Salvation

25 ∆ get home

         George's P.O.V.

''Well,'' Ross broke the silence that had settled in after Dan and Matthew left. ''that was weird. And kinda creepy.''

''It's your fault, you were the one who started being friends with her.'' I said, pointing the straw from my drink at him, and we chuckled.

''Yeah, but I mean, she's nice and everything. Just a bit weird sometimes.''

''Define 'just a bit weird sometimes'.'' Kyle said.

''She'll be literally talking about caterpillars then in a seoncd she'll look at you in the eye and mumble something like 'praise the Lord' and walk away.'' Will said, sipping his beer, and we all looked at him, confused.

''What- How do you even- Uh?'' Hann narrowed his eyes.

''We're friends, guys.'' He said, smug. ''Cath, Lenka, her and I are like- what is that they say? BFF's? Is that still on?''

For a while the talk about Anna continued, until, at some point, somehow, the conversation took another turn and ended up on touring.

''So, you guys are leaving on Friday?'' Hann asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

''Yeah. Next Friday,'' Kyle nodded, eating his pancakes. ''we're going to Scotland first.''

''And your support act?'' I asked.

''Actually,'' Woody said. ''we have to talk to Dan bout that. I don't think Foxes will be able to make it, since she's in Australia with someone else.''

''And those guys that Dan loves- To Kill a King?'' I asked.

''I think they're doing festivals.'' He answered.

''What about Swiss Lips?'' Will butted in.

''Nah,'' Kyle replied. ''festival season as well. Won't be able to follow us through Europe in 'solo' concerts, too.''

We went through all the artists that have supported Bastille; seeing they were actually all growing and consequently busy, we came to only one conclusion, that Ross summed up in one sentence.

''Well,'' He started. ''You're kinda fucked, then?''

We laughed; ''yeah, basically.'' Woody answered.

***

Dan's P.O.V.

Nearly half an hour had gone by since Matthew and I walked out of the café searching for Anna and we hadn't exchanged one single word. I wanted so badly to ask him things about her, and even the simple things -- like, 'how have you been?' or something. But he wouldn't let me. Well, not literally, but it seemed like he was blocking me out. Avoiding all conversation of any kind.

For another few more awkward minutes we walked around the block, ahead on the streets, went back to the studio and once again back at the street with no sign of the girl. Until, that is, that we saw a small figure all dressed in black curled up in a bench across the street, with their knees pulled up to their chest and a phone to the ear. 

Anna's P.O.V. 

I mumbled as I ran down the street, going past people and feeling the breeze cool my face and blow the loose strands of hair from my ponytail. 

I had no idea of what was I doing, where was I going, why was I feeling like that, or what had really happened. I just knew I had to get away. That was wrong, I was wrong, and food was wrong, and Matthew -- Matthew and I, we were so wrong. 

We were not a couple, we were not in love, we were not something, we were just, I'm not sure, but friends. Friends that kissed and did some things but mainly friends. Why would he ever want to be more than that, anyways? 

He didn't, that's the thing.

He didn't, and I didn't either, none of us wanted anything, we just wanted to get away, to be away from people, to be alone, alone together and I guess -- I guess it confused us both.

Thoughts were messy, confusing, loud in my head. I tripped and fell facedown on the cold concrete, already crying before I hit the ground. My nose was already bleeding and I didn't want to get up, I didn't want to go and live, I had no purpose and I didn't want to have one. I rolled on the floor and laid facing the sun coming out from in between the clouds to blind me, sobbing and with blood streaming down the side of my face.

Later on I'd find myself thanking Matthew for choosing such an isolated place to set their studio in, because not once in the 15 minutes I spent sobbing on the ground with blood on my face a person crossed my way. When the back pains and the cold (even though it was almost summer) were too much to bear since I wasn't being chased, I got up. Slowly, with difficulty, but I did.

I slowly crossed the deserted street and sat down on a bench, quickly pulling my knees up to my chest and hiding my face in between them. I just sat there, feeling the wind around me and the blood drip from my nose and onto my jeans.

''I should go back home.'' I thought, raising my head a little bit. ''Home.''

I was already lifting myself up off the bench, when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I picked it and it read that Alex was calling.

''Hello-''

''Anna, we had tests today.''

''Uh, alright-''

''Nearly half of our fucking final grade went into those tests, and you just fucking missed them.''

''Shit.''

''Yes, shit.''

There was a moment of silence as panic grew inside me.

''What do I do now?''

''I don't know, Anna. I can't solve everything for you.''

''What?- I never said you have to solve everything for me.''

''You never said it but you fucking act like it, throwing all your problems at me all the time.''

''Throwing all my problems over you all the time? What the actual fuck, Alex? Are you even serious?'' I hissed, indignant that he had called to annoy and insult me.

''Don't even try to deny it, Anna, you know you-''

''At least I didn't fucking leave someone to be tortured for years, Alex.'' I snapped, ending the call and sulking back into my position. I did not want to continue that fucking argument because I had all the fucking reasons to prove him wrong.

I wasn't like that. I did not throw all my problems at him. Even if I did, I'm not all that wrong. He left me.

Sighing, kind of desperate, guilty and sad, I looked back up, preparing myself to get home. That's when I saw Matthew and Daniel a few metres away, looking at me curiously. 

''Are you alright?'' Matthew asked, coming closer to me. 

I stood up and nodded, wiping the blood from my nose with the back of my hand.

''I just wanna go home.''