She Brought Light || Guy's POV

Chapter 2: So I Stopped Trying

Life.

A simple word that causes so much pain and heartache.

Emotions.

Something people say I lack, when in reality, I feel too much. Something I wish I didn't feel.

If I had an off switch for my thoughts and emotions, I would have left that switch off. I would have broken it so that it could never be put on again.

I don't struggle with much, but my emotions are the one thing I gave up trying to understand. I've never cared enough to like or dislike someone in the past three years, so it was a little frightening when Veronica came along and confused the hell out of me.

Hate, or dislike, was the last thing I felt when she stood up to me. I was confused, slightly impressed and intrigued. She's the first person who actually stood up to me and wasn't afraid of the consequences. What confused me the most was when I actually allowed her to talk to me the way she did. To allow her to treat me the way she did.

I kept telling myself it was because she is one of Matt's best friends, and Matt is one of my best friends, so I couldn't do the same thing I usually do when people piss me off, but it still confused me because anger was the last thing I felt.

School was long and annoying. It felt like it would never end, so when the bell rang signaling the end of the school day, I felt a huge wave of relief flood through me.

Soccer practice was tiring. We weren't supposed to have any practice this week, but coach Randy thought it was best if we started earlier, which only worsened my already bad mood. On any other day, I would have been happy to play, but today was just too tiring.

After dropping Zayn off at home I'm finally able to go home. Pulling into my driveway, I just shut the car off when the front door suddenly opens and my seven year old sister comes running out of the house, a wide smile on her face and the wind causing her blonde hair to fly in different directions.

She looks so happy that it is impossible to not smile. I grab my backpack from the passenger seat before exiting the car and locking it. Emily runs straight at me so I scoop her into my arms, chuckling at her excited little self.

"Someone's in a good mood." I grin, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Her arms circles around my neck as she hugs me tightly, slightly chocking me in the process.

"I made a new friend!" She beams excitedly, pulling back from the hug with the biggest smile on her face, her arms still wrapped around my neck.

Standing up straight with Emily still in my arms, I can't help but smile as I walk towards the house. "Really? And who is this friend?" I ask and her smile grows impossibly wider.

"His name is Cole!" She beams and I gasp.

"A boy?" I ask and she nods excitedly, the wide smile never leaving her face. "And when do I get to meet this boy?" I ask with a raised brow just as I walk into the house and shut the door behind me.

Emily rolls her eyes. "He's just my friend, B." She giggles and I raise an amused brow at her. "You only get to do that when I get a boyfriend." She says and my brows shoot up.

"You will get married before you get a boyfriend." I warn playfully.

"I have to have a boyfriend before I can get married." She frowns in confusion and I grin.

"Exactly." I wink and she giggles.

"I'm gonna grow up one day, B." She chuckles and I frown.

"Don't ever say that again." I frown and she giggles. "I don't want you growing up." I frown, causing Emily to chuckle. She places a kiss on my cheek just as we enter the kitchen where mom is busy preparing something to eat for Emi.