1983 c.h. (au)

3: graveyard gifts

Charlie sunk down in front of a tombstone alone. It was the day after she had met Calum Hood and she would trade anything to be with him right now. She looked at the sky and then back to the tombstone. It read Olivia Schreave-Porters. Olivia Schreave-Porters was Charlie's best friend. She died almost 8 months ago but Charlie was still mourning the loss. It was silent in the cemetery and the sky was a light gray. "Hey Liv. It's me Char." She didn't feel weird about talking to a dead person under the ground. "So um this is gonna be exactly like last time but I really miss you. I hope heaven is great. You can be with your boyfriend again." Charlie bit her lip trying to hold back tears but they ran down her cheeks anyway. Charlie covered her face with her hands and silently cried letting the salty water from her face drip down into the green grass. There was a bouquet of 13 white roses and a cherry lollipop. Liv's lucky number was 13 go figure and Charlie had gotten her lollipop addiction through one of Olivia's favourite songs.

"I'm sorry about what I'm doing to myself." She was wearing a Tank top because it was so hot out in San Francisco that day. Her scars were fresh and free. She hadn't planned to hang out with Phoenix or London or anyone that day so she didn't care. "I'll get help I promise." She choked out through her tears and wiped underneath her eyes.

The sweet sound of light guitar was being carried by the lazy air and hit Charlie's ears. That was a new sound. It was beautiful and calm. Charlie cried harder as the guitar strums reminded her of Olivia and she gave up on trying to be silent. Whoever was playing was tearing her apart unintentionally. Strums became music and music became a song. The song became 1983 by Neon Trees. 1983 became a memory. But all it took was a memory to break her.

Then it stopped and the sound of nothingness could be heard again except for Charlie's sobs. Then footsteps got closer to the little ball of Charlie. Then they stopped. Charlie looked up to the tall figure towering over her blocking out the non existent sun. "Charlie? What's wrong?" Calum bent down and engulfed her in his long arms and stroked her straight brown hair.

"You were playing 1983. I used to love that song."

"You're crying because I'm playing one of the songs that you happened to love?" Calum sounded even more confused than a 5 year old playing poker. "Wait more importantly why are you here?"

"I'm leaving graveyard gifts." She sniffled and slowed her crying not trying to get all of Calum's shirt wet even though he didn't mind. "I'm crying because my best friend and I used to love that song. We sang it all the time. But she decided that her time was up. I found her hanging from a tree." Charlie wiped her eyes once more making sure that was finished.

"Graveyard gifts? 13 white roses and a lollipop?" Charlie nodded and then stifled a laugh.

"Yeah. She was born June, Friday the 13th on the night of a full moon. We all thought she was crazy. But she was just original." Charlie laughed again at the memories. And then the laughing turned into crying. "It hurts so bad Cal." She cried into his chest and Calum rocked her back and forth much like a mother would to her baby. Calum peppered light kisses to her forehead and temple comforting her in every possible way.

"It gets better." I promise. You'll get better." Calum wasn't sure how to cure depression. He wasn't even aware that Charlie was upset so badly until now. All that time he wasted watching her from afar could have been time to actually get to know her. He made up his mind to do anything to make her happy. He would always be there for her. Calum looked down at her shiny hair then pressed another light kiss into her soft skin.

"It's still my favourite song though." Charlie looked at the gray tombstone with Liv's full name engraved. "What are you here for?" Charlie didn't know why he was even here unless he had just known she would be here. Charlie had calmed down enough and the tears stopped flowing.

"I'm visiting my girlfriend. She died in a car accident almost a year ago. 1983 was her favourite song too. I'm over her honest. It took me a lot to let go. I just wanted to say good-bye." Calum started stroking her hair again seeming at that was the only thing that calmed her. Calum pressed a kiss to her temple again and rubbed her back up and down. His warm hands felt good against her spine. "Charlie?"

"What?"

"Please promise me something." Calum let her go and looked her in the eyes. His hands held hers with urgency. "Promise me that you are gonna get help. I would hate to see you suffer. Just tell me that you will get better." He pleaded with Charlie.

"It's takes time to let go of the people you love. Thats why I still leave graveyard gifts."