After taking a long sip of my pumpkin spice latte, I sighed and looked out of the window, admiring how the final autumn leaves fell from the trees and danced in the wind. Autumn had always been my favourite season because of the beautiful coloured leaves and how you could snuggle down in front of the fire with some hot chocolate and a large, warm blanket. Also the fact that it was usually cool and rained a fair bit.
If you didn't guess already, I couldn't stand the heat. It felt like it was eating you from the inside out while ripping your skin from your bones and tearing apart all your hopes and dreams, leaving you a crumpled mess.
That may have been a little overdramatic, but I just hate summer with a passion.
Momentarily, I was sat in one of the corner window seats in Starbucks being stood up by Thorn who was ten minutes late. I pulled my phone out of my bag dully, typed in the passcode and began to scroll through Instagram.
A bunch of bad selfies, some news about bands that I like, a few TV show updates and an adorable husky puppy later, he finally decided to show up.
"Where the hell were you! I've been here for twenty minutes." While trying to make my voice sound annoyed and threatening, I couldn't help the small smile pull at the edges of my lips.
He rolled his eyes before taking a seat across from me. "You don't mind really." He sang, winking and causing a light pink dust to scatter across my cheeks.
"Oh shut up. No where were you?" I looked down at the second drink I had ordered, which was a hot chocolate, and watched the darker spirals of chocolate swirl and disperse slowly from the others.
Thorn cleared his throat and I looked up instantly, eyes widening when I realised he had been speaking and I just wasn't listening.
"I was saying, I ran into Ash at the shop down the side street. You know the Damaged... er, something one."
"Society." I piped up, knowing exactly which shop he meant as the charcoal coloured jacket I was wearing right now was from there.
He chuckled softly, the sound like a sweet melody, before continuing with his excuse. "Right, that. Anyway, he decided he wanted to talk to me for god knows what reason and then had the audacity to physically grab me and drag me off somewhere."
I was completely involved in the story now, my attention locked directly on him, and I couldn't believe it when a spike of jealousy shot through my heart.
What? Why are you jealous? It's not like you're the only person Ash gets close to.
"Oh?" I questioned, urging him to continue with the story.
However, at that moment, the soft jingle of the gold bell hanging above the door rang throughout the small, oak wood shop, and on this cloudy Saturday morning, the specific Starbucks I was in was filled with many people from my school who all turned simultaneously as the door opened, and I think all of us could sense who it was.
"Thorn, get out here. Right now." Ashs voice was hard, and it radiated danger and dominance. Everyone in the cafe was silently sat staring at the tall, lean and yet still somehow toned brunette by the door, and not a sound could be heard apart from passing cars or the odd bird outside.
"Excuse me sir, but your'e causing a-" An employee stepped out and began talking to Ash, only to have a murderous glare shot directly at him. The poor mans voice was cut short, and he stopped moving completely, almost as if he was under a spell just by looking into Ashs' eyes.
I went to oppose, but Thorn sent me a look practically begging for me to keep quiet, and I could sense the desperation in his gaze. Unsure of why he didn't want me to speak, I decided to keep quiet, and only moments later he stood up before making his way over to Ash.
I watched as they left, confused and slightly alarmed from the sudden entrance, and only looked back down to my cold drink once they had vanished from sight.
I wonder what's happening between the two of them. It's not like they know each other very well, and what they do know isn't particularly good.
After deciding that Thorn wouldn't be back anytime soon, I called Lila and Harry to ask if they could go shopping with me as I didn't want to go on my own. They both said they could but would probably be half an hour before they got here as they weren't dressed.
Once I hung up, I exited the cafe and spent the next forty minutes walking around aimlessly while waiting for them until I eventually found myself in a quiet, almost completely unoccupied part of town that I hadn't been in for years.
I walked slowly, eyes scanning around and taking in the sight of the large, overgrown evergreens that hung over the abandoned road. Celosias and crocuses were scattered around in the long patches of grass and if you looked up, you could just make out the outline of the dull sun through the grey clouds.
However, amidst the peaceful scenery, was a not so calm conversation.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Ash?" The shout was filled with so much hatred, I physically felt my heart miss a beat. The hairs on my arms stood on end, and my eyes went wide as I absorbed the name that had been said.
Forgetting about the terror I felt only seconds earlier, I dashed forward towards the echoing exclamation; I had to find out what it was about.
However, before I could find them, another shout could be heard. "All I said was back off, okay Thorn?" There was a short pause a quieter, less intense shout was released.
"And mind your mouth, you know the power I have."
Moments later, I saw two familiar forms stood facing each other, fists strained by their sides and jaws clenched so tight I'm surprised they hadn't physically snapped.
"Thorn? Ash?" My voice was distant and confused, mimicking my eyes, and as soon as I spoke, both of them stopped completely.
At an unnaturally fast speed, the pair turned to face me, eyes snapping away from each others to meet mine. I stumbled back at the piercing gaze, my heartbeat increasing at an incredible rate, and they both let out a short, sharp laugh.
"What are you doing here River. I thought you were smart enough to figure out that I didn't want you to follow." I was speechless after Thorn spoke, his usual kindhearted tone having morphed into one similar to Ashs'.
"I-I just-"
"Shut up Sky, just go." I slowly started to back away, half of me wanted to get as far away as possible while the other part wanted to stay and find out what they were fighting about.
