highschoolhormones

The two of them sprinted towards the elevator, panting. They could hear the raucous shrieks behind them, and heard the uneven footsteps gradually gaining on them. Turning a corner to set eyes on a single elevator door (along with a set of elevator buttons to go with it), they sighed in slight relief. Averie dashed to the “down” button and smashed it repeatedly. 

“C’mon, c’monnn…” 

The gangly-like, apocalyptic beasts spun around the corner, slobbering, sliming, and seething. 

“Hurry up!” Sage yelled.

“I would if I could, genius,” Averie scoffed, the elevator doors opening and both of them tripping into the elevator. Sage frantically thumbed the “close door” button as the monstrosities came ever-nearer. The doors inched shut, closing just before the ravagers were upon them. 

The very air seemed to thin out with relief, and both of them shared a long sigh. Despite the hellish nightmare they both were living in, they were both defeated with the indestructible and quite unwanted awkwardness of being the only two people in an elevator. The elevator music played, and they both stared straight ahead. 

“So! How’s… how’s that internship going for you?” Averie asked, trying to start a conversation.

“What? Oh, it’s good, going great…” was Sage’s reply. He rubbed the back of his neck, shedding an unpleasant smile. “How’s work and stuff?”

There was an almost-full moon, shedding just enough light to see your walking path. A sky of an immeasurable amount stars smiled upon them, gazing at the boy and the girl who were oh so close…  

At some point in the night, truth or dare came up, just like any other night. 

On this particular night, something big would happen, though, just like any regular story when the author brings up truth or dare. 

“Hmmm… Livvy, truth or dare?” The boy was lying on the grass, legs stretched out in front of him, rocking his feet back and forth and admiring the clear night sky.

“No…” The girl groaned, laying on her back and gazing at the stars.

“C’mon, just for a bit?”

She went to the address Payton sent her. It was their favorite restaurant. Oh, wow, the nostalgia. She spotted him in a corner and her heart stopped. He was wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up- and black jeans. His freckled face was damp and red, she couldn't tell, but it looked like his hair was messed up. It had started to rain when she walked in, he was tracing the raindrops on the window. Then it hit her. He's been crying. She raced over top the booth he was sitting in. Her being the mom of a friend she was, immediately reached for his hand and started rubbing soothing circles with her thumb. They sat like that for a few minutes. But it didn't matter. Payton was upset, and she wasn't going to make him talk about anything he didn't want to.

At some point he had placed his head on her shoulder. She ignored the looks people gave them, she ignored the way the rain poured outside, she ignored the fact that she was now crying too. It was only when Payton’s voice registered in her ears.

"They were yelling. I heard a glass break. The only thing I could think about doing was talking to you," Payton said. 

"Hey," she tilted his head to look at her. Her heart ached for him. "It's going to be okay."

"I don't know... it was really heated. I- I could feel it."

"I know, but you have to hope for the best."

"I don't know if I can," he sniffed. Olivia felt a teardrop slip down her cheek. He laid his head back down on her shoulder. "I don't know if there is." 

“Payt, look at me,” She turned towards him. Payton sat up and stared at his hands. “Look at me.” His deep, glazed eyes met hers.

“Livvy, I just…"

"Don't. Don't give up. You give up, I will pound on your door until you snap the hell out of it."

“Okay,” Payton whispered. Olivia pulled him into a hug, and he hugged her back. His head was on her shoulder, and he sobbed while clutching her tight.

"I'm so lucky to have you, Olivia."

At this point, Olivia thought nothing could catch her off guard. But what Payton had said took her by immediate surprise. Payton gathered himself together, getting at eye level and holding her hand on the bench they were sitting on.

"Ever since we've become close again, I've felt a lot more secure and safe. I am so stupid for letting you go all those years ago. I missed you so much, you have... no idea." He emphasized those last two words

"I missed you too, Payton." Olivia whispered 

"And hopefully, I won't make that mistake again." Payton said softly. It seemed as if their faces were coming closer and closer together. Was she dreaming? Her heart started racing, her breathing quickened. Payton put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her closer while Olivia cupped his cheek. She lost all sense. All the thoughts that had been flying around her head stopped, her heart beat slowed and calmed as the kiss lasted.

Olivia heard a camera shutter and jerked away from Payton. 

“What do your think you’re doing?” Payton asked, popping his knuckles.

“Posting a pic of the two of you kissing on Insta,” a older teenager said, popping her bubblegum.

“Ugh, let’s go somewhere where it’s more private.” Payton growled.

They went outside, which was still very rainy and gloomy. They walked a few blocks in silence, but after a bit, Olivia couldn’t help but speak her mind.

“Hey...” Olivia said. “Hey!” No answer. “Payton!”

Payton stopped walking and tuned towards her, but kept his eyes on the ground behind her, his hood up. “Stop.” He snapped, and Olivia took a defensive step back. 

“Calm down, for one,” Olivia spoke calmly. “For two, what happened back there?”

“What do you mean ‘what happened’?”

“I mean, between us. What happens now?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to know.”

“Wh-”

“As for you and me, we’re nothing.” Payton’s eyes looked numb as he looked into hers, which were filling with tears. 

“Pay-”

“No, don't speak. It was just a kiss. It's not you, I don't even know if it's me.” Payton seemed to be building a barrier between them. “It was just a kiss." He whispered.

"’Just a kiss?’ Payton... It was more than that. Don't do this. Not again." Her voice broke. "Why do you do this to me? You pull me in, we have fun, we have something. Payton, we have a connection! How can you kiss me, then just walk away saying it was 'just a kiss'? Do you not feel that?"

"A connection? Really.” He said flatly. Every word felt like a sword through Olivia's heart. "That's all it was, just a kiss."

Olivia turned around and started running. She didn't look back. She ran and ran and ran, hoping somehow, sometime, she could escape this heartless world.  She hurt, thinking hurt, breathing hurt, running hurt. But kept going. She went into a dark alley, and hid where no one would find her. She found a shattered piece of glass, and cut her wrists over and over and over, the blood oozing out of her arms. She screamed. When would the misery end? Payton had told her never to cut herself again.

Did he even care? She cared about him, she really did, but how had she been so stupid? Why had she thought he changed? She sunk to the soaking ground, sobbing, too weak to want to get up. She heard footsteps. "Go away," she cried. "Whoever you are, I don't want to talk to you."

"Yeah, okay, well, you're bleeding. That's pretty serious."

Olivia looked up. "Just leave me alone," She said wearily. "What do you want anyways?"

"They take advantage of you, don't they?" The girl said, ignoring her question.

"What?"

"They don't feel, all they want is someone they can use."

"Who?" Olivia was confused.

"That kid you kissed. The name's Jordan by the way." Jordan sat next to Olivia, gently taking Olivia's wrists and bandaging them with napkins. Olivia tried to slow her breathing.

"Why does he not feel like I do? Does he not care about anything or anyone but himself?"

"I dunno, but it sure seems like it sometimes." 

Olivia started getting light-headed.

“Wait, Olivia,” Payton tripped over an untied shoelace.

“What,” Olivia asked, slightly tired of the awkward banter.

“Do you wanna… wanna hang out in the shop… tomorrow?”

“Sure, I guess.” 

The bell rang.

Olivia tried to break the heavy silence. She punched Payton softly. “See you tomorrow, loser.” And walked out the door.