how Daniel cheated on me by hooking up with Amanda Johnson, the hot blond that every boy seems to have a crush on. He was my first love and we made so many promises. I was so sure he’d be the one for me, the one I can marry and be with for the rest of my life. I did not expect him to do what he did, but he did it anyways. Maybe it’s the part of him that he never showed. So I broke up with him. Since then, he hasn’t called or done anything to contact me. He doesn’t want me back. He’s not fighting for me. I’ve been forgotten. All those ‘I love you’s and ‘I’ll never leave you’s were all bullshit coming out of his dirty mouth. I’m so angry, but at the same time broken into million pieces. I’m ashamed to say that I’m not over him and that I still love him.

Although Angus stayed silent the whole time I told him about Daniel, I am glad I let it out. There were a lot of tears and crying. But after all, it feels like it has taken all the weight off my shoulders.

Angus steps right in front of me and wipes the tears off my face. He’s like an older brother that I’ve always wanted; strong, protective, and caring. “Don’t waste your tears on that douche bag.”

I smile, and this time I didn’t have to force it. “You’re so cliché.”

He laughs with his hands still placed on my cheeks. “I know, it’s kinda gross.” I hug him. I can’t think of the last time I’ve hugged him, but it feel like it’s been forever. I rest my head on his warm chest, his t-shirt probably already marked by my tears. He’s tall but so comfortable to hug. I remember when I used to be taller than him, until he beat me in sixth grade. He quickly squeezes me tight before he clears his throat and says, “This is even more gross.” I can hear his smile.

I hit his chest hard and laugh. With his hands, he covers the part of his chest where I hit him and groans jokingly. It is already dark out and the high tides are coming. “I’ll race you home.” I start sprinting before his mind reacts. I’m so happy to have him as my best friend.

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A/N

Hey guys! Thanks for reading the first chapter of 8:08. I know it's weird title, but there's a meaning to it. So keep reading. I'm keeping the chapters short so that it would be an easy read.

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