1 No longer (pt 1)

"Tell me a story". You would like to hear a story? Okay. I shall tell you a story about a boy and a girl.

No longer

We met each other when we were 10. I was crying and running away from the park me and my family were at. Running running and more running, until I was deep within the forest by the park. I stoped for a moment to catch my breath. "Are you okay?" I look to my right and see a boy my age sitting against a tree with his laptop and headphones, "Yes. I am fine". I answer him bluntly, hoping that would make him go back to his business and leave me alone. I'm glad he didn't. He takes out one of his headphones and pats next to him. I look at him coldly for a second, his eyes show a small glimmer in them as he smiles at me. I lift my head higher and walk over to him, and sit down. "What's your name?" He asks me with a small smile in his eyes. "Angel", I say bluntly. I turn to face him, "And yours?" I ask him. He throws a big grin on his face as he says, "Lucas" Lucas, that is his name, I thought to myself. After that he asked me what was wrong and I told him that a boy whom shall not be named was bothering me at the playground. At first I did not tell him everything that was bothering me, but then he said, "There's something else bothering you. It's okay, you can tell me. You can tell me anything you want, I won't judge or laugh at you" I looked at him for a second wondering if I should tell him or not. Finally, after a minute or so, I told him all that was bothering me. After we talked for a while, we exchanged numbers and parted ways.

That one day, I am so grateful for. I am grateful for meeting him that day. Without Lucas, I'd probably be in a hospital somewhere. If it weren't for him showing up at the places I needed him the most, like at Tennessee, when a goat was charging straight for me, or when this creepy guy was following me around all day, I'd be a complete mess, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Without him I would never have the courage to confess to my boyfriend. For this assignment we were supposed to write about our best friend or friends. For this assignment I wrote about Lucas, my best friend whom I could not live without.

The entire classroom, including the teacher Mrs. Zhong, clapped. Lucas looked at me, his eyes softened as a wide grin spread across his face. I felt my mouth lift slowly into a smile as I watched him stand up clapping. I looked around the room quickly and met eyes with my boyfriend, Mark. His face was bright as he looked at me, and for a split second, I was at the peek of happiness, but then looked at his eyes again, his entire expression changed to a cold one, as he stared coldly into my eyes. I felt my smile shift slowed into a small, slight, unnoticeable to the naked eye, frown. But I quickly remembered my surroundings and put a fake but bright smile on and bowed to the classroom.

At lunch Mark wasn't there so it was just me and Lucas again. I wish I knew where Mark was so I could ask him what happened. "What's wrong?" Lucas asks me reaching for my hands that were fidgeting, something I do when I'm uneasy or something is bothering me. Only Lucas would be able to sense that something is bothering me like that. "Mark, he, he was," I stopped for a second to think. "Did Mark seem, upset to you?" I ask him wondering if "upset" was the word I was looking for. "Yea, I noticed how he was looking at you," he said quietly, "it was like he was mad at you or something" as he said that his face started to harden and he avoided eye contact with me. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, I felt a familiar weight on my shoulder, I look up and see Mark smiling at me. "Hey Angel, you wanna go to the carnival later today?" He sits down next to me and glares at Lucas for a second before turning and smiling at me again. I glance at Lucas, and he shoots me a small smile as if saying "yes". "Okay, where should we meet up?" I ask pushing all my worries aside. "Meet me there at 3:00, kay?" "Okay" I say thinking everything will be ok and he was being honest.

At 2:30 I arrive home and go straight to my room to get dressed. After what seemed like hours I decided to wear my favorite shorts and a hoodie. I text Mark telling him that I'm on my way to the carnival.

When I arrive at the carnival I text him asking where he is. "I'm by the cotton candy stall at the center of carnival". I start to walk over towards the middle of the carnival looking for the cotton candy stall. When I finally spot him I start to run to him, but then, I stop in my tracks. My smile disappears like the sun at nightfall. "M-Mark?" I ask, stuttering, "W-who is she?" I ask pointing to girl glaring at me as she holds his hand and wraps is arm around her. He leans over to whisper in her ear quietly, thinking that I won't be able to hear him, he thought wrong and I hear him say to her, "Babe, go wait for me by the Ferris wheel, ok?" She smiles at him and nods her head before kissing him quickly and turning to leave. "Look, Angel, we're done". He says bluntly looking at me coldly. "What do you mean we're done?" I ask in disbelief, shaking my head looking at him as he stares into my soul and says, "We are done. I don't want you", he chuckles to himself lightly, "I never wanted you in the first place. The only reason I even accepted your confession was because," he leans in closer to my face and grabs my jaw, "your kinda cute", he says as he smirks at me and backs away from me. "Why did you ask me to meet you here then?" I ask, anger rising in my voice. He looks at me and smirks. "So I could do this." He backs away from me again and gestures to the rest of the carnival, then it finally sinks in. I look around and notice how everyone is staring at us, staring at me. "Why?" I ask, tears now streaming from my eyes. "Why are you doing this to me? What are you gaining from this? Do I look like a fool to you! Does this make you happy!?! Does it make you happy knowing that you hurt someone?" I ask him on the verge of screaming. He looks at me and smiles. "Yes. Yes it does". He says as he starts to walk away.

I stand in the middle of the carnival crying, as I watch his back go towards the entrance. Everyone stares at me as I silently cry. I want to run away and hide myself somewhere I'll never be able to escape, but my body is completely paralyzed. All I can do stare at where he stood before me. I start to look around and meet eyes with Lucas, my friend, who always seems to be where I need him most. He walks over to me and grabs my hand leading me away from the crowd. "Are you okay?" He asks, his eyes soften as he looks at me, not even trying to cover up the fact that he's worried. I don't say anything, I just lower my head and and cry. He takes off his jacket and puts it around me. He pulls me into a hug, his embrace is warm and familiar and puts me at ease in a way. He strokes my hair softly as he sings my favorite song. "Your eyes, nose, lips. The way you used to touch my skin". He sings softly as he rests his head on mine and rubs my back. I open my mouth to say "thank you", but a small quiet sob comes out instead. "Thank you", I say in my head, "thank you, Lucas, thank you".