Unpredictable - Unbelievable

twelve.

I needed to talk to someone, and everyone else around me obviously didn't want to listen, so I decided I would try to call Xavier.

I dialed his number, holding my breath, praying that he would pick up. My heart dropped when the phone rang for the third time, but then his voice spoke in my ear.

"September? Are-are you okay? It's one in the morning." he slurred with obvious concern in his voice. I looked at my digital clock, mentally face-palming myself when I realized how early it was.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up? You can go if you want."

"No-no it's fine. I've been up all night," he said with a laugh. I could tell that he had been drinking, it was almost as if I could smell the alcohol off him through the phone. "What's wrong?"

"I just really needed to talk to someone," I said, feeling weird admitting the truth like that. I looked down at all the junk sitting on my floor, and mentally made a note to clean it up. But then I had a brilliant idea..

"Xavier, do you know where I can start a fire?" I asked him anxiously. I could just burn everything that reminded me of Derek, and then maybe I could start moving on.

"There are s-some fire pits at the park. The one right close t-to your house," he explained to me. "Why do you want to have a fire though?"

"I have some things I need to get rid of. You live close to me, want to help?" I asked, feeling excited to do something spontaneous and crazy.

Xavier agreed to come by my house, walking of course, and while I waited for him I packed all the clothes, photos, and anything else reminding me of Derek into a large backpack. I quietly tip-toed down the stairs, making sure not to wake my mother, and began putting on my old converse. I looked behind me before leaving the house, noticing the red rose sitting in the kitchen, and I ran back to get it, keeping it in my hand as I shut the door gently.

Xavier was standing on the sidewalk in front of my house, smiling his usual mischievous smile, and we began our way to the park, the white moon lighting the path for us.

"So what are we getting rid of?" Xavier asked me curiously, his eyebrows raised. He had on a large black leather jacket, and his hair was tucked behind one ear. The slurring in his voice had calmed down, so I assumed that the chill air of the night had sobered him up some.

"Just some things given to me by Derek," I explained, acknowledging the rose in the vase which was given to me by Derek. He nodded his head, and I knew that he was definitely in.

When we arrived at the park, we made our way to the old fire pits that were dug into the ground. I unzipped the large bag I had brought, and dumped everything I had taken from my room into the pit. Xavier pulled out a cheap Bic lighter, and flicked it to ensure it worked. A flame appeared, and we both smiled at each other, the small flame making every detail of his face more noticeable.

He grabbed the rose off the wooden picnic table I had set it on, and raised the flame to it, causing the flower to burn away, like every ounce of love I had ever had for Derek.

Xavier began to pour some oil that he had brought in a small water bottle into the fire pit, throwing in the bottle when it was empty. Before placing a stick that he had lit on fire into the pit, he looked me right in the eye, and with a smile, said "here's to moving on." He threw in the stick, and we watched together as everything burned to an ash.