a new and hopefully exciting story! i suck at titles and summaries peh so because i couldn't come up with a name for this story, i called it the name of the song that i'm listening to...yep. anyways the song is Darling Dear by Blackbird Blackbird. despite the songs lack of different lyrics, they might apply to the story we'll see
i hope you enjoy this x
shame this is chapter one and i still haven't even edited it lol
disclaimer: i own nothing but my mess
"Nick?!" I called out through coughs. The blanket of smoke surrounding me was thickening. My entire body shook from a pure concoction of both adrenaline and fear. I could literally feel both rushing through my veins like one of the strongest currents n a rushing river.
Despite my attempt at covering my nose and mouth with my arm, I was struggling to breathe. With every inhaled breath came a drowning amount of smoke. I knew that if I never got out now, I wouldn't make it. Along with hardly being able to breathe, I couldn't see well at all. The only light present was that from the burning flames ahead of me. All I could see were flames and the silhouettes of the soon to be burning contents of our house.
I made my way through the living room, stumbling on every piece of furniture. I needed to find you.
"Nick?!" I called out again, struggling to get the volume that I hoped for. "NICK?!" I tried my best at shouting. My eyes were burning from the heat and from the smoke but I didn't care. I bent into a crouch as I choked on the smoke I had inhaled as I called for your name. I carried on walking, determined to find you.
As soon as I started making my way across the room again after my coughing fit, a part of the roof collapsed. Bits of burning wood flew in every direction. I jumped back and lost my footing, falling onto the glass coffee table that I always moaned at you to get your feet off. I could hardly even feel pain when I crashed onto it.
I lay on my back on top of the broken shards of glass. I tried to lift myself up but as I did so, I felt a sharp pain in my hands. Both hands had pieces of glass in them. My jacket was protecting my back from the glass but my hands were bare. I stayed on the ground for what seemed like far too long given the current situation. I heard a loud bang over the fairly loud cracks eliciting from our burning house.
"NICK!" I screamed, hoping it was him.
A silhouette quickly made its way to me. I felt such relief as I saw the human shaped shadow. Before I could get out another word, I was pushed to the ground with such force. I fell back with my head strongly colliding with the solid piece of wood that was a part of the glass coffee table.
"You okay there, ma'am?" I heard a deep, rough voice ask.
"What?" I responded my breath getting caught in my throat.
"You okay?"
Damn these flashbacks. Lately, they are becoming all too familiar to me. The more I try to move away and try to move on, the more constant they become.
"Yeah, I am. Thank you." I replied, exhaling.
"Real choppy today. The weathers being a pain. Reports say it'll calm down tomorrow." He said as the tiny wooden engine boat crashed through the water. I zipped my jacket up further.
My plan was to keep a low profile. I didn't want to be noticed. I just wanted to blend in. I guess I was a fool for thinking I'd quickly and easily blend into the smallest town in the middle of nowhere. Well, in the middle of the ocean, directly off the coastline of the mainland. The mainland was actually just another small unknown town. Of course I'd be noticed; everyone knows everyone's business in small remote areas.
I gave him a small smile and nodded. "Do you know when we'll reach the island?"
"Probably 'bout ten more minutes or so. See them boats there? That's where we're headed. Not too far now." He said as he pointed towards small fishing boats by what looked like a mini harbour.
"Oh. Thanks." I offered yet another small smile.
"So, where'd you come from?" He asked as he took an apple out of the tattered brown bag he held.
"Where am I from?" Great. What a perfect place to choose to keep a low profile. He nodded his head as he wiped the green fruit on his dusty looking jeans. "I'm from...somewhere not too far from here." I said, hoping he wouldn't press any further. I was from a place very far away from here.
"Oh yeah? Clearly more inland. You look like you're about to vomit cats. Sea isn't your friend, eh?" Thank God.
I let out a slight chuckle but then quickly ended it as I became conscious of my nausea. "Not at all." I swallowed over the lump in my throat that was threatening to make its way up and out at any minute.
I had never been so thankful for land when I reached the docs. On the little boat that I was on, I felt every little bump, swell and splash. After getting off the boat, I dragged my bag down to the little shop near the doc. The single piece of luggage that I had was small but it had my life in it. I wasn't left with much after the fire. All I had now was a few items of clothing, basic toiletries and all my needed documents to get me through days. This place was my fresh start that I craved and needed so badly.
