Up In Flames [Original Story] ✓

This is what it feels like?

"Now that's what I call walking with determination." I comment, doing a light run to catch up with Akiro, who barely heard him over the music that was playing on his headphones.

He let his headphones fall around his neck and looked around with a confused look until he spotted me walking next to him. He gave me a curt nod and I just smiled back, walking in silence for a few seconds.

"Do you have any plans for today? I was thinking you could should me around town." I blurted quickly. Truth be told I had no plans on figuring out the town, I had mentally memorized the map and all the important places, but I did want an excuse to hang out with Akiro.

There was something about him that made me want to learn more, like an aura that attracted me. 

"I guess? I mean I didn't really have anything to do..." He trailed off, looking at me uncertainly.

"I'm going to drop my stuff at home, I'll meet you near the bar?" Not waiting for a reply, I moved quickly, hoping to catch June who had been talking to some of her friends a bit further away from me.

/// /// ///

"You truly have no idea how this whole romance this goes do you?" June laughed from her stop on the couch.

"Leave me alone, I really do like him." I yelled back, grabbing the rest of my stuff from the kitchen counter and haphazardly shoving it into my bag.

"You guys  have talked like, three times and you're like, ready to tell him you love him!" She counter-argued, sighing a little. "Look I'm not going to tell you about your feelings or anything, but I know how you are and I think you're jumping into this whole thing head first and not even thinking about it properly..."

"Don't worry about me okay? I've been through a lot I know how to handle myself." I rolled my eyes at her, opening the door and checking my phone one last time.

"Enjoy your night, and just be careful alright?"

"Always am."

/// /// ///

"So this is where you spend your evenings?" I laughed lightly looking around the empty skate park.

The place was pretty much deserted, only a small group of young boys sitting down in the grass could be spotted. The skate park was pretty normal, there was some grass around it, some park benches and the typical, graffitied skating area.

"And mornings, and nights..." He added with a laugh, sitting down on the edge, his legs dangling over the hole. I followed his actions, sitting very close to him.

He had shown me around for a while and now the sun was starting to set and everything felt serene and calm. You know what they say, there's always a calm before the storm.

"Hey I have a question," I began, waiting for any sign of approval. After he gave me a nod I continued. "What's with the whole 'no kissing' thing? I keep forgetting you told me you didn't want it, which, sorry by the way," I laughed a little trying to cover up my awkwardness "but you always look so uncomfortable after? Is it just me or a general thing?" 

I didn't bother looking at him but instead leaned myself back, my hands behind my back my palms flat against the concrete and my head dangling back, eyes staring at the slow-moving sky.

"It's just," He sighed, rubbing his eyes with his hands and bringing his knees up to his chest. "I'm not used to being close to anyone I guess, especially lately with everything that's been happening." I leaned myself forward, resting my hand on his shoulders and rubbing it lightly. I could emphasize with him, I hadn't really been able to be close to anyone.

I hummed quietly along with his explanation, waiting for him to elaborate further. There was an unheard note hanging in the air and after a few more seconds his chest deflated and he added, "I guess it's just strange to actually feel close to someone after so long? I don't know, emotions are very confusing." 

"Oh, I'll drink to that!" I laughed at him, and he joined me after a few beats.

"We could always, I don't know, shop-lift some beer." He shrugged, releasing the tension in his shoulders and letting his eyes twinkle a little with happiness. I smiled back.

"How very teenage-rebellion of you." I commented back. 

"I always did enjoy the nineties movie era." He quipped back and we both laughed, falling into a quiet harmony between us. Our chests rose and feel together and the air moved around us.

"Haven't seen a sunset in a very long time." The sunset was really beautiful. It was setting behind the tall buildings and illuminating the entire place in hues of red, orange, yellow and some pink.  I guess in the lists of cliches we were trying to tick, this one fit right in.

"I miss the days when I could watch the sunset and the sunrise every day without any buildings or anything in the way." He didn't press on the issue, he didn't need to. I leaned my head on his shoulder, letting my hair fall behind us. He pulled me a little closer and we just enjoyed the moment together. Maybe we could make this last forever.

Maybe I could forget everything that had happened before.

Maybe we could make this work.

Maybe this meant I could finally get some normality in my life.

Some peace.

Something to love.

To hold.

Someone.

"I'm really glad I found you Akiro."

"Me too Art, me too."

Authors Note !

I'm fully aware their relationship seems like it's moving too fast, like a lot of their interactions, especially later on feel forced or rushed but you have to keep in mind these are two people who not only know very little about love are also very desperate for it. Artemis wants to continue to make her own path and prove that she's not bound by these cliches and expectations of her, keeping in mind she's never had any significant relationships with anybody, and Akiro wants to be able to feel normal and clings to something that'll help keep him grounded and feel human. What they have isn't truly love, it's some wack co-dependency based on loneliness, which we're all fully aware is unhealthy, but that's not what it seems like to them. I hope I translated that well enough in my writing but I wanted to explain it further here!

Anywho thanks for stixking around for this long ass rant haha!