ORNAMENTAL (alex turner > ArcticMonkeys)

CONIFER 2007

Matt helped Alex and Arabella throughout the year, running from one to the other yet oddly enough they wouldn't meet each other. Matt on one hand was trying to help, in the back of his mind he had a growing suspicion that Alex and Arabella were meant to be together. . . yet too scared to see how it played out so he just kept quiet and ignored his instinct.

"You know it's strange, ever since she's been living her life like it's her last day." Arabella overheard Matt and Arielle whispering about her, she didn't care much seeing as it was stuff she knew.

But hey, why would they care? Why weren't they proud or at least happy that she'd tried and changed for them? (more so for Matt because he was able to put things in perspective, turns out his friend had the same problem)

Truth be told, Arielle was a bit miffed that Matt knew before her but she got over it. . . eventually. Eventually meaning three hours of near silence filled by albums of music while Arabella sat in a chair crossing her arms over her chest like a child being scolded as Arielle ranted about random subjects that didn't even matter.

But Arielle probably had a crush on Matt, just a little hunch of Arabella's that was painfully obvious, the main reason Arielle forgave her so easily.

"She's gonna be fine, at least she's trying, I hardly even notice shes sad anymore, shes normal again. . . antisocial but that's still normal for her." Arabella could imagine the smile on Arielle's face as she realized that Arabella returned to normal, lost but normal at least on the surface.

She replayed that conversation in her head every time she was about to do something that could change her again, remembering her friends like personal coaches that pushed her to do better. Personally she didn't think that living each day like her last could hurt her (none of them knew if the numbers turning red would have any impact on her but Arabella acted like they did), but some people lived more in 20 years than in 80 and her friends lived the exact same way as her.

Matt didn't mention his band much unless Arabella asked but he was hesitant, she couldn't help but think he was holding something back. She never asked about his friend who supposedly had the same problem, she just thought that he made it up to help her.

"Do you think we should-"

"Arielle, hey it's your choice but I think it'd be easier for her to know now, we've already held it off for months."

"But-"

"Do whatever you want, but I think it'd help her." Matt sighed, seeming persistent in his opinion.

Arabella listened more intently as she walked behind them, staring at Arielle and Matt who were looking at each other like- No, they couldn't have, they would've told her right? But that was the whole purpose of the conversation she'd overheard (okay admittedly eavesdropped on but it's not like she didn't do that almost every day) or at least it seemed to be, they didn't want to hurt her which she should've gave them credit for but they were always there for her and shouldn't be afraid of telling her anything. Until recently, she'd put the whole ordeal behind her, three years was enough to forget momentarily, if she didn't see it than the problem didn't exist.

Simple philosophy.

Arabella stopped, seeing if they'd notice that one set of footsteps had left the crunching gravel. Looking back, Matt grabbed hold of Arielle's shoulder to stop her to face Arabella.

"You guys-you guys are l-like together?" Arabella asked, stuttering, fine with the idea but still surprised.

Arielle nodded.

"Forever, meant to be? Not just for kicks?"

"Yeah." Matt smiled timidly, answering.

Arabella beamed, sprinting towards them before tackling them both into a bone-crushing hug. She was ecstatic that things were still working around her with herself being the exception to the rule.

"You guys, that's amazing!" She said, meaning it.

"Thanks Ar." Arielle said softly, partly gasping for breathe because Arabella still hadn't let the both of them go.

To her, it was brilliant that her friends were together because they could never leave her. They were together with her because they both understood her, Arabella eased into the first days fine when Matt and Arielle didn't hide their relationship anymore from her but it slowly dragged on, becoming more of an unspoken burden to her.

Somehow it was starting to bother again, she felt like a defect that had missed out. Missed out on a microscopic chip that didn't tell her where to go but made her run away from her problems and push them back into the corner, away from everyone else.

"What did it feel like?"

"What?" Arielle asked absentmindedly.

"You and Matt, how did you know?" Arabella asked agian, this time more direct.

"Ahh, I don't know how to explain it Ar. Are you sure you want to hear this?" Arielle was concerned for Arabella, her expression turning into a grimace. She had to mind every word she said around her, not to push it too far.

Arabella nodded.

"Well, like I said it's hard to explain, when it happens you know it. You feel a pull towards them, like that person is the only thing there, guiding you into life, you drop everything your doing to find them and then there's a light. . .brilliant surrounding them because their it, your second half. The pull happens before though, just slightly edging you on at the point you meet them." Arielle stared off again, biting her bottom lip in nervousness.

Arabella sighed, walking to her room and collapsing on her bed.

Alex.

Alex, with her coat, handing it back as she didn't want to leave.

Alex, running up to find her surrounded with a brilliant light.

Alex, who hadn't found her yet.

.

dedicated to @accio_moriarty