Minutes

Chapter One

"Amelia, I've told you so many times that I'm too busy to work your shift," I grumbled into my phone, nodding to the cashier who had handed me my coffee.

The light chatter rose around me as I swiftly moved past tables - towards the exit of the small café. I ignored most of what Amelia was going on about into my ear, only letting out a small grunt every so often.

I pushed the glass doors, slipping out of the warm interior into the bitter air outside. I rolled my eyes and promptly ended the call.

Tomorrow was meant to be my first day off in many months. I finally had the time to go to the new spa which had recently opened not far away from me- however, I guess I need to reschedule that.

The scalding coffee was warming up both my insides and my hands as I began walking towards my small home. Passing through the city was magnificent around this time of year.

The streets are covered in fairy light and other Christmas decorations- lighting up my mood immediately. They did a great job of making a nice atmosphere and lighting up this otherwise incredibly dull town.

I soon blended in with the large crowd I had found myself in. That's what I had always done.
Blended in.

Even when I was in High school - I didn't really stand out. I was and am as mundane as you could get. I wasn't stylish, I didn't have many friends.  I wasn't outspoken, I was just there.

All of high school had been just a blur of tests, stress, and anxiety before graduation- for the most part.

•••

My cheeks were flushed by the time I had walked into my apartment. I flicked the light switch on and swiftly swung the door behind me to close it. 

With a sigh, a walked towards the very modern kitchen and put all my bags onto the counter.

I silently moved towards the grey counters, opening it and grabbing myself a glass. My mind was very much elsewhere- which was obvious when I accidentally poured myself buttermilk instead of normal milk when I somehow made my way to the fridge.

I let out a sigh and poured the drink down the drain, after a very unfortunate gulp - which had made me cringe at the bitter taste.

I put the glass into the dishwasher beside the sink and grabbed my bags. My footsteps echoed around the empty apartment - which really was more of a penthouse. Deciding to put my thoughts to rest, I left to my room, aka my safe haven.

My room was much more simple than the rest of the house. 

There was a queen-sized bed in the centre of the room, covered in multi-coloured pillows and plain white sheets. I had two shelves on either side of the bed, filled with plants, books, etc.

The walls were a nice cream colour, decorated with modern lights. The floor - meanwhile- was a plain wooden colour. I had a desk with an incredibly comfy chair- which also had pillows on it. Next to the desk was a bookcase- filled to the brim with my favourite books and notebooks.

Just slightly above the desk were photos. Photos I distinctly remember taking.

I walked towards them, dropping my bags on the chair. 

I picked up the closest photo.

It was of my childhood best friend- Lucia and I hugging, grinning widely at the camera. We were around fifteen when that photo was taken. It was my birthday and Lucia decided we should go to the beach.

A small smile lit up my face - remembering that day.

Lucia was very pretty. She was very well-developed -unlike me around then. She was 5''10 and was gifted with a slim yet curvy body. Lucia had high cheekbones with incredibly blue eyes and pouty pink lips. She had beautiful black hair she always had straightened and the clearest face.

Not only was she very beautiful- but she had the best personality. She was kind to everyone, she was friends with everyone and she was very smart.

Which was why everyone was confused as to why she hung around me.

I was very short at the time and was on the chubby side. I had an acne covered face and very frizzy short hair. My eyes were boring brown and I was incredibly timid. 

That day Lucia had nagged me for the whole day to come to the beach with her.

I was hesitant and shrugged it off.

Somehow she managed to get me out of the house. She stormed into my home, greeted my mother and told her Lucia's whole plan for my birthday. My mother was delighted with the idea- I would finally have to leave my home.

Lucia made me get changed into something more presentable (because apparently sweatpants and a plain blue t-shirt just didn't cut it) before dragging me into her brother's car. Technically, it wasn't his car- because he was also fifteen, but with his height, he managed to pull the whole 'I have a license' look off. 

That was the first day I properly met Tyler.

Lucia hauled me to the arcade first. It was surprisingly fun to hang out with her and Tyler, but he kept ruining the mood by commenting on the girls around us.

By no means was I- Emilia Laurence- jealous of some pretty girls, but I did have the tiniest crush on him back then. I couldn't help it, he had the looks of a god - even at the age of fifteen!- unfortunately he was one of the populars.  He was very popular.

By the time we left, my mood had soured.

Lucia, noticing this, dragged us to the nearest food place. I sat down on a stall, looking out into the ocean. We quickly ordered a large pepperoni pizza and chatted away about everything. 

Tyler spoke sometimes, but mostly stayed silent and sipped on his drink.

Once we finished, Lucia tugged us to the pier. We played game after game before finally sitting down on the bench- now exhausted. 

"How about we take a photo! Just the two of us." Lucia grinned, taking out a camera from her bright blue bag. 

"Do we have to?" I asked her, feeling slightly out of my comfort zone. 

"C'mon, stop being a pussy," Tyler commented, rolling his eyes at me.

I glared at him before standing up and walking up to Lucia. She grinned at me and threw the camera at Tyler- making sure it hit him square in the chest. 

He let out an 'oof' as he caught the camera, sending a glare towards her. She giggled before putting her arm around her and smiling cheekily at the camera. I copied her movement and gave a small smile of my own.

*Click* *Click* The camera went off.

Lucia rushed towards Tyler and the now developing picture and snatched it out his hands.

I giggled at this and strolled towards Lucia- now excitedly squealing about the photo.

"You look so pretty!" Lucia cooed. I rolled my eyes and looked at the image, feeling Tyler's presence behind me.

"She looks like shit," Tyler commented with a smirk on his face, making heat rush to my face as I bit my lip and looked down at my hands.

"Hey, I'm just kidding!" He said, suddenly panicked. "Don't cry."

I let the photo drop onto the desk as I looked at the rest, suddenly tired.

I strolled towards my very inviting bed and plopped face forwards onto it. I let out a very unattractive yawn before snuggling myself into the pillows.