Hope (Tyrelliot)

Chapter 7: Pictures of You

Timestamps for the song:

2:36
5:02

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Elliot's POV

I wish Leon was still here so he could show me where the cafeteria is. But he's gone now. I'm on my own.
I have about 10 minutes until I have to be in class again.
I walk through the hall, trying find a map or anything.

I don't know how, but I end up in a small schoolyard-ish area, except it isn't the schoolyard. It's small. It has a big tree and a small pond. This has to be some kind of garden.

I see someone sitting under the tree.
A girl. She's wearing a dark green top and jeans. She has earbuds plugged in. She's the only one here besides of me.

I put all of my courage together. I'm going up to her. She has her eyes closed.
"H-hi.."
She didn't hear me.
I tap her shoulder.
She opens her eyes. She yells a little.
"Whoa, what the heck, dude?!"
She stands up and walks towards me in an offensive posture.
I take 2 steps back.
"I-I'm sorry!"
She stops.
Then looks at me. She takes one of her earbuds out.
"Wait, I know you! You're the new kid!" She smiles now.
I look at her, then back on the ground.
"Y-yeah.."
"Aha, I'm so sorry!" She laughs.
I do kind of a half-smile.
"I'm Shayla" she says, holding out her hand.
I take it, hesitating a little.
"E-Elliot."
She let's go.
"No like, seriously sorry, I'm not used to people talking to me."
She chuckles.
"Yeah, me neither" I say, still looking on the ground.
"Well, I'm guessing it's destiny then!"
She smiles.
I chuckle a little.
"Come here, sit down" she says, as doing so.
I hesitate again, but eventually do it.
She cleans her earbud with her shirt.
She gives it to me.
I don't want to take it.
"I'm sorry, I have to go-"
"Oh come on, only for 2 minutes!"
Okay, I take it. I plug it in.
A soft, but emotional voice is singing:

🎶I've been looking so long
at these pictures of you,
that I almost believe that they're real
I've been living so long
with my pictures of you
that I almost believe
that the pictures
are all I can feel... 🎶

"Close your eyes." She says in a demanding tone.
I do so. The song seems to go on for forever. And I honestly don't want it to stop. This entire moment feels...
Almost magical...

🎶Hold for the last time
then slip away quietly
open my eyes but I never see
anything
If only I thought of the right words
I could've held on to your heart
If only I thought of the right words
I wouldn't be breaking apart
all my Pictures of you🎶

The song ends. I take out the earbud.
Shayla's looking at me.
"What did you think?"
I look back at her, then to the ground.
"It's cool."
"I know, right?"
She's excited. And honestly,
I think I am too.
"The Cure, my favourite band" she says, looking away now.
I nod and look around.
"What is this place?"
She smiles.
"This was a biology project we made in 7th grade. We we're actually supposed to take care of some seeds we planted here, but no one ever checked on them, so they're all dead now."
"O-oh..."
"Yeah..."
We both look down.
"But hey, now I have a place to be alone!" She chuckles again.
I do too.
"The key used to be given around, depending on who had to water the seeds and since I was the last person to get it and the teachers still haven't asked me about it yet I'm the only one who has access to this now!"
"Cool."
"I totally agree!"
I nod again. I don't really know what to say.
"Hey, maybe we can switch phone numbers and hang out sometime!"
"Sure" I say, giving her my phone at the same time she gives me a note.
"Oh haha, I guess I'm kinda old fashioned there" she says,
taking my phone.
The bell rings.
Fuck, I forgot why I was here. I hope it wasn't important...
"Alright, let's run" Shayla says, getting up.