Afterlife Affection - Brooklyn Beckham Fanfic

Chapter 3 - All the Time in the World

Taylor's POV:

School has never been more worse for me until now. It has been the first time going back since what happened, and I wasn’t too thrilled about seeing a familiar sight. Although I hated school, Brooklyn always loved it. He would walk with me to and from school all the way home and everyday he would be happy to attend school. Honestly, I have no idea why the boy enjoyed school so much. Maybe it was because he had so many friends, and girls, constantly making him happy. I do admit seeing him happy because of school made me light up inside.

Today, was not a happy day. I walked onto campus and already people started giving me sorrowful looks. I would look away but I could already tell their eyes never left me. I was forever going to be known as the best friend of the most beloved guy in the school who died.

The first person to actually come up to me was a good friend of mine who also knew Brooklyn very well, Macy. First she just started walking beside me into the school, her head down as if she was searching for the right words to say. Her blue eyes scanning the ground hastily and her nimble pale fingers drumming against her stomach. I decided to speak up first since I knew it will be a while before she did.

"Hello." I spoke rather hoarsely. I was sort of losing my voice since I have been screaming myself awake lately.

She tucked a strand of her thick blonde hair behind her ear, “Hi Taylor.” Macy replied softly without looking at me.

"I know what you’re thinking. I’m fine I just," I stopped myself and took a deep breath. I knew I was lying and so did Macy, my voice told it all. How it came out shaky and unsure. It was more like a question.

"I’m fine." I said more confidently. This time I looked at her and flashed a half smile.

Macy just looked at me and rolled her eyes. “I know you aren’t. Everyone knows. We know you and Brooklyn had a special relationship with each other and you are still hurting from it. Plus, you look a little rough.”

"Rough?" I asked in a cracked voice. I made sure to put makeup under my eyes to hide the tiredness and sure, my hair might be messy but I thought I looked fine.

Macy fished a small mirror out of her backpack and handed it to me which I snatched from her hands. When I saw myself I nearly let out the loudest groan. Macy was right, I did look rough. Makeup did no good to the countless bags under my eyes which were puffy and swollen from constantly crying. Stress caused me to break out on my forehead where tiny blemishes appeared. Also, my hair was knotted and tangled and fell around my shoulders.

Grimly, I handed the mirror back to Macy who already had a brush pulled out for me. “Thanks.” I said, clearly grateful to have a friend like her. At least I had one friend left who isn’t six feet under ground.

~

My feet dragged along the floor as I clutched my heavy books to my chest and struggled to keep them aloft. Since I wasn’t eating my strength in all my bones and muscles have completely disappeared. In my eyes, I didn’t appear to be losing weight but my gym teacher noticed I looked skinnier. Of course when he told me that I just nodded my head and said I was working out, which was a lie but it made him happier. I was glad I made someone feel better, even if I did tell a lie.

I opened my locker and shoved my books in with a sigh, and feeling my heart sink down into my chest. A picture of Brooklyn and I on my locker door was pasted in the middle, making my eyes water and my lip quiver. Brooklyn’s famous half smile spread across his lips as his arm was slung around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. My face was buried into him with embarrassment and shock while I carried a bouquet of red roses in my hand, my foot on top of a red and black soccer ball. In Brooklyn’s hand held a giant poster with the words “it’s my goal to take you to formal, so why not score a date with me?” sloppily written in black sharpie.