The shop was empty when I walked through its doors. I figured that perhaps the employee at the counter was at the back or in the bathroom, so I browsed around. This shop really just had the basics of a shop that would be near a doc. It sold the usual sun blocks I could get back home, hats, cheap sunglasses, a small selection of snacks and drinks, disposable cameras and magazines. There was also a small stand that hung lifejackets. I guess that was a good thing to sell. Behind the counter there was a selection of cigarettes and lighters to be bought. I stared at the flaming image printed on the box that held the lighters. I shook my head and continued looking. I was thirsty. The temperature out on the water was much cooler than what it felt now. I had already discarded my jacket.
I heard a loud laugh before a person barged through the thin door of the shop, the little bell on the door shaking like mad. A man followed her through the door.
"Shame you're such an idiot." The young woman said as she continued laughing. She was looking over at the shelves that held bags of chips. She was wearing maroon Vans, grey skinny leg styled sweatpants and a white V-neck t-shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun.
"Screw you! Anyone would've done the exact same – even you!" The young man said back to her as he softly shoved her. She just continued laughing. The man was dressed in similar attire only he was wearing black Vans, black sweatpants and a white t-shirt.
"Yeah right! Let's just see if anyone would've done the same." She said as she walked over to me with a bag of chips in her hand. I quickly shifted my eyes to the magazine rack, trying to make as if I wasn't staring at them. "Hi you look around our age, how old are you?" She asked me.
I frowned at her. Seriously, did everyone here find the need to speak to a person they never knew? She smiled.
"Sorry, ignore that." She said as she waved her hand around, shooing what she had previously asked away. "If a guy had to tell you that he loves you within the first week of dating, would you say it back?" She questioned me. People were way too over sharing and comfortable here.
I frowned at her again before clearing my throat. "Uhm, no probably not."
"HA!" She loudly said as she spun around and stuck her finger out at her friend. "You're an idiot!" She started laughing again.
He flipped her off. "She's a sensitive girl and I felt bad to just leave her hanging." He said with a shrug.
"Well in the end you shot yourself in the foot because everything has changed now. You're in love now." She said as she smacked his head with the bag of chips and then proceeded to open the bag and eat them.
"Shut up." He mumbled. "Steve!" He called out as he reached the counter. He smacked the silver bell on the counter, signalling for this Steve person to come. "Where's this twat?" He hit the bell again. And then again.
"When did you get here?" The girl asked me from across the shop.
"Not too long ago." I said. That could either mean today or a few days ago but I didn't care. These people seemed to be all up in everyone's business. I didn't need that.
Her eyes landed on my suitcase. "Oh right the bag would make sense." She chuckled. So I arrived today then. "Holiday?" She asked as she put a chip into her mouth.
"Something like that." I said as I picked up the magazine I was looking at before.
"What's your nam-" The young man hit the bell a few more times. "Dude, stop it with that thing!" She groaned at him. I couldn't wait to get out of this shop.
"Steve!" He called out.
"I'm here! Shit, can't a guy take a dump in peace?" A guy emerged from the back and sat behind the counter. I'm guessing he was Steve.
"Erm, no not when you have to be running a store." The young man said.
"Andy, man, please don't tell your dad, dude." Steve kind of begged the young man I gathered was Andy.
"Our dad would never fire you; he knows that no one else would water his pot plants outside." The young woman said with a chuckle which was joined by a chuckle from Andy. Clearly they were brother and sister. Now that I know, I noticed their similarities in their facial features. Their complexions were darker than Steve's. Steve had shaggy light brown hair that was on the verge of a dirty blonde colour.
"Anyways bro, come down to Para' tonight. Dem is gonna drive there so you could hitch a ride with us." Andy said to Steve.
"Would that be good?" Steve asked the girl.
"Yeah, Andy just said you could come with us." She laughed.
"Awesome I'll be over at like six-ish, yeah?" He asked. She nodded.
"Great. Now help the customer."
"OH!" He said as he scrambled to his feet, knocking something off the side of the counter. "Sorry, do you need help?" He asked me.
This town was weird but I think it's going to work for me. The people were nosey but they were easily distracted. They weren't persistent in what they asked. I could still keep to myself here.
