#dror

  Turning a crisp page, you smiled to yourself at the words. What you did not expect was to actually hear any.   “And you’re reading…again.”   Hades. You had missed his approach. The potted tree blocked your view into the courtyard.   “Yes, that does tend to happen, doesn’t it?” You asked, not looking up at him. A ghost of a smile etched over your lips as he stood in front of you.

  One moment, then two. Hades remained quiet, stoic. Sometimes it was rather uncharacteristic of him.   You read through another paragraph before you peered up from the pages. “Did you need something?” You asked.   He shrugged, lips pressed together in a thin line. With his thumbs resting idly in his jacket pockets, there was not much else that he did.   Shaking your head with a small smile, you returned to reading.

  The dragons were not exactly how you had imagined they would be. However, you did have to consider that perhaps the author had never seen one in person either. Works of fiction each held their own interpretations.

  Double checking the previous page, you almost paused reading entirely. The fellow student standing within arm’s reach was becoming oddly distracting for someone who remained utterly still.   Shifting his weight in his boots, Hades looked in either direction, inspecting. Deeming it a suitable situation, he sat down beside you. He leaned back against the stone wall and shot you a look.   You were giggling to yourself. The feeling of his gaze bore into you from the action, but you did not care. If he had actually meant any ill will to you, it would have been obnoxiously obvious by now.   Despite the look he gave you, he said nothing. At least not verbally. He bumped his knee to yours once.   Apparently, as the circumstance would have it, Hades wanted to spend time with you. Even if you were reading. Despite any fiery igniting of his hair, he could be quite patient.

  Reaching the end of the chapter, you placed a bookmark between the pages and closed the book. You put it next to you before straightening up on the bench. It took a moment, but you managed to dig up a piece of foiled gum. Holding it up between you and the young god, you paused in waiting.   Surprised that it was still held within your grasp, you turned your head to look at him curiously.   Hades rose a skeptical eyebrow.   “It’s mint, Hades,” you assured and smirked. “You know…spicy cold.”   He rolled his eyes. “Please don’t.”   Likewise, your brows raised teasingly. “Please?”   He sighed, tilting his head back against the wall. Looking directly at you, he said, “You’re hilarious, you know that?” His voice was thick with sarcasm. Even so, he plucked the piece of gum out of your hold.   “You’re welcome,” you laughed.   “Yeah, thanks.”

  And so went the peculiar friendship that you both somehow understood.

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Thank you for reading!

until it wasn't, you don't know what happened during the tour but something happened between kylie and malachi. you weren't too worried about it because you had malia, until you didn't. malia came to you one day and told you she didn't feel the same way anymore, something had changed and she didn't love you anymore. it all hurt so much and you hated how understanding you were of the situation.

you nodded and just accepted that you lost her and there was nothing you could do. the only thing you could do was finish out the tour, go home, write your songs, record them and do a backtrack on your relationship to see where you went wrong. you knew it wasn't you but nevertheless you thought blaming yourself might bring her back.

you spent the months after the tour locked in your house, more importantly the recording studio in your house working on songs about everything, songs about your feelings, songs about pain and change and growth. the one you were most proud of was hanging out to dry, which you put out as soon as you finished it.

@y/n.coded: my new song hanging out to dry is now out! go give my girl some love.

@freyaskye: oh wow

@dararenee: thats my girl right there

@kyliecantrall:oh the artistry

@joshuacolley: just fell to my knees, this is gorgeous

@mekonnenknife: im so endlessly proud of you sunny

you smiled at the comments before there was a knock on the door and you walked over to it. you didn't bother to look through the peep hole seeing malia standing there, it was raining out and she was drenched head to toe but she didn't care as she stood there.

"malia..." you led off and she nodded as she stared at you

"i heard your song and i'm sorry, can i come in?" she asked and you stared

"you shouldn't be here malia, go home" you said and went to close the door but she stopped you

"please, just... i wasn't thinking. im such an idiot and i want to fix this, please let me fix this" she begged, you scoffed and turned around, forgetting to close the door. she took it as an invitation but when she walked in, she saw how different the place was. there was no trace of her like there used to be, no photos or clothes laying around haphazardly.

"its different" she said softly and you nodded as you turned to her.

"yeah i got sick of staring at things that had to do with you, it all hurt too much and honestly it still does" you stated and she nodded, it hurt her too but she understood where you were coming from

"i just...i want to fix this, alright? i know i hurt you and im so sorry. I mean it when i say i wasn't thinking clearly and i regret ever thinking i could live without you. i just want my girl back" she pleaded but you couldn't give in, not when it still hurt so much

"i can't.... malia you broke my heart and the pain still stings. i don't want to get back together, I don't want to see you or hear you or talk to you. I want to forget you ever existed because you ripped my heart out and threw it away so im sorry but no, we're not getting back together. you've already lost me" you said and she nodded

"it was worth a try...i am sorry, y/n...i'm gonna go" she announced and she turned to leave. you didn't stop her, even though your heart clenched and you wanted to call after her, you didn't because you knew if you would, you would fall into your old ways and never come back.

you just watched her leave because that was the truth...the pain still stings