N ╳ H

Darkness. It awaited us all, each of us, individually, would have a turn of of being overpowered by darkness in our final moments. Or at least that’s how Xander saw it, that’s what Xander was thinking for the days and days he moped around the campus after the year ended, after the ordeal between himself and Nala, and even went to the universities dean himself and asked if it were possible to stay there for the summer until the rest of the school had to return. However, for this, he needed permission from his parents and he wanted it to be a thing where he didn’t have to talk to his mum at all— she’d only ruin it, she’d only make him come home to England. Fly to America herself and drag him home by the ear if she had to. His sister wasn’t all that fond of the idea either. At least not until he asked if she’d like to stay with him. Then she’d obliged.

But who knew that fly home to England would’ve been one of the greatest decision’s he’d made? No, he hadn’t talked to Nala since his fear of rejection became nothing but a reality but he was glad he hadn’t. Especially after being informed of what had happened between her and Adam, it was preferred they didn’t talk. He’d only break down again, and his childhood friends from England had taken long enough trying to get his mood back up. Funny how all those who made fun of him growing up are now trying to be his friend, all the girls he liked who called him names and claimed he wasn’t good enough are now sitting on his lap at all the parties he’s attended since coming home. He felt like some sort of celebrity with all this attention. He was nothing special, he was only Xander. So, fortunately he still had friends who believed him when he said it wasn’t him all those times, he still had friends who supported him no matter what, loved him and were down to doing anything for him. He needed that most.

Seeing the blonde the concert his friends and himself had last minute decided to go to was both a dream come true and a coincidence set out to destroy him. She was still as beautiful as he remembered. Her long blonde hair shaping her structured face so perfectly. Her Californian sun kissed skin glowing with beauty each time one of the lights glided past her. Just like when they glided past her eyes, the green-blue color would shine so bright— he’d never seen beauty so fine. And again, he was struck with cupid’s arrow. It was both the worst and most amazing feeling a human could experience. His friends had decided to go to California as a lads holiday, a catch up of all the time they’d missed. Despite Xander’s pleas and whines about how he was tired of planes, they still dragged him along. It was different, but it was fun and something new to explore and he couldn’t take that for granted.

Feeling a small nudge to his side, Xander was informed by one of his mates that there was a vendor selling burritos in a food truck just outside. He wondered if he was in the mood to try one. But his stomach was screaming for him to get something more familiar like…a burger or whatever. Much to his dismay, or at least what Xander wanted it to be to, one of his friends was suddenly hugging and chatting away with one of the males so close to where Nala was. Whether she knew him or not, he had no idea. But his friends said they’d been to California a few times so perhaps they’d met before? When the two continued chatting, Xander stepped back awkwardly. The others were off getting their burritos. What was he supposed to do? And then, she spoke. To him? He had no idea but she was speaking and he loved it; the sound he’d longed to hear for so long since their unfortunate departure. 

“It amazes me how you can think so deeply into the meaning behind music,” Xander shrugged a little, his hands buried away in his pockets when he took a step towards the railing, cutting out the voices of his friend and the stranger. “But yeah, it’s quite spectacular how a beat and a few lyrics can inspire someone to go out and do something,” The male pursed his lips, then suddenly took a chance, for himself, and leaned forward onto the railing also, but maintained eye contact with the gravel ground beneath them. “I’m going to go ahead and assume you enjoyed it then, yeah?”

The wide smile on her face didn’t vanish for the next seconds that followed, she was on a state of spirit that not even her could explain. Maybe was the music, she always loved music and the last hours were magnificent, refreshing feeling to her mind and soul. She would never admitted, but the last month has consumed all her energy and put Nala on a state of exhaustion, not enough time of sleep and hours worrying about the details of not only her life, but of those around her. One of the things that she hates, since Nala enjoys the sesantion of not know of what she will wake up to. Like now, where her eyes lays on the dark haired boy and again, the ground beneath her feet is shaking and then loses her breath.

