August taps on my door frame, and the moment look at him, a small smile takes over his face. “Can I come in?” He asks softly.
I nod my head, that shouldn’t ever be a question, he’s always welcome. He takes a seat on my bed next to me and pulls me into a tight hug, one much tighter than he’s given me in a very long time. “Are you dying or something?” I giggle. “What’s with the sudden physical affection?”
“I miss you.”
“August, we live in the same house.”
He runs a hand through his red hair, messing it up a little as he does so. I can tell he has something on his mind, but he isn’t spitting it out… he knows I’m not going to judge him, I’ll always listen. “I know you’rephysicallyhere, and I see you every day but I miss you. I miss the way we used to be closest in the house, when I was your bestie, and how much fun we use to have. I miss when you didn’t tip toe around me.”
Oh.
Tears fill his eyes and —for a moment— I’m in shock. August doesn’t cry, at least not very often.
“I don’t tip toe around you” I say, trying to comfort him.
“You do. You’re still learning to trust me again, and I know that it’s mainly my fault for being a jackass and all… but I just want us back.” He reaches out, holding my hand and stares at the wall across from us.
I guess I didn’t really see how much things have changed. I guess I’m closer with Davis and Lucas now, and in all honesty, I miss August too. He was my saving grace, my salvation for so long. My heart breaks thinking about how I cast him aside and moved on with no regard for how he feels.
“I’m sorry, I miss you too” I choke. “I know things have changed, but I still love you. You’ll always be the person who help on tight when I wanted to let go and quit. I’m so happy for you and Steph, I wanted to give you space to grow with her, but I guess I gave you a little too much space.”
I never thought I’d be sitting in my bedroom, with a gigantic hockey player, crying about how much we missed each other…. When we fucking live with one another.
“You’re such an ugly cryer” he snorts.
“You take that back right now August Write” I gasp, “you’re no better.” He hugs me tight again, “Thank you —all of you— for saving me in a way I didn’t know I needed.”
“We didn’t save you” he whispers, “you saved us.
Fuck this guy. He’s making me way too emotional right now, and I don’t know if I can handle it. I don’t want to cry with them anymore, I’m done with the tears and the anger, I just want to catch up on all the things I’ve missed with them.
“Hugs!” Miller yells from the hallway, and before I know it, the mother fucker is tackling August and I on the bed. He elbows me in the face, blood rushes out of my nose, and while he stares at me in horror… I just laugh.
“You’re getting blood all over me you psycho” August groans in disgust.
I stick my tongue out at him, tasting the blood on my lips and try to wipe some of it off my face. My fingers are all bloody, and while I should be rushing to clean myself up and stop this nose bleed, I can’t help but just look at it.
Through everything, every sick and twisted thing that has happened, I’m still fucking here. I made it, I kicked life’s ass.
I burst into hysterics, laughing over the fact that somehow I managed to survive everything. My two friends stare at me confused as fuck while I break down in front of them.
“You’re actually crazy” Miller whispers, eyes wide with shock.
Catching my breath, I lean my head forward and pinch my nose. “Sometimes you gotta be a little crazy” I wink at him.
* * *
Lucas spent like an hour on my bed this afternoon, moaning and groaning about how bored he is. Every five minutes he would sigh, completely distracting me of all the school work I was trying to get done.
After the last couple weeks, I have a lot of catching up to do. Luckily after news broke about the incident with Nathan, my professors were very understanding. They gave me extensions on all my work as well as letting me re-take any tests I missed.
Lucas has been obsessed with taking me out and showing me off since our first little date. He loves the idea of us being out in public together… never thought I’d say that. Either way he wore me down and I finally agreed to a date —despite my best judgement.
His arm is thrown across my shoulders as we walk into the theatre, our hands filled with various snacks and drinks while he laughs at me for my choice of candy.
“Twizzlers are fucking amazing, they’re a staple back in Canada. I can never find them here, soexcuse mefor being excited.”
He kisses the top of my head and smiles down at me, “I think it’s cute how excited you are.”
