released ± [ luke hemmings ]

± t e n

±

A few days after that incident in the graveyard, I decided to be a little more optimistic about things. I knew I should start visiting Laura more often, it really was the least I could do.

Every day I didn't go just made me feel more guilty inside.

On the way to school, I bought a bunch of flowers, knowing that her stone needed a little makeover. It was getting kind of dull and moss was starting to grow on it, I didn't want it to be like the rest of the stones.

It needed some life.

I know she would've appreciated it, and it would make it less dull. I didn't want her to be forgotten.

The only thing is, walking into school with a bunch of flowers probably isn't the best idea; especially if you're me. 

As soon as I walked in, the stares I get usually when I walk through the school intensified, and some girl even had the nerve to laugh and walk up to me.

"Buy some flowers for yourself, did you? Wanted to feel special?" She laughed, nudging her friends and mocking me before I smiled back and placed the flowers carefully under my arm.

"They're for my sister's grave, actually." I replied firmly, staring right through her as I walked away, a look of horror planted firmly on her face as the laughter died around her. I tried my best not to burst out laughing, if Laura was here then she would have congratulated me for that one.

Carefully placing the beautiful flowers in the back of my locker, I grabbed my needed books and continued on the rest of the school day.

~

Things at school that day had definitely been a lot better than they had been for the rest of the week, especially Monday. Monday was the worst, but I feel like it's dying down now. I guess they felt sorry for me, which is the last thing I wanted, but if it meant the end of the constant whispers and glares then I'd take it.

Taking the flowers out of my locker, I walked back through school again, only getting one or two glances before everyone carried on with their own lives. I made it out of the school gates alive, and I headed off in the direction of Laura.

I got there, finding her stone immediately as I remember it, and I carefully sat down, taking the flowers out of the bouquet and arranging them around the stone. A mixture of roses and lilies were soon laid around her grave, and I felt better about being there knowing that Laura would have appreciated the gesture.

"Hi Laura, we didn't have much time to catch up the other day because I was being a wuss, so I guess now's our time." I smiled to no-one, resting my head on the grass next to her as I began talking about my awful life, and how much better it would be if she was still in it.

The sky darkened around me as I made conversation with the stone, hoping Laura could hear me and wishing she could reply. 

After around an hour and a bit, I sat up, rubbing my eyes firmly. The last thing I wanted was to fall asleep in the middle of a graveyard. I've seen enough horror movies than I feel comfortable with, and scaring myself to death wouldn't be a good way to go.

"I'll see you soon." I whispered, my voice carried away by the air as I took my bag and walked away from the freshly flowered tomb. I was starting to feel hungry, and I knew that my parents certainly wouldn't cook me anything.

What's the point when I get home as late as I possibly can to avoid them? All it makes is disappointment and a tonne of cold, wasted food.

As I came out of the graveyard, I carefully shut the gate behind me, latching it in place before I turned back around. Immediately, I squealed in shock as my eyes ran over a person standing right in front of me, scaring the life out of me.

"..Michael?" I questioned, squinting as my eyes tried to adjust in the darkness. it was probably around 9pm, and in the middle of winter obviously it was going to be dark.

"Maddy? What are you doing here?" Michael said, holding onto my arm as he steadied himself. I think I gave him a heart-attack too.

"Err.." I trailed off, not wanting to finish that answer. I didn't want Michael feeling pity or sorry for me, I have enough of that from everyone else and I want Michael to treat me differently, like I felt he did.

"It's okay, it doesn't even matter. Let's get you home." Michael smiled, loosely taking hold of my hand as we began to walk back in the direction of my house.

I really respected Michael for not pressing on the subject, he knows I'll tell him when I'm ready, and he obviously saw me coming out of the graveyard so he has a pretty clear idea of why I was there. Michael was kind, what other boy would accompany someone they didn't really know back to their house? Not anyone I know.

Certainly not Luke, anyway.

Stop thinking about him, Maddy.

Michael and I made small talk, him telling a few jokes as I burst out laughing, louder than I should have really. I felt so much better than I had in months, and it was all because someone actually made the effort to take my mind off things.

As we reached my front door, I sighed, adjusting the bag on my back and pulling the door key out of my pocket. 

I didn't really want Michael to leave, I wasn't in the right state of mind to be alone right now, but I couldn't exactly ask him to stay. 

The porch light turned on, illuminating Michael's face in front of me. I knew he was attractive, but in this perfect, dull but bright lighting, he looked beautiful. Not beautiful just in an attractive kind of way, beautiful in an all-round heart stopping way. It wasn't just his cheeky smile, but his kind-natured personality that twisted my head and thoughts into one.

His eyes stared right through mine, as if he could read my thoughts just with a single glance. I was looking into a mixture of light green, so light that if you didn't look close enough then it wasn't even there.

And before I could even think about leaning in first, Michael was already there, softly pressing his lips to the very corner of my own. It wasn't a loving kiss, but a soft one, one that I knew he knew would leave me craving more.

"Goodnight." Michael smiled, turning away as I quickly walked into my own home, brushing my fingertips against the place where his lips touched. 

As I fell asleep that night, I thought to myself about the deepening hole in my chest that had subsided, due to me finally having a friend in my life.

But obviously, with every good moment comes a bad one.

-

lol omg i'm so sorry i don't even know where this story is going anymore and i haven't updated in forever.

right i have the day off school today because im poorly so im going to write as much of this story as possible so it means quicker updated for you guys :)

and this is nearly at 2k?!?!?? thank you so much like it's crazy that this book is being read, i don't wanna be a 'one hit wonder' from my other book lol im weird

anywayyy love you guys, please take a second to vote and say hi to me in the comments because it makes me happy :)