"Did you not hear what I said twink? Move it."
That was all it took for me to get the hell out of there, turning on my heels and heading straight back to the main part of town. My heart throbbed after hearing Thorn speak that way, and all I could think about was how much he acted like Ash.
Once I found my phone, after two minutes of desperately searching for it in my bag, I saw a message from Lila saying she was with Harry and that they were going to Wetherspoons for lunch, so I redirected my path to meet them there.
Quill: Okay, see you there.
Rocket: You good?
Quill: Yeah. I'm great.
âââââ â â
Once we were inside and seated with food and drinks littering the table, I could finally lose the happy attitude I was trying to keep up.
"Something happened." I spoke lowly, keeping my voice quiet as to not let anyone passing by hear.
"I KNEW IT!" Lila screamed causing everyone in the restaurant to turn to us, either a look of confusion or distaste on their face. She didn't care however, and leant forward before speaking again, this time softer.
"What happened? Did Thorn try to kiss you? Wait! Did he say he had a crush on you? Or did someone from his past mysteriously turn up! Oh tell me tell m-"
"He would if you shut your mouth!" Harry snapped before instantly turning his attention back to me, his eager blue-tinted grey orbs burning holes into mine.
"Thanks Haz. So, we were sat in Starbucks just casually drinking our coffee or whatever when Ash walked in just as Thorn was telling me how that idiot turned up earlier and tried to pull him down some backstreet."
I took a pause, allowing them to absorb the information before beginning again.
"And then I called you two once they left before seeing them down an alleyway fighting. Not physically, like, verbally but still! And also, Thorn got annoyed at me as well as Ash, and they told me to 'move it'."
I stayed looking down at my hands, feeling as if I was suddenly making a big deal out of nothing, before they both wrapped an arm around me.
"Hey, I know Thorn seems really nice and sweet and basically a perfect version of Ash, but we don't really know him. We only met him a few weeks ago so... try not to get too attached."
It only really hit me that, even though only a couple of weeks had passed, my bond with Thorn had grown so strong that if I were to lose it, I don't know how I would take it.
Probably bad.
Like, very bad.
"Yeah, you're right. I think it just felt nice for someone other than you two and a few of the girls to not call me a freak. I get it though. I... didn't consider the reality before jumping into the dream."
The brunette pair sighed before giving me sympathetic smiles, yet I couldn't smile back.
The throbbing pain in my chest was distracting me too much to try and hide it.
Call me weak or stupid, I don't care. Feeling like you could lose someone important to you, even if you haven't know them for long, is really hard.
"There you go, now let's forget about him for a b-"
Yet, as if on queue, his voice rang through my ears.
"I didn't think I'd see you here! Don't mind if I join right?"
Thorns expression was the complete opposite of the angered, unforgiving face that he had earlier, and was now back to the usual bright eyes and wide grin.
While I awkwardly gave a half smile in return, he pulled out the seat next to me and slid in, however I didn't see the troubled gazes of the other two.
When me and Thorn locked eyes, he leant forward slowly before stopping right beside my ear, his breath flooding over me and his lips just barely touching my skin.
"Sorry about earlier Riv, I didn't meant to shout. Ash just got me riled up, that's all."
His voice was soft, melodic, and yet so threatening.
With that, he pulled away again, leaving me shocked and confused while the pair sat across from us looked as if they had just seen a flying orange carrying a giraffe with tiny little spindly arms.
"Don't worry, it wasn't important. Now! I'm going to go and order, you want anything?" Thorn chimed, his expression way too happy for the words that just left his lips seconds ago, and we all shook our heads as we had already ordered.
"Won't be a moment." His voice was like that of a beautiful bird singing the dawn chorus. It was flowing and clear, however still managing to have a hint of mystery and power.
With a skip in his step, he walked away, leaving the three of us unsure where to look.
"What did he say?" Harry asked in a hushed tone, worried that the spritely guy would pop up out of no where at any given second.
"Said sorry for earlier, that's it." I replied dully, looking down at my hands and suddenly feeling horrible for thinking he was purposely trying to hurt me.
I know myself how difficult it is when Ash corners you, and Thorn had never had that happen before. I should have pressed to stay with him, put up a fight since Ash was picking on the new kid.
Not another word was spoken between us until he returned, a glass of orange juice in one hand and his phone in the other.
After placing the items down on the table, he returned to his seat and probably felt the dark aura looming in the air.
"You all need to cheer up, we're not even in school." He took a large gulp of the juice, his Adam's apple rising as he did so, but we all stayed silent.
"Lila? Haz? Rivvy?"
Finally cracking under the pressure, I gave a small smile and he cheered the second I did.
After that small gesture of friendliness, the conversations took off again, and we ended up staying out for hours, our minds being reset and distracted from previous encounters.
However, once the day was over and I was laid, curled up in a blanket with a bowl of popcorn in my lap, I couldn't help but think back to earlier.
Why did Ash even want to talk to Thorn?
But more importantly,
Why did he seem unmoved by it?
âââââ â â
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and it wasn't too... eh.
How are you feeling about Thorn at the moment? Do you like him or not?
Thank you for reading, I hope you're all doing well. Never be afraid to talk to me either! I'm here for you.
- Storm ð¹