Reasons To Live✔

12

Elyse
4:03PM
Two days before our exams, I'm fully shitting myself.

Josh
4:05
You've got this. Can I text you later, I'm studying with Soph right now. I'll still come over tonight though.

Elyse
4:09
Sick, I sound like a booty call, or a mistress.

Josh is coming over after 5, he insisted on going shopping with me tonight to buy stationary for the exams on Tuesday.

I really can't be bothered with studying.

I stare the black screen for a few moments before throwing down my phone on the bed, slowly I stood up again and walked to my desk. I glanced out the window and to the sun, still high in the sky. It shines through the cracks in the trees and into the tiny bedroom. It seems everyday now I wait for golden hour, it's the most beautiful time of the day, the only time where a part of me thinks that if I make a wish it'll come true.

I sit there for what feels like hours staring out that same tiny window and listening to a love song playlist. By the time I'm done it's 5PM and my phone is violently vibrating next to me, without much hesitation I answer and I'm immediately greeted by Josh's laugh.

"Ah, you answered!" He laughs. "I'm on my way round now," he continues; his voice high pitched and giggly.

"Your happy," I say, a smile instinctively on my face now.

"Yeah, just Soph," he says. I feel my smile drop.

"What about her?" I reply, my voice as fake as anything.

"Honestly, El, she's great sometimes, she brought me a chain," his voice is soft, and giddy.

"I'm glad, you know you only deserve the best," I whisper through the phone.

"You too, El," he whispers back before laughing again. "I'm here!" He suddenly screams so loud I hear it through the crack in my window.

"Alright, I'll be down in a second," I respond, for a second forgetting about Sophie.

Quickly, I jump off my chair and pick up my pre-packed backpack and a random hoodie from the clothes chair and head downstairs. It really doesn't take long until I'm out the house and see Josh and his stupid messy blonde hair covering his face. As I walk towards him he turns his head to look at me, a smile quickly growing on his face.

"Ready for some shopping?" He asks. I nod.

We walk for a short amount of time, talking about life and what him and Sophie did today. They just studied and did some not so PG things which I know too much detail about now.

"I can really trust you, Elyse, it's kinda mad," he laughs, rubbing the back of his neck as he clumsily walks backwards into the shop. "Can I wear your bag by the way? I think it'll suit me," he follows up with.

"You're in such a good mood today, and can I see this chain that's so great? And maybe after," I laugh as a response whilst we walk through the many aisles together.

"Of course," he says when we stop at the stationary. He stands directly in front of me so I'm staring at it. "You like it?" He asks.

I stare at the chain, it's a small silver chain with a little shape at the end. As I look close I can read the markings in it. "J + S ♡" I feel my heart drop before I start forcing out words.

"I love it, it's adorable," I glance up at him and he shoots me a coy smile.

"Pens!" He says and turns around, I stand for a second to stare at his back before walking forward towards the selection of pens.

About an hour later we've done and he's carrying two bags of way more than just stationary.

"Can I wear your bag now?" He asks as we walk through the car-park.

"That is still something you want to do?" I laugh, turning around to see his puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," I say, rolling my eyes sarcastically as I take the bags off him and hand him my small backpack. His eyes light up.

"Where are you going El? We're going to the beach to watch the sun set, you'll be home for 9 don't worry," he laughs as he swings my bag over his shoulder. I smile and follow him the other direction over the hills surrounding the car park. He gives me some help climbing up the tiny little hills, not taking my bag off.

Eventually, we trek over the hills and to the largest hill we can find to watch the sunset. The sea is brushing up against the sand and the sky is turning to a light shade of purple.

"What do you have in your bag, Elyse? It's so heavy," he groans and drops it on the floor in the middle of us. I sit down next to it and unzip it.

"A Polaroid camera, I must've forgotten to take it out," I mumble and put the pastel blue camera back in.

"Can I use it?" He asks in a childish-like voice.

I nod and carefully hand it to him. He turns it on and points it towards me, I smile and quickly brush the dark hair down onto my face to make me look like less of a mess. He clicks.

We sit in the silence and listen to the whir of the picture sliding out the top. He carefully takes it out before handing me the camera back. I start to put it back in my bag.

"What are you doing? Take one of me," he says. I roll my eyes again and take the camera out.

"Pose then," I laugh and move the camera to my eye. He frantically moves around before leaning against the tree and smiling brightly, something I didn't expect him to do.

I smile to myself as I take the photo of him. It slides out the top and I place it on his hoodie with the almost-done one of me.

"Now together," he says excited. I smile as he shuffles closer to me, I look at the tiny mirror as he whsipers to smile. That in it's self makes me smile. Click.

He waits for it to come out and smiles at it.

As he's playing around with the 3 photos I'm staring at the setting sun, the sun leaves the sky a beautiful burnt orange and the clouds a matching yellow colour.

"I want you to have this one of me, El, don't forget me," he smiles and hands me the fully developed one of him. I glance down at it, the sun is shining perfectly on his face, his green eyes bright at the camera and his dirty blonde hair sits perfect over his face. I smile to myself.

"I'm keeping the one of you and the one of us together," he smiles.

"Let me see the one of us together at least," I laugh and take it off him.

I smile down at it: He's smiling, his eyes closed and the sun just on our faces. My dark hair is a mess and I'm just looking at him, my smile just as wide.

A few seconds later he's taken it off me again and he's sliding it in the back of his phone case.

"I don't wanna lose it," he laughs. He takes the one of just me and looks at it for a brief second before back at me.

"Number twelve: Polaroid pictures."

--

Dedication: ocean_jams I'm not always fully active but I can always count on you being there when I get back, you're one of my closest friends here and I love you loads for always being there. You're an awesome person and I've loved getting to know you and your life. You deserve the world honestly, and I've only known you for a month and I can already tell how great you are. ♡