Chapter 1

I'm just a little bit insane,

Cause I think I see you everywhere.

~ Obsessed With You - The Orion Experience.

Life, it goes on. No matter what. Even when you don't want it to. That's not to say my life was devoid of happiness. There were always little spots of brightness in my skies. Just that none of the stars were within my reach. And all the things which gave me those precious moments of happiness always passed by me, leaving me behind.

Like when my parents died.

I was 19 when it happened. It wasn't anything new; just another car crash. And suddenly I found myself truly alone. There was just me , armed with the money my parents left us with and a little brother to think of. That was when I made the decision to move to London for good. I sold my parents' house in Wolverhampton and left my brother there with my Gran, atleast until I became stabilised.

It took me quite some time to get back on track. And not being at my most emotionally stable didn't exactly help either. But I never showed it. I studied, made a few friends, got a job, went out, etc, etc. But every night, while no one was looking, I wept. Ofcourse, crying at night wasn't something new to me. I was pretty used to it by then. But the scars never really healed and I blamed myself for everything that was lost to me.

It was two months into my first semester in college. Two weeks into my part-time job as a waitress at a small diner.

I didn't even see him come in.

I was at the back, wiping plates when I heared the 'ding!' of the doors opening and closing.

"Its yours Rey," Delilah had called out.

I went out, straightening my uniform, when I spotted him sitting in a table in the far corner. And I stopped dead in my grey eyes, the thick black hair falling down almost to his shoulder, the unmistakable good looks. He was sitting there with his eyebrows furrowed, undeniably stressed over something.

No, surely not. It can't be...Ofcourse it can't be!

Those were my first thoughts upon seeing him.

Any other normal person wouldn't have found his appearance so jarring. I mean, there are millions of people in the world who fit that description. Many that, I myself have seen a hundred times. And yet...

Like I said, some things always stay in the back of your mind. Even after years have passed. 6 years had gone by and I still hadn't forgotten. It was something I'd always remember - such was its impact in my life.

But this isn't a storybook, its the real world...You've been through an ordeal. You're obviously overthinking normal things.

Silently cursing myself for my stupidity, I tried to put my thoughts back together as I walked towards the table.

"Welcome to Helena's, may I take your order?"

He looked up from his joined hands. It was unnerving to say the least, to be scrutinized by his piercing gaze - more so when I was feeling so conflicted - but I kept my face in check. I could've told you how there was an instant connection between us as soon as our eyes met, or something of that sort. But I'd be lying if I said that. His face remained stoic as he gave his order. And I dismissed my earlier thoughts. There was clearly nothing remarkable about the whole thing except for my initial shock.

But he was there again, the next day, in the same booth. And the day after. He always came back, always looking somewhat distressed, though he never spoke more than was necessary. His prescence never failed to unnerve me but I squashed those thoughts as soon as they made an appearance.

August came, bringing with it a bitter sense of loss. My Mother's birthday was drawing closer, causing my mood to detoriate rapidly. I cried more, stopped going out and became increasingly more withdrawn as the day neared. Delilah was the only one who noticed; atleast if the looks she kept shooting me were anything to go by. I never spoke about it to anyone else though.

The eve of the thirteenth was a Saturday, which meant I had to work overtime. I was in a particularly bad state of mind that day. And as the "ding" of the door signalled the arrival of someone, I couldn't bring myself to get up. Everything was suddenly pressing down on me; the loss of my parents, the fact that it was my Mum's birthday in a few hours, the stress due to studies and all my doubts of the future. I felt suffocated as I decided to get out of there before I broke down completely.

I stood up from where I was sitting behind the counter just as Delilah came out of the kitchen. I grabbed her hand as she made to walk past me.

"D-Del, I g-gotta go." there was an unmistakeable desperation that was palpable in my voice.

"Reyna! What happened? Are you alright?" Delilah asked.

"No, no, Del, I-I gotta go. I'll explain tomorrow. Could you please cover for me?"

"Sure, Rey but - " She noticed the tears starting to leak out of my eyes and let out a sigh. "Just take care."

I hugged her.

"Thank you," I whispered as I broke away. I slung my bag on my shoulder and ran out of the diner, hardly holding back a sob.

I didn't notice the person sitting right next to the door I had stormed past. I certainly didn't notice him watching me as I left.

That night, when I reached my flat, I couldn't stop bawling my eyes out.

On the morning of the thirteenth of August, I got up mechanically, showered and got dressed. I picked up the unwritten diary I kept under my pillow - one of the last things my mother gave me - and left the house.

I didn't know whereabouts exactly I was headed but I knew I couldn't bear to sit in that empty flat all alone. I found my feet carrying me to a park about 20 minutes away. Weaving through the crowd of people, I finally found a secluded spot by an old willow where I sat down and began writing.

Dear Mum,

You gave me this book to write down my thoughts. "Always keeps everything bottled up, that one," you said. And you told me that if I don't feel like sharing them with anyone, then I should write it all down until I do find someone with whom I can.

Today is the 13th of August, Mum. It was supposed to be your 45th birthday. If everything was as it is supposed to be, I would've been teasing you. And Dad would've said you'd always look beautiful no matter how old you are. Brad would've laughed and said something inappropriate.

What happened Mum? Why did you leave me so soon?

You may or may not have understood some things about me. But you were always there. You never asked me questions that I didn't want to answer. I still remember how your eyes would light up everytime I laughed.

And now you'll never see me laugh again.

Its not fair that I've lost you too. It just isn't. Its like I can't ever keep people I'm close to, with me. It was the same with my friends and now its the same with you. I wonder what you'd say if you could see me right now. I'm a mess.

More than I was before I mean.

But still, I'm trying my best.

The only reason I bother is because of Brad. I am all that he has now. He needs me to be strong. And for that reason, I will be. I will finish college, make something out of my life and take care of Brad till he's old enough, like you'd want. I will make you and Dad proud. I promise.

Dad always said you never know what you have until its gone. I guess that's true. But I'll never forget you both. I never said it much but I regret not doing so now - I love you so much. I'm sorry, Mum. For not telling you sooner.

Writing in this diary, its almost like having a part of you with me. I never told you many things when you were alive. Its too late to do that now. But if I write it down here, maybe, just maybe, it would reach you somehow.

I'm starting to tear up again, and I'm sitting in a park outside. Not the ideal place for having a sob-fest. I better go now, Mum. I love you, wherever you are. You and Dad will always be in my heart.

Love,

Reyna.

I looked up from my diary through blurry eyes and leaned back on the tree, looking up at the clear sky. I didn't know how or when it was going to get easier, but it had to. Right? I can't spend my life mourning them forever. I have to go on. That's what my parents would've wanted.

Just then, I heared footsteps close to where I was seated. I turned. Only to find a pair of piercing grey eyes staring back at me.

AN: Hey! So here it is. First chapter of the story. The story might be moving a little slow as of now. Because I want it to be realistic. I don't want Reyna to find out everything so soon after all...I don't know where exactly I'm going with this story as of now but we'll figure it out as we go.

So anyways, please review! I would love to hear any sort of feedback/suggestions/ideas on my story. And feel free to PM me 'bout anything and everything! Till next time!

~Bekah