Heart of Life (Teenage Punk Sequel)

Part Eight:

(Photograph by Ed Sheeran)

February 14

I was in the last place I wanted on this day. I had been stuck in the studio for the last 7 and half hours and I was nowhere near finished. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful that this is my job, but of all days to be stuck in the studio. I left the house 10, telling Calum I would be home before he knew it for a special dinner tonight, but it didn’t look like I was going anywhere. We had gone over the same songs over and over, but they just weren’t coming out right.

“Cal” I half whispered into the phone, “I don’t know how much longer I will be. I’ll try I Promise” he sighed in defeat and my heart sank. Just this morning he was telling me how excited he was and how much he had gone into planning the dinner and now here I was crushing his heart. “It’s okay. I understand how important the album is to you, take your time” I half smiled, but it soon faded. The conversation soon ended and I couldn’t get my mind of it, which was making the studio situation worse. Two hours later we still weren’t going anywhere, so I just got up and left, said I’d had enough for today.

I arrived home to a sleeping Calum on the couch, my heart sinking more as I walked over. I leant down, pecking his forehead lightly. I grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and went to cover him up, noticing there was something sticking out of his ripped jeans. I gently removed it, covering him with the blanket before examining what I found. It was a photo of the first time we kissed, underneath the street light. One of the boys had captured the moment, making it our favourite. I smiled down at the photo, remembering how I kept in beside my bed while Calum was away on tour, I would look at it every night. “Wait for me to come home” he would whisper into the phone as we talked about that night, the longing of his lips on my mind.

I was sitting up in my office, the light shining down, the clock ticking eleven, when I heard” the sound of footsteps approaching, a sleepy Calum walking in, engulfing me in a hug. “Hey” I half smiled, looking up at him. “When did you get home?” He groaned, his voice still full of sleep. “A couple hours ago. Didn’t want to wake you, you looked so peaceful” I smiled, shutting my laptop. “I’m sorry again I missed dinner. I promise I’ll make it up to you” he half chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled me up, pulling me towards our bedroom.

“How come you had the picture of us in your pocket?” I asked after moments of silence, our bodies pressed together under the covers, no space between us, his arm wrapped around me tight as mine rested on his stomach. “I’ve had it there all day. I was going to get it blown up and framed but I fell asleep” he pecked the top of my head. “I guess you’re forgiven” I joked, smiling up at him, he chuckled. “I love that photo” I breathed, a small smile on my lips, “Me too” he whispered, a slight yawn escaping his lips. “It’s like our love in a photograph”

*Present*

“Morning babe” Jeff smiled as he came into the kitchen, pecking my cheek. “Listen, I know its valentine’s day and all, but I’m going away tonight on a last minute business trip and I won’t be back for a couple days” I watched him as he packed his lunch, grabbing his toast, his eye’s not once looking at me. “It’s alright” I half lied. Part of me was glad I didn’t have to deal with the valentine’s bull shit. “Great. Well I’ll see you in a few days” He smiled, packing me on the cheek once more before walking out the door, suitcase in hand.

I don’t know why, but I found myself looking through old photographs. There was one in particular I was looking for, I just didn’t realise I was looking for it until I found it. The kiss under the lamp post on 6th street. Love in a picture. I don’t know how long I stared at the picture for, it felt like ages before the doorbell broke me out of my thought. I slowly got up, shoving the picture in the pocket of my ripped jeans, putting a smile on my face as I opened the door.

“Mikey, Luke, Ash” I cheered, soon being engulfed into a group hug. “What are you guys doing here?” I smiled as I watched them walk over, collapsing onto the couch. “Wanted to see our favourite person” They cheered, I rolled my eyes as I walked over, sitting on the coffee table in front of them. “What’s in your pocket?” Ashton asked as he leaned forward, quickly grabbing the photo out before I could stop him. A small smile grew on his face, but it soon dropped as he looked back up at me. “What are you doing with this?” He asked, “I just found it” I shrugged, grabbing it back off him, shoving it back in my pocket. He nodded slowly.

The boys stayed for a couple hours before going their separate ways to see their girlfriends and such. I sat on the couch, staring at the photo, the words that left his mouth that night came flowing back and before I knew it, I found myself dialling his number. “You won't ever be alone. That’s what you said to me.” I said without letting him speak as he answered.  “We keep this love in a photograph. We make these memories for ourselves. Where our eyes are never closing, hearts are never broken and time's forever frozen still. That’s what you said.” Silence. He let out a long sigh, and I could just tell his was running his hand through his hair.

“You aren’t alone” he finally said after moments of silence, “You have Jeff” he spat, disgusted with the name. “He’s not here. He’s gone away for a few days” I sighed, picking up the photograph once more. “He left you alone on valentine’s day?” He asked, “Yeap. I guess karma finally came around” I half chuckled, relief filling me as he laughed along. “Can I call you back in like five minutes?” He asked, “Sure” I said a little confused, the word barely getting out before he hung up, leaving me there confused.

Not five minutes later there was a knock at the door, I sighed as I got up. “Calum?” I asked confused as the tanned boy stood at my door. “No one should be alone on valentine’s day” he smirked. I rolled my eyes as he came in, both of us sitting on the couch, facing each other. His eye’s travelled to the coffee table, picking up the photo that had the memories of our relationship. “Our love in a photo” he whispered, a small smile on his face. “Remember how I was supposed to get this blown up like three years ago?” I nodded slowly as he spoke, a smile tugging at my lips, “I remember searching for hours trying to find the perfect photo that represented us and when I found this photo, I thought It was perfect” He smiled down at the photo, “I will remember how you kissed me, under the lamppost back on 6th street” He looked up at me, a small smile on his face, hope gleaming in his eyes, “This photo is my everything”