So I hadn't planned on updating today, but all of you have been begging for an update, and I'm bored and feeling generous! :D So here you are, my friends. Enjoy! Comment, Vote, let me know what you think!
A/N- Picture on the side is kinda how Tyler looks now, mainly how her hair looks!
~6 MONTHS LATER!!!!!~
Tyler's P.O.V:
I emerged from the subway terminal, pulling my peacoat around me as the frigid December air made contact with my body. I cast my face down as I walked, shielding it from the harsh winter wind, my brown hair taking flight in the breeze and wrapping around my face. It was well past 10 o'clock, the sun had long since set below the horizon, the only lights illuminating the night coming from the dim streetlights that lined the now abandoned block. It was quiet, too quiet, as I hurried to my apartment still a few blocks away. The only sound audible was the heels on my brown leather boots clicking against the pavement as I picked up my pace, shivering from the sudden change in temperature.
As I made it within a block of my building a few snowflakes began to fall from the sky. I paused, looking up at the streetlight that spotlighted their slow descent from the dark, hazy sky. I held my hand out to catch one, the small white flake melting immediately as it made contact with my palm. It was little things such as this that brought me overwhelming amounts of joy. In the six months I had been in this city I experienced something new everyday, something that was so insignificant to most, but meant the world to me.
I resumed walking, my cheeks now bright pink, my fingers numb from the cold. I blew warm air into my hands, rubbing them together to heat them up as I sped up to a slow jog as I reached my building. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and shoved them into the rusty lock, jiggling the key and pulling on the door in an effort to get it to open. I stepped inside the run down building, pulling the main door closed behind me as the wind threatened to rip it from my grasp. I ascended the two flights of stairs to my floor, giving a small smile to the old man who passed me on the stairs. I walked halfway down the hall, stopping at my door and working to unlock the the three locks lined up the edge of the door. I leaned my shoulder against it and pushed, knocking it free.
The warmth from the small apartment hit me like a ton of bricks, sending chills down my spine as my body began to adjust to the warmer temperature. I unbuttoned my coat and pulled it off, hanging on the coat rack by the door. "We need to get that door fixed," I said, rolling my eyes, as my roomate emerged from the bathroom.
"Among other things," Millie responded with a smile. "Did you forget gloves again?" She put her hands on her hips and glared at my bright red hands
"I'm sorry! I'm used to California winters where it's like, 50 degrees! I haven't quite got the hang of this whole cold-weather thing!" We laughed and she took a few steps into the small kitchen.
"Wine?" She questioned.
"Yes please!" I tossed my purse onto the small dining room table, well we didn't have a dining room but still, and walked around to the couch, plopping down with a sigh. I reached down and unzipped my thigh-high boots, setting them aside before curling my legs up on the couch and grabbing a blanket, laying it over my body, hoping to speed up the dethawing process.
"You smell like hazelnut, cinnamon, and joy," Millie said with a small laugh as she took a seat in the chair next to the couch, handing me a glass full of red wine. I took it gratefully, taking a big sip of the sweet, dark liquid.
"One of the many perks of working in a coffeehouse, my dear," I retored. I stretched my neck back and forth as I yawned. We sipped our wine and talked about school as the news played in the background, occasionally grasping our attention. "I'm just glad Dr. O'Shaghennesy cancelled class tomorrow morning, giving me a chance to sleep in a little. Tomorrow is going to be a long enough day as it is having to work all afternoon. I was in no mood to sit through two hours of music theory on top of that!" I swirled my wine around in my glass, watching as the weatherman forcasted more cold and more snow for the rest of the week.
"And don't forget your date with Daniel," she added, making kissy noises as she puckered her lips in my direction.
"Yeah," I muttered, faking the best smile possible. I brought my glass to my lips, downing the rest of the liquid in one, big gulp. I grabbed the glass in one hand, my boots in the other, and stood from the couch. "Alright, I'm heading off to bed. It's been a rough one. Night, Mills," I said as I walked past her towards the kitchen. I rinsed my glass out and left it to be messed with later. I grabbed a bottle of water and my purse, retreating towards my room.
"Night, missy. See ya tomorrow!" Millie responded. I slipped into my room, shutting the door behind me softly. I turned on the lamp, the light softly flooding the small room that paled in comparison to my room back home; but what're you going to do? The cost of living here is too high to afford anything else. So for now I'm stuck in this shitty apartment building, with floors that creak, doors that jam, and water that takes years to warm up. It was all worth it, in a way. I was happy here. I was getting to do what I loved everyday: sing and write music. The rest didn't really matter. I stepped out of my dark blue jeggings and pulled my white v-neck up over my head, tossing them both into the laundry basket. I slipped an old tshirt and a pair of sweatpants over my naked body and climbed into my bed that I hadn't bothered to make this morning before I left.
Nights were the worst. As happy as I was I was still homesick. I missed my brother, my friends. I missed Journey's, I missed the Lucky Strike bar. I missed driving a car. I missed the beach, the palm trees, the warmth of the sun beating down on my skin.
Things had changed; I had changed, inside and out. I wasn't the same Tyler anymore. Maybe that was a good thing or maybe not, I hadn't quite decided.
I opened the drawer in my nightstand, pulling out my iPod and putting the earbuds into my ears, scrolling until I found the song I wanted. I put it on repeat as I did every night.
The familiar sounds of guitar filled my ears first, my eyes falling closed as I began to relax. The vocals came through next, a tear sliding down my cheek as I laid in the darkness.
Pretty little lady with your swollen eyes would you show them to me?
I know I'm not that perfect, but if you stay a while maybe then you will see.
Miles away I could still feel you lay your head down on my embrace, my embrace, far away....
I cried silently as Austin sang me to sleep...as he had done every night for the past six months.
Out of all of the things I missed about California, I missed Austin the most.
He was my home.
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Okay, I know it's not really Austin singing on "When You Can't Sleep At Night", but for the sake of this story we're pretending it is, okay?! :D
Sorry it's so short! Next chapter tomorrow!
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