She turned her head to the side and there was him, standing a few centimeters of her. The smell of his perfume now so familiar, that almost made her lean her head on his shoulder to have more of this feeling of being home — to be safe. For the first time in her life she wished she was back at being a teenager, to have met him better back then and for once truly understand what all the other girls always talked about. The butterflies on her stomach, her heart beating fast on her chest when she looks at him or hears his voice. All those silly stupid things. Nala sighed and left a small laugh fell from her lips with the thoughts of that, she shook her head and bit down her bottom lip to not let it slip. It was nice, and made it better that they wouldn't be alone in some awkward situation. She thanked God that they have some common friends in the middle. “ — What they did was pure magic” She said, keeping her voice soft as a sly smile crossed her lips when her eyes met his. “Enjoyed? I loved it ! What they did  ------- the synchrony between them and the crowd. That’s more then talent, that is like being in love. You give all of you, you put your heart all and let everyone see it! — At least, that’s how I think love has to be or is ----” She was interrupted by the sound of people starting to come out and get close of where they were. 

Sometimes she forgets that is not that simple to be out in public, even more in situations like this, people would notice her and then her peaceful moment would be gone. She praid for them to not come right now.  However, when the other boy pulls his hand on her waist and stands next to her, she almost wish that someone would come and interrupt them. She had met Adam early on the day when she arrived back, for whatever reason he wanted to talk and she accepted his invitation to accompany her for the show. What a stupid decision. “We should go now” The male said as Nala jumped at the sound of his voice. This was the last thing she wanted now, to leave and risk not ever had the chance to talk with Xander again. “I was actually thinking about get a cab back, no worries --- “ she said trying to sound polite. “Do you hm --- Do you remember Xander?” 

He probably already knew about Adam or had heard about it, even if there wasn’t much there she wanted to be the one to tell him what was going on that subject and maybe not left them in a weird spot. The feelings for him were undeniable, but yet after the last time they had spent together away from everyone turned out in him asking her the question she wanted to hear the most, but ended on she wanting nothing more than a friend now. Maybe because she knew that it was what they needed, or at least she thought so. A relationship comes with complications and responsibilities, even more now,  something that in her vision neither of them were ready for, her more than him. She would be there for him, as a friend if he needs so.  Maybe one day, maybe one day the odds would work for them and on that day they would both be ready.

“It amazes me how something like that can be so beautiful” She said softly, leaning on  the rail outside the theather. “Music in any form or gender, can restore your hopes and dreams — your faith. It is beautiful” @xvndvr

“alright —- is that all then?”

“i’m surprised to see you here if i’m being honest”

“ —- what?”

“nothing xander”

“i was going to ask you the same thing. you started talking to me out of no where first,”

“---- Ask?”

“ what would you have done, then?”

“probably at first start some debate on how unfair is the fact that there’s no women in there”

“ —- yeah?”

“can i help you with anything?”

“so? bring on the lawsuit, i don’t give a damn.” 

"jail time doesn’t sound bad for you? or a bad sheet?”

“mhm- i’m glad,”

“ ---- good?”

                           ❛ what do you THINK it was supposed to mean ? ❜

" ----- I don’t know that’s why I’m asking you Arizona, can we just get to the point? shall we?’

“exactly, now he knows better.”

“but then again, he can sue you, you know that right?”

          “ they allow some kind of vampires to go out in the sun, though. like — you’ve seen twilight, right ? or, uh, vampire diaries. london ? london sounds amazing and i’ve never been. how was it ‘sides obvious dreary weather ? “

"---- yes i did and is the worst vampire ever like --- they glow? are they fucking fairies? no, they are not supposed to glow. maybe like they did in vampire diaries and have sun rings because of some spell. it was good, it was bad --- it was just london”

“ well it’s summer now so guess you don’t have to miss the sun anymore. ”

"that’s a way to see, but for someone that grew up in california, every day was summer”

                           ❛ i don’t know. it’s getting pretty difficult to know when you’re bothered & when you’re not these days. ❜

“what was that supposed to mean?”

       “ uhh, that sounds like something a vampire would have said. where have you been that you couldn’t be in the sun ? “

“if i was a vampire, i would be a sad one because i love the sun way too much to not be able to stand under it. london”

“exactly, now he knows better.”

“but then again you should know better than to punch someone in their face”